NEW! Shopify vs Wix (2025) | Best Website Builder for Selling Online?

Shopify vs. Wix: A Comprehensive Comparison

If you’re planning to launch a website this year—whether it’s for an online store, a personal blog, or a service-based business—selecting the right website builder is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Two of the most popular platforms currently are Shopify and Wix. In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons, features, and ideal use cases of both platforms to help you make the best decision for your business.

Overview of Shopify and Wix

Shopify is a specialized e-commerce platform designed specifically for building online stores. It excels in product management, payments, and shipping integrations. If you’re selling physical or digital products, Shopify provides all the essential tools you need right from the start.

In contrast, Wix is a general-purpose website builder that enables users to create various types of websites—from portfolios and blogs to online stores—through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Known for its flexibility and ease of use, especially for beginners, Wix offers a broad array of design options.

Ease of Use

Wix is particularly suited for those with no technical background. The platform offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor complete with over 800 templates, allowing you to build a website in just a few hours without writing any code.

Shopify, on the other hand, is slightly more structured and optimized for e-commerce. While it is beginner-friendly, it is less flexible in terms of design compared to Wix. However, the learning curve is manageable, making it suitable for anyone whose primary goal is to sell products online.

Design and Customization

When it comes to design freedom, Wix has a significant advantage. Users can place elements anywhere on the page, create custom layouts, and utilize Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) to create a website in minutes.

Shopify, while offering professionally designed themes that are mobile-responsive and conversion-optimized, does limit layout flexibility unless users are willing to dive into coding or invest in paid apps or page builders like PageFly.

E-commerce Features

Shopify truly shines in the e-commerce department. The platform is built around selling online and includes features like inventory management, multiple payment gateways, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, shipping calculators, and multi-channel selling on platforms like Instagram, Amazon, and TikTok.

While Wix has improved its e-commerce capabilities in recent years, it still trails behind Shopify, which offers advanced features and scalability. Wix is best suited for small shops or side hustles but may fall short for larger businesses.

App Marketplace and Integration

Both Shopify and Wix feature app stores, but Shopify’s is more extensive and focused on e-commerce. It includes apps for marketing automation, loyalty programs, print-on-demand services, and advanced analytics, all designed to help you sell more and manage your store effectively.

Wix also offers useful apps for general website functionalities but lacks the depth of e-commerce-focused tools found in Shopify.

Pricing

Wix has a lower starting price, with its basic website plan around $17 per month. Upgrading to additional features brings the price up to about $29 per month, with business plans starting at $36 and going up to $160 for the Business Elite plan. This pricing structure is excellent for small projects or businesses testing the waters.

Shopify’s basic plan starts at around $39 per month in some regions, but it can go as low as $25 per month in others. This plan includes features like 10 inventory locations and 24/7 chat support, making it appealing for businesses focused on growth and sales.

SEO and Marketing Tools

SEO is crucial for any business owner, and both platforms have made strides in this area. Wix has introduced customizable meta tags, 301 redirects, and advanced tools like schema markup to improve its SEO functionality.

Shopify also has strong SEO capabilities, especially for e-commerce, and seamlessly integrates with platforms like Google Ads and Facebook. However, its blogging features may be somewhat limited compared to Wix.

Scalability

For businesses aiming for long-term growth or those with thousands of products, Shopify is the better option. The platform is designed to scale, allowing users to upgrade to Shopify Plus for enterprise-level features as their business expands. While Wix excels for small to medium websites, it may not be the best choice for large-scale e-commerce businesses.

Support and Community

Both platforms offer solid customer support. Shopify provides 24/7 live chat and phone support along with a large community of developers and experts. Wix also offers 24/7 customer support, and its help center is packed with guides and tutorials. However, if you require custom development or third-party assistance, Shopify’s ecosystem is more mature and better equipped.

Payment Options and Transaction Fees

Shopify offers multiple payment gateways, including its own Shopify Payments. However, using third-party providers incurs transaction fees unless you’re on a higher-tier plan. Wix supports various payment methods as well, such as Wix Payments, PayPal, and Stripe. However, it is not as optimized for international transactions or advanced POS systems compared to Shopify.

Conclusion: Which is Best for You?

If your primary focus is on building a professional online store and scaling your business with advanced e-commerce tools, Shopify is the clear winner. Although it comes with a higher monthly cost, the value it provides for anyone serious about selling online is exceptional.

On the other hand, if you need a flexible website builder suitable for services, blogs, portfolios, or even a small online store, Wix can be a fantastic choice. It is affordable, easy to use, and offers total creative control.

Ultimately, the best platform for you depends on your business needs, goals, and technical comfort level. Are you leaning towards Shopify or Wix? Share your thoughts in the comments! If you found this article helpful, consider sharing it for more e-commerce and website-building insights. Thank you for reading!