Comparison · checked September 2026
WordPress vs Wix
Choose Wix if you want everything in one place with no hosting to manage, and you are comfortable staying on Wix. Choose WordPress if you want to own the site, switch hosts or developers freely, and grow into more advanced SEO and features. WordPress runs about 40% of all websites; Wix about 4%.
| WordPress | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Open-source software you install on a host (or use on WordPress.com) | Hosted website builder |
| Cost | Software is free; you pay for hosting, domain and any premium theme or plugins | Free plan; paid from about $17/mo billed annually (varies by location) |
| Who owns the site | You: full files and database, move to any host | Wix: sites cannot be hosted outside Wix |
| Design | Themes (including block themes) edited in the block editor | 2,000+ templates, drag-and-drop editor |
| Extending it | 60,000+ free plugins plus premium plugins | Wix App Market |
| SEO control | Full control of markup, URLs and structured data (usually via plugins) | Solid built-in tools: redirects, structured data, robots.txt, sitemap |
| Maintenance | You or your host handle updates and backups | Wix handles it |
| Share of all websites (W3Techs) | 40.2% | 4.2% |
Prices in USD, billed annually unless noted, as listed in September 2026. Prices change; check the official pages linked below.
Choose WordPress if
- You want to own your site and be free to change hosts or developers
- You need specific functionality a plugin already solves
- You want full control over SEO, structured data and page markup
- An agency or freelancer will build and maintain the site
Choose Wix if
- You want one bill and no hosting, updates or backups to think about
- You are building it yourself and want to start free
- Your needs fit Wix's built-in apps
The real cost of each
WordPress itself is free. A typical business site pays for hosting and a domain, and optionally a premium theme and a few premium plugins. Managed WordPress hosting takes care of updates and backups for you.
Wix bundles hosting, security and the editor into one subscription. It is simpler to budget, and you never touch a server, but you cannot take the site with you if you leave.
Ownership and lock-in
With WordPress you can export everything and move to any host. Wix states its sites must run on Wix's own servers. For a business, this matters when you change agencies, get acquired or need a feature Wix does not support.
WordPress vs Wix: common questions
Is WordPress harder to use than Wix?
Setting WordPress up takes more steps, since you need hosting. Day to day, editing a block theme in the WordPress block editor is similar to editing in a drag-and-drop builder.
Is WordPress better for SEO than Wix?
WordPress gives more control, especially over markup, structured data and advanced SEO through plugins. Wix covers the fundamentals well. For most small sites, content and local signals matter more than the platform.
Can I switch from Wix to WordPress?
Yes, but Wix does not export the site, so the design is rebuilt in WordPress and the content is moved over.