When it comes to building an online store, choosing the right platform is crucial. Shopify and Wix are two of the most popular e-commerce website builders available, and both have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we’ll compare Shopify vs Wix to help you decide which platform is the best fit for your business.
Shopify is a dedicated e-commerce platform that’s designed specifically for online businesses. It offers a range of features and tools to help you build, manage, and grow your online store. On the other hand, Wix is a general website builder that can be used to create a variety of websites, including e-commerce stores.
Shopify: Pros and Cons
When it comes to e-commerce platforms, Shopify is a well-established name. Here are some of the pros and cons of using Shopify:
Pros
- Ease of use: Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for anyone to set up an online store without any coding knowledge.
- Scalability: Shopify can handle stores of any size, from small businesses to large enterprises. Its built-in features and app integrations make it easy to scale as your business grows.
- Security: Shopify is a secure platform that takes care of all the technical aspects of running an online store, including hosting and security.
- Mobile-friendly: Shopify offers mobile-responsive themes and a mobile app, making it easy to manage your store on the go.
- Payment options: Shopify supports over 100 payment gateways, giving customers a variety of payment options.
Cons
- Cost: Shopify can be expensive, especially for small businesses just starting out. While there is a free trial, the monthly subscription fees can add up quickly, and additional costs for apps and themes can increase the overall cost.
- Transaction fees: Shopify charges transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways, which can add up over time.
- Limited blogging capabilities: Shopify’s blogging capabilities are limited compared to platforms like WordPress, making it less ideal for content-driven websites.
Overall, Shopify is a great choice for businesses looking for a scalable and secure e-commerce platform with a user-friendly interface. However, it may not be the best fit for businesses on a tight budget or those looking for extensive customization options.
Wix: Pros and Cons
When it comes to Wix, there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider. Here are some of the pros and cons of using Wix to build an e-commerce website:
Pros
- Easy to use: Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder that is very user-friendly. This makes it easy for anyone, regardless of their technical expertise, to create a website.
- Affordable pricing: Wix offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan, which makes it accessible to businesses of all sizes and budgets.
- Customizable templates: Wix has a wide selection of templates that are fully customizable, allowing you to create a unique website that reflects your brand.
- App integrations: Wix has a large selection of third-party apps that can be integrated into your website to add extra functionality.
Cons
- Limited e-commerce features: While Wix does offer e-commerce functionality, it is not as robust as some other platforms. For example, Wix does not offer advanced inventory management or shipping options.
- Limited payment options: Wix only supports a limited number of payment gateways, which may be a drawback for businesses that want to offer a wide range of payment options to their customers.
- Limited SEO options: While Wix does offer some basic SEO tools, it is not as SEO-friendly as some other platforms. This may make it more difficult to rank well in search engine results pages.
Overall, Wix is a good option for businesses that are looking for an easy-to-use website builder that is affordable and customizable. However, businesses that require advanced e-commerce features or extensive SEO capabilities may want to consider other platforms.
Shopify vs Wix: Features Comparison
When it comes to choosing between Shopify and Wix, it’s important to consider their features. Here, we’ll compare the features of both platforms in terms of blogging, ecommerce, email marketing, and analytics.
Blogging
Both Shopify and Wix offer blogging capabilities, but there are some differences. Wix has a more robust blogging platform, with advanced features like tagging and categories. Shopify’s blogging platform is more basic, but still allows for basic blog posts and the ability to add tags and categories.
Ecommerce
Shopify is a dedicated ecommerce platform, while Wix is a website builder that also offers ecommerce capabilities. Shopify has more advanced ecommerce features, including the ability to sell on multiple channels like Facebook and Instagram, as well as more advanced inventory management. Wix’s ecommerce features are more basic, but still allow for the creation of an online store with basic inventory management.
Email Marketing
Both Shopify and Wix offer email marketing capabilities, but there are some differences. Shopify has a built-in email marketing platform called Shopify Email, which allows for the creation and sending of email campaigns. Wix offers integration with third-party email marketing platforms like Mailchimp and Constant Contact.
Analytics
Both Shopify and Wix offer analytics capabilities, but Shopify’s analytics are more advanced. Shopify offers detailed sales reports, as well as the ability to track customer behavior and create custom reports. Wix’s analytics are more basic, but still allow for tracking of website traffic and basic sales data.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, both Shopify and Wix offer user-friendly platforms with intuitive interfaces. However, there are some differences between the two that are worth noting.
Wix is known for its drag-and-drop editor, which allows users to easily customize their website without any coding knowledge. This makes it a great option for beginners who want to create a website quickly and easily. Additionally, Wix offers a wide range of templates that are pre-designed and can be easily customized to fit your brand.
On the other hand, Shopify is more focused on e-commerce and offers a more specialized platform. While it may take a bit longer to get used to than Wix, Shopify’s interface is still relatively easy to use. It offers a range of customizable themes and templates, and users can easily manage their products and orders through the platform.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to pricing, both Shopify and Wix offer a variety of plans to fit different budgets and needs. Let’s take a closer look at each platform’s pricing structure.
Wix Pricing
Wix offers four ecommerce plans: Business Basic, Business Unlimited, Business VIP, and Enterprise. The Business Basic plan starts at $23 per month and includes features such as unlimited bandwidth, 20GB storage, and the ability to accept online payments. The Business Unlimited plan costs $27 per month and adds additional features such as priority support and access to the Wix Ascend marketing suite. The Business VIP plan costs $49 per month and includes all the features of the Business Unlimited plan, plus VIP support and priority response time. Finally, the Enterprise plan is custom-priced and includes all the features of the Business VIP plan, plus additional customization options.
Shopify Pricing
Shopify offers five plans: Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify, Shopify Plus, and Lite. The Basic Shopify plan starts at $29 per month and includes features such as unlimited products, 24/7 support, and the ability to accept online payments. The Shopify plan costs $79 per month and adds additional features such as gift cards and professional reports. The Advanced Shopify plan costs $299 per month and includes all the features of the Shopify plan, plus advanced report building and third-party calculated shipping rates. The Shopify Plus plan is custom-priced and includes all the features of the Advanced Shopify plan, plus additional customization options. Finally, the Lite plan costs $9 per month and allows users to sell on Facebook and chat with customers on Messenger.
Which Platform is More Affordable?
In terms of pricing, Wix is generally considered to be the more affordable option. However, when comparing the overall value by price, Shopify offers ecommerce businesses more features and capabilities. Ultimately, the decision between Wix and Shopify should be based on the specific needs and budget of the business.
Customer Support
When it comes to building an online store, customer support is an essential factor to consider. Both Shopify and Wix offer various customer support options, but there are some differences between the two platforms.
Shopify Customer Support
Shopify has a reputation for excellent customer support. They offer 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat. Additionally, Shopify has an extensive knowledge base with articles and tutorials to help users troubleshoot issues on their own.
Shopify also offers an active community forum where users can ask questions and get answers from other users and Shopify experts. The platform’s support team is responsive and knowledgeable, and they work quickly to resolve any issues users may encounter.
Wix Customer Support
Wix also offers customer support via phone, email, and chat, but their support hours are more limited than Shopify’s. Wix’s support team is available from 6 am to 5 pm PST, Monday through Friday.
Wix has a comprehensive help center that includes articles, tutorials, and videos to help users troubleshoot issues on their own. They also have a community forum where users can ask questions and get answers from other Wix users.
While Wix’s customer support is not available 24/7 like Shopify’s, they still offer reliable and helpful support to their users.
Integration Capabilities
When it comes to integration capabilities, both Shopify and Wix offer a range of options to connect your store with third-party apps and services.
Shopify has a robust app store with over 4,000 apps available, covering everything from marketing and sales to shipping and inventory management. Many of these apps are designed specifically for Shopify, which means they are well-integrated and can be easily installed and configured within your store’s dashboard. Additionally, Shopify offers a RESTful API that allows developers to build custom integrations with other platforms and services.
Wix also has an app store with over 300 apps available, covering a range of categories such as marketing, social media, and shipping. However, Wix’s app store is not as extensive as Shopify’s, and many of the apps are not as well-integrated or easy to use. Wix also offers a developer platform that allows developers to build custom integrations using APIs and webhooks.
Both platforms offer integrations with popular payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe, as well as social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. However, Shopify also offers integrations with Amazon, eBay, and other marketplaces, making it a better choice for sellers who want to expand their reach beyond their own website.
User Reviews
We scoured the internet to find out what users had to say about Shopify and Wix, and here’s what we found:
Shopify
- Many users appreciate the ease of use and intuitive interface of Shopify.
- Some users have reported issues with the platform’s pricing, particularly with the transaction fees.
- Many users have praised the platform’s customer support, citing quick response times and helpful representatives.
- Some users have reported issues with the platform’s customization options, stating that it can be difficult to make certain changes to their store’s design.
Wix
- Many users appreciate the flexibility and customization options available on Wix.
- Some users have reported issues with the platform’s speed and load times, particularly on mobile devices.
- Many users have praised the platform’s customer support, citing quick response times and helpful representatives.
- Some users have reported issues with the platform’s e-commerce features, stating that they can be limited compared to other platforms.
Overall, both Shopify and Wix have their pros and cons, and ultimately the choice between the two will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Conclusion
After comparing Shopify and Wix, we can conclude that both platforms have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Shopify is a powerful e-commerce platform that is designed specifically for businesses that want to sell products online. It has a wide range of features and tools that make it easy to create and manage an online store. Wix, on the other hand, is a website builder that offers e-commerce functionality. It is a great option for businesses that want to create a website quickly and easily.
If you are looking for a powerful e-commerce platform and are willing to pay for it, Shopify may be the best option. If you are looking for a more affordable option that still offers e-commerce functionality, Wix may be the way to go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is better for a small business, Shopify or Wix?
Both Shopify and Wix offer features that can be beneficial for small businesses. Shopify is specifically designed for ecommerce and offers advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and multi-channel selling. Wix, on the other hand, is a website builder that offers more design flexibility and a lower starting price point. Ultimately, the best platform for a small business will depend on their specific needs and goals.
Is it worth switching from Wix to Shopify for ecommerce?
If you are already using Wix and are happy with its features, there may not be a need to switch to Shopify. However, if you are looking for more advanced ecommerce features like multi-channel selling or abandoned cart recovery, Shopify may be a better option. It is important to consider the time and cost of switching platforms before making a decision.
Can Wix be used to build a successful ecommerce store?
Yes, Wix can be used to build a successful ecommerce store. It offers features like customizable product pages, payment and shipping options, and abandoned cart recovery. However, it may not be as robust as Shopify in terms of advanced ecommerce features.
