Shopify, Wix, and WordPress offer great website builder platforms. Learn about the nuances and standard websites for each to start building!
Are you looking to create a website for your business? If so, you may be wondering whether to use Wix, Shopify, or WordPress. All three platforms have their pros and cons, so it can be tricky to decide which one is right for you. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the differences between Wix, Shopify, and WordPress, and help you decide which platform is the best fit for your business. Happy reading!
Key Differences
WordPress is an open-source platform that allows complete control, while Shopify and Wix are user-friendly website builders. WordPress requires setting up hosting and also requires ongoing maintenance. Shopify and Wix are considered hosted solutions, which means hosting is included and is paid for in their monthly payment. Shopify and Wix don’t require ongoing maintenance and tend to be better for do-it-yourself web design. These website builders offer simple interfaces that allow users to drag and drop elements. This is drastically easier than coding a website. While website builders offer this simplicity, they have less freedom for specific customization. These nuances should be the deciding factors for choosing a platform for your website.
Shopify
The Shopify website builder is best for small businesses. This platform offers excellent customer support and focuses on e-commerce and blogging, which makes it a great choice for small businesses who want to sell products online. Shopify also brings in customers with their “Buy Buttons.” Shopify merchants can even implement automation to follow up with users interacting with your shop. This platform is user-friendly and offers easy integration with social media platforms. Shopify can sell on Facebook which makes it incredibly valuable if you have a following on Facebook ready to buy your product. For more information, click here to learn more about Shopify’s features.
Wix
Wix is best for those who want to build a website with little setup. This platform focuses on simplicity and the user interface. It can be great for information-based websites and entrepreneurs looking for a free option. This free option provides hosting and design services, but it has its drawbacks. The free option doesn’t allow users to connect a custom domain and displays a Wix advertisement at the top of the website. In short, this option may be good for those who want to try out Wix or those who are trying to avoid monthly payments. The paid option resolves the drawbacks, but Wix can sometimes struggle with responsive views. Do-it-yourself designers typically have a hard time designing the mobile version of their website on Wix. Designing the mobile version sometimes takes a deeper understanding and it may be worth outsourcing if it’s too problematic.
WordPress
WordPress is a powerful platform that allows users to take control of their websites. It is open-source, which means it has a large community as well as a lot of support from developers. The open-source version of WordPress offers customizable themes, advanced SEO functions, and plugins that add extra features to your site. Plugins are add-ons and expand the functionality of the website. Some examples of plugins are an on-page event calendar and SEO and performance tools. Another benefit is that WordPress lets you build from templates or from scratch. WordPress is more customizable and allows the most control with a responsive design for pc, tablets, and mobile.
Comparing Cost
All three platforms offer a paid option and a free option. Shopify is affordable, but monthly payments are required after the free trial. At the time of creating this article, Shopify has monthly plans that include hosting and design services starting at $29 per month, while Wix offers a variety of plans starting at $14 per month. While these costs aren’t appealing for those on a budget, they provide value because the user won’t have to worry about hosting or maintenance. On the other hand, WordPress requires a hosting service as well as ongoing maintenance to make sure the website is functioning and secure. Hosting costs can range and depend on the specifications. There are numerous inexpensive hosting plans, but for strong website speeds, better plans are preferred. It is recommended to determine what functionality is needed and pick a platform based on it.
Standard Practices
All three of these options are great platforms that each have something different to offer. Shopify specializes in e-commerce, Wix focuses on simplicity, and WordPress provides customization with plugins. Shopify is most useful for small businesses that want to sell online. It is easy to use and has a lot of useful e-commerce features packed into it. Shopify also offers excellent customer support which is important for new entrepreneurs. Wix is great for new entrepreneurs who are looking for a free or affordable option. WordPress is typically used for bloggers or content-based websites that want to have more control over their websites. It provides the most freedom, but it requires more maintenance. While Shopify, Wix, and WordPress are all excellent options, they each provide something a little bit different.
Making Shopify, Wix, and WordPress work for you
In conclusion, choosing between Shopify, Wix, and WordPress is an important decision for any business owner. What are your needs? Which platform will work best for those needs? The right website design and platform can mean the difference between a successful business and one that’s struggling. We’ve provided all the information you need to compare costs and standard practices across these options so that you can choose which one works best for your company today!
Our team has years of experience working with entrepreneurs like yourself who know their products inside and out but aren’t sure where to start. Contact us now if you’re ready to learn how we can take care of everything from design to hosting. We can also help if you just want some advice on what steps come next in building out your website strategy.
