If you’re looking to create a beautiful website where you can sell products or services, you might be wondering about the Wix vs Shopify comparison.
This is one of my favorite ecommerce platform comparisons because both companies began in the same year (2006) – but one has FAR surpassed the other in sales and growth.
You might be wondering why…
And don’t worry. I’m going to tell you all about it.
In fact, one of the reasons why I love this comparison so much is because it’s a cut-and-dry case. It’s easy to see why Shopify outperforms Wix.
- Received the highest score for features and customer satisfaction
- Brilliant inventory system to help you manage your store
- Sell across multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and eBay
- The only platform to enforce its own transaction fee, unless you use Shopify Payments
- Content doesn’t automatically reformat when you switch themes
- Apps can quickly add up as you add extra features to your store
Just keep in mind that there are some applications where Wix may be more useful than Shopify. We’ll cover all that in this in-depth comparison.
- Easy-to-use editor
- Great help features
- Automatic website backups
- Can’t switch templates
- Spend more on third party apps for scalability
Differences: Wix vs Shopify
If you’ve been in the ecommerce business for a while, you may remember when Wix was a Flash-based platform.
I’m dating myself, aren’t I?
Well, that was a long time ago. And Wix has come a long way since the SEO-nightmare that was a Flash.
But are they trusted for SEO today?
Mostly yes. I only mention it here because I know some still worry about choosing Wix for SEO reasons, but those fears are almost completely unwarranted.
I want to show you the Google Trends on these platforms because the data is super interesting.
Out of the gate, Wix was the clear winner and maintained the lead until sometime in 2017 when Shopify began inching ahead. But even today, the two are neck-and-neck.
So if you’re looking for the most popular platform in terms of interest, there’s no wrong choice in the battle between Wix vs Shopify.
And when it comes to users, Wix seems to be the clear winner.
Wix states on its website that 125 million people choose Wix to create a website and manage their business online.
Compare that with Shopify that powers over 800 thousand stores online.
But there’s more to this story…
Even with as many similarities as they have, Shopify and Wix aren’t the same.
The major difference between the two is that Wix is designed for anyone who wants to build a website. And Shopify is completely focused on eCommerce.
So if you’re a photographer or a graphic designer – or anyone who doesn’t sell products online, you may choose a Wix website.
Shopify, on the other hand, would not be a good fit.
In a nutshell, that’s the most glaring difference between the two – and it also explains why Wix is so popular even though you don’t hear it often in ecommerce circles.
But since you’re here, I’m going to assume you’re looking for the apples-to-apples comparison on ecommerce features.
So I’m going to ignore the basic website building plans that Wix offers and focus on ecommerce.
Let’s dig in..
Sales and Overall Features
Here is where Shopify’s laser-targeted ecommerce focus really shines.
Shopify doesn’t try to be all things to all people – but it does try to be all things to ecommerce store owners.
And, frankly, it does a great job at this difficult task.
As such, even Shopify’s basic plan provides features that can help anyone market their business.
For example, abandoned checkout recovery (ACR) will send an email to any registered account when they leave the site with unpurchased items in their cart.
This feature isn’t available with any Wix plan – and it’s one that can clearly put money in your pocket.
Some research estimates that ACR can increase revenue by as much as 25 percent.
Other features that shine with Shopify are
- Discount code creation
- Multichannel integration (sell on social media)
- Simple and diverse dropship integration
- Robust app store with many addons available
Of all Shopify’s features, one stands out.
Multichannel integration may be Shopify’s best selling point: 29% of social media users are looking for products to buy.
You might say that Shopify leaves Wix in the dust in terms of sales features, but Wix has some of its own benefits that help the platform stand its ground.
With Wix, you’ll get features like:
- Ribbon to highlight sales or limited stock
- Customizable thank you messages
- Secure shopping option on every page
Although Shopify is the clear winner in this showdown, you may want to keep your eye on Wix. This company isn’t the type to sit on its laurels, so they’re always introducing new features.
Maybe soon we’ll see some of the features like abandoned checkout recovery and multichannel sales. But until then, Shopify is the ecommerce champ in this head-to-head comparison.
Design Features
The design features in Wix vs Shopify results in a tie. You can create a beautiful website on Shopify or Wix, but Shopify wins for one reason.
Tweetable:
When compared to Wix, Shopify offers a much greater ability to customize the design – especially if you’re versed in Liquid.
Now, let’s talk templates…
When you’re choosing an online ecommerce platform, design is a crucial factor. If your store doesn’t look professional, people won’t feel comfortable handing over their credit cards—no matter how badly they want or need your products.
Fortunately, both platforms offer a wide range of free and paid templates.
But again, Shopify has the ecommerce advantage.
Because Wix is targeted towards all types of businesses (not just ecommerce), their templates will range in usefulness to someone running an ecommerce store. That’s why Wix has more templates in general.
But when we’re comparing ecommerce to ecommerce, the selection is about the same. Both platforms offer about 60 ecommerce templates (including free and paid).
And all templates are mobile responsive (as they should be today).
So here’s the bottom line…
Both platforms offer great design, but they each have their own benefits within the design category. Shopify offers advanced customization and Wix’s drag-and-drop functionality couldn’t be easier to use.
So, this one will end in a tie.
But you may prefer one over the other based on your needs and skill level. For example, if you’re a complete novice, you may not be making customizations and would appreciate the ease of Wix’s drag-and-drop.
Ease-of-Use
The easiness in this contest of Wix vs Shopify is very complex and competitive. When you’re trying to setup and run an online store, every minute counts. And if a platform is clunky or difficult to use, it can stand in the way of your earning ability.
And we all know that’s not cool.
So where do these two platforms stand on ease-of-use.
Let’s cut to the chase.
Wix has built a booming business on ease-of-use. This platform is the king of drag-and-drop functionality, and setting up a nice-looking website couldn’t be easier.
But there’s more to this story…
When you’re looking at ease of design, Wix wins. But when you start trying to build the ecommerce elements, you may start stumbling a bit.
When you’re setting up products, structure is important. There are many pieces of any product puzzle, and you need them well-organized and easy to access. This is where Shopify shines.
In summary…
Both platforms are very easy to use. But if you’re setting up an ecommerce store, you’ll find Shopify a bit more intuitive in this area.
And since we’re evaluating these as ecommerce platforms, Shopify wins.
SEO-Friendliness
I talked a bit about SEO earlier with a nod to Wix’s Flash-based beginnings. But this site has come a LONG way towards SEO-friendliness since those days.
Wix is now an html-based website with all the great features you’ll find in any great ecommerce platform.
Both Wix and Shopify include SEO features like:
- Customizable title tags and meta descriptions
- Customizable URL slugs
- Image alt tags
- SEO best practice suggestions
When it comes to SEO, this is SUCH a close race that it’s almost completely a tie. But I’m ranking Shopify slightly higher because it does a better job at addressing duplicate content issues through automatic tagging. Google despises duplicate content, so this is important.
But to be honest…
There’s no bad choice here. Both Wix and Shopify are very SEO-friendly platforms.
Pricing Comparison
Remembering that Wix offers non-ecommerce plans too, we’re going to focus on Basic and above here. Because if you’ve read this far, you’re looking for ecommerce functionality.
To make the closest comparison on the entry level plan, let’s look at Wix Business Unlimited vs Shopify Basic.
As you can see from the above chart, Wix offers a slightly cheaper entry-level option, but you may get what you pay for.
Shopify offers some of the best customer service in the industry, and it’s available at all levels. With Shopify Plans, you also don’t have to worry about any storage limits.
So even though the basic Wix ecommerce plan is $9 cheaper, Shopify offers a better value for your money.
If you want more details on Shopify’s pricing, I broke it down here. This post will give you all the details on Shopify’s plans, including tips on choosing the right one for your business.
Wix vs Shopify: Which Platform Wins in 2019?
Overall, it’s a very interesting race in the Wix vs Shopify contest.
But there is a clear winner.
If you’re looking to setup an ecommerce-focused website, I’d recommend Shopify over Wix any day.
This platform was specifically designed for ecommerce businesses, and every part of Shopify’s operation caters to making your life as an ecommerce store owner easy.
This isn’t to say that Wix is a bad choice. Actually, there are a few scenarios where you may want to choose Wix over Shopify.
Let’s explore…
If you already have a Wix site and are a huge fan of the platform, you may find it easier to upgrade your plan and add the ecommerce element to your current shop.
Otherwise, you’d have to migrate your website and learn a new platform. And while there may be cases where you want to do this, it’s probably not necessary for 50 products or less.
Another time when Wix may be a better option is when your business plan includes just a few (maybe 10 or fewer) products or services. In this case, the things that make Shopify more appealing become less relevant.
Just don’t forget…
With Wix, you still won’t be able to sell your products on social channels. And if this is a make-or-break feature, you’re going to want to choose Shopify over Wix.
With all that said…
If you’re still on the fence, there’s only one thing to do.
Give them each a shot.
Shopify offers a 14-day free trial on all its plans, so you can take your time to setup your store and get a feel for how this platform works with your needs.
Try Shopify for free and get more than just an ecommerce solution. Sell anywhere, to anyone, with Shopify's ecommerce platform and point of sale features.
With Wix, you can signup for a free site and see how you like it’s basic site-building features. Just keep in mind that this won’t tell you whether Wix will work for your ecommerce store.
Sign up Wix for free and build customized online website with eCommerce platform and selling option with mobile app experience to build business and community for you.
If you want to test Wix for ecommerce, you’ll have to pay $20 upfront for their Business Basic plan. There’s really no way around it.
But you may be happy to learn…
Wix offers a 14-day Money Back Guarantee on all premium plans. So even though you have to fork over 20 bucks upfront, you can get it back if Wix doesn’t work for your business.
Either way, there’s no real risk.
But it’s worth noting…
Shopify’s free trial and Wix’s 14-day Money Back guarantee aren’t the same. With Shopify, you get 2 weeks free whether you love or hate the platform. With Wix, you pay for those days, and you’ll only get a refund if you switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shopify vs Wix: which is the absolute best?
Shopify. Overall rating: Wix 4.3 Shopify: 4.7.
Shopify vs Wix which one is more expensive?
Wix Business Unlimited vs. Shopify Basic: Shopify is more expensive.
Shopify vs Wix 2020 – Which is Best for an Online Store?
Wix is better for small online stores. Shopify is better for larger stores.
Wix vs Shopify | What’s the Best Ecommerce Platform?
Shopifty.
Conclusion
When it comes to battling it out between Wix vs Shopify, both are great platforms that have been around for nearly 15 years.
Wix vs Shopify is also about level in popularity.
But when you start peeling back the layers, you’ll see that Wix’s popularity has a lot to do with its free plan and general-use website creator.
On the other hand…
Shopify’s success is based solely on its ecommerce application. Its ecommerce and marketing features are simply superior to Wix.
That’s why it wins this battle and is the better choice for ecommerce.
So what do you think?
Have you ever tried Wix’s ecommerce plan? How do you think it stands up to Shopify?