Should I use Wix or WordPress?
There are hundreds of options available for website construction, and often there is a debate between Wix and WordPress. So, which is better? We have to establish that these two software options are slightly different in terms of website development. Wix is a ‘website builder’, regarded as extremely easy to use for beginners and accessible to the wider population. Whilst also widely accessible, WordPress is a content management system (CMS), which provides users with more creative control and the ability to create highly customisable websites. Why is WordPress the best option for Orangedot Media?
Firstly, the ways that websites are constructed using these two options differ from each other. Wix boasts a self-explanatory, easy-to-use ‘drag-and-drop’ website building function where features are moved across the page and placed where they are required. Whereas, WordPress uses a ‘block editor’ function allowing for more incorporation of coding knowledge and plugins. Both software options offer basic foundations to kickstart a website build, with Wix providing over 800 templates and WordPress offering thousands of theme options that can be further customised. The main limitation of Wix is the inability to alter the template that was first selected without restarting the website build. In this way, Wix is very limited in customisation ability in comparison to WordPress which has a theoretically limitless ability to customise websites, especially with expert knowledge of coding. At Orangedot Media, WordPress is the best option for us to use for website development because our developers can use their capacity to code in order to enhance websites.
This then leads to the next point of plugin availability. Although Wix allows plugins, the options are limited and closely monitored. This is to ensure that they work properly however, as a result, customisation is once again limited. On the contrary, there are over 59 000 plugins compatible with WordPress software so it is likely that any advanced features that are requested have already been developed and can be incorporated into your website using plugins. Due to this limitless customisation and the ability for externally-developed plugins to be used, the extensions are susceptible to breaking down. Luckily, the website developers at Orangedot Media are able to troubleshoot issues and ensure that your site is always running smoothly and efficiently.
Not only are custom plugins available, but SEO plugins can also be used as part of website construction using WordPress. Wix only allows basic SEO functions and advanced ones are to be used with more expensive plans. Likewise, the basic SEO tools can be exceeded with premium packages of paid plugins with WordPress. In terms of SEO, both software options can provide adequate optimisation in line with the needs of your business. However, once again, WordPress allows for more customisation of SEO requirements using these plugins compared to the SEO packages included in the ‘unlimited’ plan on Wix.
One of the other disadvantages of using Wix instead of WordPress is that you can’t use a custom domain name and therefore your website URL will look something like username.wix.com/sitename. In comparison, in order to use WordPress, you must have your own domain name and web hosting. From a web user’s perspective, the use of a custom domain name certainly looks more professional than the one generated by Wix. It is essential that your website comes across as sophisticated and professional rather than generic and basic. This is why we use WordPress, to ensure your site has a custom domain name to reflect the professionalism of your business.
Overall, WordPress comes out as the better option for premium website development, compared to Wix. With the skill of our expert developers who have the knowledge to be able to code and have the ability to incorporate this skill into the construction of your website, WordPress facilitates a more ‘tech-savvy’ approach to website builds. For beginners who are looking for easy-to-use software and a generic website, Wix may be the best option. But WordPress provides the software to create a unique and refined website that will stand the test of time.
