Every day, the e-commerce scene grows bigger and better, offering entrepreneurs endless possibilities for starting their online shops.
Wix and Shopify are top choices for building e-commerce websites among the many available tools.
But which one is better? Let’s explore Shopify vs. Wix for e-commerce and see which platform best suits your needs, whether you’re interested in dropshipping or regular e-commerce selling. We’ll look at both platforms’ pros and cons so you can make an informed decision for your online business.
Shopify VS Wix –Overall Review
While both platforms offer website-building solutions, their core strengths lie in different areas. Wix caters to a broader audience seeking to create websites with diverse functionalities, including basic e-commerce. On the other hand, Shopify is built from the ground up for seamless online selling.
Let’s review some specific features that differentiate Wix vs. Shopify for e-commerce success:
Ease of Use
Regarding user-friendliness, both Wix and Shopify aim to make your journey as smooth as possible. But, of course, they both focus on different aspects. Let’s check them out.
- Shopify: This platform is renowned for its user-friendly interface, explicitly tailored to managing online stores. From setting up products to processing orders and managing inventory, Shopify streamlines the e-commerce process with intuitive navigation and clearly labeled features. While the initial learning curve might be steep, Shopify’s interface becomes increasingly intuitive for e-commerce. With guided tutorials and online resources, Shopify confidently empowers users to explore the complexities of online selling.
- Wix excels in beginner-friendliness with its drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to create stunning websites without any coding knowledge. The intuitive interface enables users to customize their websites easily, rearranging elements and adding content with simple clicks. However, when adding e-commerce features, such as setting up product listings and configuring payment gateways, Wix’s simplicity may give way to a learning curve. Users may explore multiple settings and options to achieve their desired e-commerce functionality.
Shopify vs. Wix: Which one is easier to use?
While Wix caters to users seeking simplicity in website design, Shopify focuses on providing a streamlined e-commerce experience. However, customer reviews reveal that Shopify has the most straightforward user experience on both platforms.
Pricing
As with any voyage, the cost of the journey is a crucial consideration, so we can’t pass it by when reviewing Shopify vs. Wix for ecommerce. On one side, Wix boasts a free plan but doesn’t have access to e-commerce functionalities. Paid plans unlock e-commerce features, with prices starting at $7/month and very limited features. Wix’s recommended plan is the Business one, which costs $22/month.
Shopify takes a different approach. Their pricing starts at $19/month and includes all the key e-commerce features you need to launch your store. Higher-tier plans offer increased features, of course. Shopify also boasts a convenient system for withdrawing funds you’ve earned through your store, ensuring a smooth flow of revenue. Additionally, there are no transaction fees when using their Shopify Payments service, simplifying finances and eliminating hidden costs.
Shopify vs. Wix: Which one is more affordable?
Shopify is better if you want to start a serious business with all the e-commerce features. But if you’re not ready to spend a lot or want to see how things work, Wix is worth checking out.
Scalability & Advanced Features
As your e-commerce business flourishes, your chosen platform needs to keep pace. Scalability is a crucial aspect to consider.
- Wix: In this area, the platform faces some limitations. While it offers basic e-commerce features, its infrastructure might need help to support a rapidly growing product catalog or high-traffic volumes. While some e-commerce apps are available, the selection is significantly smaller than Shopify’s, which can limit your ability to add specialized features for e-commerce needs.
- Shopify: This is the area where Shopify shines. Its robust infrastructure handles large product catalogs, high traffic volumes, and fast-growing businesses. Furthermore, Shopify boasts a massive app store with over 6,000 apps. There, you’ll find a treasure trove of e-commerce-specific apps. From advanced shipping integrations to fraud prevention and customer loyalty programs, the Shopify app store empowers you to customize your store and unlock its full potential.
It’s important to note that both platforms also help scale regular e-commerce and dropshipping ventures. However, Shopify’s app integration provides added convenience and efficiency in product sourcing and order fulfillment, which makes dropshipping Shopify a great idea.
Shopify vs. Wix: Which one is easier to scale?
Regarding scalability and advanced features, Shopify is the clear winner. Unlike Wix, Shopify offers a vast app store, providing users with a wide range of tools and equips users with everything they need to scale their online business.
Customer Support
When technical difficulties arise, or you have questions about optimizing your store, reliable customer support becomes crucial. Let’s explore how Wix and Shopify handle customer service needs.
- Wix: They offer email and callback support for users subscribed to paid plans. However, availability can be limited, potentially leading to frustrating wait times. Social media channels serve as another avenue for seeking help, but user reports indicate inconsistent response times. Wix also offers a chatbot (WixBot) as a first line of defense. While WixBot can address basic inquiries, complex issues require escalating to a human representative, which is not always easy.
- Shopify: The platform has a straightforward and accessible support system, providing 24/7 email, chat, and telephone assistance. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned entrepreneur, Shopify’s dedicated support team is readily available to address queries, troubleshoot issues, and provide guidance at every step. Furthermore, Shopify boasts an extensive online help center featuring comprehensive guides, FAQs, and tutorials, catering to users seeking self-help resources.
Shopify vs. Wix: Which one has better customer support?
When it comes to customer support, Shopify beats Wix. Shopify is committed to helping users quickly and reliably, offering plenty of self-help resources. While Wix has good support, user reports show Shopify is better. Shopify makes it easy for users to get help, setting a high standard for customer service in online business. However, connecting with a human agent isn’t the easiest adventure on either platform.
Design Flexibility & Templates
Wix and Shopify have different ways of helping users design their websites. Wix offers over 800 design templates, letting users customize their sites to match their brand and style. It has a drag-and-drop editor, which makes it easy to create beautiful websites without any coding knowledge. Plus, it has an Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) editor that can generate designs based on what users want for their business.
On the other hand, Shopify provides around 80 free templates to enhance customers’ shopping experience. These templates are carefully crafted to work seamlessly with e-commerce features like product listings and checkout processes. Shopify also offers paid premium themes with more customization.
Shopify vs. Wix: Which one has better design flexibility?
This one is a fair tie. The choice between Wix and Shopify for design depends on what’s important to you and your business. Wix is great if you want lots of freedom to customize your site’s appearance. Shopify is better if you’re considering creating a functional online store with features optimized for selling products. Both platforms have something to offer, so it’s all about what suits your needs best.
Marketing & SEO Tools
Regarding marketing and SEO tools, both Wix and Shopify have powerful features to help businesses attract and engage customers. Let’s explore them more in-depth.
- Wix: It has many built-in marketing tools, including email marketing, SEO optimization, and blogging features. It lets users easily create targeted email campaigns, optimize their website for search engines, and publish engaging blog posts. Additionally, Wix integrates seamlessly with popular social media platforms, helping increase brand visibility and enabling cross-channel marketing efforts.
- Shopify: It provides key marketing tools designed to drive traffic and increase conversions for online stores. While Shopify’s marketing features may not be as extensive as Wix’s, they cover the basics such as email marketing, social media integration, and discount code creation. Shopify also integrates with third-party apps, letting users access specialized tools for customer retention, abandoned cart recovery, and influencer marketing. Also, Shopify’s focus on e-commerce optimization extends to its SEO features, with built-in tools to optimize product pages, meta tags, and URLs for better search engine visibility.
Shopify vs. Wix: Which one has better marketing and SEO tools?
With its cohesive, built-in marketing tools, Wix comes out on top in this category, but Shopify has the best SEO features. Regarding marketing features, Shopify leans heavily on external applications, which sometimes can cost extra money. However, both platforms offer the fundamental marketing tools needed, including email, SEO, analytics, and blogging features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Is Cheaper: Shopify or Wix?
Wix usually has cheaper options compared to Shopify. Their paid plans with e-commerce options start at $11/month and go up. Shopify’s basic e-commerce plan starts at $19/month, more expensive than Wix’s starting plans. However, Shopify’s transparent pricing and wide range of e-commerce tools make it a good choice for serious online businesses.
Is Wix More Flexible When It Comes To Site Design?
Wix is famous for its easy-to-use design tools. Their drag-and-drop editor lets users customize their websites without knowing how to code. The platform offers over 800 design templates and many design elements and widgets so users can create beautiful websites. While Shopify also lets users customize their sites, especially for e-commerce, Wix’s drag-and-drop editor is more straightforward and better for beginners.
Why Is Shopify A Better Option When Dropshipping?
Shopify is often seen as the top choice for dropshipping because of its specialized e-commerce features and robust infrastructure. It integrates smoothly with popular dropshipping apps like AutoDS, making it simple for users to import products from suppliers and automate order processing. Shopify also provides robust inventory management tools, order tracking, and built-in payment gateways, streamlining the dropshipping process. This allows users to concentrate on growing their business without the headache of inventory management. Shopify’s scalability and reliability make it perfect for expanding dropshipping businesses and effortlessly handling large order volumes.
Conclusion
In this comparison of Shopify and Wix for ecommerce, it was found that Shopify is well-suited for managing online stores, while Wix is considered more user-friendly for beginners. However, in terms of business expansion, Shopify’s transparent pricing, robust SEO tools, and strong support make it a top choice.
Although Wix may initially appear more cost-effective, Shopify’s upfront pricing and advanced e-commerce capabilities provide better value, particularly for established businesses. Furthermore, as businesses scale, Shopify’s reliable infrastructure ensures smooth operations. Whether you prioritize design flexibility with Wix or streamlined online sales with Shopify, both platforms cater to a wide range of e-commerce needs.
