WordPress vs Wix: Best Platform for Local Business Sites

Need a website for your business? Here's what you need to know in 30 seconds:

WordPress is best if you:

• Want full control over your site
• Have a tight budget ($3-25/month)
• Don't mind learning basic tech skills
• Need unlimited products/features

Wix is best if you:

• Need a site up fast (1-3 hours)
• Want everything handled for you
• Don't want to touch code
• Can spend $17-159/month

Bottom line: WordPress gives you more power but takes time to learn. Wix makes things easy but costs more and limits what you can do. Pick WordPress if you want control and lower costs. Choose Wix if you need a site today and don't mind paying for convenience.

Want the full breakdown? Keep reading for a detailed comparison of costs, features, and real business examples.

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How WordPress and Wix Work

Here's what you need to know about getting started with each platform.

WordPress Basics and Costs

WordPress.org needs three core pieces to work:

Most people go with hosts like Bluehost ($1.99/month) or SiteGround ($2.99/month) - they come with WordPress ready to go. You'll also need:

• A theme for your site's look ($0-100)
• Plugins to add features ($0-200/year)
• Time to handle security updates yourself

Wix Setup and Pricing

Wix puts everything in one package:

Plans start at $17/month for basic sites and go up to $159/month for big online stores. Every plan comes with:

• SSL certificate at no extra cost
• Built-in site protection
• Sites that work on phones
• 900+ templates to pick from

"We update our images each season and change our menu daily. Plus, we can send newsletters through Wix email marketing", says Matthew Widdowson from Five Fields Restaurant.

Here's the bottom line: WordPress lets you control EVERYTHING but needs more work. Wix does the tech stuff FOR you but limits your options.

What Local Businesses Need

How Easy Is It to Build a Site?

Building a website doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what you get with each platform:

Wix keeps it simple: point, click, and you're done. Their AI can build a basic site in just 60 seconds. WordPress takes longer but gives you complete control over your site.

Must-Have Local Business Tools

Each platform comes with different tools out of the box:

Total Cost Breakdown

Here's what you'll pay with each platform:

Making Changes to Your Site

Want to update your site? Here's how each platform handles changes:

Site Speed and Search Results

How your site performs matters for business:

"We update our images each season and change our menu daily. Plus, we can send newsletters through Wix email marketing", says Matthew Widdowson from Five Fields Restaurant.

What Each Platform Does Best

Why Choose WordPress

WordPress puts you in the driver's seat of your business website. Here's what makes it different:

Big names like The White House, Mercedes-Benz, and Disney run on WordPress. That's proof it works for ANY size business.

Want the tools that local businesses love? Here they are:

• WPForms: 6+ million sites use it for contact forms
• All in One SEO: 3+ million sites boost rankings with it
• Hosting starts at $2.75/month through Bluehost

Why Choose Wix

Wix is your fast track to getting online. Here's the breakdown:

Everything comes built-in:

Wix fits you if you want to:

• Build without touching code
• Launch your site FAST
• Keep all tools in one spot
• Pay one simple fee
• Handle updates yourself

"WordPress beats Wix with flexible plans available from a variety of web hosting companies." - Author Unknown

Here's the bottom line: WordPress gives you MORE power. Wix makes things EASIER. Pick based on your tech skills and how much time you can spend on your site.

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Picking Based on Business Size

Here's what you need to know about WordPress and Wix for different business sizes:

Small Business Needs

Small businesses want quick setup and budget-friendly options. Let's compare:

Wix comes with everything a small business needs right out of the box: contact forms, booking systems, business hours, maps, and social media tools.

WordPress costs less but needs more work to set up. Here's the price breakdown:

• Hosting: $2.95/month (first year)
• Domain: $10-15/year
• SSL: Free with hosting
• Basic plugins: Free

Mid-Size Business Needs

Mid-size businesses need more power. Here's how these platforms stack up:

WordPress works better for growing businesses because you can:

• Run multiple location sites
• Set specific page permissions
• Add features when needed
• Move data between sites

Wix puts some limits on growth:

• One site per subscription
• Basic team controls
• Fixed storage space
• Less data flexibility

If your business makes $10,000+ monthly, WordPress gives you more room to grow with:

• Custom development options
• Advanced plugins
• Complete data control
• Flexible hosting choices

Switching Between Platforms

Here's what happens when you move between WordPress and Wix:

Moving from WordPress to Wix? Here's what to do:

1. Back up WordPress: Save all your files
2. Set up Wix: Pick your plan and template
3. Move domain: Get transfer code and unlock it
4. Update DNS: Point it to Wix
5. Copy structure: Rebuild your menu
6. Move files: Upload with matching names
7. Add tools: Set up business apps

Going from Wix to WordPress? Follow these steps:

1. Get WordPress ready: Buy hosting and install
2. Pick theme: Install and customize
3. Move posts: Use RSS feed import
4. Copy pages: Do it by hand (no automatic way)
5. Build menu: Set up navigation
6. Add plugins: Install what you need
7. Fix redirects: Set up 301s
8. Check everything: Test all features

Before you switch, check these basics:

Watch out for these problems:

• Links that don't work
• Missing images
• Changed URLs
• Drop in search rankings
• Email issues

Got a big site? Think about hiring experts. But if you run a small business, you can handle the move yourself with these steps.

Best Choice by Business Type

Service Business Websites

Let's compare WordPress and Wix for service businesses:

Wix is your go-to if you:

• Run a small service business
• Need a website FAST
• Want built-in booking features
• Don't want to mess with code

WordPress makes more sense if you:

• Have multiple locations
• Need specific booking features
• Want total SEO control
• Plan to scale up BIG

Store Websites

Here's what each platform brings to online stores:

Pick Wix if you:

• Have under 50,000 products
• Want to launch FAST
• Need basic inventory tracking
• Just want standard payment options

Go with WordPress when you:

• Stock tons of products
• Need a custom checkout
• Run multiple store locations
• Have complex shipping needs

Bottom line: Both platforms handle basic stores just fine. WordPress gives you more room to grow with plugins, while Wix gets you selling faster but caps your options.

Final Thoughts

Here's a clear breakdown of WordPress vs Wix for local business websites:

Go with WordPress when you:

• Want to keep monthly costs under $25
• Need specific features or tools
• Plan to list over 50,000 products
• Can invest time in learning

Pick Wix when you:

• Must launch within a week
• Want built-in booking and store features
• Like simple monthly pricing
• Don't want to handle technical stuff

Let's talk money over 10 years:

• WordPress: $300-3,000 total (hosting + plugins)
• Wix: $3,240-3,840 total (standard plans)

Here's the bottom line: You can move FROM Wix TO WordPress later - but not the other way around. Pick what matches your current skills and budget. You can always switch platforms as your business gets bigger.

Common Questions

Here's what people ask most about WordPress vs Wix:

The numbers tell the story:

• WordPress: 810 million websites
• Wix: Tens of millions of sites
• WordPress plugins: 60,000+
• Wix apps: 300+

"WordPress beats Wix in most areas. Yes, it takes more time to learn, but it gives you way more freedom than any website builder out there." - Tamara J., Content Editor

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