Table of Contents
Our Verdict
Shopify emerges as the winner of this comparison.
One of the reasons Shopify wins this comparison is that it is more adept at helping medium to large e-commerce businesses that prioritize sales, have a large inventory, and serve multicultural customer bases.
In addition, Shopify:
- Offers more than 6,000 e-commerce-specific integrations to streamline operations like inventory management and dropshipping.
- Optimized for online selling.
- Provides highly responsive themes prepared for both desktop and mobile functionality.
- Renders round-the-clock support through phone, chat, and email.
- Provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily set up and customize your online stores without needing extensive technical knowledge.
- Integrates with multiple payment gateways, allowing you to accept payments from customers using credit cards, PayPal, and other popular payment methods.
Wix, on the other hand, is also cool. With Wix’s exceptional drag-and-drop editor, you can effortlessly create a stellar website. You can access a diverse collection of over 800 free templates, allowing easy customization to suit your preferences. More so, Wix offers reliable web hosting and domain name options, both free and paid, helping you to seamlessly undergo your website-building process from start to finish.
While both Wix and Shopify excel in simplifying the creation of visually appealing websites with e-commerce capabilities, Wix stands out for its remarkable flexibility and vast array of template options, going the extra mile to cater to diverse business needs.
Bottom line: Note that Shopify is better suited for businesses primarily focused on e-commerce, while Wix is a better choice for those looking to create a broader range of websites with simpler needs. So, evaluate your specific business requirements, budget, and long-term goals to determine which platform aligns best with your objectives.
Why Choose Shopify
Who Shopify is Best For
Choose Shopify if you:
- Need an intuitive interface for your business.
- Run your e-commerce business across borders.
- Desire a platform that comes with an intuitive interface.
- Need help with the process of building and launching an online store.
- Have little to no knowledge about programming and coding.
- Seek a platform that supports multiple currencies.
- Want your business to reach customers in different languages.
Who Shopify is Not Right For
Don’t choose Shopify if you:
- Want a low-cost, budget-friendly e-commerce platform for your business.
- Consider customer assistance a top priority in your business.
- Need less expensive themes.
- Prioritize content management because Shopify is focused on product selling.
- Want a less expensive application, as Shopify’s app costs $39.99 per month.
Why Choose Wix
Who Wix is Best For
Choose Wix if you:
- Run a small business or startup.
- Need plenty of applications and integrations for your business operations.
- Engage in content creation and freelancing.
- Want a website builder that supports event planning.
- Desire a reliable web hosting company.
- Need a user-friendly platform that offers intuitive editors.
- Seek templates that come with interminable customization options.
Who Wix is Not Right For
Don’t choose Wix if you:
- Want easy data migration to other platforms.
- Seek unlimited monetization options.
- Want access to third-party apps and plugins.
- Need a fast-loading website.
Main Differences
| Shopify | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ideal For |
Medium to large business enterprises that are sales-oriented and need extensive inventory, and a multilingual customer base. |
Small businesses, content creators, and bloggers who value a user-friendly platform that doesn’t involve cutting-edge tools. |
|
Pricing |
Has five different plans including $5/mo for the Starter plan, $29/mo for the Basic plan, $79/mo for the Shopify plan, $299/mo for the Advanced plan, and $2,000/mo for the Shopify Plus plan. |
Offers 14 days free trial.
It takes $27 per month for the basic plan, $32 monthly for the Business Unlimited plan, and $159 for the VIP plan per month.
|
|
Account Integration |
Shopify offers over 6,000 e-commerce integrations. |
Wix has 300 integrations. |
Standout Features
Shopify
SEO Optimization
Shopify includes built-in SEO features that help you optimize your online store for search engines, including customizable meta tags, clean URLs, and automatic sitemap generation, so you can attract organic traffic and improve your search engine rankings.
Provides Secure Payment Processing
Shopify offers built-in payment processing, as well as support for over 100 external payment gateways, ensuring secure transactions for your customers and providing flexibility in payment options.
Has Extensive App Store
Shopify’s App Store offers a wide range of apps and integrations to enhance your store’s functionality, from marketing tools to inventory management solutions.
Gives You Mobile Responsive Themes
All Shopify themes are fully responsive, ensuring that your online stores look and perform well on mobile devices, which is essential for reaching and engaging with your customers on smartphones and tablets.
PRO TIPS >>> Best Ecommerce Platforms for Online Store
Wix
Provides Drag-and-Drop Editor
Wix’s drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily create and customize your websites by simply dragging and dropping elements onto the page, making website building intuitive and accessible for users of all skill levels.
Runs Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI)
Wix ADI is an innovative feature that uses artificial intelligence to design a personalized website based on your preferences and needs. It guides you through the website creation process, suggesting layouts, images, and content, and letting you create professional-looking websites quickly and easily.
Comes with Built-in SEO Tools
Wix helps you to optimize your websites for search engines, including customizable meta tags, clean URLs, and automatic sitemap generation, making it easier for you to improve your search engine rankings and attract organic traffic.
Pros and Cons of Shopify
Pros
- Has an extensive app store.
- Provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, email, and social media, complemented by comprehensive resources such as FAQs, documentation, video tutorials, and community forums.
- Comes with over 90 mobile responsive themes.
- Provides extensive customization of storefront themes and integration with third-party apps.
- Offers multiple sales channels.
- Gives you customizable designs.
Cons
- Comes with a significant learning curve.
- Charges high fees beyond its pricing plans.
- Doesn’t provide email hosting.
- Offers limited built-in features.
Pros and Cons of Wix
Pros
- Offers an impressive drag-and-drop editor.
- Provides over 900 professionally designed templates tailored to various industries and website needs.
- Renders AI-driven tools, guiding you through onboarding, website design, content creation, email marketing, and more.
- Provides personalized SEO tools that help you drive targeted traffic to your pages.
- Offers a free plan where you can familiarize yourself with its products and services.
Cons
- Has limited storage space except for the most expensive plan.
- Does not allow you to swap your preferred template once your website is launched.
- Comes with expensive plans.
- Difficult to wrap your head around, especially if you’re new to web construction.
Customer Reviews
In this section, Wix wins the comparison based on customer reviews. On Trustpilot, Shopify holds a rating of 1.2 out of 5 from 920 reviews. About 89% of customers express high dissatisfaction in areas such as poor customer support, high cost, issues with site functionality, and payment issues, among others. Meanwhile, 7% of the reviewers applauded Shopify for being excellent in service delivery, and a good e-commerce site for business, among others. But Forbes thinks differently about Shopify with a rating of 4.5 out of 5. Can you imagine the delta?
Wix, however, holds a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from over 15,000 reviews. About 73% of the customers gave it 5 stars, expressing high customer satisfaction in areas such as ease of use, cost, and customer support, among many other factors. On Forbes, Wix holds an A+ with customers showing great satisfaction in customer service. Although, there were a few complaints here and there regarding common issues. These included bad payment experiences, slow site speeds, and difficulty migrating data from Wix to another platform.
Based on the mixed feelings and reactions people have toward Shopify and Wix, you can see that choosing a platform that aligns with your business requirements and goals still requires your own judgment.
GET SMARTER >>> Wix Domain Registrar Review
Competitors
WooCommerce
Choose WooCommerce if you need an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. The company is a powerful e-commerce platform that offers seamless extensions and integrations, flexible customization, and powerful e-commerce features to help you manage your online store effectively. The platform offers you two opportunities; one is to sell online, and two is to build online stores for others. You also get access to a large community, a wide range of plugins and themes, and affordable pricing plans.
Bear in mind, some of the shortfalls of using WooCommerce. First off, you must be a WordPress user. It also has limited customization capabilities and comes with additional costs, especially for plugins and themes.
BigCommerce
Pick BigCommerce as it presents an ideal option if you’re seeking an e-commerce platform that redefines the industry with its innovative philosophy. Through its Open SaaS solution, the platform seamlessly merges the convenience of SaaS with the flexibility of API integration.
With this approach, BigCommerce empowers your business with unprecedented freedom to swiftly integrate enterprise tools and effortlessly customize your online store. The platform also caters to your diverse needs, whether you’re an experienced professional or venturing into new opportunities.
So, if you’re seeking scalability to navigate the global shift towards online shopping, agility to adapt and flourish, and essential back-office integrations, BigCommerce eliminates proprietary barriers, allowing your business to thrive without limitations.
Squarespace
Consider Squarespace if you’re seeking a versatile website builder renowned for its sleek design templates and user-friendly interface. Whether you’re creating a portfolio, blog, or online store, Squarespace offers a range of customizable templates and intuitive tools to bring your vision to life.
With features like built-in SEO tools, integrated analytics, and e-commerce functionality, Squarespace empowers you to seamlessly create professional-looking websites. Also, Squarespace provides reliable hosting and customer support, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. Even if you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, Squarespace offers the tools and support you need to build a stunning online presence.
Mind you, Squarespace doesn’t allow you to switch templates, provides no phone support, has no multi-currency selling feature, offers an inadequate amount of integrations, and does not support Google Pay. If these features are crucial to your business, you may have to reconsider your choice.
Ecwid
Ecwid seamlessly integrates with existing websites or social media platforms, making it easy for businesses to sell products online. If you’re seeking a relatively cheap platform, that offers good point-of-sale features, allows you to sell on any website, comes with a totally free plan, and has a feature for automatic tax calculation, Ecwid is your choice.
With Ecwid, you can set up and customize your online store quickly, without the need for technical expertise. The platform offers a range of features, including product management, inventory tracking, payment processing, and shipping options, to help you manage your online sales effectively. Ecwid also provides a responsive design, ensuring that your store looks great and functions smoothly on any device.
Unfortunately, Ecwid provides support for mobile POS only for iOS devices. You also have limited integrations and phone support.
Pro Tips
- Write compelling and detailed product descriptions to attract customers and improve SEO.
- Use high-resolution images to showcase your products effectively and enhance the overall shopping experience.
- Integrate email marketing tools to build customer relationships, send targeted campaigns, and drive repeat purchases.
- Use high-resolution images to showcase your products effectively and enhance the overall shopping experience.
- Use built-in discount features to incentivize purchases and attract more customers.
- Optimize your website for search engines by using relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and alt tags to improve visibility and attract organic traffic.
- Personalize your customers’ shopping experience with targeted product recommendations, email campaigns, and special offers.
- Implement security measures like SSL certificates and secure payment gateways to protect customer data and build trust.
- Keep up-to-date with the latest features, updates, and best practices by attending webinars, reading blogs, and participating in forums to stay ahead of the curve.
- Continuously test different strategies, layouts, and features on your store to identify what works best for your audience and optimize performance.
- Offer discounts and promotions.
- Simplify the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment rates, such as offering guest checkout and multiple payment options.
Recap
If you’re seeking an e-commerce platform that helps medium to large-scale enterprises to grow, prioritize sales, build large inventory, and provide services to customers from all walks of life, choose Shopify. You also have access to over 6,000 e-commerce integrations, highly responsive themes, consistent customer support, and several payment methods.
For Wix, you get to enjoy an amazing drag-and-drop editor with access to over 800 free diverse kinds of templates you can use to build an incredible website. You can also leverage the company’s reliable web hosting and domain name options. For both paid and free plans.
Depending on what your business needs, budgets, and preferences are, ensure you factor in the necessary so you can make informed decisions.
