If You’re Choosing Between WordPress and Wix, Here’s the Honest Truth
When you’re setting up a new website—whether it’s for your business, side hustle, or community group—one of the first decisions you’ll face is: Which platform should I use?
Two of the biggest names you’ll come across are WordPress and Wix. Both claim to make building a website “easy.” And to be fair, they do. But “easy” doesn’t always mean “better”—especially when you start looking at things like control, flexibility, and how much freedom you actually have to make your site your own.
Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense, without the tech jargon.
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is what’s called a Content Management System (CMS). It’s open-source, which basically means it’s free to use and not owned by one company. It’s the engine behind over 40% of all websites online. That includes everything from blogs to news sites to eCommerce stores.
You can host a WordPress site anywhere, and you have full access to everything behind the scenes.
What Is Wix?
Wix is a website builder. It’s an all-in-one platform where you sign up, pick a template, and start dragging and dropping things into place. Hosting, design tools, and updates are all handled by Wix, which means you don’t have to worry about much—until you want to do something outside the box.
WordPress vs Wix: A Straightforward Comparison
Let’s compare them in the areas that actually matter for most businesses:
✅ Customisation & Flexibility
WordPress:
You can build just about anything—from a one-page brochure site to a full-scale online store. Want to add a booking system? Membership area? Integrate with third-party tools? No problem.Wix:
Great for simple sites. But once you start needing features that aren’t built into the platform, you’re limited. You often need to pay for extras, and sometimes what you want just isn’t possible on Wix.
Winner: WordPress—because you’re not boxed in.
✅ Design Control
WordPress:
Thousands of themes are available, and you can customise the layout however you like (or have a developer do it). You’re not stuck with the original template.Wix:
Easy to design at first—but once a template is set, it’s tricky to change without rebuilding the site. It also doesn’t offer the same design flexibility.
Winner: WordPress—for long-term design freedom.
✅ Content Ownership
WordPress:
You own your website and your data. You can download everything, move hosts, or change platforms if you ever want to. No lock-in.Wix:
Your site lives entirely on Wix’s servers. If you want to move away from Wix, you basically need to rebuild your site from scratch.
Winner: WordPress—because ownership matters.
✅ Ease of Use
WordPress:
There’s a learning curve. But once it’s set up (especially if we help you), updating your site is pretty straightforward.Wix:
Easier for beginners. If you just want to get a site up quickly without thinking about anything technical, it does the job.
Winner: Wix—for basic DIY sites. WordPress for anything beyond that.
✅ Long-Term Value
WordPress:
More effort up front, but it grows with you. You won’t need to switch platforms later or hit frustrating limits as your business expands.Wix:
Fine for basic websites, but it can become restrictive or expensive as your needs grow.
Winner: WordPress—for businesses planning to grow.
Why We Recommend WordPress (And Use It Ourselves)
At Ezyweb, we help everyday Australians build websites they can actually own—not just rent from a closed platform. We don’t just set up your site and leave you hanging either. Whether you want a simple layout or a fully custom setup, we’re here to make WordPress work for you.
The big difference with WordPress is that you’re in control. You’re not relying on one company to decide what you can or can’t do with your website.
The Bottom Line
If you’re tossing up WordPress vs Wix, ask yourself:
Do I want full control over my website?
Will I need to add features later on?
Do I want the freedom to switch hosts or make design changes without rebuilding everything?
If you answered yes to any of those, WordPress is likely the better option. And if you want help setting it up or managing it long-term, that’s what we do every day.
Need help deciding what’s right for your business? Get in touch—we’ll walk you through it in plain English.
