WooCommerce and Wix are two popular web design tools that are used to start feature-laden web projects. At the same time, they differ in their web design approach, initial implication, target audience and integrated functionality, serving various purposes.
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, which was specially developed to start and manage full-featured eCommerce projects. The plugin lets you set up and customize a shopping cart, using niche-specific tools and features that are a must for professional web store management. Wix is the all-in-one web design platform, which works great for various types of websites, including eCommerce projects. The website builder comes with a distinctive feature set required to run professional websites, irrespective of their specialization and complexity.
Wix is the all-in-one web design platform, which works great for various types of websites, including eCommerce projects. The website builder comes with a distinctive feature set required to run professional websites, irrespective of their specialization and complexity.
WooCommerce and Wix differ in their functionality, design customization tools, integrated eCommerce options, pricing policy and general approach to website creation. It’s close to impossible to single out a leader here as each of these systems is worth user attention and worldwide recognition. However, it makes sense to figure out the pros and cons of both platforms as well as functionality they can provide out of the box. That’s what we are going to do right away.
General Overview
WooCommerce serves as a WordPress eCommerce plugin, which is used to start and run all types of CMS-powered online stores What’s more, the system is included into the list of the most professional eCommerce web design tools available in the contemporary website development niche.
The plugin was founded in 2011 and it has quickly evolved into one of the leaders of the eCommerce market. According to statistics, there are over 5,106,506 websites using WooCommerce out there and this number keeps growing with every passing day. The open-source plugin is a perfect choice for users willing to create feature-laden online stores with high end integrated functionality.
Most users appreciate the opportunity to apply other plugins, when working with WooCommerce. There are multiple extensions you can pick and use for this purpose depending upon your project functionality, complexity and specialization. Mind that WooCommerce is free, while the plugins you can pick for integration can be both free and paid.
Wix has distinguished itself as a world-popular website builder, which delivers advanced out-of-the-box functionality and makes it possible to start all types of websites with regard to your major requirements and project specialization. The system also works great for eCommerce websites, letting its subscribers start and manage small and mid-size online stores. Likewise, you won’t be able to run large-scale eCommerce websites with Wix as the website builder does not focus on this aspect.
The website builder was created in 2006 and it has reached the unspeakable user recognition since that time. As of today, the number of websites the system powers has exceeded 7,043,216 projects and that’s not the final amount yet.
Wix follows the freemium model, which means that there is a free everlasting subscription here as well as several types of paid options, which are quite affordable for the prevailing amount of users.
WooCommerce and Wix are both popular web development platforms. They enjoy user recognition, each serving a certain goal. WooCommerce ideally works for web store development, while Wix covers a broad spectrum of web design goals, including eCommerce website creation.
Which One Is Easier to Use?
WooCommerce has a narrow niche specialization. Its functionality is centered exclusively around web store creation. The undeniable advantage of the website builder is that it is free and quite easy to use. WooCommerce integration doesn’t take much time and effort, yet some coding awareness is preferrable here. To simplify the web store management process, you can stick to guidelines the plugin automatically generates, no matter what skills you have.
With WooCommerce, you can start and manage all types of online stores, ranging from small projects and up to large-scale hypermarkets. By the way, if you need a feature-laden online store, you may additionally pick and integrate other WordPress plugins. Some of them come at extra cost.
WooCommerce customer support may help newbies with plugin installation and settings adjustment. Their assistance may also come in handy, when there is the need to fix some of the obvious bugs. You can additionally reach the FAQ section and community forum to find answers to the plugin-related questions.
Wix comes with a broad range of features and tools provided out of the box. The system works great for all types of projects, including online stores. The only thing is that it is impossible to start large-scale web stores with it – the integrated functionality of the service is enough to start and manage small and medium eCommerce projects only.
The website builder delivers intuitive web design approach understandable to newbies and proficient web developers. Its integrated wizard will help you get started with ease, offering a sequence of steps to be completed to reach the desired result. What’s important, the platform does not imply any coding awareness or web design expertise to create feature-laden projects with it. Due to the integrated WYSIWYG editor, which comes with distinctive drag-and-drop web design approach and availability of the advanced Wix ADI tool, the process of website creation becomes hassle-free, simple and convenient for everyone.
If there is anything you would like to find out about the platform or if you face problems while working on your project, you can reach the Customer Support team to get answers to your questions. This is where you will be able to browse the extensive Knowledge Base with lots of sources that contains answers to the most popular questions. Extra assistance is available via the use of ticketing system or Live Chat. Having subscribed to the Premium Plan, you will be able to opt for VIP support.
Speaking about ease of use, both systems are quite intuitive and simple. Wix stands out from the crowd due to its understandable web design approach as well as several web editing options to choose from. WooCommerce, in its turn, delivers distinctive eCommerce functionality without any coding involved.
Design and Flexibility
WooCommerce and Wix have won user attention due to their powerful integrated functionality. They deliver an extensive selection of features and tools required to start and manage feature-laden products they focus on. Each system, however, works well for the completion of certain tasks. To define their special parameters, merits and demerits, it is reasonable to make their comparison. Read on to find out the things, tools and features WooCommerce and Wix have to offer.
eCommerce
WooCommerce centers exclusively around web store creations and thus, its feature set goes down to eCommerce functionality only. As a specialized WordPress plugin, the system makes it possible to launch and effectively run small-to-large online stores. All in all, the system allows selling around 3000 products.
Apart from shopping cart customization, you will be able to accept online payments/orders, complete user registrations, set up filters to simplify customers’ search, track order statuses, user statistics/behaviour etc. It’s also up to you to set up shopping/tax/payment details based on the geolocation aspect. The plugin also allows creating product catalogues, adding new items and assigning their special parameters, grouping the items by categories, uploading photos and advertising affiliate products. Likewise, it is possible to export/import lists of digital and physical products, when moving between the selected eCommerce platforms.
Opportunity to use the checkout feature is available to plugin users as well. This means that your web store customers can sign up for an account with the system or visit the website as guests. As a web store owner, you can integrate a shipping calculator to the shopping cart page to make the checkout procedure more convenient and simple for them.
As an eCommerce plugin, WooCommerce comes with multiple inventory management tools. They let you control the amount of products available in stock, remove the out-of-stock items from the show window etc. This feature enhances your customer satisfaction rate.
With WooCommerce, you will be able to set up and update loyalty and discount programs, introduce special offers for new and returning customers, create impressive show windows with multiple top products that are worth user attention. Running effective marketing campaigns is possible here as well. Plugin integration doesn’t take much effort and time. Likewise, you don’t have to be a coding pro to use the system. The entire installation process is easy, convenient and quick. If needed, you can pick and integrate extra plugins for more efficient web store performance. These include WooCommerce Multilingual, Yoast SEO and AMP plugins to mention a few.
Wix also excels at eCommerce website development. The website builder has a powerful eCommerce engine, which allows setting up and managing small/medium online stores. Web store connection is realized here via Wix Stores widget integration. This is quite quick and easy even for a first-timer. The only nuance is that the system will hardly work well for a large-scale web store. Its eCommerce functionality is enough to start a small or a medium online store, which, however, will come with powerful integrated functionality provided out of the box.
When running a web store with Wix, you will be able to create stunning show windows, add and manage product galleries, introduce physical/digital products to the target audience, set up tax and pricing settings etc. For more appealing product presentation, you will be able to add product descriptions, upload images and video reviews, implement special offers and promo actions etc.
The website builder grants access to an impressive collection of eCommerce templates, which makes it possible to get a pre-designed web store for further customization. Just pick the theme you like, add products and other related content, upload photos and connect a domain name to go live with it. The entire process does not take much effort, time or skills – building a web store with Wix is easy and quick for everyone. If you expect to target a more extensive audience, the system lets you connect Amazon Marketplace as a separate sales channel to manage customer orders and inventory tools in one place.
The main eCommerce-related features of the website builder include an intuitive product management system, a set of analytic tools, built-in email marketing and payment features, full-width image galleries etc. The system also lets you implement special offers and bonuses to enhance customer shopping experience and boost their loyalty. There is the Apply/Remove Coupon option, which allows creating and removing online coupons when required. What’s more, the software has recently made it possible to use the POS feature to be able to manage your web store both in online and offline modes.
When it tackles the eCommerce aspect, it’s quite difficult to identify the only leader. WooCommerce is a niche-focused system, which means that it specializes in web store development. Wix doesn’t lag behind it as well, offering powerful eCommerce functionality out of the box.
Blogging
WooCommerce does not have an integrated blogging engine. As a WordPress plugin, however, it realizes an opportunity of blog connection by means of integration of corresponding niche third-party extensions. The most popular plugins that work great for this task include UpdraftPlus, Elementor, Everest Form, Jetpack, WPDiscuz, Easy Social Sharing and more.
Wix blogging functionality is on quite a high level. The website builder comes with the built-in blogging engine that allows for simple and convenient blog connection. This is done with a few clicks only. To customize your project, you will further have to add and edit posts, schedule new publications, integrate media files, insert tags and custom feed, add the featured posts section etc. Opportunity to embed a user commenting feature is available here as well. By the way, users will be able to react to other messages not only with tests, but also with emojis and GIF files. This makes the porches of interaction and communication more engaging and entertaining to all the participants of the process.
What’s important, there is no need to be a coding pro to add a blog to your website. Just pick a suitable template (there are many of them here), adjust the settings, add new publications, integrate media files etc. Wix blogs are effectively promoted by means of proper SEO parameters set up and URL customization.
As to blogging, the systems realize this feature differently. While WooCommerce requires integration of external blogging plugins, Wix boasts a powerful integrated blogging engine with multiple features provided out-of-the-box. This simplifies user experience and eliminates the need to learn programming basics.
Third-Party Integrations and Special Features
WooCommerce makes it possible to enhance its eCommerce functionality by means of integrating other WordPress plugins and extensions. They are used for a variety of purposes, depending upon your web store requirements and the result you wish to avail in the long run. Integration of these plugins will let you give your online store extra features, such as blogging or multi language support.
Some of the widgets WooCommerce can integrate with are already built-in, being provided for free. In case you expect to avail deeper flexibility, you can opt for third-party premium extensions developed by other web designers specially for WordPress. To simplify the choice, they are divided into several categories, namely marketing, payment, SEO, payments, web store management, shipping, subscriptions and more. The most well-known plugins are as follows: Cart Add-Ons, Refer a Friend, WooCommerce Multilingual, Yoast SEO, AMP plugin, WooCommerce Payments, Braintree, WooCommerce Deposits, JetPack, WooCommerce Shipping, Google Analytics and many more.
As to special features the plugin offers, it makes sense to mention a geolocation tool that helps spot customers’ addresses. As a result, you will be able to properly control tax and shipping parameters/calculations, adjust discounts and adverts with regard to location parameters, thus enhancing your business marketing success.
WooCommerce makes it possible to choose from several payment options. These include PayPal Standard, WooCommerce Payments, Stripe, Braintree for WooCommerce, Klarna Payments, Check Payments, Cash on Delivery, Direct Bank Transfers. Additionally, it is possible to integrate extra payment add-ons, such as Square, Affirm, Monaris, Opayo, Sage, Authorize.net etc. Regardless of such an extensive selection of payment options, Stripe and PayPal still remain the most popular and widely used solutions.
Wix boasts an extensive choice of widgets and applications available in its integrated App Market. These extensions are free and paid and they come up to various web design goals and requirements. Whatever website-related needs you have, just access the collection of widgets to pick those that adhere to your special preferences and aspirations. This is where you may choose from multiple CTA blocks, integrable forms to fit various niches, user acquisition and customer interaction tools etc.
The software stands out from the crowd due to its integrable high end services like Wix Booking, Wix Hotels, Wix Restaurants, Wix Photography, Wix Events and many more. They are developed to fit various niches and user requirements. Special attention should be devoted to Meet Dine by Wix widget, which works best for restaurant owners. The app simplifies the process of restaurant management, letting users deal with special reservation/order booking options and user interaction solutions. The widget also allows integrating contactless dine-in features to let you serve the visitors at their tables. By using a special QR code, everyone can view the menu and place an order online. Additionally, it is possible to make use of the curbside pickup feature to be served directly in a car without the need to go elsewhere.
Wix has also updated its Event widget to let its subscribers use the Live feature. Users have got an opportunity to host up to 3 online events for free here. If you plan to host more events, you can upgrade to one of the premium subscriptions.
The website builder also enjoys user popularity due to its special features and tools. Thus, Wix Logo Maker makes it possible to design and customize your brand logo to make your business stand out from the crowd. What you need to get started here is to select a template and special elements, provide business-related info and other details to let the system automatically generate several logo variants to pick from.
Wix has much to offer to business owners. There is a high end Ascend platform with over 20 useful tools (Forms, Live Chat, Tasks & Reminders, Inbox, Invoices and Automations etc.) for effective company management and promotion. Likewise, you can set up a Google My Business profile here to drive more traffic and to connect with customers from Google Search and Maps to get in touch with them as required.
Another highlight of the platform is its unique Wix Owner App, which helps manage your business, control project statistics, interact with clients and complete other related tasks on the go. There is also an advanced Wix App Builder that can be used to create branded applications for iOS and Android with no programming knowledge required. This contributes to better mobile experience of users making it possible to receive notifications and updates, place orders, join conversations from their mobile devices.
Thus, both platforms offer extensive integration options. WooCommerce boasts high end compatibility with lots of other WordPress plugins, while Wix stands out from the crowd due to its multiple widgets available in the App Market. In this respect, both systems rank high.
Template Editing
WooCommerce grants access to multiple templates available in the tremendous WordPress collection. The designs are free and paid, with the latter being more secure and reliable. The average cost of premium themes ranges between $29 and $300.
There are lots of themes developed for the CMS that can also be used for WooCommerce projects. The designs are customizable and responsive by default. To make sure the selected design is compatible with WooCommerce, check that out in the search engine by typing the corresponding inquiry. Whatever template you pick, mind that it will require manual set up. Thus, it is desirable to possess at least a baseline web design background.
Speaking about template customization, it’s possible to give the selected design the required look by adjusting its special parameters. This is how you can create and update your web store menu, customize its overall design, integrate third-party widgets etc. Code editing is supported here as well. To give your eCommerce project individual and high end look along with advanced performance, use your programming knowledge to make the required edits.
Wix now offers one of the best template collections in the world. It currently encompasses over 550 high quality themes and this number keeps increasing along with user demand. All Wix themes are mobile-ready and 100% customizable by default. For user convenience, the designs are divided into more than 70 categories with regard to industries they refer to. This helps narrow down the search of the most suitable template, saving effort and time. The website builder lets you pick a blank template to customize it from scratch, if you are not satisfied with themes available in the collection. Mind, however, that there is no template switch option here, which triggers the need to wisely consider the initial design choice.
The website builder comes with two website editing options you can choose from. These include Wix ADI and Standard Editor. The choice of the most suitable solution depends upon user web design proficiency, project complexity, time and budget required. Due to the mobile editing mode, Wix makes it possible to separately set up and customize desktop and mobile view of your website.
Speaking about the design aspect, WooCommerce and Wix both offer quality options. WooCommerce lets you choose from hundreds of WordPress themes it is compatible with, while Wix grants access to hundreds of themes available in its collection right from the start. Design customization options are also on the top level in both platforms, which allows starting quality projects with no coding skills required.
General Pricing Comparison
WooCommerce сan be downloaded and installed for free without any special programming knowledge required. The plugin is available in the official WordPress website or in the standard CMS catalogue.
Additionally, you can get access to multiple extra plugins compatible with WooCommerce. They can be free and paid based upon the functionality they provide. When using WooCommerce, you should also take care of hosting and domain name choice, which also implies extra financial expenditures. Speaking about hosting, Bluehost seems to be the most reasonable and cost-effective solution. The cost of its paid plans starts with $2.95 per month only, which is more than affordable for everyone.
Wix charges reasonable fees for its plans. Apart from the free never-ending plan that lets you test the integrated functionality of the system, it lets you choose a suitable subscription based on your project specialization and web design skills/requirements. The system provides two types of plans to match various needs and objectives. There is a package of Standard Wix plans, the cost of which starts at $13/mo. Likewise, there is a package of subscriptions meant for business/eCommerce use. It also involves a number of more detailed subscriptions. It makes sense to focus on eCommerce plans now as we are comparing Wix with WooCommerce. Here they go.
Business/eCommerce Plans
- Business Basic ($23/mo) – online payments acception;
- Business Unlimited ($27/mo) – integrated eCommerce platform, business development tools, special apps for entrepreneurs etc.;
- Business VIP ($49/mo) – unlimited bandwidth and video storage space, availability of the complete Wix Suite;
- Enterprise ($500/mo) – end-to-end business solution, providing the utmost functionality and maximum amount of tools.
Paid Wix subscriptions come with domain names and free hosting, substantial amount of disk storage space, Premium Customer Support, integrated Google Analytics, and other merits. If you face the need to refuse from using the selected plan for some reason, Wix offers a 14-day money back guarantee. The website builder is also known for its regular discounts and loyalty programs that let you save big, when upgrading to paid plans.
When it comes to the pricing policy, both systems prove to be quite cost-effective. WooCommerce is free right from the start yet it implies hosting/domain name expenditures as well as potential plugin integration investments. Wix also offers a free subscription, while the amount and diversity of its paid plans is quite versatile, coming up to the majority of customers’ requirements.
Which One Is the Best for SEO?
WooCommerce doesn’t offer SEO tools out of the box. Instead, it allows boosting your website search engine positions via integration of SEO plugins. They are developed by third-party web designers specially for WordPress. These plugins are free and paid and it’s up to you to choose those that come up to your needs, project specialization/complexity and budget most. One of the most popular plugins used for this purpose is Yoast SEO.
It lets you specify the required parameters, including the metadata (titles, descriptions, keywords) for more effective project optimization. It is also possible to add keywords, set up a human-friendly URL for your web store and even make use of the AMP plugin that lets you create fast versions of your web store pages. All in all, WooCommerce is good at SEO, which allows launching projects suitable for further optimization.
Wix is a SEO-friendly website builder, which means that projects created with it are well-optimized for the search engines. The process of website optimization is realized via the application of SEO Wizard – a helpful tool that guides you through the entire process, providing helpful strategies and guidelines.
Additionally, Wix grants access to web page URLs, making it possible to edit them with regard to your niche requirements. Finally you are able to fill out titles and meta descriptions along with ALT tags for images. These are only some of the features that contribute to effective project optimization with Wix website builder.
When it tackles the SEO aspect, WooCommerce and Wix unveil similar opportunities. The systems make it possible to start and manage SEO-friendly websites. It is possible to individually set up a number of parameters here that matter a lot for effective search engine optimization of your project, be it a web store or any other web project.
Which One is The Best for eCommerce – WooCommerce or Wix?
WooCommerce focuses exclusively on eCommerce website development and this is one of its major advantages. The WordPress plugin is absolutely free. It let you start a feature-laden online store of any size and complexity level. Obviously, the integrated feature set of the system is geared towards effective web store creation and management.
When running an online store with WooCommerce, you will be able to complete a number of must-have steps. The system lets you customize an integrated shopping cart, create and update product catalogues, control customer sign up process and submitted info, accept online payments, set up tax and shipping parameters, adjust project management settings, introduce customer loyalty programs etc. What’s important, you will be able to track web store statistics and user behaviour to check the performance of your project and to be able to make the required changes on time. As listed above, WooCommerce lets you set up SEO settings for your project and integrate third-party plugins to get the most out of your web store performance.
Wix boasts a powerful integrated eCommerce engine, which lets you create and manage small and medium online stores. Web store set up and its further management are realized via Wix Stores widget integration. This lets you keep track of all the steps you complete during the setup process as well as to get access to a variety of design customization tools and features.
Like its competitors, the website builder abounds in effective eCommerce-specific tools and features that make it possible to set up and manage a feature-rich online store. These include shopping cart customization features, extensive drag-and-drop editing tools, multiple mobile-ready eCommerce templates, high end CSV file export/import options as well as professional web store management tools. You will also be able to individually create and update product galleries, adjust shipping/tax/payment settings, issue coupon codes and extra bonuses to encourage customer participation and to ensure quality shopping experience.
Speaking about eCommerce, WooCommerce and Wix are great at starting and managing online stores. As a specialized eCommerce WordPress plugin, WooCommerce focuses solely on web store creation. Wix, in its turn, boasts a powerful eCommerce engine that lets you run a quality small or medium online store.
Key Differences Between WooCommerce and Wix
| WooCommerce | Wix | |
| Ease of Use: | WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that lets you start a quality web store. It works great for small and medium online stores, granting access to multiple eCommerce tools and features required to start and manage feature-laden projects with no coding skills required. | Wix is a great choice for newbies and proficient web developers willing to start quality web projects. It takes some time to master the system, but you will quickly get used to it after the system exploration. The platform offers two editing options – Wix ADI and Standard Editor that let you pick the best solution based on your needs and proficiency level. |
| Functionality: | The plugin excels at integrated eCommerce functionality. It lets you start and manage web stores that are feature-laden and niche-specific. You can create online stores of diverse complexity, functionality and specialization. Additionally, the system allows boosting your web store performance by integrating third-party plugins created for WordPress. | The system offers powerful integrated functionality. Apart from advanced design customization tools, Wix encompasses blogging/eCommerce engines and grants access to extra features, such as Wix Turbo, Wix Corvid, App Market, Ascend platform and more. The website builder works great for modern business projects, blogs, portfolios, forums, landing pages and small online stores. |
| Design: | WooCommerce provides complete web store customization freedom and it’s also possible to edit HTML/CSS codes here. The plugin comes with more than 500 eCommerce themes that are responsive by default and there is also an opportunity to browse and pick external WP templates compatible with WooCommerce on the web. | Wix collection of templates is rich and versatile. It currently encompasses over 550 free niche-specific designs, which are customizable and mobile-ready by default. |
| eCommerce: | WooCommerce excels at eCommerce functionality. The plugin grants access to product catalogues and it makes it possible to manage user registrations, set up payment/shipping/tax parameters, track web store stats, accept online orders etc. | Wix Store widget allows starting and managing small and medium web stores, using multiple eCommerce tools and features. |
| Blogging: | Blog connection is realized via integration of corresponding WP plugins into your web store. | The website builder comes with the integrated blogging engine. It lets you launch blogs for personal and business use. |
| Small Business: | WooCommerce can be successfully used to create business projects, which imply further eCommerce realization. To get the desired result, you are expected to integrate extra plugins into your web store. | The platform makes it possible to run quality business projects, many of which come with distinctive eCommerce focus. The system grants access to multiple business templates, niche-specific apps/widgets, high end Ascend platform and other features that ensure impressive result. |
| Pricing: | WooCommerce is free right from the start, but it’s possible to choose and integrate more plugins and hosting at extra cost. | Wix has a free never-ending plan and two groups of paid subscriptions for Standard and Business/eCommerce projects. Their cost starts from $13/mo. |
| SEO: | Web stores powered by WooCommerce are well optimized for the search engines. It’s possible to get such a result via Yoast SEO plugin integration, for example. This is one of the best SEO extensions created specially for WordPress. | The website builder grants access to the high end SEO Wiz tool. It simplifies the process of website SEO optimization and generates useful guidelines on how to successfully complete the task. |
| Customer Support: | Quick plugin installation assistance, FAQ section, extensive community and tech email support. | Impressive Knowledge Base, VIP priority support, ticketing system. |
Which One Is Better for Online Store: WooCommerce or Wix?
WooCommerce and Wix are two quality web design tools that make it possible to launch and manage professional web projects. Each system has its own focus and targets diverse user categories. Thus, each of them is worth user attention as a trusted, functional and affordable platform.
WooCommerce is a free WordPress eCommerce plugin used exclusively for web store set up purposes. The system works great for the development and further management of all types of online stores, irrespective of their specialization, size and integrated functionality.
Wix is a unique all-in-one website builder, which lets you start and manage feature-laden websites for personal and business use. You can start any type of project with the platform, including eCommerce websites.
Which of the systems work best? There is no distinct leader of the comparison here as both platforms rank high in the contemporary web design niche. WooCommerce is a perfect pick for eCommerce website development, while Wix is the best all-in-one website builder in the world. Try both of them based on your current needs and aspirations to make the unbiased choice.
