In Part 1 of this article, Marc Mereyde of TiktoPlus discussed Wix vs. Wordpress in terms of the differences in user base, tools and service, and the need for coding skills. Part 2 compares the two platforms on three more scales.
Plugins and Apps
Adding complex features and designs to your website requires adding plugins and applications.
Apps and plugins add branching menus, create search bars and more. In the battle of WordPress vs. Wix, the number of plugin and app options can be a big deciding factor.
With Wix, there are more than 200 apps you can add to your site. These apps will get you some of the features you may want for a standard website. But if you’re looking for something a bit more advanced, 200 apps can be limiting.
WordPress has more than 35,000 plugins. This means nearly endless options to change and adjust your website to fit your needs. If you don’t find what you need on that list, you can add your own.
Because WordPress requires you to do a lot of your own coding, you can add extra coding wherever you see fit. You can find codes online for special or unique features. If you’re code-savvy, you can even write your own.
Theme and Template Options
A lot of your website’s success will depend on its appearance and how easy or difficult it is to navigate. This means it’s important to choose a theme that fits your website’s needs.
For instance, if you’re building a news website, having a static homepage is probably a bad idea. Web surfers will land on your site and be confused about why they need to be redirected to find the information for which they are looking.
But if you’re building a website for your clothing store, a static landing page might be a good idea. You could use it to introduce your brand, which can help build loyalty.
With so many different kinds of businesses and websites, you’ll want plenty of options when it comes to choosing a template, so the decision of WordPress vs. Wix for many website builders may come down to those template options.
Wix offers just 529 at the time of this writing. If you’re building a basic website, more than 500 options are probably enough.
But because you don’t have access to the code on these templates, you won’t be able to manipulate them if you don’t like something about them. For instance, if the template only offers a side menu, you won’t be able to add one to the top of the page. This can be very limiting.
If you want more options, WordPress offers more than 3,000 templates, with more being added all the time. You can also use code to manipulate these templates to add or remove features however you’d like. WordPress is a much more scalable option if you plan on growing.
Support During the Website-Building Process
When it comes to building a website, a little help is never a bad thing.
If you choose to use Wix as your website builder, you’ll get access to 24/7 support by phone or email. You’ll also get access to tutorials that can help you learn how to use the builder and its features.
It’s very easy to find a WordPress professional in most cities. The WordPress builder itself doesn’t offer direct support. But on
WordPress.com, you can get access to a forum with tons of tips and directions for using the site. Plus, because WordPress is so widely used, there are lots of tutorials online that you can find with a simple Google search.
Many people may prefer to have local support from a trusted web professional instead of calling a customer service number.
Choosing WordPress vs. Wix
There are plenty of pros and cons for choosing either WordPress or Wix. If you’re looking to build your own website, the features listed above can help you make the right choice.
If you are new to website building and still aren’t sure which to choose, it may be time to seek professional help.
A professional website builder, like TiktoPlus, can not only pick the right builder but can also help you create an awesome, effective site.
TiktoPlus is a Wilmington, NC based web development, localization, SEO, and pay-per-click online advertising web design and digital marketing agency specializing in dental and healthcare practices. Click here to see their new education initiative.
Diane Durance, MPA, is director of UNC Wilmington's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). The CIE is a resource for the start-up and early-stage business community to help diversify the local economy with innovative solutions. For more information, visit www.uncw.edu/cie.