Shopify Vs Wix - Which is the Best Shop Builder in 2024
Wix and Shopify have emerged as leading platforms, each carving a unique path in the digital world. Shopify, born and bred for e-commerce, has always been dedicated to optimizing online stores. Its journey reflects a deep commitment to enhancing every aspect of the eCommerce experience.
Initially a website builder focused on content-rich sites, Wix has evolved significantly. It now boasts advanced e-commerce features, gradually narrowing the gap with Shopify's eCommerce prowess. Meanwhile, Shopify has expanded its horizons, improving content management capabilities to complement its robust selling tools.
As Shopify and Wix continue to adapt and expand, they offer a more rounded set of tools for businesses and creators alike. This article explores their journeys, comparing their offerings to help you choose the right platform for your online shop.
What is Wix?
Wix, primarily known as a versatile website builder, expanded its horizons into e-commerce, offering a comprehensive solution for online stores. Initially established as a website builder, Wix ventured into e-commerce in 2013, broadening its capabilities to cater to online retailers.
Key Features of Wix:
- Origin as a Website Builder: Wix's roots are in website creation, making it a robust platform for designing visually appealing and functional sites.
- E-Commerce Integration: With its expansion into e-commerce in 2013, Wix has continuously evolved, adding features to support online selling.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: The platform's user-friendly editor allows easy customization of e-commerce templates, perfect for those without coding skills.
- Diverse Product Selling: From physical goods to digital products and gift cards, Wix accommodates a wide range of sales needs.
- Inventory Management: Use Wix's integrated inventory management tools to track stock levels efficiently.
- Automated Tax and Shipping: Simplify tax calculations and integrate with major shipping carriers like USPS, UPS, and DHL.
- SEO Tools: Enhance your online visibility with Wix's built-in SEO optimization features.
- Affordable Plans: Starting at $23 per month, Wix offers cost-effective options, including a free basic plan for beginners.
- 24/7 Support: Access continuous support with premium plans, ensuring assistance whenever needed.
Wix is a compelling choice for businesses seeking an easy-to-use, feature-rich solution for their online store. Its blend of aesthetic flexibility and e-commerce functionality positions it as a strong competitor in the online retail space.
What is Shopify?
Shopify stands as a leading e-commerce platform, empowering over 1 million businesses worldwide, from small-scale artisans to prominent Fortune 500 companies. It's designed to streamline the process of building and managing an online store, making it accessible for entrepreneurs of all levels.
Feature / Plan | Shopify Starter | Basic Shopify | Advanced Shopify | Shopify Plus |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Price | $5 | $29 | $79 | Starting at $2000 |
Staff Accounts | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 |
Number of Products | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
File Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
24/7 Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Sales Channels | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Manual Order Creation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Discount Codes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Free SSL Certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Key Features of Shopify:
- Comprehensive E-Commerce Solution: Shopify offers an all-encompassing platform for online sales, catering to a diverse range of business sizes and types.
- Customizable Storefronts: With hundreds of themes available, Shopify enables you to tailor the aesthetics of your store to align with your brand identity.
- Secure Payment Processing: The platform ensures secure transactions, offering various payment options to cater to customer preferences.
- Efficient Shipping and Fulfillment: Shopify's integrated shipping solutions and fulfillment features streamline your shipping process.
- Marketing and SEO Tools: Leverages built-in marketing tools to enhance your store's visibility and attract more customers.
- User-Friendly Interface: Shopify's intuitive design allows for easy store setup and management, requiring no coding expertise.
- 24/7 Support: Gain peace of mind with round-the-clock assistance, ensuring help is always available for queries or issues.
- Flexible Pricing Plans: Catering to different business scales, Shopify's monthly pricing starts at $29 for the Basic plan, scaling up to more advanced options for growing enterprises.
- Scalability: As your business grows, Shopify grows with you, offering the flexibility to upgrade, downgrade, or modify your plan as needed.
Shopify is a comprehensive solution offering easy use, customization, and robust support. Whether starting a new venture or scaling an existing one, Shopify provides the tools and resources needed for a successful online presence. Its simplicity, functionality, and scalability blend make it an ideal choice for creating a compelling and efficient online store.
Wix or Shopify: Who Leads in Smart Store Setup?
Starting an online store can be both exciting and overwhelming. But what if you had a conversational guide to walk you through the process, step by step? That's where Wix's AI chat feature steps in. As you land on Wix, this friendly AI greets you, ready to chat about your business dreams.
Wix’s Interactive AI Store Builder
Through a series of questions and suggestions, it helps you pin down the type of business you want to set up, suggesting names and identifying the right store type for you. It's a personalized journey, with the AI adapting to your responses in real time.
Wix AI store builder in action
Wix’s interactive guide follows to a personalized dashboard
Now, let’s place this next to Shopify’s approach. When you start with Shopify, it’s more of a self-guided tour. You’re presented with a series of checkboxes asking about your business status and where you want to sell. It’s straightforward but doesn’t have the same interactive feel as a conversation.
Shopify Self-guided store builder
As you progress with Shopify, you select your sales channels and receive a list of tasks to complete your store setup. It’s efficient and clean, but it lacks the personal touch of Wix's AI that mimics a real-life conversation.
Shopify Sales Channel Selector
Although Shopify has launched Shopify Magic, it's not accessible to all at the time this article was written. This suite of AI tools offers text generation for your website, daily task assistance, and summarized app reviews. It’s a robust set of tools designed to streamline your experience. While these tools are free for all merchants, access to features like Sidekick is limited to select users for now.
Each platform has its strengths: Wix's AI chat excels in providing a guided, conversational experience, while Shopify offers a solid, self-service approach with complementary AI tools under Shopify Magic. Both aim to simplify the journey from concept to launch, but they do so in their unique ways, catering to different preferences and needs
Wix Vs Shopify eCommerce: Market Size Comparison
Shopify's Market Dominance:
- Market Share: Shopify commands a significant 20% share of the global e-commerce market.
- Global Reach: It powers over 1 million businesses across 175 countries, showcasing its widespread acceptance and adaptability.
- Major Brand Adoption: Renowned brands like Gymshark, Staples Canada, and UNICEF rely on Shopify, indicating its capability to support large-scale e-commerce operations.
Wix's Growing Presence:
- Close Market Share: Wix Stores holds an impressive 19% share in the e-commerce market, closely trailing Shopify. It's important to note that this figure represents Wix's overall presence as a website builder, encompassing its entire range of services, including both standard website building and e-commerce capabilities.
- User Base: Wix boasts over 150 million registered users from 190 countries, reflecting its expansive global footprint.
- Rapid Growth: Wix is rapidly expanding its market share through aggressive marketing campaigns and sponsorships, indicating a solid upward trajectory in e-commerce.
Making the Right Choice:
- Market Stability: Shopify and Wix have established themselves as stable and trusted e-commerce solutions globally.
- Feature Set and Apps: Your choice between Shopify and Wix should be guided by the specific features, apps, and pricing plans that align best with your business needs.
- Assured Company: Opting for either platform ensures you're in the company of a vast and diverse range of businesses, from small startups to large enterprises.
While Shopify currently leads in market share and is the choice of several major brands, Wix's rapid growth and substantial user base make it a formidable competitor. Both platforms offer robust eCommerce solutions, and your decision should be based on which platform aligns best with your business's unique requirements and goals.
Differences between Shopify Vs Wix eCommerce
Wix Vs Shopify Pricing Comparison
Shopify's Plans:
- Starts at $5/month for the Shopify Starter plan, primarily for new or small-scale businesses.
- The Basic Shopify plan at $29/month includes an online store, 24/7 support, and access to Shopify's app store.
- The standard Shopify plan is $79/month, suitable for growing businesses.
- The Advanced Shopify at $299/month offers more comprehensive features.
- For large businesses or enterprises, Shopify Plus starts at $2000/month.
Wix's Ecommerce Plans:
- Begin at $23/month for the Business Basic plan, which includes unlimited product listings and 20GB of storage.
- The Business Unlimited plan at $27/month offers more storage and features.
- For larger stores, the Business VIP plan is $49/month.
- Wix also offers a custom-priced Enterprise solution.
Pros and Cons of Using Wix Vs Shopify:
Pros:
- User-Friendly: Wix is renowned for its simplicity. Even without technical expertise, you can easily create an online store using their stylish templates.
- Integrated Features: It comes with essential ecommerce tools like a shopping cart, secure payment processing, and shipping options.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Customizing your store is straightforward with Wix's intuitive editor.
Cons:
- Cost Considerations: Wix's ecommerce plans might feel steep, particularly for businesses with extensive product ranges.
- Platform Limitations: The reliance on Wix's proprietary tools means less flexibility. Transitioning to another platform can be challenging if your business outgrows Wix.
- Ideal for Small Businesses: Wix is a solid choice for small enterprises embarking on their ecommerce journey, but those seeking more customization and scalability might look elsewhere, such as Shopify.
Pros and Cons of Using Shopify eCommerce
Pros:
- Ease of Setup: Shopify's user-friendly interface allows for quick and easy store setup, requiring no technical skills.
- Comprehensive Features: It offers a complete suite of ecommerce tools, including cart, checkout, payment processing, and shipping.
- Extensive App Store: Enhance your store's functionality with a wide range of apps for various business needs.
- Scalability and Security: Shopify is designed to support large-scale operations securely, ensuring customer data and transactions are well-protected.
Cons:
- Pricing: The costs can accumulate, especially for larger stores, with the basic plan starting at $29/month and additional transaction fees.
- Design Restrictions: While customization is possible, deep modifications require technical expertise or a developer.
- Payment Processor Limitation: Initially, stores are required to use Shopify Payments, which, despite competitive fees, might limit payment flexibility.
Wix Vs Shopify: Dropshipping
Navigating dropshipping can be a maze of choices. Each platform brings its unique strengths to the table, making a choice not just about features but about aligning with your business vision. Let's explore how Wix Vs Shopify stack up for dropshipping.
- Ease of Starting a Dropshipping Business:
Wix: Offers a straightforward process to start a dropshipping business. Users can easily integrate their online store with the Modalyst marketplace, accessing millions of products. The process is user-friendly, especially for beginners. Shopify: Also provides an easy startup experience. Shopify guides users through setting up a dropshipping business, including finding products and suppliers. It's known for its comprehensive support and resources for beginners.
- Product Sourcing and Supplier Network:
Wix: Connects with the Modalyst marketplace, offering a wide range of products and categories. Users can find thousands of vetted suppliers, ensuring product quality and reliable order fulfillment. Shopify: Offers a vast network of suppliers and products. Shopify's platform allows for easy integration with various dropshipping apps and suppliers, giving users access to a wide array of products to sell.
- Customization and Store Design:
Wix: Known for its drag-and-drop editor, Wix allows for high customization of online stores. Users can choose from numerous templates and customize their site design to fit their brand. Shopify: It also offers a range of customizable templates. While it provides robust customization options, deep modifications require technical expertise.
- Pricing and Cost Efficiency:
Wix: Generally considered more affordable for small-scale businesses. It offers a cost-effective solution for entrepreneurs starting in dropshipping. Shopify: While starting plans are slightly higher, Shopify offers a comprehensive set of tools and features that justify the cost, especially for businesses planning to scale.
- Global Reach and Scalability:
Wix: Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking to reach a global audience. However, scalability might be limited compared to Shopify. Shopify: Excellently equipped for scalability. It supports businesses growing from small startups to large enterprises, offering global reach and advanced features.
- Payment Processing and Transaction Fees:
Wix: Offers integrated payment processing with a variety of options. It's straightforward but might not offer as many options as Shopify. Shopify: Requires the use of Shopify Payments for dropshipping. It offers a wide range of payment gateways but can incur additional transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments.
- Support and Resources:
Wix: Provides solid customer support and resources for setting up and managing a dropshipping business. Shopify: Known for its extensive support and resources, including guides, webinars, and a comprehensive help center.
Checklist for Choosing the Best Store Builder: Wix Vs Shopify
Feeling swamped with information? Don't worry. I've distilled everything down to a simple, straightforward checklist. This is your quick guide to pinpointing the platform that aligns perfectly with your needs. No more second-guessing or wading through endless details. Just tick off your requirements, and you'll see which platform - Wix or Shopify - stands out as the ideal choice for your business.
- Ease of Use:
- Do you prefer a straightforward, drag-and-drop interface? (Wix)
- Are you comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve for more features? (Shopify)
- Budget and Pricing Plans:
- Are you looking for more affordable, basic plans? (Wix)
- Is your budget flexible for more comprehensive features at a higher cost? (Shopify)
- eCommerce Features and Scalability:
- Do you need advanced eCommerce features and scalability for a growing business? (Shopify)
- Are basic e-commerce features sufficient for your current business size? (Wix)
- Customization and Design:
- Is having a wide range of customizable templates crucial for your brand? (Both)
- Do you require extensive customization capabilities, possibly needing technical expertise? (Shopify)
- Product Offerings and Inventory Management:
- Will you have a large and diverse product catalog requiring robust inventory management? (Shopify)
- Is your product range limited or specialized, needing basic inventory tools? (Wix)
- Payment Processing and Transaction Fees:
- Are you looking for a platform with a wide range of payment gateways and possibly lower transaction fees? (Shopify)
- Is a straightforward payment processing system with fewer options sufficient? (Wix)
- Marketing and SEO Tools:
- Do you need advanced marketing and SEO tools to grow your business? (Shopify)
- Are basic marketing and SEO capabilities enough for your current needs? (Wix)
- Support and Resources:
- Is having access to extensive support and resources, including guides and webinars, important for you? (Shopify)
- Are you looking for solid customer support for basic store setup and management? (Wix)
- Dropshipping Capabilities:
- Do you plan to focus heavily on dropshipping with a need for a vast network of suppliers and products? (Shopify)
- Are you considering dropshipping as a side aspect of your business with basic needs? (Wix)
- Global Reach and Multi-Currency Support:
- Is global reach and multi-currency support critical for your business? (Shopify)
- Is your business more locally or regionally focused? (Wix)
- Platform Migration and Flexibility:
- Will you need the flexibility to migrate to a different platform as your business grows? (Shopify)
- Is platform migration not a concern for you at this stage? (Wix)
- Overall Business Goals and Growth Plans:
- Are you planning for rapid business growth and scaling in the near future? (Shopify)
- Is your focus currently on establishing a small to medium-sized online store? (Wix)
FAQs
1. Which is better, Wix or Shopify?
Shopify is generally better for dedicated e-commerce needs due to its extensive features and scalability. Wix is more suited for simpler online stores or websites with an e-commerce element.
2. Is Wix better than Shopify?
Wix is better for users seeking ease of use and simplicity in website design. However, for comprehensive e-commerce functionality, Shopify is superior.
3. Is Shopify better than Wix?
For e-commerce, Shopify is often considered better due to its robust features, scalability, and extensive app marketplace.
4. Should I switch from Wix to Shopify?
Consider switching to Shopify if you need more advanced e-commerce features, scalability, and a wider range of integrations than Wix offers.
5. Why do people choose Shopify over Wix?
People choose Shopify over Wix for its superior e-commerce tools, scalability, and extensive app ecosystem, especially for growing online stores.
6. Can I convert my Wix website to Shopify?
Yes, you can convert your Wix website to Shopify. There are tools and services available to help migrate your site content and store data.
7. Why not use Wix for eCommerce?
Wix may not be ideal for e-commerce if you require advanced store functionalities, extensive customization, or plan to scale significantly.
8. Who uses Wix the most?
Wix is most popular among small businesses, freelancers, and individuals who prioritize ease of use and visual website building over advanced e-commerce features.
9. Wix or Shopify, which is good for SEO?
Both Wix and Shopify offer good SEO capabilities. Shopify has a slight edge for e-commerce SEO, while Wix is improving its SEO features for general website optimization.