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Read time : 8 min
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Published on 18-06-2024
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Article
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Read time : 8 min
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Published on 18-06-2024
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What Is Wix? An In-depth Look at the Popular Website Builder

Aakanksha Sharma
Aakanksha Sharma
Content Marketer
What Is Wix? An In-depth Look at the Popular Website Builder

Wix is among the most popular free website builders, with over 254 million registered users globally. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about Wix - how it works, its features, pricing, pros and cons, and more. By the end, you'll be well on your way to launching your own stylish Wix website.

What Is Wix?

Wix is a cloud-based website development platform. It makes designing simple and flexible to customize deeply, supporting your growth with business and SEO tools.

Wix is a powerful platform. You can pick from 900+ templates & customize everything to fit your style or brand without coding. Want a gallery for your photography? A blog to share your thoughts? Or an online store to sell products? Wix has the tools for all of it.

Velo by Wix is a full-stack development platform built for developers who want more control. It lets you dive into code, giving you the freedom to create complex, dynamic sites. You can add your code, connect to various online services for payments or messages, and use Wix apps to add cool features to your site. There are some limitations to the free features and resources available for your Velo site. You can check out more here.

Wix also has a mobile app called the Wix Owner App. The App puts your site’s controls in your pocket. Update your site, manage posts, and respond to customers from anywhere. You can even track your success, manage orders, and keep your business flowing smoothly from your phone. The best thing? It’s free to use.

Wix Pros and Cons

To help you gain more clarity, here's a straightforward breakdown of Wix's advantages and drawbacks. This way, you can weigh what matters most for your site.

Pros of Wix:

  1. Good Site Speed for Basic to Moderately Complex Sites: Wix websites generally load quickly. They benefit from optimized server response times and efficient content delivery, especially for sites without heavy customizations.
  2. Massive Template Collection: Over 800 professionally designed templates are available for various industries, complete with pre-entered content for easy customization.
  3. Intuitive Drag and Drop Interface: Dragging and dropping elements where you want them makes site building easy. It's perfect for users looking to customize their site without coding.
  4. Extensive App Market: You can enhance your site's functionality with a wide range of Wix apps - eCommerce, social media integration, analytics, and more.
  5. Comprehensive Marketing Tools: You can effectively promote your site with built-in tools for email marketing, social media posts, SEO optimization, and Meta ads.
  6. Robust Help and Support: You get access to a wealth of resources, tutorials, and customer support to assist you in building and managing your site.
  7. SEO Friendly: With tools like SEO Wiz, Wix helps improve your site's visibility on search engines.

Cons of Wix:

  1. Templates Not Interchangeable: Once you choose a template and build your site, You must rebuild your site from scratch if you want to switch templates.
  2. Wix Branding on Free Plan: The free version displays Wix ads on your site; removing them requires upgrading to a paid plan.
  3. Advanced Tracking and Analytics Require Paid Plan: Access to comprehensive analytics and tracking tools like Google Analytics integration is available only on premium plans.
  4. Site Transfer Limitations: Moving your site from Wix to another platform can be challenging, as it doesn't allow easy content export.
  5. Premium Plans Are Single-Site Only: Each premium plan applies to one site, requiring separate plans for multiple sites.
  6. Potential for Slow Page Loads on Highly Customized Sites: While Wix sites typically offer good speed, extensive use of high-resolution images, heavy customizations, or numerous third-party apps can slow down page loading times, impacting SEO and user experience.

Wix’s Ease of Use

Wix simplifies web creation for all, blending ease of use with advanced features across its editors—ADI, Wix Editor, and Wix Studio—making it the go-to platform for quality websites with minimal effort.

Wix stands out in the crowded field of website builders for its user-friendly design and robust feature set. It caters to a broad spectrum of needs, from personal blogs to comprehensive business websites. Let’s unpack the elements contributing to Wix's acclaim for ease of use. We’ll test its vast template offerings & its different editing tools.

Access to an extensive array of templates

At the heart of Wix's user-friendly approach is its extensive library of over 800 professionally designed templates. These templates cater to a wide range of industries & purposes, ensuring that every user finds a fitting starting point for their website. The templates are also pre-optimized for mobile viewing.

However, it's important to note that once you choose a template and begin building your site, you're locked into that choice.

Wix operates in a closed ecosystem. Templates and sites are hosted on its servers. This setup may appear restrictive but guarantees a smooth and secure experience. Plus, it leverages cloud-based SaaS technology for reliability and scalability.

I have picked three templates I have previously worked with, which are my absolute favorite. Each provides unique tools to help your businesses succeed in the digital marketplace.

1. Home Accessories Template

Wix Home Accessories Website Template

What Works: The shop page's clean design and the product page's intuitive navigation. They enhance customer experience. The slide-in cart panel allows easy review without navigating away, streamlining the path to purchase.

Check it out here.

2. Product Landing Page Template

Product Landing Page Template.mp4

What Works: Designed to weave product stories compellingly, with easy-to-find information on returns, FAQs, and policies. The direct navigation to the purchase page removes barriers, boosting engagement and sales.

Check this template here.

3. Wix Subscription Template

Wix Subscription Template.mp4

What Works: A clear presentation of subscription options makes decision-making easy for customers, perfect for businesses offering subscription services. This approach increases repeat business and builds loyalty.

Check it out here.

Editors for Every Skill Level

Wix recognizes the diversity of its users, offering different editors tailored to varying needs and skill levels:

  • Wix Editor: The flagship drag-and-drop interface is ideal for those seeking simplicity without sacrificing personalization.
  • Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence): Offers a streamlined setup process by generating a basic site from user responses, best for users who prioritize speed and simplicity.
  • Wix Studio: The latest advancement, replacing Editor X, designed for professional web designers and agencies requiring sophisticated design tools and customization options.

The Wix Studio

Wix Studio is a game-changer, especially for professional design agencies. It stands out with features like AI and smart tools for efficient design, custom CSS, advanced design capabilities, integration with Wix apps, and a dedicated mobile app for managing projects on the go. The transition from Editor X to Wix Studio signifies Wix's commitment to providing cutting-edge tools for web design professionals.

Wix Pricing

Wix provides excellent value with its customizable and user-friendly eCommerce solutions, offering a cost-effective alternative to Shopify for businesses focused on design and ease of use.

I have highlighted the key differences and unique benefits of each plan. This table simplifies your decision-making by clearly comparing Wix plans. If you want to explore each plan further, see the complete pricing breakdown here.

Wix Plan Cost (Monthly) Best For
Free $0 - Ideal for individuals or businesses wanting to explore Wix's user interface, design capabilities, & basic functionalities without financial commitment.
- Includes Wix ads, offers limited bandwidth and storage, and does not allow for a custom domain name.
Light $23 - Ideal for those testing the waters of eCommerce with minimal initial investment.
- It offers the basics to get an online store up and running, including payment tools and a light marketing suite.
Core $34 - Designed for small businesses or startups engaging their audience online with a more modest product offering.
- It includes basic eCommerce capabilities, making it suitable for those beginning to sell online or businesses with a small, curated selection of products.
Business $38 - Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses ready to take their operations to the next level but may not need the extensive capabilities of the Elite plan.
- It supports a good range of products & includes essential eCommerce features like payment acceptance and basic discount options.
Business Elite $172 - Best for large-scale online stores with extensive product ranges (up to 50,000 products).
- Advanced eCommerce features like abandoned cart recovery, loyalty programs, dropshipping, & multi-currency support.
Enterprise Custom pricing - Designed for businesses that need to launch multiple sites efficiently.
- Offers deep integration with other software tools, manages several sites under a unified dashboard, and demands high-touch, personalized support to meet their complex needs.

Wix’s Tools & Features

Wix provides a user-friendly yet powerful toolkit for website creation, blending AI design tools and robust e-commerce features. It is ideal for anyone looking to build and grow their online presence effortlessly.

While we've previously explored how Wix's user-friendly design & diverse editors make website creation accessible to everyone, it's time to spotlight its capacity to cater to novice and professional developers.

Advanced Design Features

Wix doesn't just stop at offering a wide selection of templates and basic customization. It goes further by providing a suite of advanced design features:

Feature Description
Stunning animations Stunning animations for text, images, and other elements. Helpful in creating a dynamic user experience.
Full-screen video backgrounds Full-screen video backgrounds to make the homepage or landing pages more engaging and visually appealing.
Sophisticated Design Elements Sophisticated Design Elements like parallax scrolling, hover effects, and custom fonts to create a unique and professional-looking website.
CSS Grid & Flexbox CSS Grid & Flexbox for intricate layouts, allowing designers to create complex, responsive websites with visual precision.

Seamless Integration with the App Market

The Wix App Market is a treasure trove of functionality, extending the capabilities of your website beyond its core features:

  • eCommerce Enhancements: From adding online booking systems to integrating payment solutions, the App Market has everything you need to turn your site into a fully functional online store.
  • Engagement Tools: Improve visitor engagement with live chat apps, social media feeds, and email marketing tools, all designed to enhance the user experience and foster customer relationships.
Feature Description
Wix Bookings An integrated scheduling system that allows businesses to offer online booking, manage appointments, and accept payments directly on their site.
Wix Stores Provides comprehensive eCommerce solutions, from product management to secure checkout processes.
Ascend by Wix A suite of business tools for customer management, email marketing, and social post creation to engage and retain customers.
Stripe Payments Integrated directly with Wix Payments, offering a seamless and secure payment processing solution for e-commerce transactions.

Empowering Developers with Velo by Wix

For those who delve into code, Velo by Wix offers a powerful platform for custom development:

  • Custom Coding: With custom JavaScript, you can personalize interactions and behaviors. For example, a non-profit organization could use custom JavaScript to create an interactive donation form that updates live contributions.
  • API Integrations: Connect your website to external services and databases with Wix's comprehensive APIs, expanding your site's capabilities to meet specific business needs.
  • Full-Stack Development: Velo supports full-stack development, enabling the creation of dynamic web applications with serverless computing, database collections, and more.
Feature Description
Wix HTTP Functions Allows developers to create custom backend logic in response to HTTP requests, enabling integration with external APIs for expanded functionality.
Wix Data A comprehensive API for managing site content, users & dynamic data. It can be used to create personalized user experiences or manage large volumes of content.
Wix CRM API Enables custom interactions with Wix's built-in CRM system, allowing for the development of tailored customer relationship management solutions.

Wix Security

Wix takes website security seriously, ensuring every site built on its platform is protected from the ground up.

Here's a simplified breakdown of what Wix offers in terms of security:

  1. Enterprise-Grade Security for Every Site: Wix's experts handle all aspects of website security, from preventing threats to detecting and responding to them in real-time. Key Security Features include threat prevention, real-time detection, and rapid response.
  2. Compliance and Certifications: Wix follows top international privacy and security standards, holding certifications like PCI DSS Level 1, SOC 2 Type 2, and various ISOs. It's also compliant with major regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD, ensuring your site meets global security benchmarks.
  3. Protecting Site and Visitors:
  • DDoS Protection, Malware Scanning: Wix shields your site from common threats like DDoS attacks and malware, safeguarding your and your visitors' data.
  • Secure Customer Data: With 24/7 monitoring and regular security updates, Wix protects your site and customer information against vulnerabilities.
  • Enhanced Account Security: Wix recommends using 2-step verification and creating strong passwords. You can also set roles and permissions for team members, controlling their access to sensitive data.
  1. Protecting Site Visitor Data: Wix uses advanced encryption methods (HTTPS, TLS 1.2, and SSL) to secure data transmission, ensuring that your site visitors' information is always protected.
  2. Payment and Transaction Security: For eCommerce sites, Wix maintains PCI DSS Level 1 certification, the highest security standard for online payments, and employs innovative techniques to prevent fraud and protect transactions.
  3. Developer-Friendly Security: By offering secure coding practices, regular security audits of the APIs, and the ability to implement custom security rules, Wix ensures that developers have the tools to build safe, reliable websites.

Conclusion

Wix is the top website builder thanks to its ease of use, vast selection of over 800 templates, comprehensive built-in features, and excellent support. It's perfect for businesses and personal sites, offering everything from SEO tools to blogging capabilities. However, it has limitations like lack of technical control, inability to switch templates post-publishing, and a potentially overwhelming array of tools for beginners.