Wix vs Shopify
Wix vs Shopify: which is the best for online stores in Europe? Choosing the right ecommerce platform for your online store can make or break your business. With numerous options available, it is essential to find a platform that meets your needs and offers the flexibility to grow with your online business.
Content:
- Platform overview: Wix and Shopify
- Design and customization: Templates and editors
- Ecommerce features: Functionality and scalability
- Marketing and SEO: Promoting your online store
- Third-party integrations: Apps and extensions
- Customer support and resources
- Pricing Plans: Affordability and value
Short summary
- Wix and Shopify are popular ecommerce platforms tailored to small and larger businesses respectively, offering a range of features for design, customization, product management and inventory control.
- Wix offers an affordable website builder with drag-and-drop design while Shopify provides higher quality themes and more comprehensive sales tools.
- For smaller online stores or ecommerce entrepreneurs seeking an easy to use platform at low cost – choose Wix. For expanding online stores looking for scalability, go with Shopify.
Platform overview: Wix vs Shopify
When it comes to building an online store with the right ecommerce software, both Wix and Shopify are popular choices that cater to a range of ecommerce needs. Wix is a versatile website builder, designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses with a focus on design and affordability. Its user-friendly interface and wide range of templates make it easy to create a stunning online store without any coding knowledge.
On the other hand, Shopify is an ecommerce specialist, built specifically for online stores and offering a more comprehensive ecommerce solution. With its powerful sales tools and extensive app store, Shopify is ideal for larger businesses and those looking to scale their online presence.
Both solutions are popular ecommerce software providers.
While both Wix and Shopify offer a host of ecommerce features and functionality, there are some key differences between the two platforms. In this section, we’ll provide an overview of Wix and Shopify, setting the stage for a more in-depth comparison in the following sections.
Wix: A versatile website builder
Wix is a popular drag-and-drop website builder, boasting over 830,000 live websites. It offers a variety of templates and an easy-to-use interface, making it an ideal choice for small online stores with less than 300 products. Wix provides a single convenient platform and a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor, which allows users to preview changes to their pages in real-time. The platform is an attractive option for those looking to create a general-purpose website or a small ecommerce store.
Wix offers an ecommerce plan to build your online store, ranging from €20 to €44 per month.
Wix’s pricing plans are affordable, with ‘Website’ plans ranging from 17 euros to 29 euros per month and ‘Business and Ecommerce’ plans ranging from 20 euros to 44 euros per month. The Wix Enterprise plan caters to corporate users, offering extensive support and customizable pricing options. For most users, the ‘Pro’ and ‘Business Basic’ plans offer the best value.
Wix Ecommerce provides a range of features to help businesses manage their online stores, including customizable business reports, website traffic analysis, customer shopping behavior tracking, and conversion rate metrics. By examining key metrics, businesses can gain insight into which products are most successful and develop a sales strategy to maximize revenue.
Shopify: The ecommerce specialist
Shopify is a leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) ecommerce solution with over 4 million live stores worldwide. Designed specifically for online stores, Shopify provides a range of powerful sales tools and a comprehensive ecommerce suite, making it an ideal choice for larger stores that require the management of thousands of products.
One of the key advantages of Shopify is its focus on ecommerce and its ability to handle larger stores more efficiently than Wix. Its fully responsive templates, AMP support on product pages, and dropshipping features make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.
Shopify’s Basic plan starts at 21 euros per month.
Shopify’s pricing is competitive, with its Basic plan starting at 21 euros per month (annual plans). For international stores, Shopify’s payment and shipping options are more readily adaptable, making it a better choice for businesses looking to expand globally.
Looking for ecommerce software to start selling in Europe? Webador and Shopify are platforms that are well optimized for cross-border ecommerce.
Design and customization: Templates and editors
A key aspect of building a successful online store is its design and customization. Both Wix and Shopify offer a variety of templates and page editors to help users create visually appealing and functional websites. In this section, we will compare the template variety and quality, as well as page editor flexibility and ease of use, between Wix and Shopify.
Template variety and quality
When it comes to template variety and quality, Wix offers a larger selection of free templates compared to Shopify’s limited free themes. Wix’s templates cater to various industries, making it easier to find a design that suits your business needs. Shopify, on the other hand, focuses on providing high-quality, responsive themes designed specifically for ecommerce stores. These themes are often more expensive, ranging from 180 to 350 dollars for paid options.
The choice between Wix and Shopify templates depends on your budget and needs.
While Wix’s templates may be more suitable for smaller stores due to their ease of customization, Shopify’s themes are designed to cater to stores of all sizes, offering superior quality and responsiveness. Ultimately, the choice between Wix and Shopify templates will depend on your specific needs and budget.
Page editor flexibility and ease of use
In terms of page editor flexibility and ease of use, Wix offers a more user-friendly drag-and-drop interface compared to Shopify’s structured code editor and customizer tool. Wix’s intuitive editor allows for easy customization of page layouts and design elements, making it a popular choice for users with limited coding knowledge. The ease of adding or editing content in Wix is comparable to using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, making the process straightforward and intuitive.
Wix’s editor is more intuitive and user-friendly than Shopify’s code editor.
Shopify, on the other hand, provides a more structured approach to page editing, offering a code editor for advanced customization and a customizer tool for basic layout modifications. This approach may be more suitable for businesses requiring greater control over their website design.
On the other hand, Shopify’s code editor can be more challenging for users without coding knowledge. In this aspect, Wix’s user-friendly interface and flexible page editor make it the preferred choice for many small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Looking for ecommerce software to start selling in Europe? Webador and Shopify are platforms that are well optimized for cross-border ecommerce.
Ecommerce features: Functionality and scalability
As your online store grows, the need for advanced ecommerce features and scalability becomes increasingly important. Both Wix and Shopify offer a range of functionality to help manage your products and inventory, as well as process payments and fees.
Product management and inventory control
When it comes to product management and inventory control, both Wix and Shopify provide basic features to help manage your online store. A Wix store allows up to 6 product options and 1,000 variants, while Shopify offers a limit of 3 options and 100 variants. For businesses with a smaller product range, Wix’s limitations may not pose a significant issue.
Both software providers offer basic features to help manage your online store.
Shopify’s inventory management system offers advanced features such as stock alerts, automated purchase orders, and year-end inventory reporting. This makes it a more comprehensive solution for managing your online store. On the other hand, a Wix website provides basic inventory management features, which may be sufficient for small businesses with less complex inventory requirements.
Payment processing and fees
In terms of payment processing and fees, both Wix and Shopify provide SSL encryption and support for major payment processors such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square. Shopify integrates with over 105 payment gateways, while Wix integrates with 99, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of payment options for customers of your shop.
However, there are some differences in processing fees between the two platforms. Shopify’s in-person credit card rates start at 2.4 percent, while Wix charges slightly higher fees at 2.6 percent. Additionally, Shopify charges third-party transaction fees between 0.5 and 2 percent.
The software provider only charges that if you do not use Shopify Payments. Wix does not charge any fees for using a third-party payment gateway. Depending on your payment processing needs and preferences, either platform may offer a more cost-effective solution for your online store.
Marketing and SEO: Promoting your online store
Promoting your online store is crucial for attracting customers and driving sales. Both Wix and Shopify offer built-in marketing tools and SEO capabilities to help you optimize your online store and reach a wider audience. In this section, we will compare the marketing tools and SEO performance of Wix and Shopify.
Built-in marketing tools
Both Wix and Shopify offer a range of built-in marketing tools to help promote your online store. Wix provides efficient email marketing features, with a selection of templates and the option to create custom templates. Shopify offers a built-in email tool that allows for product promotion and keeping customers informed.
You may need to integrate with third-party tools for more advanced email marketing capabilities.
However, it is worth noting that the email marketing tools offered by Wix and Shopify may not provide the advanced autoresponder features available in dedicated email marketing tools like GetResponse and Mailchimp. Depending on your marketing needs, you may want to consider integrating with these third-party tools for more advanced email marketing capabilities.
SEO capabilities and performance
When it comes to SEO capabilities and performance, both Wix and Shopify offer a range of features to help optimize your online store for search engines. You can customize various page components to optimize your content on both platforms. This includes titles, descriptions, headings, alt texts and redirects. Sitemaps can be found at yourdomain.com/sitemap for easy navigation through your website. Additionally, you can add a Facebook Pixel code to track ecommerce conversions on social media.
There are some differences in SEO capabilities between Wix and Shopify, with Wix providing keyword support and more robust blogging capabilities than Shopify. This can help improve the visibility of your site in online searches and drive more traffic to your store. Ultimately, the choice between Wix and Shopify for SEO capabilities will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Third-party integrations: Apps and extensions
As your online store grows, you may want to integrate additional apps and extensions to enhance its functionality. Both Wix and Shopify offer a range of third-party integrations, allowing you to expand your ecommerce site and optimize its performance. Below, we will compare the app selection and quality, as well as integration ease and compatibility, between Wix and Shopify.
App selection and quality
When it comes to app selection and quality, Shopify offers a larger range of apps and integrations than Wix. Shopify’s App Store boasts over 7,500 apps, providing a wide range of features and functionalities to enhance your online store.
Shopify’s apps are more focused on ecommerce than the ones in Wix’s App Market.
While Wix’s App Market has a smaller selection of apps, it still offers a variety of options to help improve your website or blog. It has apps tailored to specific industries and use cases. The difference in app selection between Wix and Shopify is primarily due to Shopify’s focus on ecommerce, with its app store offering a greater variety of ecommerce-specific apps and integrations.
Integration ease and compatibility
Integrating third-party apps and extensions is a crucial aspect of managing and optimizing your online store. Both Wix and Shopify make it easy to integrate with a wide range of apps and extensions, ensuring compatibility with various services and platforms. They both have an app market, which allows easy integration. Ultimately, the ease of integration and compatibility of apps and extensions will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Customer support and resources
Customer support and resources are essential for the success of any online store. Whether you are just starting out or looking to scale your business, having access to reliable customer support and helpful resources can make all the difference. In this section, we will compare the customer support channels and availability, as well as help centers and community forums, offered by both Wix and Shopify.
Support channels and availability
When it comes to customer support, both Wix and Shopify offer a range of options to help users with any issues they may encounter. Wix provides 24/7 access to live chat and email support, as well as phone support. Phone support availability depends on the language, but it also offers a callback option. Shopify, on the other hand, offers live chat, email tickets, and phone support 24/7.
Users find it difficult to find contact details for both platforms.
While both Wix and Shopify offer similar support options, it is worth noting that some users have reported difficulty in locating contact details for both platforms. In general, users must first search for a solution on the help portals before being granted access to email forms or phone numbers. This approach is intended to reduce costs by encouraging users to resolve their own issues, but may not be ideal for all users.
Help centers and community forums
In addition to their customer support channels, both Wix and Shopify offer comprehensive help centers and community forums to assist users in finding answers to common questions and issues. Wix’s Help Center provides an extensive collection of articles and how-tos. Its intuitive layout makes it easy to find the information you need.
Shopify’s Help Center also offers a range of resources, although it may not be as user-friendly or comprehensive as Wix’s. Both platforms also offer community forums, where users can pose questions and receive answers from other users and platform representatives. These forums can be a helpful resource for finding solutions to common issues and learning from the experiences of others in similar situations.
Pricing Plans: Affordability and value
When choosing an ecommerce platform, it is important to consider pricing plans and the value they offer for your business. Both Wix and Shopify offer a range of pricing plans to suit different budgets and requirements.
Plan options and features
Wix offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs, with website plans starting at 17 euros per month (excluding the limited Connect Domain plan). For ecommerce stores, it offers three plans ranging between 20 and 44 euros per month. These plans provide a range of features and functionality to help you run your online store.
Either platform may offer a more cost-effective solution for your online store.
Shopify, on the other hand, offers a range of plans to cater to different business sizes and needs, with five plans available: Shopify Lite, Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Shopify Plus. Each plan offers a range of features, with the Basic plan starting at 21 euros per month. Depending on your specific requirements, either platform may offer a more cost-effective solution for your online store.
Cost efficiency and return on investment
In terms of cost efficiency and return on investment, both Wix and Shopify offer pricing plans that cater to a range of budgets and needs. Wix’s affordable pricing plans may be more appealing to small businesses and entrepreneurs who are just starting out, while Shopify’s more comprehensive ecommerce features may be more suitable for larger businesses looking to scale.
Ultimately, the choice between Wix and Shopify will depend on your specific needs and preferences, as well as your budget. By carefully considering the pricing plans and features offered by each platform, you can make an informed decision on which platform offers the best value for your online store.
Wix vs Shopify: Use cases and recommendations
In conclusion, both Wix and Shopify offer a range of features and functionality to help you build and manage your online store. Depending on your specific needs and preferences, one platform may be a better fit for your business. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve outlined some use cases and recommendations for when to choose Wix or Shopify.
When to choose Wix
Wix is an ideal choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs who are just starting out and need a user-friendly website builder with a focus on design and affordability. Its range of templates and easy-to-use interface make it a popular choice.
Wix is the right choice if you require basic sales functionalities.
It is especially popular among business owners looking to create a simple online store without the need for advanced ecommerce features or a large product catalog. If you are focused on building your brand and require basic sales functionality, Wix may be the right choice for you.
When to choose Shopify
On the other hand, Shopify is a powerful ecommerce platform designed specifically for online stores, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking to scale and manage a larger product catalog. With its comprehensive range of sales tools and extensive app store, it offers a more robust solution.
If you need more advanced ecommerce features, Shopify is the better option for you.
A Shopify store enables you to grow your business and reach a wider audience. If you need advanced ecommerce features, go for dropshipping or if you are looking for a platform that can accommodate long-term growth, Shopify is the better option.
Summary
In summary, both Wix and Shopify offer unique features and benefits for building and managing an online store. Wix is a user-friendly and affordable option for small businesses and entrepreneurs, while Shopify provides a more comprehensive ecommerce solution for businesses looking to scale and manage a large product catalog. By carefully considering the features, pricing, and overall performance of each platform, you can make an informed decision on which platform is best suited for your online store and business needs. Happy selling!
Frequently asked questions
Frequenstly asked questions about comparing Wix and Shopify are:
Is Wix a good fit for ecommerce websites?
Based on user testing results, Wix can be an excellent choice for creating an ecommerce website. It offers comprehensive features and tools to help businesses create an attractive, professional-looking online store quickly and easily. Furthermore, it is easy to use and intuitive, which makes the setup process straightforward and hassle-free.
Is Wix Shop free?
Unfortunately, you cannot use the Wix Shop feature for free. To start selling your products on your website with Wix, you must upgrade to one of their premium plans that offer ecommerce features.
Does Wix take a percentage of sales?
Yes, Wix takes a percentage of sales. Depending on your location, the rate is 2.9 percemt of the sale amount.
Can Shopify be used with Wix?
Yes, you can use Shopify with Wix. To do so, simply log in to your Shopify admin account and add the Buy Button option for the product you want to sell on Wix. Once you have generated the embed code, paste it onto your website and start selling securely.