Wix vs Shopify: eCommerce comparison for 2025
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Wix and Shopify are online store solutions that let you build a website without coding. They offer customizable templates, payment integrations, and marketing tools. The difference is in their focus – Shopify is purpose-built for eCommerce and scales better for larger or more complex stores, while Wix is a website builder that includes eCommerce features, which make it a better fit for smaller shops or businesses.
Together with the Cybernews research team, we regularly test and reevaluate platforms like Wix and Shopify. We track their feature updates and analyze how they perform over time. For this comparison, we created test stores to assess ease of use, template design, ecommerce features, and pricing to see what sets these platforms apart. Let’s see which one is better for you.
Wix vs Shopify: overview
I created a table to compare all the key features of Shopify and Wix, making it easy to see the differences between these eCommerce website builders.
Check out the table below to see all the main aspects I compared. I highlighted the key features side by side for easier reference.
| Wix | Shopify | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #1 out of #33 | #5 out of #33 |
| 💵 Price: | From $10.50/month | From $29.00/month |
| 🪄 Ease of use: | Powerful interface, pretty easy to use | Foolproof design options |
| 🎨 Templates: | 2000 | 240 |
| 🏢 Business features: | Massive array of various business features | Excellent first party features, good app market |
| 👨💻 24/7 live support: | Yes | Yes |
| ✂️ Free domain (first year): | Yes | No |
| 🔒 Free SSL certificate: | Yes | Yes |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Wix coupon 50% OFF | Get Shopify deal - 25% OFF |
Wix and Shopify: key differences
While both Wix and Shopify provide tools for building and running an online business, they have different strengths and focus areas. I’ve gathered the main differences between Wix and Shopify in the table below.
| Feature | Wix | Shopify |
| eCommerce focus | Website builder with built-in eCommerce features | A platform built specifically for eCommerce |
| Pricing model | Offers a free plan on a Wix subdomain and paid plans | No free plan, but offers a $1 trial for 3 months |
| Payment options | Supports fewer payment gateways | Supports a wide range of global payment gateways |
| Template design | Offers more flexibility and a large variety of templates | More structured templates, most of which are paid |
| AI tools | Includes built-in AI tools for text and section generation | Limited built-in AI features |
| eCommerce tools | Covers the basics and is good for small to medium stores | Advanced eCommerce features for managing and scaling larger stores |
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Better choice for pricing: Wix
Wix and Shopify offer a range of paid plans with different features and resource limits. Take a look at the price breakdown below.
| Wix | Shopify | |
| Free plan | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Pricing | From $10.50/month | From $29.00/month |
| Most expensive plan | $55.00/month | $2 300.00/month |
| Limited time offer | Get Wix with 50% OFF | Try Shopify free for 3 days + 3 months for $1 |
Wix is the more budget-friendly option and also offers a free plan, which is useful if you want to test the platform. This plan includes 500MB of storage, 1GB of bandwidth, a Wix subdomain, and non-removable ads, which makes it suitable only for small stores. Wix’s pricing starts at $10.50/month and goes up to $55.00/month for the Business Elite 3-year plan, which includes unlimited storage, priority support, and up to 100 collaborators.
Shopify doesn’t have a free plan but offers a 3-day trial and then $1.00/month for the first 3 months. After that, Shopify’s pricing starts at $29.00/month. The Basic plan includes unlimited products, secure transactions, and 24/7 support. Higher-tier plans add advanced shipping, staff accounts, and advanced reporting. Shopify Plus plan prices start from $2 300.00/month, as it's designed for complex businesses.
Better choice for ease of use: Shopify
Both Wix and Shopify prioritize ease of use and have streamlined their setup processes so you can set up your website as quickly as possible. But this time, Shopify comes out ahead. It offers more user-friendly design options and is more straightforward to set up. After spending a few hours on each of these website builders, I found the progress of my Shopify site to be more visible and satisfying.
I started with Wix, which drew me in with its interactive setup process and AI assistance. While I had the option to skip the Q&A session and choose templates manually, I appreciated how my answers personalized the dashboard and website template.
The AI-driven approach is engaging, but I noticed the AI assistant struggled to interpret detailed responses. Additionally, the extensive features and customization options, while powerful, felt overwhelming and time-consuming.
If you’re willing to invest time learning how to use the platform, Wix offers detailed guides to help you navigate its many capabilities. There’s definitely a learning curve, but if you enjoy experimenting with customization, it could be the perfect fit for you.
Shopify, on the other hand, keeps things simple from the start. The setup process was very clear – I answered a few quick questions about my store’s purpose, chose a theme, and went straight into editing and management.
The clean interface made navigation easy, and I quickly found sections for products, orders, and customers. This made store management feel seamless. Shopify's design options felt more streamlined than Wix’s and didn’t overwhelm me with too many elements.
Better choice for templates: Wix
Next, I evaluated the template options and compared them by pricing, quality, and variety. Wix was a clear winner with its choice of free templates and the variety it offers for different website purposes.
Website templates are a huge time-saver that gives a head start on your website’s design. Instead of doing everything from scratch, you can pick a template you like and adjust it. This saves time and eliminates a lot of stress, especially if you’re new to web design. That’s why I looked closely at what both providers offer.
Wix stood out immediately with its 2000 free eCommerce templates. These templates cover a wide range of niches, from fashion and clothing to books and publishers, and even a separate section for CBD products. They're all mobile-optimized, modern, and easy to customize, so you can quickly build a site that fits your brand. Plus, there are many options if you're creating something other than an eCommerce site, such as a blog or community page.
Shopify, on the other hand, only offers around 240 templates, and most of the best ones are quite expensive – the prices range from $100 to $500.
While the designs are sleek and specifically built for eCommerce, I felt the limited free options were a big drawback.
Better choice for features: Wix
When it comes to features, Wix takes the lead as the best choice, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. Let’s take a closer look at the feature options offered by both platforms.
- eCommerce tools. Both Wix and Shopify have an impressive choice of eCommerce tools and both have custom payment solutions. Wix provides abandoned cart recovery, customizable checkout pages, and tools for managing digital and physical products. It also integrates with dropshipping services and provides inventory management tools. Shopify offers similar tools and adds more advanced options like multi-currency support, customizable tax settings, and integrations with shipping carriers.
- Marketing and SEO. Both Wix and Shopify provide built-in SEO tools to help optimize your website for search engines. Wix integrates with Google Ads and Facebook Ads, and offers many email marketing templates. I was surprised by how easy Wix made it for beginners to manage their campaigns. Shopify provides all the main marketing features but focuses more on advanced analytics, offering valuable insights for businesses that rely heavily on data.
- Security. Security is a priority for both platforms. They are both GDPR-compliant, use data encryption, and secure payments. I’m impressed that Shopify also provides fraud analysis that helps you detect potentially suspicious orders.
- Flexibility and customization. Wix stands out for its customization possibilities. Its AI-powered tools and design options make it easy to create a unique website. While the sheer number of choices initially feels like too much, I came to appreciate how tailored the platform could be. Shopify prioritizes a smoother user experience, and its customization options are more limited compared to Wix.
- Apps. Wix offers over 750 apps, whereas Shopify has a fast-growing app store with over 13,000 apps. Wix uses a native solution approach, keeping most tools and features on its platform. However, I noticed that many of Wix’s apps have lower user ratings compared to Shopify, which mainly uses third-party integrations.
Wix stands out when it comes to features, offering more built-in tools and customization options than Shopify. Although Shopify shines with advanced analytics and a wide range of apps, Wix's integrated solutions provide a more seamless experience, making it perfect for businesses seeking robust features without relying too much on third-party integrations.
Wix vs Shopify: which one do I recommend
After thoroughly testing both eCommerce platforms, I found that each of them has different strengths. Wix is ideal for small to medium businesses, offering a user-friendly, affordable platform with strong design flexibility. Shopify is better suited for growing stores that need advanced eCommerce tools and scalability, though it comes with a higher starting price of $29.00/month and extra costs for templates and apps.
Wix is the better choice if you prioritize simplicity and creativity. For advanced store management and long-term growth, Shopify is a stronger option.
For more options, check out our eCommerce website builder comparison to see how Wix and Shopify compare to other platforms.
FAQ
Should I switch from Wix to Shopify?
Switch to Shopify if your business needs advanced eCommerce features or better scalability. For smaller businesses or creative design needs, Wix is an excellent and user-friendly choice.
Is Shopify worth it for a small business?
Yes, if eCommerce is your primary focus, Shopify offers powerful tools for your store. However, consider the cost compared to more simple options like Wix for basic needs.
Is Wix worth it for eCommerce?
Yes, Wix is a great choice for small to medium-sized stores. It’s user-friendly, affordable, and has solid eCommerce features. If you’re just starting or prefer an all-in-one platform with design flexibility, Wix is a good option.
Can I use my Wix domain on Shopify?
Yes, you can transfer your Wix domain or connect it to any site, including Shopify, by updating its nameservers.
