Wix vs Shopify: thorough comparison for 2025

If you're interested in creating an online store, you've probably heard of Wix and Shopify. These platforms are leaders in the website-building space, and choosing between them can be tricky since they appear to offer similar solutions at first glance.

Together with the Cybernews research team, I tested both platforms for two weeks. We created test stores to compare the providers’ ease of use, template design, features, and pricing to see what sets these platforms apart. Let’s see which one is better for you.

Wix vs Shopify: overview

You probably came here to find out which platform wins in this comparison. After testing both Wix and Shopify, here’s my verdict: Wix is the perfect option for small to medium-sized businesses that need eCommerce features, and I’ll explain why in the sections below.

WIX WINS THIS COMPARISON WITH ITS USER-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE

Shopify and Wix both impress me with their features and capabilities. That said, Wix stands out as more beginner-friendly, offering a wide range of built-in features, while Shopify’s pricing makes it a better fit for larger stores.

Winner

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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 and Shopify: key differences and similarities

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 and similarities between Wix and Shopify in the table below.

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Pricing: Wix wins

Both Wix and Shopify offer various plans to suit different resource needs. However, Wix stands out for being more budget-friendly and even provides a free option, which is helpful if you’re just starting out or working with a tight budget.

Wix pricing

I was excited to see that Wix offers a free plan, which is helpful if you want to test the platform before deciding to upgrade. However, this plan has its limitations – it's best suited for small stores, as it only provides 500MB of storage and 1GB of bandwidth. You'll also need to use a Wix subdomain, and your site will display non-removable Wix banner ads.

If you decide to upgrade, prices start at $10.50/month. The Light plan includes up to 2 collaborators, 2GB of storage space, and the ability to connect a custom domain (free for the first year). It also removes Wix branding from your site. I’ve listed all the prices in the table below.

I wouldn't recommend the free plan for websites with high traffic. Instead, try any paid Wix plan for 14 days. If you decide it’s not for you, Wix promises a full refund with no questions asked.

Transaction fees are another important factor to consider. Wix itself doesn't charge a fee on sales, but payment providers do. Wix recommends using its own Wix Payments solution, which charges between 2.1% and 2.9% for processing, plus a fixed fee. I give Wix credit for being transparent about their fees, even though they can seem confusing at first.

Overall, Wix’s pricing plans cater to diverse needs. They're good for beginners who want to try the platform and for businesses that require advanced features. Just be mindful of plan limitations and transaction fees to better manage your costs and budget.

Shopify pricing

Shopify doesn’t offer a free plan, and its prices start at $29.00/month, which may seem a little bit expensive, especially for the lowest package. However, the Basic plan comes packed with features, allowing you to build a fully functioning online store.

The Basic plan includes secure transactions, sales and marketing tools, and the ability to list unlimited products. Plus, you’ll have access to main reports and 24/7 live chat support if you run into any issues. I’ve detailed the pricing and features in the table below.

You can try Shopify free for 3 days without providing any credit card information. After that, your first month costs just $1.00. I looked for a money-back guarantee on Shopify’s website, but couldn't find one. According to its terms, Shopify only provides refunds in exceptional cases, for example if a feature did not work as expected or if a billing error occured.

When you make a sale, Shopify charges a payment processing fee. The fee is highest on the Basic plan, at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. On the Advanced Shopify plan, the fee drops to 2.5% + $0.30 per online transaction. If you use a third-party payment provider, you'll also pay their fees along with an additional charge from Shopify.

If you're considering Shopify, ensure its pricing and fees align with your business needs. The Basic plan has enough features to get started, but be mindful of extra payment processing fees, especially with third-party providers. If you expect high sales, upgrading to a more expensive plan could save you money. Planning ahead can help you maximize the benefits while keeping costs down.

Ease of use: Shopify wins

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 overall 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 in learning the platform, Wix offers detailed guides to help you navigate through 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 then 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 it didn’t overwhelm me with too many elements.

If you’re an eCommerce beginner or just enjoy simplicity, Shopify feels like the more intuitive option, and its design is less likely to overwhelm. While Wix offers more creative freedom, Shopify’s focus on ease of use and store management ultimately makes it the winner in this category.

Templates: Wix wins

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 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 900+ 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 200 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.

Features: Wix wins

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: side-by-side comparison

After thoroughly testing both providers, I found that each platform has different strengths. Wix is perfect for small to medium businesses, offering a user-friendly, low-cost platform with design flexibility. Shopify excels in eCommerce tools and scalability, but its starting price of $29.00/month – plus the cost of paid templates and apps – may be too high.

In summary, if you prioritize simplicity and creativity, choose Wix. If your focus is on growth and advanced store management, Shopify is the better choice.

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