Shopify Vs. Wix (2024 Comparison)

Shopify targets medium to large eCommerce enterprises with tools for managing large inventories, global customers, and sales optimization, while Wix suits small businesses and bloggers valuing simplicity.  Both capable of building online stores, these platforms serve distinct purposes, detailed in our Wix vs Shopify comparison.

Despite their differences, Shopify and Wix both aim to help you create websites and sell online. Shopify is known for its powerful sales tools catering to businesses of all sizes. It offers scalability, advanced eCommerce features, and seamless integration of shipping, taxes, and payment gateways. Wix, on the other hand, is praised for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and comprehensive features, making it perfect for new businesses.

So, which one suits your needs better? To help you decide, we’ve thoroughly compared the tools based on ease of use, customization, eCommerce features, POS systems, marketing tools, pricing, security, and other important factors.

 

As experienced Shopify partners, we’ve witnessed the platform’s evolution and versatility firsthand, making it our top choice for eCommerce projects. However, we remain committed to providing an unbiased review, acknowledging that Wix may better suit certain scenarios.

Shopify stands out as a versatile eCommerce website builder, designed to help users build and manage successful online stores with minimum effort. It packs a wide range of features, including a dedicated sales dashboard, strong inventory management tools, and access to over 8,000 integrations through its app marketplace.

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👎 Cons:

In the other corner, we have Wix, which is a user-friendly website builder that simplifies the process of creating professional-looking websites. It offers users over 800 design templates for blogs and small businesses, as well as extensive customization options. Users can further customize their sites with over 300 third-party apps for added functionality like scheduling and event booking.

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Now let’s get into the actual comparison review.

With this out of the way, we’ll explore factors like ease of use, features, pricing, integrations, and more to help you choose the best fit for your online store.

 

Setting up both Wix and Shopify is a breeze. They’ve streamlined their processes to make getting started as smooth as possible.

Getting started with Shopify is straightforward. You choose a theme, tweak it to your liking, and you’re ready to go. While it’s user-friendly, it doesn’t offer the same level of customization as some other platforms without coding. However, it’s perfect for quickly setting up an online store in 3 minutes.

Wix provides two main options: Wix ADI and Wix Editor. With Wix ADI, you answer a few questions, pick your preferred look, and Wix does the rest. It’s quick and easy, making it great for beginners. However, if you want more control, you can opt for the Wix Editor. This option allows you to drag and drop elements to create your site, giving you more freedom to customize. However, it might take a bit more trial and error to get it just right.

Key Takeaways:

When it comes to setting up an online store, Shopify is the go-to choice. It’s designed specifically for eCommerce, offering top-notch shipping and fulfillment services, and partnerships with major carriers, Shopify makes handling orders a breeze.

Plus, with over 8,000 integrations, you can easily manage everything from inventory to customer retention. While Shopify offers more integrations than Wix, both platforms work with Zapier, allowing you to automate tasks.

Wix gives you plenty of options with over 900 free templates covering a wide range of industries. However, if you’re looking specifically for eCommerce templates, Wix offers around 120 choices. These templates are divided into 12 categories, making it easy to find one that suits your business.

On the other hand, Shopify has fewer templates, but they’re tailored specifically for online stores. While Shopify’s templates are more general, Wix’s categorization allows for more specific choices based on your business type.

Key Takeaways:

While Wix has powerful eCommerce capabilities, it’s not the platform’s primary focus. It provides essential eCommerce tools but may not match the depth and breadth of features offered by specialized eCommerce platforms like Shopify. In this section, we’ll dive into various aspects of eCommerce functionality, comparing inventory management, payment options, shipping solutions, and more.

 

Inventory and fulfillment

Managing your inventory and ensuring smooth fulfillment processes are vital aspects of running an online store.

For larger online stores with more complex inventories, Shopify steps in with advanced management capabilities. It offers extensive tools for inventory management, including uploading products, stock management, revenue reporting, and more. You have full control over product presentation with options for unlimited items and variants. Recent improvements to the checkout process enhance the overall buying experience.

Wix, on the other hand, provides a simpler inventory management solution, suitable for smaller stores. While not as robust as Shopify, Wix still offers effective product showcasing with features like videos and zoom. The checkout process is user-friendly, though inventory management may be more limited compared to Shopify, requiring additional apps for advanced tasks.

Key Takeaways:

 

Payment options

Shopify Payments offers a wide range of payment options, including major debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, and even cryptocurrencies. The transaction fees range from 2.9% to 2.4% + 30¢ USD, depending on your chosen plan. It’s available in various countries, such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and more.

While Shopify supports over 100 payment gateways, using third-party providers may incur additional fees. Shopify’s standout features include streamlined checkout processes and recent additions like tipping during checkout and Shopify Bill Pay for managing business bills.

Next, we have Wix Payments. You can accept major debit and credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and more. The transaction fee is 2.9% + 30¢ USD, which is pretty standard in the industry. Wix Payments is available in several countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and some European nations.

Wix supports over 50 payment methods including PayPal, Stripe, Square, Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc. but some payment methods are not supported, like Amazon Pay for example. One of the perks of Wix Payments is that it doesn’t charge any transaction fees, allowing you to keep more of your earnings.

Key Takeaways:

 

Shipping options

Shopify has shipping management tools, allowing you to handle rates, locations, and labels within the platform. It integrates with major carriers like DHL and UPS, offering shipping discounts based on your subscription plan. Additionally, Shopify supports contact-free shipping options such as curbside pickup and local delivery.

Next, Wix allows you to set up various shipping methods, including free, flat-rate, and weight-based options. However, its tools for printing labels and providing real-time shipping rates are somewhat limited. You might need third-party apps to fill in these gaps. Recently, Wix partnered with Shippo to introduce Wix Shipping, aiming to improve order management for its merchants.

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Dropshipping

With Shopify, you get both native and third-party apps for dropshipping, with 291 apps in the Dropshipping category alone. Some popular options include Spocket, Printful, Printify, and Modalyst, among others.

Wix Ecommerce is a good choice for smaller businesses dipping into dropshipping. They recommend the platform Modalyst, which integrates with Wix sites and has a range of catalogs across eight categories. It’s free for up to 25 products, with pricing starting at $30 per month for larger usage. Other dropshipping options for Wix include Spocket, Printful, Printify, and 365Dropship.

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Tax Settings

Since nobody needs taxes more complicated than they already are, both platforms offer tax management features.

Shopify provides control over tax settings, allowing you to customize tax calculations and automate common tax processes. Shopify Plus goes even further as it gives its users access to Avalara AvaTax which automates tax calculations and simplifies the tax filing process.

Wix, on the other hand, allows you to enable or disable taxes, include tax in the product price, and customize tax settings according to your business needs. For automated tax calculations, Wix recommends installing the Avalara app, which helps calculate real-time tax rates.

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Extending Functionality

Both Wix and Shopify offer tools and apps to enhance your online store. Shopify has a massive app store with over 6,000 eCommerce-focused apps. These apps are designed to complement Shopify’s existing features and offer a wide range of functionalities to customize your store. The platform also provides helpful guides and free apps, which are essential for dropshipping businesses. Additionally, Shopify benefits from a vibrant developer community creating third-party apps.

Next, Wix offers some apps developed in-house, the quality can vary, and there’s a limited selection compared to Shopify. However, users can still find useful third-party apps to enhance their store’s functionality.

Key Takeaways:

Shopify’s POS system is highly functional and well-regarded by users. It comes with features like flexible shopping options, comprehensive reports, inventory management, and the ability to set up loyalty programs and discounts. With hardware kits and a mobile app, Shopify’s POS caters to both in-store and mobile sales. 

On the other hand, Wix’s POS is currently limited to a select few US-based online stores. Although it offers promising features like integration with various payment methods and multichannel inventory management, its availability is limited. Users outside the US may find it challenging to access the Wix POS system.

In terms of pricing, Shopify offers a free POS Lite option with any plan and a paid POS Pro option for more advanced features. However, Wix’s POS hardware is expensive, and its availability is restricted to specific business types in the US.

Key Takeaways:

When it comes to marketing features, both platforms offer a range of tools to help you promote your online store, so let’s break them down one by one:

Abandoned Card Recovery

Both Shopify and Wix have you covered, allowing you to send reminder emails to customers who leave items in their carts. Studies suggest that recovering these lost sales can potentially increase revenue by up to 25%.

 

SEO

When it comes to Search Engine Optimization, both platforms offer tools to boost your store’s visibility on search engines. You can tweak meta titles/descriptions, URL slugs, and alt text for images to improve your store’s ranking. However, Wix goes the extra mile with keyword support and integration with Semrush, providing more insights and tools for SEO efforts.

 

Analytics

In terms of analytics, both Shopify and Wix have built-in analytics dashboards. Wix’s tool is more basic, while Shopify’s advanced features are unlocked with the Advanced plan. For more detailed reporting, integrating with Google Analytics is recommended on both platforms.

 

Email Marketing

Shopify allows you to create email campaigns directly from the admin page and integrates smoothly with third-party apps like Omnisend Email Marketing and Privy. Meanwhile, Wix Ascend offers a comprehensive marketing solution with email campaigns and premium features available through a subscription.

 

Social Media Integration

Both platforms support multi-channel integration, so you can connect your store to various social media platforms and marketplaces.

 

Blogging

For blogging, Wix excels with its user-friendly features specifically built for creating and managing blogs, earning it a perfect score. Conversely, Shopify’s blogging capabilities are more limited.

Key Takeaways:

When it comes to integrations, Shopify stands out with its vast selection of over 6,000 eCommerce integrations. This means you have a wide range of third-party apps and services at your fingertips. Plus, Shopify also plays nice with Zapier, a handy automation tool, giving you even more integration possibilities.

On the flip side, Wix offers a more modest selection of over 300 integrations. While it may not match Shopify’s extensive library, Wix still covers the basics, providing essential tools and services to support your online store. And like Shopify, Wix also links up with Zapier, offering users flexibility in connecting their Wix store with other platforms and apps.

Key Takeaways:

Getting the right pricing plan is key for your business.

Shopify offers three eCommerce plans starting at $29.00/m, while Wix’s basic eCommerce plans start at $27.00/m. Additionally, Shopify has a Lite plan for $9.00/m and a Plus plan for larger enterprises starting from $2,000/m.

When looking at Shopify, you get essential features like unlimited products and abandoned cart recovery included in the plans. However, transaction fees vary based on the plan, so consider your sales volume. On the other hand, Wix’s plans include features like event calendars and site boost apps but keep in mind there are transaction fees with Wix Payments.

Now, let’s break down each tier:

Basic Tier: Wix Core vs Basic Shopify

Mid Tier: Wix Business vs Shopify plan

Wix Business Elite vs Advanced Shopify

 

In the security department, both Wix and Shopify have your back. They include SSL security on all plans to encrypt sensitive information like login and payment details, ensuring secure transactions. Additionally, both platforms comply with Level 1 PCI DSS standards, ensuring great protection for payment card data.

The two platforms have built-in measures to defend against online threats like viruses and malware. However, Shopify offers additional internal tools for fraud detection, providing extra protection against fraudulent transactions.

Key Takeaways:

 

Wix and Shopify both offer extensive help centers packed with articles and videos to guide you through any issues. But Wix goes the extra mile with its in-editor help feature. Instead of toggling between guides and your website, you can get assistance right where you’re working.

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Alrighty, folks, that’s a wrap!

In wrapping up our comparison of Shopify vs Wix, here’s the deal: If you’re aiming for a creative blog with some side-selling action, Shopify is your go-to. But if you’re diving into eCommerce for a medium to large-scale business, Wix has got your back.

It’s not about Wix lacking eCommerce capabilities or Shopify falling short on blog design tools—it’s more about playing to each platform’s strengths. So, consider their reputations along with your business size, budget, and specific needs to nail down the perfect fit for you. Whether it’s Shopify or Wix, you’ve got two solid options to fuel your online ventures.

Hey, before you go, don’t forget to check out our other awesome articles on UI/UX design! We’ve got loads of tips and inspiration to help you create stunning designs that will blow your mind.

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