WordPress vs Shopify vs Wix for small businesses

Short answer: choose WordPress if you want full control, strong SEO and no platform locking you in. Choose Shopify if you're mainly selling products and want the simplest shop to run. Choose Wix if you're testing an idea and want to build it yourself this weekend.

All three can produce a good-looking website. The real differences are in who owns the site, what it costs over a few years, how far it can grow, and how much work you'll do yourself. Here's how they compare for a typical UK small business.

At a glance

WordPress: the flexible option

WordPress powers a large share of the web, from one-page sites to big news publishers. The software is free and open source. You pay for hosting and, usually, for someone to design and build the site.

• You own it. The site and its content are yours, and you can move host whenever you like.
• Strong for SEO. You control page titles, URLs, structured data and speed, which matters for service businesses that win work from Google.
• It can grow with you. Booking systems, client areas and online shops (through WooCommerce) can be added later without starting again.
• The catch: WordPress, its theme and plugins need regular updates. Either you do them, or a care plan covers it.

Shopify: built for selling

Shopify is a hosted shop platform. You pay a monthly subscription and Shopify handles hosting, security and checkout.

• Quick to start selling. Products, payments, stock and delivery are built in.
• Low maintenance. No updates to manage.
• The catch: costs add up. On top of the subscription, many features need paid apps, and there are transaction fees unless you use Shopify's own payments. You also can't take the site with you if you leave.

For a business that is mainly a shop, Shopify is a solid choice. For a service business that sells a few products on the side, it's usually more than you need.

Wix: the do-it-yourself option

Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder. You pick a template, change the text and photos, and publish.

• Cheap and fast to start. Good for testing an idea before you invest properly.
• No technical upkeep. Wix handles hosting and updates.
• The catch: you're renting, not owning. You can't move a Wix site to another host, so changing later means a rebuild. Design and SEO control are more limited, and the result can look like the template it started from.

What each one really costs

Compare costs over three years, not just the first month:

• WordPress: a build cost, then hosting and maintenance. That might be a one-off build plus a care plan, or a single monthly price on a pay monthly plan.
• Shopify: a monthly subscription, plus apps, plus transaction fees, plus a theme or a designer if you want it to look professional.
• Wix: a monthly subscription, plus your own time building and updating it. Your time is worth something too.

Prices on all three platforms change regularly, so check each one's current pricing page before deciding.

Which should you choose?

• You're a service business (trades, clinics, consultants, professional services): WordPress. SEO and enquiries matter most, and you'll want to own the site.
• You sell products and that's the whole business: Shopify or WordPress with WooCommerce. Shopify is simpler to run. WooCommerce has no platform fees on each sale and gives you more control.
• You're testing an idea on a tiny budget: Wix is fine for now. Plan to move to WordPress when the business is proven.

At AtSyc we build on WordPress and WooCommerce, because our clients own what we build. If you're unsure, a free 20-minute call is enough to work out which fits.

Frequently asked questions

Is WordPress free?

The WordPress software is free. You pay for hosting, a domain, and usually for design, build and maintenance.

Can I move from Wix to WordPress?

Yes, but it's a rebuild rather than a transfer. Your text and images can come across. With 301 redirects set up properly, you can keep your Google rankings.

Is WooCommerce as good as Shopify?

For most small shops, yes. Shopify is simpler to run day to day. WooCommerce gives you more control and charges no platform fee on each sale.