Wix is the fastest way to build a website yourself, WordPress gives more freedom to those willing to handle maintenance, and a custom website offers the best speed, SEO and control for businesses that want customers from Google. The right choice depends on your goal, budget and who will look after the site.
What Is Each Option?
- Wix: a drag-and-drop website builder. You pay a monthly plan and the site is hosted on the platform.
- WordPress: a free, open-source content management system that powers over 40% of the world's websites according to W3Techs. It needs its own hosting, a theme and plugins.
- Custom website: designed and coded for your business, without relying on a builder or dozens of plugins.
What Is the Difference Between Wix, WordPress and a Custom Website?
| Wix | WordPress | Custom website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low (DIY) | Low to medium | Medium |
| Monthly costs | Plan subscription, forever | Hosting, paid plugins and maintenance | Hosting only |
| Speed | Average | Variable (depends on plugins) | High |
| SEO and AI | Basic | Good, with setup | Full control |
| Do you own the site? | Cannot be moved off Wix | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance | Handled by the platform | Frequent security updates | Minimal |
When Does Wix Make Sense?
Wix is a good option for a personal project, for testing a business idea or for anyone who needs something online today with no budget. The trade-off is dependence: the site is tied to the platform, the subscription never ends and there are limits on speed and technical SEO as the business grows.
When Does WordPress Make Sense?
WordPress is ideal if you publish a lot of content, such as an active blog, and have someone to look after the site. Its flexibility comes from plugins, but every plugin adds weight and one more thing to update. Outdated WordPress sites are among the most common targets for attacks, so maintenance is not optional.
When Is a Custom Website Worth It?
When the website needs to bring in customers. A custom site loads faster, carries only the code it needs and is built with SEO, structured data and AI-assistant optimisation from day one. It is also yours: you can change hosting or agency whenever you like. At Web Arts, a custom business website costs between €1,000 and €5,000 and a landing page between €250 and €1,000. Calculate your website price with our quote calculator.
Already on Wix or WordPress?
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Get a Free AuditHow to Decide in 3 Questions
- Does the site need to bring customers from Google? If so, prioritise speed and technical SEO: a well-configured WordPress or a custom site.
- Who will look after the site? If nobody has time for updates, avoid relying on lots of plugins.
- Do you want to own the site? If moving platform in the future matters, avoid closed builders.
Still unsure? See how to create a business website in 8 steps or talk to us about your website.