Building a website no longer requires coding expertise, and Wix is one of the most popular drag-and-drop web design platforms. It allows anyone to build websites quickly, suitable for personal sites, businesses, portfolios, blogs, online stores, and more. This guide explores Wix, who it’s best for, standout features, and the top alternatives to consider before choosing a website platform.
What is Wix?
Wix is a website-building platform that enables users to create, design, and manage websites without coding skills. Designed for novices and professionals, Wix offers a range of features, including customizable templates, design tools, and integrations, to help craft a website.
It supports various uses and essential features for small businesses, personal websites, and other purposes. This quick guide provides an overview of Wix, its top features, who should use it (who shouldn’t), the best alternatives, and how to learn it.
What is Wix Used For?
Wix is a website builder that offers numerous features. It excels at creating these types of sites:
- Business: Wix can create professional-looking websites for businesses of all sizes. It offers business templates and tools to help you create a website that effectively showcases your products or services.
- Portfolio: Wix is a good option for creating portfolio websites for freelancers and creative professionals. Wix offers portfolio templates and tools to help showcase your work and make it easy for potential clients to contact you.
- E-commerce: Wix can build e-commerce websites with a range of features to help you sell online products, including a shopping cart, payment processing, and shipping integrations.
- Blog: Wix is an option for creating blog websites through their app in the market. Wix offers blog templates and tools to help you write and publish posts.
- Personal: Wix can also be used to create personal websites. Wix offers personal website templates and tools to help you create a site that reflects your personality and interests.
Standout Features
Here are some of the more notable features offered by Wix:
- Drag-And-Drop Editor: Design your site with Wix’s online interface. Easily move elements with a mouse drag and edit them with several options.
- Native Marketing Tools: Use SEO and digital marketing tools right on the platform, without having to discover, add, or filter plugins.
- Easy Setup: You can get a solid custom site design by answering a few questions in their setup wizard.
- Wix App Market: Find add-ons and integrations to expand your site’s functionality.
- App Builder: Wix lets you create a mobile app. This is a great bonus for those who need more than a website.
These are just a few of the highlights. The best features and tools will depend on your needs and preferences.
Who is Wix Best For?
Wix caters to a wide range of users and has both pros and cons for various scenarios. Let’s break down who should and shouldn’t use Wix.
Who Should Use Wix?
- Small Business Owners: For those starting a business or running a small operation, Wix offers an easy, affordable way to build a website. Whether you’re a local bakery, a consulting service, or a craft store, Wix’s templates can help you get started and build your site on a strong foundation.
- Freelancers and Professionals: If you’re an independent contractor, photographer, writer, or any other professional wanting to showcase your portfolio and attract clients, Wix offers dedicated designs and tools to highlight your skills and services.
- Online Retailers: Wix’s e-commerce functionalities make it a prime choice for individuals or businesses selling products online. It offers tools for inventory management, payment processing, and even customer reviews.
- Artists and Creatives: Musicians, painters, graphic designers, and other creatives can leverage Wix to showcase their work in visually engaging ways, complete with galleries, video backgrounds, and more.
- Non-Profits and Community Groups: Organizations seeking to share their mission, mobilize volunteers, or collect donations can benefit from Wix’s non-profit templates and exclusive discounts for charities and non-profits.
Who Shouldn’t Use Wix?
While Wix offers versatility and ease, it might not be the best fit for everyone. You may find other platforms more suitable depending on your specific needs and goals. Let’s explore examples where alternatives might be better:
Heavy Content Publishers
For those who intend to publish vast amounts of content regularly, platforms like WordPress are more suitable. With its extensive plugin ecosystem and greater control over content organization, WordPress is a top choice for online magazines, news outlets, and other content-rich websites.
Best Alternative: WordPress
Advanced E-Commerce Platforms
If your primary goal is to operate a large-scale e-commerce store with advanced features, platforms like Shopify might be a better bet. These platforms offer more advanced inventory management, integrations, and scalability options specifically designed for e-commerce.
Best Alternative: Shopify
Customized Web Applications
For those who need to create highly customized web applications or sites with specific functionalities beyond a typical website, using full-fledged web development frameworks might be the way to go.
Best Alternative: Web development frameworks like Django
Minimalist Bloggers
For writers and bloggers who want a no-frills, focused platform for their writing, Medium is a better alternative. It offers a clean, minimalist experience that makes it easy to publish content without the hassles of site maintenance.
Best Alternative: Medium
Large Enterprises
Large corporations with complex digital needs may seek enterprise-grade solutions that include dedicated developers and customization. Quality enterprise platforms should offer a suite of tools for content management, digital marketing, analytics, and more, suitable for expansive sites.
Best Alternative: Custom Solutions
Top Wix Alternatives
Here’s a summary of our favorite alternatives for those exploring website builders:
- Squarespace: Known for its sleek designs and ease of use. A great solution for those who want drag-and-drop controls, with limited parameters to help avoid errors.
- WordPress: Highly customizable with a vast plugin selection. It has a steeper learning curve, but it’s the best option for anyone focused on content.
- Webflow: Offers intuitive, flexible design controls but requires more web development and design expertise. Great for portfolio and personal sites.
- Shopify: Best suited for online stores and dedicated e-commerce websites. If you’re looking to sell products or do dropshipping, this would be a stronger option.
If you still want more options, try exploring other website builder alternatives.
How to Learn Wix
While it’s relatively easy to build a site with Wix, mastering the platform takes time and practice. Start with these resources to build your essential skills.
- Official Tutorials: Wix offers a collection of step-by-step tutorials on their official website.
- YouTube Tutorials: Many content creators have created helpful Wix tutorials that cover a wide range of common issues. Search YouTube for anything you want to learn more about.
- Online Courses: Platforms like Udemy and Coursera offer courses on Wix website design and development. Better if you prefer structured learning.
- Experiment: Dive in and start designing. The best way to learn the platform is by using it. If there’s anything you’re confused or curious about, try searching for it on Google or using AI to learn more.
Experimenting with Wix’s editor and tools is the best way to learn more about the platform and determine if it’s the right fit for you. You’ll gain a sense of how to design a site and determine which features best fit your needs.
Summary
Wix is a versatile platform for creating customized websites without requiring coding. It has many useful templates, tools, and integrations. However, as with any tool, it’s essential to invest time in learning its offerings and nuances to decide if it’s right for you.
