Opinion: don’t use Wix – it stinks. And while that statement may ruffle some feathers, I’m ready to back it up with solid reasons why you shouldn’t use Wix and should opt for practically any other platform instead!
Having been a website designer and developer for many years, I’ve worked on practically every website platform under the sun, including Wix.
My goal in writing this article isn’t to shame you if you’ve built your website on Wix – it’s to educate you about some of the compelling reasons why it’s worth your time to consider other platforms – before making a decision that could potentially cost your business a lot of money.
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5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Choose Wix
Here at Seedling Studio, we’re known for creating websites on all platforms… well, almost all platforms.
WordPress? Love it.
Showit? Yes, please!
Shopify? A must!
Webflow? When can I start?
Squarespace? Sure!
But there’s one website platform that’s absolutely not getting an invite to this party – and her name is Wix.
Here’s why.
1. Wix Is Not as User-Friendly as Advertised
Having used it myself and listened to countless business owners complain about it, I can confidently say that Wix’s user experience leaves much to be desired.
Especially when comparing Wix to other DIY-friendly website builders like Showit and Squarespace, its website-building interface is clunky and frustrating to navigate.
Also, accomplishing seemingly simple tasks on Wix isn’t always straightforward. The platform hides many useful tools and features (like SEO management) in non-intuitive places, making it easy to overlook essential elements of your website.
If user-friendliness is your top priority, I’d recommend choosing Showit as your website platform instead of Wix.
2. Wix Websites Are Difficult to Migrate
One of the most significant reasons why you shouldn’t use Wix is that if and when you need to redesign your website, Wix data is nearly impossible to migrate.
If you plan on making your business successful, chances are it’s going to undergo many significant changes along the way. And as your business grows, your website should adapt to support that growth.
Even though Wix claims to be “the place for growth,” it is extremely likely that your website needs will eventually outpace Wix’s capabilities. And when that happens, you’ll need to migrate.
If you’ve ever migrated large amounts of data from one place to another, you know how much of a headache it can be. You have to keep track of every last factor – from SEO impact to product data, images, and file structures.
And here’s the thing – Wix is designed to keep you on Wix. The only way to migrate your content off the platform is to use RSS and manually save and upload each image from your site to your new platform. You’ll probably need to loop in the help of a professional, and it won’t be cheap.
So, while Wix is an affordable option that may seem fine now, think about your future self and business. Saving a little money in the short term could cost you waaaay more in the long term.
3. Wix Has Way Too Many Design Limitations
If you care about your website looking professional and legitimate, then Wix may not be the best platform for you.
While it’s marketed as being DIY-friendly, you’ll find that the platform locks you into a rigid structure that’s difficult to customize when building your website.
If you want to go outside the lines of your chosen template to make your website look more professional, good luck! Wix limits you to only a few customization options that will keep your website looking (in my opinion) templated and amateur.
There’s nothing wrong with using a website template – but the template you use should provide enough flexibility to make it yours and follow your business’s unique strategy.
4. Wix Is Bad for SEO
The whole point of having a website is to make it easier for people to find you online. But if you use Wix, many factors will be working against your ability to reach that goal.
As I mentioned before, Wix hides important SEO controls in hard-to-find places. And since Wix’s customer base is mostly made up of beginners who don’t have much knowledge about SEO, it’s easy for business owners to overlook this vital part of website ownership.
Also, Wix has historically had issues with indexability, or the ability for search engine crawlers to index websites. Unless Google’s crawl bots are able to index the pages of your site, those pages will not show up in Google search results, which is a MAJOR obstacle to getting found online.
To drive the point home, Wix makes SEO in lots of other small ways that add up. The platform sometimes adds extra strings to URLs, doesn’t let you alter your website’s permalink structure, and doesn’t allow users to access and customize their sitemaps.
The worst part? Wix has been known to give poor, inaccurate SEO advice to customers, likely in an effort to cover their platform’s serious shortcomings.
5. Wix Is Cheap – Until You Need More Features
I get it – Wix appeals to those who need a website, don’t have much experience with “website things,” and want to get it done as cheaply as possible. But is Wix actually affordable?
In the short term, yes.
But in the long term, choosing Wix could end up costing you more than meets the eye.
As your business grows and you need to add more features to your website, you’ll likely need to turn to the Wix App Market. This app marketplace offers countless “free” apps that aren’t really free – most of the apps offer free plans with extremely limited functionality for testing purposes, but if you want to use them fully, you need to pay for them.
In my opinion, it’s better to go with a platform that’s naturally extendable and customizable rather than one that’s limited and makes you pay to add the features you want.
To sum it all up, if you need a website, don’t cut corners. Set yourself up for success on the platform that’s going to fuel your business’s growth, not hinder it.
Unsure of which platform that is for you? Take our Website Platform Quiz, and you’ll be sure to get started on the right foot.
