Wix powers over 200 million websites worldwide. As a web developer who's built sites on every major platform, let me give you my honest review of Wix as a website builder for small businesses.
Quick answer: Wix is one of the best drag-and-drop builders for small businesses who want total design freedom without learning to code.
The Good Stuff
1. True Drag-and-Drop Freedom
Unlike WordPress where you're limited by themes and blocks, Wix lets you drag anything anywhere. Want a button in the exact center? Just drag it there.
2. 900+ Designer-Made Templates
Wix has one of the largest template libraries. Every template is mobile-responsive and professionally designed.
3. Wix App Market
Over 300 apps to add functionality: booking systems, live chat, social feeds, forms, and more.
4. Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI)
Answer a few questions, and Wix ADI builds a complete website for you in minutes. Great for absolute beginners.
The Not-So-Good Stuff
1. No Site Export
You can't export a Wix site. If you leave Wix, you rebuild from scratch. This is a big lock-in.
2. Slower Page Load Times
Wix sites tend to be heavier and slower than WordPress or custom-coded sites. This can hurt SEO.
3. Limited Blogging Features
Wix's blogging platform is basic compared to WordPress. If content marketing is your focus, look elsewhere.
4. Pricing Adds Up
While the basic plan is $17/month, you'll likely need the $27/month plan for business features, plus apps at $5-10/month each.