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Hosted vs hosted

ShopifyvsWix

Both are hosted and beginner-friendly. The difference is emphasis: Shopify is a store that can have a website; Wix is a website that can have a store.

The short answer

Choose Shopify if

Your catalogue, orders and sales channels will grow, and commerce tooling matters more than layout freedom.

Start free trial Read the Shopify guide →

Choose Wix if

You want precise visual control of your pages, and selling is one part of a broader site.

Explore Wix Read the Wix guide →

Editorial guidance based on the facts below — the right choice depends on your needs. StoreBuild is reader-supported. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission. It never changes our recommendations. Estimate your total costs →

Related guide: Shopify vs Wix for dropshipping

Store-first or site-first?

Neither platform requires code or hosting. So the decision comes down to where you’ll spend your time: managing products and orders (Shopify’s strength) or crafting pages and brand experience (Wix’s strength).

Side by side

Compare the facts

Ease of use

Getting started

Shopify
Sign up, pick a theme, add products — hosting included
Wix
Sign up, pick a template, design with drag and drop — hosting included

Day-to-day management

Shopify
One admin built around products and orders
Wix
One dashboard for the site, store and business tools

E-commerce

Core focus

Shopify
Selling products
Wix
Website building, with built-in e-commerce

Accepting payments

Shopify
Shopify Payments (selected countries, subject to eligibility) or third-party providers
Wix
Requires an eligible paid plan

Selling in person

Shopify
Shopify POS — features and hardware vary by location
Wix
Wix POS — availability, payment methods and hardware depend on your location and setup

Design & customisation

Design approach

Shopify
Themes with a visual editor; theme code in Liquid
Wix
Free-form drag and drop; Wix Studio for professional responsive builds

Changing design later

Shopify
Publish a different theme; design settings and customisations may need adjusting
Wix
An existing site’s template can’t simply be switched

Custom code

Shopify
Theme code and apps
Wix
Velo, within Wix’s platform

SEO & content

SEO basics

Shopify
Built-in settings for SEO titles, descriptions and URL slugs
Wix
Built-in settings for SEO titles, descriptions and URL slugs

Content & blogging

Shopify
Integrated blogging tools
Wix
Built-in blog and pages

Hosting & ownership

Hosting

Shopify
Included and managed
Wix
Included and managed

Ownership & portability

Shopify
Export products, customers and orders; the platform stays Shopify’s
Wix
Site runs only on Wix; some content and data can be exported

Maintenance

Updates & security

Shopify
Handled by Shopify
Wix
Handled by Wix

Extensions

Shopify
Shopify App Store — many apps carry fees
Wix
Wix App Market

Cost & scaling

What you pay for

Shopify
Subscription, plus paid apps/themes and payment fees
Wix
Paid plan to sell, plus apps and payment fees

Third-party payment fees

Shopify
Shopify may add a transaction fee — depends on plan, provider and region
Wix
Processing fees vary by payment provider, country and payment method

Scaling

Shopify
Upgrade plans; infrastructure managed for you
Wix
Upgrade plans; infrastructure managed for you

Factual descriptions based on official documentation. Pricing changes often, so we don’t list it — check each provider.

By business need

Which fits your situation?

Editorial recommendations — not rankings.

  1. Large or fast-growing product catalogue

    Usually a better fit: Shopify

    Variants, multi-location inventory and a commerce-focused admin are central to Shopify.

    Start free trial

  2. Portfolio, studio or service site with a shop

    Usually a better fit: Wix

    Free-form design and business tools such as bookings sit alongside the store.

    Explore Wix

  3. Selling at markets or in a shop

    Usually a better fit: Shopify

    Shopify POS links in-person and online sales, with location-dependent features.

    Start free trial

  4. Expect to redesign often

    Usually a better fit: Shopify

    Shopify lets you publish a different theme (some adjustments may be needed); in the Wix Editor an existing site’s template can’t simply be switched.

    Start free trial

Design freedom vs design changes

Wix gives you more freedom on day one: place elements anywhere on the page, or use Wix Studio for professional responsive builds.

Over time, the picture shifts. Shopify lets you publish a different theme as your brand evolves, though design settings and customisations may need adjusting. In the Wix Editor, you can redesign within your site, but moving to a different template means creating a replacement site — worth knowing before you choose a template.

Payments and fees

On Shopify, Shopify Payments is available in selected countries, subject to eligibility. If you use a third-party provider instead, Shopify may add a transaction fee depending on your plan, provider and region.

On Wix, accepting payments requires an eligible paid plan. In both cases, check the current official terms for your country before deciding.

Common questions

Making the call

Selling-led? Shopify. Site-led? Wix.

If you’re unsure, think about where you’ll spend most of your time next year.

Shopify

Your catalogue, orders and sales channels will grow, and commerce tooling matters more than layout freedom.

Start free trial Try the AI store builder ↗

Wix

You want precise visual control of your pages, and selling is one part of a broader site.

Explore Wix

Take the 30-second matcher · See all three side by side

StoreBuild is reader-supported. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission. It never changes our recommendations.

Official sources

Platform facts on this page reference the official documentation below.

Partner linkShopifyWix