March 14, 2024
Wix Ecommerce offers a robust platform for building your online store, providing an intuitive user experience and a plethora of customisation options to suit your business needs. The interface is user-friendly, featuring drag-and-drop functionality and integrated tutorials for seamless navigation.
When deciding whether Wix is the right fit for your online store, it helps to weigh up its strengths and areas for improvement. Based on user feedback, including nearly 13,000 reviews on TrustPilot, here's a balanced look at what Wix excels at and where it occasionally falls short.
By considering these pros and cons, you can determine whether Wix aligns with your ecommerce ambitions and growth plans.
Wix's interface is designed with the user in mind, offering a straightforward and intuitive experience. The drag-and-drop functionality allows for easy placement and adjustment of elements, making the process of building your online store both simple and enjoyable.
Wix's non-intrusive help options and a comprehensive knowledge base empower users to find solutions independently, enhancing the overall website creation journey.
For those who prefer additional support, customer service is accessible via email or phone during specified hours, offering peace of mind for any queries that may arise.
Beyond these, Wix provides a robust suite of support resources to ensure you're never left stranded:
This multi-layered approach to support ensures that, whether you prefer to troubleshoot independently or need hands-on guidance, help is always within reach, making the process of building your online store smoother and more enjoyable.
A growing number of shoppers prefer browsing and buying on their phones, and store owners are increasingly managing their businesses from their devices, too. That's why Wix places a strong emphasis on mobile optimisation, ensuring your online store runs smoothly no matter the screen size.
For customers: A mobile-optimised store means visitors can shop with ease, from tapping through your product gallery to completing checkout, all without frustrating pinches or awkward zooming. Smooth navigation, fast load times, and a responsive layout help reduce bounce rates and keep your customers engaged right up to purchase.
For merchants: Convenience extends to store management as well. The dedicated app allows you to take your business on the road, letting you:
This level of flexibility makes it easy to respond quickly to customers’ needs, run promotions on the fly, and monitor your store’s performance without being desk-bound.
The result? Mobile optimisation with Wix not only keeps shoppers happy, but also empowers you to run your business efficiently, no matter where your day takes you.
Wix's Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) is a standout feature for those looking to launch their online store with minimal fuss. The ADI streamlines the website creation process by asking a series of questions about your business and preferences. Here's how it works:
The beauty of Wix ADI lies in its simplicity and the ability to produce a functional and aesthetically pleasing website in a short amount of time. Users have praised the creativity and functionality of the ADI, with a high satisfaction rating on review platforms.
The AI Design Assistant is not just about efficiency; it's about creating a personalised experience that reflects the unique character of your business.
Whether you're launching a new product or optimising your online presence, Wix ADI is a valuable tool that adapts to your needs, ensuring a seamless transition from concept to live site.
Wix offers a plethora of customisation options to ensure your online store stands out and functions exactly as you need it to. Flexibility is at the heart of Wix's customisation capabilities, allowing you to tailor every aspect of your store to your brand's identity and your customers' needs.
Here are some of the customisation features you can expect:
Wix's customisation tools are designed to give you control over your store's functionality and aesthetic, ensuring a unique shopping experience for your customers.
In addition to these design and selling tools, Wix equips you with a comprehensive set of shipping and fulfillment features to simplify order delivery. You can set up multiple shipping regions, both domestic and international, and customise shipping rules for each, whether that's flat rate, weight-based, price-based, or even real-time carrier calculations in supported countries.
For added flexibility, Wix supports local delivery and in-store pickup, giving your customers more options at checkout. Integration with third-party fulfillment services and dropshipping providers means you can automate much of your order processing and shipping, streamlining your operations as your business scales.
Handy features like shipping label printing and order tracking are built in, along with robust inventory management tools and support for handling returns. If you need to tweak shipping settings or monitor orders on the go, the Wix Owner app makes mobile management a breeze.
With these features, you can create a store that not only looks professional but also operates efficiently. Whether you're offering physical goods, digital downloads, or a mix of both, Wix's customisation options are robust enough to accommodate your business model.
With these features, you can create a store that not only looks professional but also operates efficiently. Whether you're offering physical goods, digital downloads, or a mix of both, Wix's customisation options are robust enough to accommodate your business model.
Wix ensures flexibility for both you and your customers by supporting local delivery and store pickup options right out of the box. This means you can cater to shoppers who prefer picking up their orders in person or those who want products delivered locally, perfect for neighbourhood businesses or brick-and-mortar shops branching online.
For merchants aiming to simplify logistics, Wix goes a step further. You can easily integrate your store with leading third-party fulfillment services and dropshipping platforms like ShipStation and Modalyst. These integrations handle automated order processing and shipping tasks, helping you stay focused on growing your business rather than getting bogged down in manual fulfillment work.
The combination of built-in delivery methods and seamless fulfillment integrations lets you design an online shopping experience that fits your business model, and your customers’ lifestyles.
Wix's pricing structure is designed to cater to a variety of needs, with a clear distinction between general website plans and those tailored for eCommerce. The affordability of Wix is evident, with eCommerce plans starting from as little as
£14 per month, and the potential to reduce costs further with promotional codes such as 'TAKE10' for a 10% discount.
It's important to note that while Wix offers a competitive entry point, costs can escalate with the addition of premium features and apps from the Wix App Market.
Choosing the right plan requires a balance between the features you need and the budget you have. While the free plan allows for a test drive of Wix's capabilities, serious online sellers will need to invest in one of the more robust eCommerce plans to fully leverage the platform's potential.
For businesses ready to scale up or manage multiple online ventures under one roof, Wix's Enterprise plan provides a suite of advanced tools tailored for complex needs. With this plan, you're not only able to grant access to an unlimited number of collaborators, ideal for larger teams or agencies, but also unlock custom integrations to connect your site with your preferred business tools, CRMs, or analytics platforms.
This robust set of features is designed to provide peace of mind and a tailored experience, particularly for those with growing teams, multi-brand portfolios, or specific integration requirements.
When considering Wix for your online store, it's essential to understand the value that its features bring to the table. Wix's comprehensive suite of tools is designed to cater to a wide range of business needs, from setting up a blog to launching digital marketing campaigns. The platform's versatility is one of its strongest selling points, allowing users to easily integrate various functionalities such as an online booking system or a business blog.
Despite some minor drawbacks, such as slightly higher monthly charges compared to competitors, Wix is considered to offer great value for money. The cost is often justified by the ease with which users can add features and the potential to avoid the expense of hiring a web designer.
Ultimately, the value of Wix's features is reflected in the platform's ability to empower business owners to create a professional online presence without the need for extensive technical knowledge. This makes it an attractive option for SMEs looking to establish or expand their digital footprint.
Like any ecommerce solution, Wix comes with its own basket of strengths and trade-offs. Understanding both sides of the coin will help you decide if this platform aligns with your business goals.
Key Advantages
Potential Limitations
In essence, Wix is a strong option for small to medium businesses focused on polished design and ease of use, but it requires thoughtful consideration of upgrade paths and potential costs as you expand.
When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of Wix for your ecommerce venture, it's crucial to look beyond the surface. Hidden costs can quickly accumulate, impacting your budget more than anticipated. Consider the following:
It's essential to assess the value for money, taking into account all potential expenditures to ensure a transparent financial plan for your online store.
Remember, the choice of an ecommerce platform should align with your technical expertise and business needs. Wix, along with competitors like Squarespace, WordPress.com, Weebly, and Shopify, offers user-friendly solutions that cater to a range of requirements.
For those new to the world of website creation, Wix presents a gentle learning curve, ensuring that even beginners can find their footing with relative ease. Integrated tutorials are a standout feature, offering on-the-spot guidance as you explore the various tools and features. Simply click the question mark icon for helpful tutorials and videos tailored to the task at hand.
Wix's user-friendly approach is complemented by a robust help centre, equipped to answer a wide array of queries. This, along with SEO prompts, empowers beginners to optimise their site effectively from the start.
Wix goes a step further by offering built-in tools like the SEO Wiz, a straightforward assistant that provides personalised SEO recommendations aimed at boosting your store’s visibility in search results. For those completely new to optimisation, the Wix SEO Setup Checklist offers a guided, step-by-step approach, outlining key tasks and actionable tips to help your site get noticed online. With these resources at your fingertips, demystifying SEO becomes part of the onboarding process, not an afterthought.
The platform's commitment to a supportive user experience is evident, with helpful prompts and a clear, navigable interface that demystifies the complexities of ecommerce website building. As you grow more comfortable, the array of customisation options becomes less daunting, allowing you to expand your store's functionality at your own pace.
Wix provides a comprehensive solution for managing your online store's inventory, ensuring that you can keep track of your products with ease. The platform allows for real-time inventory management, which is crucial for maintaining accurate stock levels and avoiding overselling.
Wix's inventory system is designed to be intuitive, allowing you to manage your products without the need for extensive technical knowledge. This makes it an ideal choice for entrepreneurs who are new to ecommerce.
For businesses that require mobility, the ability to manage your store through the Wix mobile app adds a layer of convenience, enabling you to update your inventory on the go.
Modern ecommerce isn't confined to a desk. Many customers shop on their phones, and increasingly, merchants are managing their stores from mobile devices as well. With the Wix mobile app, you gain the flexibility to:
Mobile optimisation is a priority, ensuring your store looks and functions seamlessly for shoppers on smartphones and tablets. For business owners, this means you can respond quickly to customer inquiries, check performance, and keep your inventory up-to-date, no matter where you are.
This level of mobility is especially valuable for those leveraging SMS marketing or who simply need to stay connected to their store while away from a computer.
However, it's worth noting that while Wix is a strong contender for those starting out, larger businesses or those looking to scale significantly might find platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce more aligned with their growth.
Understanding the effectiveness of your advertising efforts is crucial for any online store. Wix Ecommerce provides comprehensive tools to track your Return on Ad Spend (RoAS), allowing you to make informed decisions about your marketing strategies. By analysing your RoAS, you can adjust your advertising to improve efficiency and increase revenue without necessarily increasing your budget.
Wix's dashboard simplifies this process by displaying these metrics for each campaign and for your advertising efforts as a whole. This enables you to see the performance of individual campaigns and the overall health of your advertising strategy at a glance.
Monitoring and optimising your RoAS is an ongoing process that can lead to significant improvements in your store's profitability. Regularly reviewing these metrics ensures that your advertising budget is being used effectively, maximising the potential for growth and success in the competitive online marketplace.
Wix stands out with its massive selection of over 500 different themes, catering to a wide array of niches and design preferences. Whether you're aiming for a sleek, modern look or something more traditional, there's likely a template that fits your vision.
The platform's design flexibility extends to mobile customisation, allowing you to tailor the mobile experience without compromising the desktop design. This is crucial, considering the increasing prevalence of mobile shopping.
Wix's design capabilities provide a solid foundation for building a visually appealing and functional online store. However, it's important to note that the quality of themes can vary, with some appearing more contemporary than others. Choosing the right template is the first step towards creating an online presence that resonates with your target audience.
For those seeking a deeper toolkit, Wix brings a selection of advanced ecommerce features to help streamline your store management and boost your conversion rates. One standout capability is abandoned cart recovery, which automatically sends follow-up emails to encourage customers to complete their purchases, an invaluable feature for reducing lost sales.
Additional advanced features include:
By leveraging these sophisticated tools, Wix empowers you to optimise your store's performance, offer a smoother shopping journey, and turn casual browsers into loyal customers.
While Wix provides an impressive variety of ecommerce templates to help you get started, there is a key limitation worth considering. Once your site is live, you can't simply swap out your template for another as your business evolves or your aesthetic preferences change. If you decide you’d like a new look, you’ll need to create a fresh site and manually transfer your content over, a process that can be time-consuming.
This is an important consideration if you anticipate significant design changes down the line. Taking extra care in your initial template selection can save you both time and effort in the future, ensuring your online store continues to reflect your brand as it grows.
Wix's approach to integrating sales and marketing tools is designed to streamline your online business operations. The platform offers a suite of marketing tools that expand in functionality with each upgraded plan. For instance, the Light marketing suite, included in the most basic package, provides automated workflows and lead-capture forms, essential for nurturing customer relationships.
Upgrading to higher-tier plans unlocks additional features such as more sophisticated forms and the ability to chat directly with site visitors, enhancing the overall user experience. This integration is crucial for businesses looking to maintain a strong social media presence and manage customer interactions effectively.
While Wix does offer a free plan for building and managing a website, ecommerce functionality, like selling products and accepting payments, requires a paid subscription. Here’s a quick overview of Wix’s ecommerce pricing tiers:
Each plan unlocks more advanced sales and marketing tools, so you can choose the one that matches your business goals and scale up as you grow.
Wix's integrated tools are not just about enhancing the user experience; they are also about providing the data and analytics necessary for informed decision-making. With sales analytics powered by AI, businesses can gain insights into customer behaviour and preferences, enabling them to tailor their marketing strategies accordingly.
Understanding your store’s performance is essential for growth. Wix equips you with a range of analytics features that let you monitor the health of your business from multiple angles:
These built-in analytics tools help you move beyond guesswork, ensuring your decisions are backed by real numbers and actionable insights.
Expanding your store’s reach often means connecting with leading online marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, or eBay. Wix makes this process accessible through its robust app marketplace, allowing you to sync your products and streamline operations across multiple sales channels.
Leveraging these integrations can help broaden your store’s audience, tap into established marketplaces, and simplify your workflow, key factors for scaling your business efficiently.
Effective marketing hinges on understanding your audience and continually refining your approach. This is where robust segmentation and thorough campaign reporting become indispensable tools for online store owners.
Ultimately, tapping into segmentation and analytics empowers you to build more personalised, data-driven campaigns, raising the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, supporting customer retention, and maximising your return on investment.
Ensuring the security and reliability of online transactions is paramount for any ecommerce platform. Wix provides a free SSL certificate, which is essential for encrypting data and protecting customer information. Additionally, features such as two-step verification and built-in fraud detection contribute to a secure shopping environment, giving both merchants and customers peace of mind.
The integration of various payment gateways also plays a crucial role in the security of transactions. Wix supports multiple payment processors, allowing for secure and flexible payment options for customers. This versatility ensures that transactions are not only secure but also cater to the preferences of a global customer base.
Wix’s own payment gateway, Wix Payments, supports credit card payments and popular regional methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL, Pay Now by Klarna, and Giropay. This enables a seamless checkout experience, especially for customers who prefer using familiar payment solutions. However, it’s important to note that Wix Payments is currently available in only 15 countries and supports six currencies, so merchants operating internationally should check compatibility with their target markets.
Another aspect of secure and reliable transactions is tax compliance. Wix streamlines this process by offering automated sales tax calculations, helping businesses stay aligned with global tax regulations and reducing friction at checkout. This not only supports legal compliance but also enhances the overall customer experience by eliminating surprises during payment.
With these security, payment, and compliance features in place, Wix provides a robust foundation for building trust and reliability, essentials for any successful online store.
While Wix does its best to accommodate a wide range of businesses, it does set boundaries when it comes to what can be sold through its payment gateway. Several types of products and services are strictly off-limits, reflecting both regulatory requirements and ethical considerations.
Examples of prohibited businesses include:
It's worth noting that this is not an exhaustive list. Wix maintains a detailed policy outlining additional restricted categories, so it's a good idea to review their if you're unsure whether your products or services qualify.
By clearly outlining these restrictions, Wix helps ensure that its payment gateway remains compliant with international standards, fostering a safer environment for both store owners and customers alike.
When it comes to choosing between Wix and Shopify for your online store, the decision hinges on the specific needs of your business. Shopify shines for larger businesses with a need for robust sales features and extensive inventory management. It's a platform dedicated to ecommerce, with a strong emphasis on scalability and multichannel integration.
Wix's versatility and ease of use make it a compelling choice for those looking to establish an online presence quickly and with minimal fuss. Its app market also allows for easy expansion of features. However, Shopify's dedicated ecommerce focus provides a depth of sales features that can be crucial for businesses aiming to grow rapidly online.
In the battle of ecommerce platforms, understanding your business size and growth aspirations is key to making the right choice.
Choosing between Wix and Squarespace can be likened to selecting the perfect outfit for an occasion; both have their unique flair and strengths. Wix emerges as a more cost-effective and user-friendly option, particularly for those venturing into the online store arena. Its array of features and ease of use make it a go-to for small businesses looking for depth and versatility.
While Squarespace may offer a more polished look, Wix provides a comprehensive package that balances cost, ease of use, and a robust set of ecommerce tools.
Ultimately, the decision hinges on your business's specific needs and goals. If visual impact is at the top of your list, Squarespace might be the better fit. However, for a versatile and feature-rich platform that won't break the bank, Wix is hard to beat.
When sizing up Wix against other major players in the ecommerce space, the comparison goes well beyond just look and feel. Features, flexibility, and cost each play their part in finding the best fit for your business handbag.
If Shopify is the heavyweight champion for ambitious, fast-growing brands, Wix appeals to those seeking a friendly on-ramp to selling online. Shopify brings advanced sales tools, think international selling, complex inventory, and seamless multichannel options, straight out of the box, albeit at a steeper monthly rate. Shopify’s pricing starts above Wix’s more accessible plans, and while transaction fees can be sidestepped in some cases, additional costs emerge if you opt for alternative payment gateways.
Wix, meanwhile, keeps things budget-friendly, especially for solopreneurs and smaller shops. Its interface welcomes beginners, monthly plans are easier on the wallet, and features like secure hosting come built in. For those less fixated on intricate stock control and more on getting their shop live with less fuss, Wix fits the bill.
WooCommerce is the go-to if you’re already steeped in the WordPress world. The plugin itself won’t cost you a penny, but you’ll need to factor in the price (and your time) for essentials like hosting, SSL certificates, and site maintenance. While WooCommerce dazzles with its universe of themes and customisable options, it also means rolling up your sleeves on the tech side.
Wix, in contrast, serves up hosting, security, and site management as part of the package, making it a less technical, more streamlined choice. Sure, you may sacrifice some of the deeper customisation, but you get a smoother ride if you’d rather avoid backend headaches.
BigCommerce sits higher on the pricing ladder, starting above Wix’s entry point. But it doesn’t skimp on value: advanced features, multi-currency support, unlimited storage, and room for product reviews, are part of its basic plan. Like Wix, all plans wrap up hosting and security, but BigCommerce tips toward sellers who anticipate rapid growth and need their online shop to scale in a hurry.
In summary, Wix carves out a niche for those who want affordability, ease, and essential features rolled into a single, easy-to-manage platform. For sellers eyeing rapid expansion, international reach, or custom builds, Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce may hold the upper hand, but not everyone needs to start with a heavyweight.
When evaluating Wix as your ecommerce platform, it's crucial to consider the broader market landscape. Beyond the direct comparisons with Shopify and Squarespace, there are numerous other platforms that might align more closely with your business needs.
Each competitor brings unique strengths to the table, and your choice should be informed by your specific requirements, such as the level of customisation you need, your technical expertise, and the scale of your operations.
While Wix simplifies the process of setting up an online store, ensuring that your platform can scale with your business is paramount. Consider future growth and potential integrations when making your decision.
In summary, Wix emerges as a robust and user-friendly platform for creating an online store, particularly appealing to those with little to no web development experience. Its vast array of professional templates, combined with the convenience of an AI assistant, allows for the swift creation of aesthetically pleasing and functional ecommerce sites. While competitors like Shopify may offer more specialised ecommerce features, Wix stands out for its design flexibility and ease of use. The platform's ability to manage inventory and track sales within its ecosystem makes it a compelling choice for small business owners looking to establish or expand their digital presence. With the backing of numerous entrepreneurs who have chosen Wix for their ecommerce ventures, it is clear that Wix holds its ground as a top contender in the website builder market.
Wix is designed with beginners in mind, offering a drag and drop builder that allows for complete creative freedom, making it simple to use even if you've never created a website before.
Yes, Wix offers over 800 templates suitable for a wide range of business needs, including niche markets like 'Arts and Crafts' and 'Pets and Animals'.
Absolutely, the AI assistant tool provided by Wix can help you build a professional-looking website in just minutes, by intuitively customising elements to suit your brand.
Wix offers a range of pricing plans that cater to different budgets, with features that provide value for money, though it's important to consider additional costs such as apps and domain registration.
While Shopify offers more dedicated ecommerce support and features, Wix combines high-quality design with sales features effectively. Squarespace also offers design-centric solutions, but the best choice depends on your specific business needs.
Wix supports online store owners by allowing them to manage inventory, track sales, and integrate various sales and marketing tools, all within the platform. In addition to these core features, Wix provides a comprehensive suite of shipping and fulfillment options to simplify the order delivery process. Users can set up multiple shipping regions, both domestic and international, with customisable shipping rules for each area. Whether you prefer flat rate, weight-based, price-based, or real-time carrier-calculated shipping, Wix offers flexible methods to match your business model.
Store owners can also enable local delivery and in-store pickup, giving customers control over how they receive their orders. For those who want to streamline logistics, Wix integrates with third-party fulfillment services and dropshipping providers, allowing for automated order processing and shipping. Built-in tools like shipping label printing, order tracking, and region-specific tax settings help further simplify store management.
Wix also lets you handle returns efficiently and offer multiple delivery options at checkout. Plus, with the Wix Owner app, you can manage your store’s shipping and fulfillment settings right from your mobile device, keeping your business running smoothly wherever you are.
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