Wix vs WordPress
Wix is a drag-and-drop builder with a free plan and cheap paid plans. WordPress is free software with endless options and a maintenance bill. Here is what each costs a small business and when each makes sense.
Wix costs about £9 a month for Light or £16 for Core on annual billing (UK figures from Startups.co.uk and Wise), with hosting and updates included. Self-hosted WordPress is free software, with hosting from about £7 a month plus plugins and maintenance. For a simple site you will edit yourself, Wix is usually cheaper and easier. For a site that needs custom features and has someone to maintain it, WordPress is more flexible.
Prices checked 18 October 2026. Sources at the end of the page.
The cost, side by side
| Cost | Wix | Self-hosted WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Included in the plan | Free |
| Plan or hosting | About £9 (Light) or £16 (Core) a month, annual billing | From £7 a month at Krystal, or £1.99 then £13.99 at SiteGround |
| Free option | Yes, with Wix branding and a wixsite.com address | No, you always need hosting |
| Plugins or apps | Some paid apps in the Wix App Market | £50 to £300 a year in licences |
| Updates and maintenance | Done by Wix | £300 to £1,200 a year, or your time |
Three years of Wix Light on annual billing is about £324, and Wix Core about £576. Self-hosted WordPress can beat that on hosting alone, at £252 for three years of Krystal's £7 plan, but only if you do the maintenance yourself.
Where each one wins
Wix
Lowest price of the big builders, a free plan to start on, and drag-and-drop freedom to place things where you like. Nothing to install or update.
WordPress
Flexible enough for almost anything, movable to any host, and supported by a large number of designers. You, or someone you pay, keep it updated.
Taking payments and bookings
- Wix: Light cannot take payments. Core and above add payments, scheduling and basic ecommerce.
- WordPress: WooCommerce and booking plugins add these. The core plugins are often free, with paid extensions on top.
For a business where the shop is the main job, compare both with Shopify in ecommerce website costs.
Moving later
Wix does not export a site that WordPress can import, so leaving Wix means rebuilding. WordPress sites can move between hosts. If you think you will outgrow a builder within a year or two, that is worth weighing now. Your domain can move with you either way.
Or neither
If you would rather not build or maintain anything, our packages are written, built, hosted and looked after for you, from £449 setup and £39 a month. If you are on Wix already and want to stay, we also rebuild Wix sites in place, priced on a call.
See also Wix pricing, WordPress website costs and Squarespace vs WordPress.
Prices checked 18 October 2026. Sources: Startups.co.uk on Wix pricing; Wise on Wix pricing in the UK; Wix plans page; Krystal hosting; SiteGround UK web hosting; Whito website cost research. Platforms change prices and run offers, so check before you buy. Some prices exclude VAT.
Questions people ask
Is Wix cheaper than WordPress?
For a simple site, usually, once WordPress maintenance is counted. Wix Light is about £9 a month on annual billing with hosting and updates included. WordPress hosting starts at about £7 a month, before plugins and maintenance.
Is WordPress better than Wix for SEO?
WordPress gives more control, but both can rank. A page for each service, clear wording and an up-to-date Google Business Profile matter more than the platform.
Can I move my Wix site to WordPress?
Not automatically. The design and pages need rebuilding on WordPress. You can take your domain with you.
Which is easier for a beginner?
Wix. There is nothing to install, host or update, and editing is drag and drop.
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