Small But Mighty
When it comes to small business web design, choosing the right platform is more than just a matter of taste—it can shape your brand’s visibility, functionality, and long-term growth. As a web design agency in Melbourne, one of the most common questions we hear is, “Should I use WordPress or Wix?” The answer depends on what you need your website to do—and how far you want it to take your business. So, let’s explore the key differences between WordPress and Wix when it comes to SEO, mobile responsiveness, speed, and custom design features to help you make the best decision for your brand.
SEO Capabilities: WordPress Wins on Flexibility
Both WordPress and Wix offer basic SEO tools like meta titles, descriptions, alt text, and page URLs. However, when it comes to advanced SEO features, WordPress is the clear front-runner.
WordPress gives you full control over your site structure, lets you install powerful SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math, and supports advanced schema markup and custom redirects. Wix has made major improvements in recent years, including SEO-friendly URLs and structured data, but it’s still a closed system with less flexibility.
If you’re working with a web design agency, they’ll have far more tools to work with in WordPress to optimise your pages and improve your rankings—something that’s critical for effective small business web design.
Speed and Performance: Who Loads Faster?
Website speed matters—a lot. In fact, according to Google, the probability of bounce increases by 32% as page load time goes from 1 second to 3 seconds.
With WordPress, speed comes down to your hosting, theme, and plugins. When properly set up by a professional or a web design agency, WordPress websites can load extremely fast and be finely tuned for performance.
Wix websites are hosted on their own servers and offer decent performance, but you have limited control over backend optimisation. You’re also restricted when it comes to advanced caching and content delivery networks (CDNs). For businesses serious about performance, especially in competitive markets, WordPress gives you more room to optimise for speed – and for Google search rankings.
Mobile Responsiveness: Both Perform Well, But WordPress Offers More Customisation
With more than half of all website traffic coming from mobile devices, responsive design isn’t optional.
Wix templates are mobile-friendly by default, and its drag-and-drop editor includes a mobile view so you can make edits specifically for smaller screens. However, customisation is limited—you’re working within their grid.
With WordPress, you (or your web design agency) have access to thousands of responsive themes and can tweak every element using CSS or a builder like Elementor. You’re not tied to a template, and you can create fully custom mobile breakpoints and layouts for a seamless mobile experience. For small business web design where customer experience matters, this flexibility is often essential.
Design and Functionality: Do You Need a Template or a Toolbox?
Wix is great for DIY users who want something simple and don’t need complex integrations. Its drag-and-drop editor is intuitive and includes hundreds of design templates, which work well for businesses that don’t need much customisation.
However, if your business needs specific features—like a booking engine, gated content, ecommerce, or a fully branded experience—WordPress is a far more scalable and powerful platform.
Custom design, integrations with CRMs, advanced contact forms, custom post types, multilingual support—it’s all possible with WordPress, especially when built by a web design agency that understands your goals. You’re not boxed into a template, and that can make all the difference as your business evolves.
Web Design Cost Considerations
Wix has fixed pricing, which includes hosting, SSL, and site security. For businesses on a tight budget, this can be appealing. But as your business grows and your needs become more complex, you may find yourself hitting the platform’s limitations—and needing to rebuild elsewhere.
WordPress is open-source and free to use, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, domain registration, themes, and plugins. That said, the long-term ROI is higher, especially when paired with a tailored small business web design strategy that focuses on growth, performance, and visibility.
Want to Grow Online? SEO, Speed, and Flexibility Matter
Choosing between WordPress and Wix isn’t just about looks—it’s about how your website works for your business behind the scenes. For businesses serious about SEO, performance, and growth, WordPress offers the edge. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding, our web design agency in Melbourne offers affordable small business web design and ecommerce web design that’s scalable, search-friendly, and built for success. Got questions? Get a FREE strategy call!