If you’re a small business owner staring down a blank browser tab wondering, “Do I really need to code to get my business online?” – relax. You absolutely don’t.
Wix is pitched as the DIY dream. Drag-and-drop simplicity, sleek designs, and zero tech headaches. But is it all marketing fluff, or can it actually help your business grow online?
Here’s the truth: At Aesthetic Studios, we generally recommend WordPress. It’s more scalable, SEO-friendly, and customisable long term. If you’re keen to know why, check out our in-depth review of WordPress for small business websites.
But Wix deserves a fair shot too – especially if you’re just starting out, don’t have the time (or budget) to go custom, and need something up yesterday.
In this article, you’ll find out whether Wix is the right fit for your business. We’ll cover usability, features, pricing, SEO, performance and support – so you can make a call based on facts.
Ease of Use
Wix is built for non-techy people who still want their website to look like it was made by a pro.
Drag-and-Drop Simplicity
The interface is clean, intuitive and ridiculously easy to use. Drag, drop, resize, swap – done. No code, no stress. It’s like Canva but for websites.
Templates That Don’t Suck
With over 800 templates tailored for different industries (retail, services, hospitality – you name it), there’s something for everyone. You can customise fonts, colours and layouts to suit your vibe.
And if you’re after more control? You can start from a blank canvas.
If design isn’t your thing, you can also let Wix’s Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) whip up a personalised site in minutes. Answer a few questions, and boom – instant website.
Steep Learning Curve? Not Really.
Even if this is your first time building a site, Wix holds your hand with in-platform tips, video tutorials and help articles. If you can use PowerPoint, you can use Wix.
If you want the website, without doing any of the building yourself, check out our Website Design & Development services. We’ll do the pixels and problem-solving, you focus on your business.
Pricing and Value
Wix is pretty transparent with their pricing, and the value is solid.
What You’ll Pay (in AUD)
- Combo ($14/month) – Personal use, no ads, custom domain
- Unlimited ($18/month) – For freelancers or side hustlers
- Business Basic ($23/month) – Start selling online
- Business Unlimited ($33/month) – More storage + tools
- Business VIP ($49/month) – Priority support, extra features
Hosting, SSL, and drag-and-drop magic are all included.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re a small business wanting an online presence without investing thousands, yes. Especially if you’re DIY-ing it.
Wix also scales with your business. You can start small, then upgrade as you need more features, ecommerce tools or storage.
But keep in mind: apps from the Wix App Market can cost extra. And once you pick a template, you’re locked in – you can’t swap templates later without rebuilding.
Want more budgeting tips? This article breaks it all down:
👉 What to Budget for When Developing a Website
Features for Small Businesses
Whether you’re selling scented candles, consulting services, or managing bookings, Wix gives you a full toolkit.
Ecommerce Tools
The built-in store lets you:
- Add products, images, variants
- Track inventory
- Accept payments via Stripe, PayPal, etc.
- Set up shipping and tax rules
- Offer promo codes and coupons
- Manage orders end-to-end
For small online shops, it’s all you need. But for bigger ecommerce plans, you might want to compare it to Shopify vs WordPress.
Marketing & SEO
This is where Wix has levelled up over the past few years:
- SEO Wiz: a step-by-step optimisation wizard
- Custom meta tags
- Mobile optimisation (super important for rankings)
- Google Analytics integration
- Email campaigns via Wix Ascend
- Social sharing tools
Not sure what any of that means? Start with SEO for Beginners: A Plain English Guide
App Integrations
Wix has 300+ apps for:
- Bookings and calendars
- Live chat
- Reviews
- CRM and automation
- Forms and surveys
Need custom stuff? Use Velo by Wix to add your own code and create dynamic pages. Handy, but not quite as flexible as WordPress or Webflow.
Performance & Reliability
No one wants a website that feels like it’s loading on dial-up. Luckily, Wix holds its own.
Speed & Hosting
Wix uses a global CDN and built-in hosting. Translation: your site loads fast and stays online. That said, load times can dip if you stack your pages with videos, sliders or high-res images.
Pro tip: compress your images before uploading.
Mobile-First Experience
Wix templates are responsive by default, and the mobile editor lets you tweak things specifically for phones and tablets. With Google’s mobile-first indexing, this is a must-have.
Uptime & Stability
Wix promises 99.9% uptime and actually delivers. Your site will stay live, even during busy periods or traffic spikes.
If you’re scaling quickly or need hardcore performance tuning, you might outgrow Wix eventually. In that case, explore custom vs template websites to see what fits best.
Customer Support
Wix support is a mixed bag – but mostly solid.
- Help Centre: Clear, searchable and helpful
- Phone Support: For premium plan users
- Support Tickets: Replies usually within 24hrs
- Community Forum: Crowdsourced wisdom
- Wix Academy: Great for learning on the fly
If you’d rather skip the support queues and get it done by professionals, our team can help with custom website builds and ongoing support.
Pros & Cons
✅ PROS
- Dead simple to use
- Beautiful, industry-specific templates
- Great value for small biz
- Built-in SEO & marketing tools
- Easy ecommerce setup
- Mobile responsive
- Scalable plans
- No coding required
⚠️ CONS
- Can’t switch templates after publishing
- Slightly slower speeds compared to WordPress
- Premium apps = extra costs
- Limited customisation without dev tools
- Advanced SEO tools still basic compared to competitors
Final Verdict: Should You Use Wix?
If you want a site that looks good, works well, and won’t drive you mad – Wix is a fantastic choice for small businesses.
It gives you:
- Quick setup
- Professional designs
- Ecommerce functionality
- Built-in marketing tools
- Affordable monthly pricing
But if you need total design freedom, lightning-fast performance, or deep backend customisation, then something like WordPress might be more your speed.
Still deciding which platform is right for you? Start here:
👉 Which Website Builder Is Right for You?
And if you’re ready to stop DIY-ing and start scaling, we can help. Explore our Website Design & Development services or get in touch for a custom solution.