Features checked Oct 31, 2026 on each vendor's own pages. Wix shows prices that vary by location, so confirm them on its pricing page for your region.
Wix and Shopify are both hosted platforms, so neither requires you to manage servers. Their focus differs:
- Wix is a website builder that added e-commerce.
- Shopify is a commerce platform first.
Our team has worked on Shopify builds and migrations since 2017 across Canada, the US & Europe. We regularly help merchants who started on a website builder and outgrew it. Here's an honest comparison.
The short answer
- Choose Wix if your site is mainly content, services or bookings, with a small catalogue on the side.
- Choose Shopify if selling products is the core of the business and you expect to grow your catalogue, channels or team.
Pricing
- Shopify: plans run Basic at US$29/mo, Grow at US$79/mo and Advanced at US$299/mo, billed yearly, with Plus starting at US$2,300/mo (Shopify pricing).
- Wix:
- Website building is free, but selling requires a Premium plan.
- Its pricing page lists Light, Core, Business and Business Elite tiers.
- Accepting payments and e-commerce start at the Core tier: Basic eCommerce on Core, Standard on Business and Advanced on Business Elite.
- Wix states that prices and currency vary by location (Wix plans).
- Every Premium plan includes a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Built for commerce vs built for websites
Wix's strength is design flexibility. It has a drag-and-drop editor, thousands of templates, and built-in tools for bookings, events, restaurants and online programs (Wix plans).
Shopify's strength is commerce depth. Every plan includes:
- inventory across up to 10 locations
- selling on social channels, marketplaces and in AI chats
- B2B catalogues
- point of sale
- localized selling with Shopify Markets
- 200+ reports
Higher tiers add more staff accounts and API capacity (Shopify pricing).
Payments and checkout
- Shopify: Shopify Payments online card rates start at 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic (US). Shopify adds a fee of 2% to 0.2%, depending on the plan, if you use a third-party provider.
- Wix: Wix accepts payments from the Core tier up. Check Wix's payments documentation for the processing rates in your country.
Apps and extensibility
- Shopify: thousands of apps, full APIs, and headless storefront support.
- Wix: its own app market and developer platform. Advanced developer features sit on the Business Elite tier (Wix plans).
- For merchants: Shopify's ecosystem of e-commerce-specific apps (subscriptions, loyalty, reviews, email/SMS) is usually the deciding factor.
Scaling
Many merchants start on Wix and move to Shopify when they need:
- multi-location inventory
- wholesale
- international selling
- a larger team
If you're planning a move, keep your URLs mapped and redirected; see our Shopify migration SEO checklist.
Side-by-side summary
| Shopify | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Commerce platform | Website builder with e-commerce |
| Entry price for selling | Basic: US$29/mo, billed yearly | Core tier and up; prices vary by location |
| Design | Themes and apps | Drag-and-drop editor, 1,000s of templates |
| Commerce depth | Multi-location inventory, B2B, Markets, POS | Basic, Standard or Advanced e-commerce, depending on tier |
| Best for | Product-led brands planning to scale | Content- or service-led sites with a small store |
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell on Wix for free?
No. You can build a site for free, but accepting payments requires a Premium plan (Core or higher).
Is Shopify harder to use than Wix?
Wix's editor is more freeform. Shopify's admin is built around products and orders. Both are designed for people who don't code.
Can I move from Wix to Shopify?
Yes. Products and customers can be migrated, and redirects protect your SEO. See our Shopify migration services, or our step-by-step Wix to Shopify migration guide.
Which is better for SEO?
Both handle the basics. Your content, site speed and site structure matter more than the platform.
Outgrowing your website builder? Our team builds and migrates Shopify stores. See our Shopify agency page.
Related: our Shopify agency, Shopify migration services, development services and e-commerce marketing for growth after launch.