Wix vs WordPress.com
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Wix
Hosted drag-and-drop website builder with templates, apps and built-in business tools.
WordPress.com
Automattic's hosted WordPress service, from free blogs to managed hosting with plugins.
The short answer
Wix suits people who want the most direct drag-and-drop editing and a hosted site with built-in apps. WordPress.com suits bloggers and businesses who want managed WordPress, access to its plugin ecosystem on higher plans, and the option to move their site later. The biggest difference is portability: WordPress.com sites can be exported to any WordPress host, while Wix has no practical export.
Wix or WordPress.com: our take
Wix is a closed, hosted builder with a free-form canvas: choose from 2,000+ templates or have its AI assistant draft a site, then place elements freely. Bookings, events, stores, blogs and memberships come from its own app market. WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress run by Automattic, using the same block editor and theme system as self-hosted WordPress, with hosting, security, backups and updates handled for you. Its block editor takes longer to learn than drag-and-drop, but it is built for publishing.
The ecosystems are the key contrast. Wix's apps are curated and integrated. WordPress.com opens up 60,000+ plugins and any theme on higher plans, along with SSH, WP-CLI and WooCommerce for stores, but plugin access requires a higher-tier plan and WordPress has more moving parts to manage.
Both offer free plans with platform branding: Wix shows ads and a Wix subdomain, WordPress.com shows ads and a WordPress.com address. On WordPress.com, the Personal plan is US$9 monthly or US$4 a month billed yearly, and an enterprise tier starts from $25,000 a year for large publishers. Wix's paid plans add a custom domain, storage and ecommerce, with prices that vary by country. Both offer a 14-day money-back guarantee and run in the browser with iOS and Android apps.
Data ownership tips the balance for many. A WordPress.com site can be exported and moved to any WordPress host, so you are not locked in. Wix sites are hard to move off Wix. Pick Wix if you want the quickest visual editing and do not expect to change platforms. Pick WordPress.com if you blog seriously, want plugins, or want the freedom to leave.
Which should you pick?
Choose Wix if…
- Small businesses and individuals who want a hosted site with lots of add-on features
- Free-form editor with a large template library
- Bookings, stores, events and blogs available as built-in apps
Choose WordPress.com if…
- Bloggers and businesses who want managed WordPress without running their own server
- Plugins and themes from the WordPress ecosystem on higher plans
- Sites can be exported to any WordPress host
About each app
What is Wix?
Wix is one of the largest hosted website builders. You pick a template or let its AI assistant draft a site, then move elements freely on a canvas rather than inside a strict grid. Hosting, security and updates are handled for you, and an app market adds bookings, events, online stores, blogs, memberships and marketing tools. Wix Studio is a separate workspace aimed at agencies and designers who build sites for clients. The freedom of the editor is the main draw for beginners, but it also means layouts can break on mobile if you are careless, and sites are hard to move off Wix later because there is no real export. The free plan shows Wix branding and uses a Wix subdomain; paid plans add a custom domain, more storage and ecommerce features, and prices vary by country. It runs in the browser, with iOS and Android apps for managing a site on the go.
What is WordPress.com?
WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress run by Automattic. You get the same block editor and theme system as self-hosted WordPress, but hosting, security, backups and updates are handled for you. Lower plans work like a classic website builder, while higher plans let you install any plugin or theme, use SSH and WP-CLI, and run a store with WooCommerce. Its big advantage over closed builders is portability: you can export a site and move it to any WordPress host. The downside is that WordPress has more moving parts than Squarespace or Wix, and the editor can feel less direct than drag-and-drop builders. A free plan with a WordPress.com address is available; paid plans are billed monthly or with discounts for one to three years, and an enterprise tier covers large publishers. It runs in the browser with iOS and Android apps. The self-hosted open-source WordPress itself is a separate project.
Side by side
| Attribute | Wix | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Small businesses and individuals who want a hosted site with lots of add-on features | Bloggers and businesses who want managed WordPress without running their own server |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Wix | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card required | Yes |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days | 14 days |
Wix vs WordPress.com pricing
WordPress.com: free plan + paid
WordPress.com pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Wix | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Wix facts
5 of 5 verified- Founded
- 2006
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wix.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “WIX MILESTONES 2006 FOUNDED Wix was founded by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami and Giora Kaplan.”
- Templates
- 2,000+
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wix.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Website templates Choose from 2000+ website templates.”
- Free plan
- Yes, no credit card required
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wix.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Free No credit card required”
- Money-back guarantee
- 14 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wix.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “14-day money-back guarantee”
WordPress.com facts
5 of 5 verified- Free plan
- Yes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wordpress.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Or start with our free plan .”
- Personal plan
- US$9 monthly or US$4/month billed yearly
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wordpress.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Personal Build your presence with a site you can customize. US$ 9 US$ 4 US$ 3.25 US$ 2.75 per month, billed every 12 months, excl.”
- Plugins
- 60,000+ available
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wordpress.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Install any of over 60,000 plugins from the WordPress.com marketplace, or upload a plugin directly to your site.”
- Enterprise
- From $25,000/year
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wordpress.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Starting at $25,000/year.”
- Money-back guarantee
- 14 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wordpress.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “14-day money-back guarantee”
Pros and cons of Wix
- Free-form editor with a large template library
- Bookings, stores, events and blogs available as built-in apps
- Hosting, SSL and maintenance handled for you
- No practical way to export a site and move hosts
- Free plan shows Wix ads and a Wix subdomain
- Free placement can make mobile layouts fiddly
Pros and cons of WordPress.com
- Plugins and themes from the WordPress ecosystem on higher plans
- Sites can be exported to any WordPress host
- Free plan for simple blogs
- Plugin access requires a higher-tier plan
- Block editor takes longer to learn than drag-and-drop builders
- Free plan shows ads and a WordPress.com address
Other apps to consider
SquarespaceInstead of Wix
More polished, design-led templates with less layout freedom but fewer ways to break the design.
WebflowInstead of Wix
Far more control over layout, CMS and code output for designers who outgrow Wix's editor.
Hostinger Website BuilderInstead of Wix
Cheaper hosted builder with AI tools for simple business sites.
ElementorInstead of WordPress.com
Visual drag-and-drop page building on WordPress hosted wherever you like.
WordPressInstead of WordPress.com
Self-host open-source WordPress for any plugin and full control at hosting cost.
JimdoInstead of WordPress.com
Very simple hosted builder for small businesses that just need a few pages.
Wix vs WordPress.com: common questions
Is Wix better than WordPress.com?
Wix suits people who want the most direct drag-and-drop editing and a hosted site with built-in apps. WordPress.com suits bloggers and businesses who want managed WordPress, access to its plugin ecosystem on higher plans, and the option to move their site later. The biggest difference is portability: WordPress.com sites can be exported to any WordPress host, while Wix has no practical export.
Is Wix free?
Wix has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is WordPress.com free?
WordPress.com has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Wix or WordPress.com open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Wix and WordPress.com support?
Wix: Web, iOS and Android. WordPress.com: Web, iOS and Android.