Choosing a platform is one of the biggest decisions you make when building a website. It affects what the site can do, how much it costs to run, how easy it is to update and whether you can move it later. WordPress, Wix and Shopify are three of the most popular options for small businesses, and each one is a good choice for a different kind of business.
We build on all three, so this is a practical comparison rather than a sales pitch for one of them.
The quick comparison
| WordPress | Wix | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Business websites that need flexibility, SEO and room to grow | Very simple sites you want to build yourself | Online stores where selling is the main goal |
| Ownership | You own everything and can move hosts at any time | The site stays on Wix | The store stays on Shopify |
| Running costs | Hosting, domain and any premium plugins | Monthly plan | Monthly plan plus possible transaction fees and paid apps |
| Flexibility | Very high, thousands of plugins and full code access | Limited to what Wix offers | High for e-commerce, more limited for content |
| SEO control | Excellent, especially with a plugin like Rank Math | Good for basics | Good, with some fixed URL structures |
WordPress: the flexible all-rounder
WordPress powers a large share of all websites on the internet. It is free, open source software, which means you are never locked in to one company. You choose your own hosting, you own the files and you can bring in any developer you like.
Combined with a visual page builder such as Elementor Pro, WordPress is also easy to edit. You click on the text or image you want to change and type. For online stores, the free WooCommerce plugin turns a WordPress site into a full shop.
Choose WordPress if you want a professional business website that can grow over time, you care about ranking on Google and you want full ownership.
Watch out for cheap setups with too many plugins and no maintenance. WordPress needs regular updates and backups, which is why many businesses use a care plan. Learn more about our WordPress development.
Wix: quick and simple, with limits
Wix is a hosted website builder. You pick a template, drag elements into place and publish. Hosting, security and updates are handled for you, which makes it attractive if you want to build something yourself over a weekend.
The trade-off is control. You cannot move a Wix site to another host, advanced customisation is limited and some technical SEO settings are less flexible than on WordPress. As your business grows, many owners find they outgrow it.
Choose Wix if you need a small, simple site quickly, plan to build it yourself and do not expect complex features.
Shopify: built for selling
Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform. Everything is designed around products, carts, checkout and orders, and it handles a lot of technical work for you, including security and hosting. It integrates with many payment providers and has a large app store.
The costs add up through monthly plans, paid apps and, depending on your plan and payment method, transaction fees. Content-heavy pages such as blogs and service descriptions are possible but less flexible than on WordPress.
Choose Shopify if selling products online is the core of your business and you want a platform that is very easy to run day to day.
What about WooCommerce vs Shopify?
This is the most common question we get from businesses planning an online store. WooCommerce runs on WordPress, has no platform fee and gives you complete control over design and content. Shopify is simpler to manage and needs less maintenance, but you pay for that convenience every month.
As a rule of thumb, WooCommerce suits businesses that want a strong content and SEO presence alongside the shop, while Shopify suits product-first brands that want the least technical responsibility. We cover both in our e-commerce development service.
Our recommendation for most small businesses
For a typical service business in Sweden, such as a consultant, clinic, restaurant, tradesperson or agency, WordPress is usually the best long-term choice. It offers the best balance of cost, flexibility, ownership and SEO. For pure online stores, the choice between WooCommerce and Shopify depends on your products, budget and how hands-on you want to be.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress free?
The software is free, but you pay for hosting, a domain and any premium themes or plugins you choose to use.
Can I move my Wix site to WordPress?
Not automatically, but the content can be rebuilt on WordPress. We regularly help businesses migrate and set up redirects so they keep their Google rankings.
Which platform is best for SEO?
All three can rank well when set up properly, but WordPress gives you the most control over technical SEO, structured data and site speed.
Not sure which platform fits your business? Book a free call and we will recommend the simplest option for your goals. Get in touch.
