Wix vs WordPress: Prices, Plugins and Control Compared

Pick Wix if you want a drag-and-drop builder where hosting, design and updates are all in one place and you never touch a server. Pick WordPress if you want more control and the option to move your site later: WordPress.org is free open source software you host yourself, and WordPress.com is the hosted version, with plugins on every paid plan.

"WordPress" means two different things, so this comparison keeps them apart. WordPress.org is the software, free to download and run on any web host you pay for. WordPress.com is a hosting service that runs that software for you, closer to how Wix works.

Wix vs WordPress at a glance

Which is cheaper, Wix or WordPress?

WordPress.com is the cheapest of the three paid options. Its pricing page lists Personal at $4 a month on yearly billing, Premium at $8, Business at $25 and Commerce at $45. Paying every two or three years lowers that further, and paying monthly raises it ($9, $18, $40 and $70).

Wix lists its paid plans at $17 (Light), $29 (Core), $39 (Business) and $159 (Business Elite) a month for a yearly subscription, according to its own plans guide, which says the prices are current as of November 2026 and exclude tax. Wix's plans page adds that prices and currency vary by location.

WordPress.org software costs nothing, but you need a web host, and that bill depends entirely on the host you choose. WordPress recommends PHP 8.3 or newer and MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.11 or newer.

What did we check ourselves?

On 6 November 2026, we read the FAQ on WordPress.com's pricing page. It said plugin installation is available on every paid plan, "starting with the Personal plan," and that "you do not need to be on the Business or Commerce plan to install plugins." So the common assumption that you need the Business plan for plugins no longer holds. The free WordPress.com plan still does not include plugins.

The same day, the current WordPress.org download was WordPress 7.1.4.

Which is easier to use?

Wix, for most beginners. You pick a template, drag elements onto the page and publish, with hosting included. The free plan needs no credit card.

WordPress.com is the next easiest, since it handles hosting for you. WordPress.org is the most work: you choose a host, install WordPress, and keep WordPress, your theme and your plugins updated yourself.

One Wix limit to know before you start: its support pages say "it's not possible to switch to a different template for a site you already created." To change design you build a new site with a new template. On WordPress you can switch themes on an existing site.

Can I move my site later?

This is where WordPress.org wins. The software is released under the GPLv2 or later, so you can run it on any host and move between hosts.

Wix is a closed platform. Your site lives on Wix, and its own guidance for a redesign is to start a new Wix site rather than move or convert the old one. If you think you may outgrow your builder, start on WordPress.

Storage is the other limit to plan for. Wix's plans page lists 2 GB on Light, 50 GB on Core, 100 GB on Business and unlimited on Business Elite. WordPress.com's free plan has 1 GB. On WordPress.org, storage is whatever your host gives you.

Still deciding? Our list of WordPress alternatives covers other site builders too.

Which should you choose?

• You want a site up today without any technical setup: Wix.
• You want the lowest paid price with hosting included: WordPress.com Personal at $4 a month on yearly billing.
• You want plugins without managing a server: WordPress.com, any paid plan.
• You want full control, your own host and open source software: WordPress.org.
• You expect to redesign often: WordPress, where you can switch themes on the same site.
• You want to try for free: any of them. Wix and WordPress.com have free plans; WordPress.org is free software.

FAQ

Is WordPress free?

WordPress.org software is free and open source, but you pay for hosting. WordPress.com has a free plan with 1 GB of storage, a .wordpress.com address and ads shown to visitors.

Can I install plugins on WordPress.com?

Yes, on every paid plan starting with Personal. The free plan does not include plugins.

Can I change my Wix template after publishing?

No. Wix says you cannot switch the template of a site you already created. You can start a new site with a different template.

Does Wix have a free trial?

Wix has a free plan instead. Paid plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee on your first upgrade.