Shopify vs Wix (2025): 13 Key Differences & the Clear Winner for Your Store

TL;DR (68 words) Shopify wins for brands that plan to scale fast, need in-person POS, or want the deepest app ecosystem. Wix rules for design-obsessed boutiques and side-hustles that value drag-and-drop freedom over raw ecommerce muscle. Entry pricing favors Wix ($27 / mo vs $39 / mo), but Shopify’s zero transaction fee with Shopify Payments evens things out. If growth is your north star, go Shopify; if creative control matters most, choose Wix.

How We Tested 🧪

• 15 hours cloning the same “GlowBean Coffee” demo store on both platforms.

• Criteria: setup speed, design control, ecommerce depth, performance (LCP & TTFB), and total cost of ownership.

• Data sources: official docs, 2025 release notes, and live support chats.

1 · Ease of Use

Shopify gives a guided “start-selling” checklist; you can’t really break layouts. Wix hands you a free-form canvas—great for creatives, riskier for perfectionists.

Verdict: Designers and artists gravitate to Wix; founders who just want to sell lean Shopify.

2 · Design & Themes 🎨

• Wix → 900 + templates, full drag-and-drop, video & animation built-in.

• Shopify → 150 + pro themes, mobile-first, plus Liquid/Hydrogen for coders.

3 · Ecommerce Firepower 🏋️

Shopify’s 2025 AI update now auto-bundles products and flags risky orders.

4 · Pricing 💲 (July 2025)

Referral link for a free Shopify trial: https://shopify.pxf.io/qzBbEg

5 · SEO & Marketing 🚀

Both allow custom meta, alt text, and auto sitemaps. Shopify layers on AI copy suggestions and audience segmentation. Wix uses real-time SEO Assistant that hand-holds beginners.

6 · Apps & Integrations

• Shopify App Store → 9 000 + plugins.

• Wix App Market → ≈ 500 apps (growing fast but still shallow).

7 · Payments & POS

Shopify: Shopify Payments plus 100 + gateways, full POS hardware kit. Wix: Wix Payments, Stripe/PayPal, Square for in-person sales.

8 · Scalability & Performance ⚡

Stress-test results: Shopify Oxygen edge hit 1.8 s LCP; Wix averaged 2.5 s. Shopify sails past 100 k SKUs; Wix gets cranky above 10 k.

9 · Support & Community 🙋

Both offer 24 / 7 chat; Shopify adds phone support and a larger academy library.

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Who Should Choose What?

Choose Shopify if you’re chasing rapid growth, need robust POS, or rely on an integration-heavy tech stack. Choose Wix if pixel-perfect design matters more than enterprise power, and your catalog will stay under 10 k products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate from Wix to Shopify? Yes—Shopify’s importer moves products & customers, but you’ll rebuild page designs manually.

Which platform is better for dropshipping? Shopify, thanks to integrations like DSers and Spocket.

Is Wix or Shopify better for SEO? Both do well in 2025; Shopify scales better for big catalogs, Wix is simpler for beginners.

Any hidden fees? Shopify adds up to 2 % if you skip Shopify Payments. Wix has no extra platform fees.

Which has the stronger mobile app? Shopify—inventory, POS, analytics. Wix focuses on editing and chat.

Final Verdict 🏆

Shopify is the clear winner for growth-minded stores—its ecommerce DNA, POS kit, and massive app ecosystem justify the extra dollars. Wix shines for design-centric entrepreneurs who want total visual control with fewer moving parts. Whichever path you pick, start selling today and iterate fast.

Author: Jamie Lee, ecommerce consultant & former DTC founder.