Wix vs WordPress vs hand-coded: an honest comparison
We build hand-coded sites, so treat our bias as declared. That said, there are businesses we would genuinely point towards Wix, and this explains which.
The short version
- Wix suits a business that wants to edit everything itself and never think about maintenance.
- WordPress suits content-heavy sites and shops that need a large plugin ecosystem.
- Hand-coded suits businesses that want speed, full ownership and no subscription lock-in.
- Over three years the cost difference is smaller than it looks on day one.
What each one actually is
Wix is a hosted platform. You rent the software, the hosting and the editor as one subscription. Your site exists on their system and cannot be moved elsewhere.
WordPress is software you install on your own hosting. It runs a large share of the web, is extended through plugins and themes, and needs regular updating.
Hand-coded means the HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP are written directly for your site. No platform layer, no plugin dependencies, no subscription attached to the software itself.
Cost over three years
Day-one price is the wrong comparison. Here is roughly how a five-page small business site works out over three years in South Africa.
| Wix | WordPress | Hand-coded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | R0 – R8,000 | R5,000 – R15,000 | R4,500 – R12,000 |
| Platform or hosting | R250 – R500 monthly | R100 – R300 monthly | R80 – R200 monthly |
| Plugins and licences | Included, mostly | R0 – R4,000 yearly | None |
| Maintenance | Minimal | Monthly updates needed | Occasional |
| Rough 3-year total | R9,000 – R26,000 | R13,000 – R35,000 | R8,000 – R19,000 |
The gap is narrower than either side of the argument usually admits. The real differences are in speed, ownership and what happens when you want to change something.
Speed and search
Wix has improved considerably and is no longer the SEO liability it was five years ago. It still ships a lot of code you did not ask for, which shows up on mobile data.
WordPress speed depends almost entirely on the theme and the plugin count. A lean install is fast. A site with twenty-eight plugins is not, and that is the more common outcome.
Hand-coded sites win here by default, because nothing is loaded that is not needed. On a Gauteng mobile connection that difference is felt, and Google measures it.
Who should choose what
- Choose Wix if you want to edit everything yourself, your needs are simple, and you would rather pay monthly than manage anything. Accept that you cannot move the site later.
- Choose WordPress if you publish often, need a large catalogue, or want a specific ecosystem of plugins. Budget for someone to keep it updated, because unmaintained WordPress is the most commonly hacked thing on the web.
- Choose hand-coded if you want the fastest possible site, full ownership of the files, no subscription tied to the software, and you are happy for changes to go through a developer.
The question that usually decides it
Ask yourself honestly: will you actually edit this site yourself?
Most business owners say yes and then do not, because running the business takes priority. If that is you, the editor convenience of a platform is worth much less than it appears, and the ongoing subscription is worth much more.
If you genuinely will be in there weekly changing specials and posting updates, that changes the maths, and a platform or a light content system is the better answer.
Our position, stated plainly. We build by hand because it produces faster sites that you own outright. We will still tell you when a simpler platform fits your situation better, because a mismatched build helps nobody.