Wix vs WordPress - Which Platform is Best for Perth Small Businesses?

One of the most common questions we hear from Perth business owners is:

Should I build my website on Wix or WordPress?

Both platforms are hugely popular, and both can deliver great results. But they’re designed for very different types of businesses. Choosing the wrong one could leave you stuck with hidden costs, technical frustrations, or limits on your growth.

At Wolf Web Designs, we build on both Wix and WordPress. We’ve seen first-hand which platform works best for Perth cafés, tradies, retailers, and creatives — and when it makes sense to go bigger with WordPress. Here’s our in-depth guide comparing Wix and WordPress for Perth small businesses, covering ease of use, costs, SEO, scalability, and maintenance.

Section 1: Ease of Use

Wix

Wix is designed to be simple. With its drag-and-drop editor, you don’t need coding knowledge to create or edit your site. Everything is visual - move images, text, and buttons exactly where you want them. Wix also includes built-in apps for bookings, blogs, and online stores.

This makes it especially attractive to Perth cafés, salons, and tradies who want to manage their websites themselves without calling a developer every time they need to update opening hours.

WordPress

WordPress, while more flexible, has a much steeper learning curve. It isn’t drag-and-drop by default, and while builders like Elementor exist, they still require more effort. You’ll also need plugins for core features, and if two plugins conflict, it can break your site.

Many Perth business owners who try DIY WordPress setups end up frustrated. Unless you’re tech-savvy, you’ll likely need ongoing support.

👉 Verdict: For simplicity, Wix wins. If you want control without complexity, Wix is ideal.

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Section 2: Costs

Cost is one of the most important factors for Perth small businesses. Let’s compare Wix and WordPress directly across the same categories:

Cost Area	Wix	WordPress
Hosting & SSL	Included (~$197/year sale cycle)	$150–$360/year
Domain	~$20/year (1st year often free)	~$20/year
Templates/Themes	Free (all included)	Free–$100
Apps/Plugins	Free–$100/year each	Free–$100/year each
Professional Setup	$1,995–$9,995	$2,500–$15,000+

👉 Verdict: Wix has more predictable, lower costs. WordPress can end up more expensive long-term due to plugins and maintenance.

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Section 3: SEO Performance

Wix

Wix has improved massively in SEO. You can edit title tags, meta descriptions, alt text, and URL slugs, and it integrates directly with Google Search Console. For Perth businesses focusing on local SEO, Wix is more than enough.

Example: A physiotherapy clinic in Bull Creek can easily optimise pages for “Physiotherapy Bull Creek” and rank in local searches without advanced tools.

WordPress

WordPress offers advanced SEO control with plugins like Yoast SEO and RankMath. These allow detailed optimisation like schema markup and canonical tags. For industries competing nationally or globally, WordPress may have the edge — but it requires more setup and expertise.

👉 Verdict: Both platforms can rank well. For Perth small businesses focused on local SEO, Wix is sufficient. WordPress is stronger if you’re chasing high-competition keywords.

Section 4: Scalability

Wix

Wix handles small to medium websites beautifully. Whether you’re a tradie, café, or local artist, it provides all the tools you need. But for large ecommerce stores or highly customised functionality, it has limitations.

WordPress

WordPress is virtually limitless. With the right hosting and plugins, it can scale to thousands of pages or products. It’s the better choice for businesses planning rapid growth or needing custom functionality.

👉 Verdict: If you’ll stay small-to-medium, Wix is great. If you’re aiming for enterprise-level growth, WordPress is better.

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Section 5: Security & Maintenance

Wix

Security, hosting, SSL, and updates are all included. You don’t have to worry about hackers, server downtime, or plugin conflicts. For small businesses, this is a huge advantage.

WordPress

With WordPress, you’re responsible for your own hosting and updates. Plugins and themes must be regularly updated, and security plugins are a must. If you don’t maintain it, your site becomes vulnerable.

👉 Verdict: Wix is safer for business owners who don’t want ongoing technical headaches.

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Final Verdict

Choose Wix if

• You want simplicity, lower costs, and speed. Perfect for cafés, tradies, creatives, and small ecommerce shops.

Choose WordPress if

• You want unlimited flexibility and scalability, and you’re prepared for higher costs and maintenance.

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FAQs

Which is better for Perth small businesses, Wix or WordPress?

Wix is better for small businesses wanting simplicity and predictable costs. WordPress is better for larger businesses with complex needs.

Is Wix cheaper than WordPress in 2025?

Yes. Wix averages ~$197/year for hosting, domains, and templates, while WordPress hosting is $150–$360/year plus themes and plugins.

Which is better for SEO?

Both work. Wix covers the basics for local SEO. WordPress offers more advanced SEO tools for competitive industries.

Which is easier to use?

Wix is beginner-friendly with drag-and-drop editing. WordPress requires more technical knowledge.

Not sure which platform is right for your Perth business? At Wolf Web Designs, we’ll help you choose between Wix and WordPress based on your budget, goals, and growth plans.

👉 Book your free consultation and let’s design the right website for your business.