We Bought & Tested The Most Popular Website Builders. Here’s Why Wix.com Is #1
Summary: Wix.com provides a robust number of customizations and tools to allow for the creation of a unique and highly functional website. Its rich template gallery, along with the ease of use of every one of its features, makes designing an effective website easy, even for those with limited knowledge of how to build a website. On top of that, it provides outstanding add-on compatibility allowing for users to create just what they need, their way.
Over the last 9 years, I have been designing websites as a freelancer outside of reviewing for TrustedConsumerReview – my typical customers are businesses and personal users that want a better exposure online.
Each customer needs robust features and easy-to-use designs - so let me be clear: Even for someone with ample experience building websites, website builders are by far the best route to take.
When I got the assignment to review website builders, I thought for sure I knew which would come out on top.
Knowing that I wanted to add in some cool features as well as a range of setups, I have always steered towards using some of the more elaborate and premium website builders out there. It’s the same belief many of my colleagues have had – if it costs more and is more well known, it’s the safe option.
Oh boy was I wrong... There’s just no reason to pay more for a website builder that is inferior in many aspects to some of the cheaper options out there.
After this review I’m now really excited to build websites faster and with ample customization options using Wix.com.
I still can't believe I'm recommending this option over some of the tools I've spent thousands of dollars using over the years.
Testing
Without any knowledge of how Wix.com worked or the features it offered, I headed off to start using it.
The process of buying it was easy. There were not as many different plans or added costs as I was used to, which is nice because it means I can easily just get started without having to pay a fortune.
After clicking through and reading the website a bit, I initially thought it was a good, mid-range product. It didn’t seem like it was anything over-the-top. I saw the free website design template and thought that it was a gimmick. I then realized that there’s more to Wix.com than I realized.
First, there are two editor choices. Wix ADI is what works to design a website for you. Users just have to answer a few questions and make a few edits at the end. It’s simple and basic. I thought this was as good as it got.
The second option is the Wix Editor. This tool is fun to use and has a drag-and-drop feature that makes it super simple to set up a custom website in a way that works for your needs. You can reposition anything and create a lot of creative designs - when I got into the editor I started realizing that Wix.com had way more depth than I initially thought.
Then comes the decision part. What type of plan do I want? I thought for sure I would have to spend a lot of money to get a great site - but again, I was wrong. The yearly price for the basic plan was $14 a month, with the highest end option, the Business VIP plan, at $49 per month when paid yearly. This is far below what you can expect for most sites, especially for business-focused websites with ample content and eCommerce features.
I was invested at this point! How could this easy-to-use website builder be so affordable?
What’s more, the company provides 800 templates to choose from – there’s nearly no way you can run out of options. There are some sites that are visually striking and others that are perfect for blogs. Clean, modern, and even beautiful, there are plenty of options here.
Putting It Into Action
I spent the next few hours navigating the site and actually building a website. I love the design customizations. As someone who has built dozens of sites, this is critical to creating something that stands out today. Each of the templates I checked out has a fill-in-the-blank style where you just update colors, text, and images that fit your needs. I noticed they have a large number of videos and how-to articles that can help someone without any skill in this area to create a highly functional website.
The website I was working on was for a client who was a small restaurant startup. I was easily able to create restaurant menus, a contact form for reservations, and a slideshow to display food products. None of this required any coding!
What Makes Wix.com Different From Other Products?
- Ease-Of-Use - It sounds simple enough, but Wix.com is intuitive and very easy to use. It's not much different than a click-and-play process where you just update what you need, add in features, and move on. Even some of the more difficult components, like interactive forms and slideshows, were simple to use.
- Rich Template Gallery - I'll be honest – a lot of website builders offer templates, but I have never seen so many holistic, vibrant, and high-quality templates out there. To get this quality, I would have assumed I had to turn to a web designer to build something from scratch.
- Add-On Compatibility - You can easily build a website on Wix.com that meets most needs. You can add in social media features and lots of widgets with ease. I also found that the website can grow to a rather moderate size without costing a lot of money.
Verdict
If you are looking for a way to build a website that looks like it was customized from the start, but you also want to be sure that it is easy to set up and maintain, Wix.com is the solution you need. It's great for beginners who want to build something that's professional-looking without having to spend a lot of money to do so.
How To Order Wix.com
Once you are set to start building your website, follow these tips:
- Visit the website and click on the start building buttons.
- Choose the plan you want – I choose the Pro plan – and start the process.
- Select the template you want to use (this could take a while with so many options!)
- Start designing your site.
If you’re unsure about any part of the process, choose the free website building version first. There's no risk, and you can walk away at any time if you don't like it.
Common Questions & Answers
Q: Is there support available for building the website?
Yes! One of the best things about Wix.com is that the support is available 24/7 over the phone, on the chat feature, and through email. Super easy to use.
Q: Can I sell products through my Wix.com website?
Absolutely. These do not look or feel like personal sites. They offer ample eCommerce features to make it easy to set up and manage your store.
Q: Does it include any marketing tools and features?
Yes, the Wix.com website allows you to generate leads the way you want to, including through landing pages, ads on Facebook, email, and much more. There are Wix Analytics available as well, which can give you insight into how well your website is performing at any given time.
How Much Does It Cost?
You can choose what you want to pay based on the features and services you need. Free websites are a great starter, but you'll likely want to move to a paid option as you work to develop your site. The lowest price is $14 per month, with step ups to $49 per month.
I liked the Pro plan because it included logo design and some outstanding business features to set up email marketing and more.
Why Is It So Affordable?
Wix.com is a bigger organization – it has helped 180 million people build free websites. However, its tools are so well built and streamlined that it does not have to charge a lot for them. I found that the pricing is excellent compared to competitors who spent a lot of money advertising and building up their brand. Wix.com has a clear focus - making great website design available to the masses - and as someone with experience in building websites I have to say I’m truly impressed.
Get your Wix.com website started by visiting their official website >>>
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
As of July 27, 2024, Ever since Wix.com was on major international media, an incredible amount of buzz has been generated. Due to its popularity and positive reviews, the company is so confident in its product and wants people to try it out that they are now offering a solid discount.
