I’ve been reading a lot about Wix and noticed some people say it’s tougher to rank high on Google if your site’s built there. Seems like its JavaScript base and limited SEO controls might be the reason. I’m looking for advice before I decide how to set up a site for my clothing brand, especially since I’m on a budget. What’s better for SEO: using a platform like Wix or hosting my own website?
Thanks for any tips!
Wix is seriously frustrating. Nobody should use it for anything serious.
Divya said:
Wix is seriously frustrating. Nobody should use it for anything serious.
Totally agree—don’t go with Wix. It’s mostly aimed at people who want a quick fix and think drag-and-drop is all you need for a website. They hook you in with basic tools, then charge monthly fees for extras. If you’re a web developer, using Wix is just a headache—it’s too restrictive.
Even hosting with other options, like WordPress, gives you more control and a much better set of tools.
@Finnegan
Also, you can actually take your files with you when using WordPress, so you aren’t stuck if you ever need to switch hosts.
@Finnegan
Calling someone a web developer if they use Wix is a bit of a stretch. Wix is just not meant for real development work.
I was in web development for over 20 years, and I’ve seen a lot. Back when I was active, some so-called “SEO experts” were making tons of free Wix sites full of low-quality content and backlinks to boost their clients’ search rankings. It worked short-term but quickly lost impact.
My guess is that search engines now see Wix sites as less credible, especially since so many low-effort sites used it. If you’re serious about SEO, using Wix might not be the best choice.
It’s terrible for SEO and everything else, really. But honestly, getting to page one without lots of experience is already tough.
Raymond said:
It’s terrible for SEO and everything else, really. But honestly, getting to page one without lots of experience is already tough.
I got on page one with Wix pretty easily, but I agree that using Wix feels slow and clunky sometimes.
Avoid using proprietary platforms if you can.
Hosting your own site means no vendor lock-in, better SEO potential, and complete freedom to design as you want. With Wix, you’re stuck with what they allow, and they can hike up prices anytime. Self-hosting gives you control and flexibility to switch hosts without too much hassle.
@Harper
By ‘hosting your own,’ do you mean using a different hosting company? I’m new to all this—appreciate any insights!
Ivan said:
@Harper
By ‘hosting your own,’ do you mean using a different hosting company? I’m new to all this—appreciate any insights!
They probably mean renting a server and coding your own site in a standard language like HTML and CSS (or PHP if needed). With Wix, you’re locked into their system, but if you build your site with standard tools, you can move it to any host. It does take some web dev knowledge, though. WordPress can be a good middle ground if you’re not ready for full coding.
Ivan said:
@Harper
By ‘hosting your own,’ do you mean using a different hosting company? I’m new to all this—appreciate any insights!
I host my own site on a basic server and handle all configurations myself. It’s a single server costing $14 a month. I’ve set up several different projects on it, but doing this does require knowing Linux commands and managing different configurations for things like security, backup, and software updates. It’s not easy, but it gives complete control.
Wix is okay if you just need a simple one-page site. Beyond that, it’s a pain. Every page ends up looking different, and it crashes a lot. I’d avoid it if I were you.
I personally don’t care for Wix, it can be a hassle.
Wix is really user-friendly, which is its main draw. I used it for my first website, but the limitations become clear pretty quickly. Wix has some ‘free’ features, but honestly, WordPress with a hosting service like Dreamhost is way better and costs less.
For example, Wix’s site analytics are basic compared to Google Analytics, and their Sitebooster tool doesn’t compare to something like Yoast.
For SEO, you can do a quick Google search with your keywords and see if any Wix sites pop up on the first page… I think you’ll find very few.
Wix limits your control over your site, and the costs go up as you scale. With WordPress, you own the content and can use plugins like Rank Math for SEO. Self-hosting also gives you freedom to pick the best host for your needs.
Wix has no real customer service. I’ve tried to cancel my plan but they keep charging me, and every time I try to reach out, I get no response. Just a heads up!
