Setting up an eCommerce store from scratch is a different ball game. From dealing with low budgets and competitive marketplaces to ensuring seamless purchase and post-purchase experience, Indian merchants face hurdles throughout.
The last thing they want is to get confused between two of the biggest eCommerce platforms available in India: Shopify and Wix.
Shopify is known for its simplicity, accessibility to 8,000+ apps, and 100+ templates. Wix, on the other hand, is versatile and affordable for Indian merchants. But this is again a surface-level comparison.
We have compared Shopify and Wix in detail to help you decide which platform is best for your business. Read on to find out which is better.
Content Index
- Wix vs. Shopify at a Glance
- Shopify vs. Wix: Pricing
- Shopify vs. Wix User Reviews
- Shopify vs. Wix: Which Is Better for Your Business?
Wix vs. Shopify at a Glance
Here’s a quick comparison between Wix and Shopify before we dive into the details:
- Wix is best for small businesses and bloggers who want an easy-to-use platform with affordable pricing. It’s ideal for simple stores or content-driven sites without the need for advanced eCommerce tools.
- Shopify is better for medium to large businesses that need robust eCommerce features, like advanced inventory management and scalability. This makes it suited for companies with larger operations or international customers.
Shopify has more Selling Options than Wix
Shopify enables seamless selling across marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Google through tools like Marketplace Connect. It integrates with social media platforms, allowing sellers to run ads and sell on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Further, unique features include:
- Link pop, a shoppable ‘link in bio’ tool
- Tokengated commerce for NFT-driven exclusive sales.
- ‘Buy Button’ feature to embed purchase buttons on WordPress or Squarespace websites.
On the other hand, Wix also supports multichannel selling. It integrates with marketplaces such as Google, eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Wish, Facebook, and Instagram. It offers a unified dashboard to manage inventory and orders across all channels.
Here’s what a Reddit user says about Shopify vs. Wix in terms of selling:
Shopify offers a versatile payment experience
Shopify offers a more extensive range of payment options than Wix, with over 100 payment gateways available. Customers can pay via debit/credit cards through third-party providers like Paynamics and UseePay. Other payment providers include PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay, Cred Pay, Easebuzz, Apco Pay, etc.
This allows merchants to cater to a broader audience, reduce cart abandonments, and drive higher conversion rates.
Wix offers approximately 70 payment gateways but does provide popular options.
These include:
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, JCB, and more)
- Third-party providers include PayU Biz India, Cashfree Payments, Easebuzz, Airpay, and Nimbbl.
For merchants focusing on local payments in India, Razorpay and Paytm are supported.
Overall, Shopify stands out for its extensive integration with multiple payment gateways, which can make scaling businesses across different regions much more accessible.
Wix provides more flexibility when it comes to design
Customising the experience to stand out is critical when designing your eCommerce site.
Wix provides over 800 templates, including 137 eCommerce-specific designs. This vast selection caters to various industries and personal preferences. The templates are free, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious businesses.
Wix also features a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, which allows you to customise your site easily by adding elements like text, images, and buttons wherever you want. This offers a high level of creative freedom.
On the other hand, Shopify provides a limited number of templates, with only 13 available for free.
While the designs are professional and mobile-responsive, the selection is limited compared to Wix. This may not appeal to users seeking variety and customisation without added costs.
However, Shopify does give users complete access to the CSS and HTML of their themes, allowing for more detailed customisations. This is a significant advantage if you want to make deep changes to your store’s design.
Many users struggle with Shopify’s block-based editor if they lack technical skills. This makes customisations more time-consuming and complex.
Shopify allows you to change your theme with just a few clicks, making it easy to switch themes. With Wix, switching templates requires rebuilding your entire store. This flexibility in theme switching gives Shopify a clear advantage if you need to change your design over time.
Shopify has more responsive support, while both have impressive knowledge resources
When managing a Wix store vs. Shopify, having quick access to the right resources is essential for resolving problems or learning new skills.
Both Shopify and Wix provide comprehensive resources to assist eCommerce businesses with various needs. These include:
- Knowledge bases
- Community forums
- Tutorials
- Guides
For more complex issues, Shopify goes further with its Shopify Experts service, which connects users with freelancers or agencies specialising in everything—from technical troubleshooting to content marketing.
Similarly, Wix offers the Wix Marketplace, where you can hire professionals for different stages of your business, including design, marketing, and technical support.
While these options come at an additional cost, both Wix and Shopify vets each professional to ensure high-quality assistance.
Regarding support, Shopify provides 24/7 support through live chat, email, and phone, so users can get help whenever needed. Wix provides strong customer support, including a 24/7 knowledge centre with expert guides.
While it offers phone support and live chat during business hours in multiple languages, it doesn’t provide email support, which may be a drawback for users who prefer written communication.
Wix is easier to use, while Shopify offers more in-depth features
Wix is widely praised for its ease of use, particularly for beginners. Its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality allows users to easily design websites and ecommerce stores without any technical expertise.
Setting up a store is quick, and you can even speed up the process further with Wix’s AI-powered tool, Wix ADI, which generates a ready-made template in seconds.
Furthermore, Wix’s step-by-step guides and tutorials are clear and user-friendly, making it an ideal choice for a straightforward, no-fuss platform.
Shopify also provides helpful tutorials to guide beginners through the process.
To get started, the builder asks whether your business is new or already established. For new businesses, you’ll answer questions like:
- Where would you like to sell?
- What will you sell first?
- Where is your business located?
For existing businesses, you’ll be asked where you’re currently selling (e.g., Amazon, eBay, social media platforms).
However, creating an online store on Shopify requires more time and effort—expect to spend a few hours configuring everything. This is because Shopify offers more in-depth tools and customisation options. Plus, adding products, managing inventory, and configuring payment settings are all efficient.
Both have robust marketing and promotion tools
Shopify integrates with multiple social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, making it easier for businesses to reach their target audience. It also includes email marketing tools, with automation and integration with Mailchimp.
The ‘Shopify Inbox‘ feature uses live customer data—such as viewed products, cart contents, and past orders—to personalise messages. It also lets store owners recommend products or offer discounts in real-time, increasing order value.
Wix’s comprehensive marketing suite appeals to users on its Core plan or higher. Its features like automated workflows, lead-capture forms, and site chat functionality, allow businesses to engage with visitors.
The email marketing platform offers customisable campaigns, templates, and automation. You can also use social media assets with added video editing features through a Vimeo partnership.
When it comes to SEO, Shopify outshines Wix with its:
- Clean and organised codebase
- Mobile optimisation
- AMP support for product pages
Its built-in SEO features, like auto-generated canonical tags and 301 redirects, also help businesses rank better on Google.
Wix offers built-in SEO features, allowing users to edit meta tags, alt text, and URL slugs. However, it lacks Shopify’s range of specialised eCommerce SEO tools. Its keyword support and blogging features give it a slight advantage in improving online visibility.
Shopify vs. Wix: Pricing
Wix offers a forever-free plan, including ads and limited storage. Wix paid plans start from as low as ₹199/month. The Core plan is decent for small businesses, costing ₹399/month and offering essential marketing tools and analytics.
Shopify’s plans start at ₹1499/month for the basic option. Advanced features like global selling, chat support etc., require higher-tier plans, up to ₹5599/month. Shopify also charges transaction fees and extra costs for adding more staff accounts to your store.
Additionally, Shopify’s three-day free trial is much shorter than Wix’s free plan, making it less effective for fully exploring the platform. However, you can start Shopify’s first month for just $1, reducing the initial cost.
Shopify vs. Wix User Reviews
Here is what users say about these platforms:
Shopify Reviews
Wix Reviews:
Shopify vs. Wix: Which Is Better for Your Business?
Your business’s needs, scale, and long-term goals will determine the choice between Wix and Shopify for your Indian eCommerce store.
Wix is a better option for small store owners who are starting or need an affordable, easy-to-use platform with extensive customisation. Its drag-and-drop interface and low cost make it ideal for simple stores or quick setups.
Alternatively, if you’re planning to scale your business and need a comprehensive platform with strong inventory management, multichannel selling, and marketing tools, Shopify is a great choice. It’s ideal for medium to large businesses needing advanced eCommerce features, global expansion, and scalable growth with strong payment gateway support.
On that note, Nimbbl offers free plugins for both Shopify and Wix. With a simple, free integration, you’ll get access to:
- Multiple payment methods, including UPI, Buy Now Pay Later, digital wallets
- Fast, OTP-free checkout
- A comprehensive payment dashboard
- A multi-PSP payment router
- Payment link generator and payment pages
Want to explore how Nimbbl can serve your Shopify or Wix store?