Double disclosure: I built hundreds of WordPress sites over the years, and today I mostly build static coded sites. Meaning I know both sides from within - and Wix too, through dozens of clients who arrived from it. So here is the comparison I wish someone had given me a decade ago.

Three approaches, three philosophies

Wix (and friends): you rent a furnished apartment. Everything included, easy to start, but the apartment isn’t yours and you can’t move walls.

WordPress: you buy a house. Full freedom, thousands of plugins, but maintenance is on you: updates, security, backups.

Custom code (modern static): you build with an architect. Fitted exactly to your needs, high build quality, near-zero maintenance - but structural changes need the architect.

The comparison, item by item

Upfront cost

Wix is cheapest to start (free tier with ads, reasonable subscriptions). WordPress sits in the middle (professional builds 4,000-12,000 ILS). Custom code is similar to WordPress or slightly higher, depending on complexity.

Ongoing cost

Here the picture flips. Wix charges a subscription forever (600-1,800 ILS/year). WordPress needs hosting and ongoing maintenance. A static site sits on free or near-free hosting with nothing to patch except the content itself. Over 3-4 years, the coded site usually wins the total-cost math.

Speed

Mobile PageSpeed numbers: typical Wix sites hover around 50-75. Unoptimized WordPress: 30-60; well-tuned WordPress: 70-90. A properly built static site: 95-100, consistently. We already covered why that gap is real money.

Maintenance and security

WordPress is the world’s number-one hacking target - not because it’s bad, but because it’s everywhere. Without regular updates it’s a matter of time. Wix maintains everything for you. A static site simply has nothing to hack: no exposed admin, no database, no plugins.

Content independence

The big win for Wix and WordPress: log in, edit, save. A classic coded site needs the developer for every change, so agree on an update service upfront. And where needed, a light CMS layered over a static site delivers both worlds.

Who owns the site?

WordPress and code: you. Take the files and switch hosts tomorrow. Wix: Wix. You cannot “take the site” anywhere; stop paying and it’s gone.

So what fits you?

  • Minimal budget, need something now, DIY: Wix, respectably. Just know it’s rent.
  • Complex store, huge content portal, or daily editing of dozens of pages: WordPress still rules - budget for maintenance.
  • A business site that must be fast, secure and cheap for years: static custom code. That’s why the site you’re reading is built this way.

Bottom line

Wix sells convenience, WordPress sells freedom, and custom code sells quality and long-term peace of mind. The right choice hangs on three questions: how much you edit yourself, what the 4-year budget looks like (not just today’s), and how much the speed Google loves matters to you. Answer those three honestly and the choice nearly makes itself.

Want an honest recommendation for your specific case - even if the answer is “stay on WordPress”? Ask us ↗