When building a website, Wix vs WordPress are often top CMS choices. Both platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and a range of features, but a crucial question remains: is Wix or WordPress better for SEO?

WordPress the continued SEO powerhouse

WordPress has long been a popular choice amongst SEO professionals for its flexibility and extensive customisation options. One of its biggest strengths is its robust plugin ecosystem. With a vast library of SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math, users can fine-tune their on-page optimisation extensively.

Another major advantage of WordPress is the full control it offers. You have complete access to your site's code, making it easier to implement advanced SEO techniques. This level of control extends to content management as well. WordPress excels in organising and structuring content, which is quite crucial for SEO.

However, WordPress isn't without its drawbacks. It can be overwhelming for beginners due to its complexity and confusing settings and dashboard. There's definitely a learning curve involved. Additionally, WordPress requires regular maintenance. You'll need to stay on top of updates and security checks to keep your site running smoothly.

Wix: the user-friendly option

Wix has gained popularity for its ease of use and all-in-one solution. When it comes to Wix SEO, Wix offers a suite of built-in tools that make it easier for beginners to optimise their sites. This integrated approach can be a real time-saver.

Another advantage of Wix is its automatic mobile optimisation. Wix creates mobile-friendly versions of your site without any extra effort on your part, which is crucial for SEO in today's mobile-first world.

Ease of use is perhaps Wix's biggest selling point. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it simple for non-technical users to create and manage their websites. You don't need to be a coding expert to get a professional-looking site up and running.

But Wix isn't without its limitations. Compared to WordPress, it offers fewer customisation options for advanced SEO techniques. You also don't have full access to your site's backend, which can be a bit restrictive for implementing certain SEO strategies.

10 Key SEO differences between WordPress and Wix

To better understand which platform might be better for your SEO needs, let's delve into some specific differences:

1. URL structure - WordPress allows full customisation of your URL structure, including categories and subcategories. This level of control can be beneficial for creating SEO-friendly URLs. Wix, while offering some URL customisation, is can be more limited.
2. Page speed optimisation - WordPress gives you complete control over your site's code and server, allowing for extensive speed optimisation. With Wix, you're limited to their hosting and have less control over technical optimisations.
3. Schema markup - WordPress, through plugins like Yoast SEO, offers extensive schema markup options. Wix provides some basic schema markup but doesn't offer as much flexibility or depth.
4. Robots.txt and .htaccess files - WordPress allows direct editing of these files, giving you more control over how search engines crawl your site. Wix doesn't provide direct access to edit these files.
5. XML sitemaps - Both platforms offer XML sitemaps, but WordPress allows for more customisation, especially through SEO plugins.
6. Content management - WordPress's CMS is more robust, allowing for better content organisation and internal linking - both crucial for SEO.
7. SEO plugins - WordPress's plugin ecosystem offers a wide range of advanced SEO tools. Wix's App Market has some SEO apps, but the selection and capabilities are more limited.
8. AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) - WordPress supports AMP through plugins, which can be beneficial for mobile SEO. Wix doesn't currently support AMP.
9. Customisation of meta tags - While both platforms allow customisation of meta titles and descriptions, WordPress offers more granular control, especially through SEO plugins.
10. International SEO - WordPress offers a bunch of multilingual plugins for international SEO. Wix has multilingual capabilities but they're not as extensive.

So, is Wix or WordPress better for SEO?

The answer is probably case by case! It really depends on your specific needs and technical expertise. WordPress offers more advanced SEO capabilities and control, making it the preferred choice for SEO professionals and those who need extensive customisation. On the other hand, Wix provides a more user-friendly experience with solid built-in SEO features, making it suitable for small businesses and individuals who want a simpler solution.

Ultimately, both platforms can be optimised for search engines with the right approach. The key is to choose the platform that aligns with your skills, resources, and long-term goals. Whether you opt for the powerful flexibility of WordPress or the user-friendly simplicity of Wix, remember that good SEO practices are what truly matter in the end.

Want to discuss which platform is right for your SEO needs? Get in touch with us today. We'd be happy to chat about your specific requirements and help you achieve your online goals.