Wix vs. SITE123: Which Is the Best Online Store Builder?

Both Wix and SITE123 are easy to use website builders that allow you to build a site from scratch by yourself. However, when it comes to online store builders, Wix and SITE123 aren’t created equally.

When choosing a website builder for an online store or any eCommerce site, there are a few specific things you should look for. You want templates that are equally functional and beautiful, a site editor that’s simple to use, and enough integrated eCommerce tools and third-party apps to bolster your online store and increase sales.

Wix and SITE123 don’t have the exact same features, so it’s important to do some research before deciding on your eCommerce website builder. Luckily, we’ve taken the legwork out of it for you by comparing the two popular online store builders and letting you know which one we recommend.

Templates for Online Stores

When you begin building your website, the first thing you’ll likely start with is choosing a template. While you can customize your templates with both Wix and SITE123, you also don’t want to be doing too much work. After all, the whole point of using a DIY website builder and templates is to make your website setup quick and painless.

Wix offers over 500 templates to choose from and also has a “Store” category that’s further broken down into subcategories like “Fashion & Clothing,” “Arts & Crafts,” and “Beauty & Wellness.” You have a pretty good chance of finding an online store template that fits your industry here.

SITE123 also has a wide variety of templates to choose from for your online store. However, when browsing through its template catalog, you’ll find that many of the templates look strikingly similar. SITE123’s templates are a lot more basic, and while they can still be customized, they don’t offer as many different design options as you’d get with Wix.

Without a doubt, Wix is stronger in this category due to its large selection of beautifully-designed templates suitable for different types of online stores.

Which Website Builder is Easier to Use?

There are tons of different website builders out there, but not all of them are easy to use. Luckily, Wix and SITE123 are both simple enough to get the hang of, but you’ll find that one of them is easier than the other.

Wix uses a drag-and-drop editor where you can click and drag elements around your page. It’s easy enough to add media like text boxes and image galleries. For an eCommerce website, you can create engaging product pages complete with categories for your store. You’re also able to add specific details such as product descriptions, product videos, sales and promotions, and even manage your inventory.

It’s relatively easy to navigate Wix’s drag-and-drop editor, but if you’re a website building beginner or you don’t consider yourself a “techie” person, you might have an easier time with SITE123.

With SITE123, you get a point-and-click site editor that’s extremely beginner-friendly. You won’t find as many features as you would with Wix, but you also won’t accidentally break the design of your page by dragging something to the wrong spot. SITE123 also has many eCommerce features that allow you to customize products, manage your stock, set shipping rules and rates, and more.

As far as ease of use goes, SITE123’s site editor is definitely easier to use. Still, Wix isn’t particularly difficult to use, and for the little bit of extra effort, you’ll get a lot more features and flexibility.

eCommerce Apps For Your Online Store

We’ve seen that both Wix and SITE123 have good basic eCommerce tools for your online store. But, beyond these, there are several other apps and add-ons available on both website builders that can really enrich your website.

Wix App Market has hundreds of different Wix apps and third-party apps that you can install on your website for added functionality and to help you increase sales. Probably the most helpful Wix app is WixStores, which allows you to turn any Wix website into a fully-functioning online store.

You’ll also find other helpful apps, like Shippo for your shipping needs, Smile: Points & Rewards for adding a rewards system to your store, and an Amazon app to integrate your Amazon products to your Wix site. Aside from apps for your online store, you’ll also be able to install ones to help with your marketing, like Mailchimp and Google Ads, as well as apps to track your site’s analytics and connect your social channels.

SITE123 also has an app market with about 75 different apps to choose from. There aren’t as many third-party apps here for online stores, but you can add Ecwid, a shopping cart app, or Selz for selling physical or digital products.

There are also plenty of other useful apps, like Google Analytics, Yandex, and LiveChat. Similarly to the site editor, SITE123 offers enough if you’re looking for a no-fuss simple eCommerce website builder, but if you want more options from your online store builder, then go for Wix.

Customer Support

You might be surprised with who comes out on top here.

You’d think that a company like Wix would have stellar customer support, but unfortunately, you’d be wrong. Wix does have an extensive help center where you’ll find handy guides, videos, and answers to almost all of your questions. When it comes to speaking with a live person, it’s a bit trickier. You can either submit a ticket online with your inquiry or request a callback. There’s no option for live chat or calling a contact center, which can be a little frustrating.

SITE123 also doesn’t offer support by phone, but there is great customer support via email and live chat. There are also guides that can help you if you’re stuck with something on the website builder. Overall, you’ll find SITE123’s customer service to be much better and a lot more accessible than Wix’s.

Which Website Builder Offers Better Value?

Another important aspect to consider when shopping around for website builders is the overall value of the product. Value is more than just the price, some website builders may be cheaper than their competition, but they don’t offer the same number of features.

As for pricing, SITE123 has a free plan and then a few paid premium plans. You can use the free plan for as long as you want, but it only comes with 500MB of storage and you’ll be stuck using a subdomain. The premium plans are more suitable for an eCommerce website since you’ll have more storage and functionality.

With Wix, there are several different pricing plans available, ranging from free to VIP. The plans are broken down into two categories: Website and Business & eCommerce. In order to accept online payments, you’ll need to have a paid plan. Furthermore, to gain access to the full range of business and eCommerce tools, you’ll have to jump for a more expensive Business plan.

While SITE123 seems to be cheaper than Wix at first glance, the pricing for both platforms is relatively similar when you compare the business and eCommerce plans. Wix also gives you more features than SITE123, so you’re getting a lot more for your dollar.

Wix vs. SITE123: The Winner

While both Wix and SITE123 each have their strengths and weaknesses as online store builders, only one of them can come out the winner.

Wix is a stronger overall website builder that offers you a lot more customization options, integrated tools for your online store, and choices for templates and apps. The customer support leaves a lot to be desired, but, considering you have almost everything you’d need for an online store with Wix, it’s unlikely you’ll need to rely so heavily on its support team anyways. For building an eCommerce website or online store, we’d recommend going with Wix.

Still, SITE123 is a good option for beginners who want to build a basic no-frills online store. The interface is easy to use and building an eCommerce website can be done very quickly.

Ultimately, choosing the right website builder comes down to your personal preferences and your own business needs. Many website builders, including Wix and SITE123, offer free plans or free trials, so you can always test out the product before settling on one.