The winner of the IONOS vs. Wix comparison is IONOS. My in-depth review, testing, and comparison show IONOS to be the more affordable, easier-to-use, and customer-centric website builder provider. Wix has its shiny points, but you need to pay more to access them. Read the full article to know which is right for you.
Easy-to-use website editor, premade templates, and editable layouts.
Drag-and-drop editor, full control over design, ADI editor
Design and Templates
Industry-specific professional designs with AI assistance
Over 800 industry-specific templates
Features and Tools
AI features, payment gateways, analytics tools, SEO text generator. SEO and marketing tools
Mobile app, App Market, advanced SEO, email marketing, and security features.
Performance
7.1s loading speed
5.4s loading speed
eCommerce
Yes, it is available for all plans
Yes, it is available for select Plans
Customer support
Customizable SEO plans, site analytics, social media integrations, and email marketing.
Yes
SEO and Marketing
Yes
Yes
And the winner is IONOS
Since Wix renewal prices are the same as the starting prices, we used IONOS renewal prices to make a comparison. Despite this, IONOS is the most affordable option. For instance, IONOS's most expensive plan (Pro eCommerce at $55/month) offers unlimited webspace & pages, SiteAnalytics Plus, and AI generator tools. The only Wix plan that offers unlimited storage costs $159/month.
IONOS is a leading web hosting company and website builder provider, ideal for small businesses and large enterprises. Founded in Germany, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including web hosting, website builder, domain registration, cloud solutions, and email services, making it a one-stop shop for all your online needs. The IONOS website builder offers a range of customizable templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and integrated SEO tools.
Wix is a famous cloud-based website builder known for its simplicity, flexibility, and advanced capabilities. The drag-and-drop platform is designed for users of all skill levels, with a straightforward interface and tools that make website creation accessible to everyone. There are also advanced features, such as the Wix Studio, for advanced users. Founded in Israel, the company is publicly listed in the US and caters to users worldwide.
IONOS offers three website builder plans: Starter, Plus, and Pro.
Starter – Begins at $9/month and renews at $12/month for yearly billing. Monthly billing offers one month free and then costs $16/month. There is an eCommerce version that begins at $15/month and then renews at $24/month for the yearly plan. The monthly billing option for this plan offers one month free and then costs $25/month. The Starter Plan offers a free domain for one year, a professional email address, an AI Website Builder, and 10 GB of web space.
Plus – Begins at $9.50/month and renews at $18/month with a one-year plan. The monthly billing cycle offers one month free and then renews at $22/month. The eCommerce option begins at $15.50/month and renews at $30/month for yearly billing. The monthly plan offers one month free and then renews at $35/month. The Plus plan offers the features of the Starter plan in addition to 50 GB of web space, 200 web pages, site analytics, online booking tools, and AI generation tools.
Pro – Begins at $16.50/month for 12 months, then costs $23/month for subsequent yearly renewals. The eCommerce version begins at $40/month for 12 months, then $55/month for renewals. The Pro plan offers a 50 GB inbox, unlimited web space and pages, SiteAnalytics Plus, and AI generator tools.
Wix Pricing Plans
Starting price
Renewal price
Light Plan
$17/mo
$17/mo
Core Plan
$29/mo
$29/mo
Business Plan
$36/mo
$36/mo
Business Elite Plan
$159/mo
$159/mo
Wix offers one free plan and four paid plans.
Free Plan – You can use Wix for free via the free plan. This plan is free for life but comes with limitations. For instance, you cannot increase the storage, connect your own domain, sell online, or remove Wix ads.
Light – The Light plan, at $17/month, offers 3GB storage, a light marketing suite, and a free domain for one year. It also allows you to add another collaborator.
Core – Upgrade to the Core plan at $29/month to add up to five collaborators, get 50GB storage, and a basic marketing suite. You also get a free domain for one year, basic site analytics, basic eCommerce functionality, online programs, and the ability to accept payments.
Business – The $36/month business plan provides 100GB storage, a standard marketing suite, standard site analytics, and standard eCommerce. It also allows you to add up to 10 collaborators, accept payments, and get a free domain for one year.
Business Elite – The highest tier plan costs $159/month. It allows 15 collaborators and offers unlimited storage, an advanced marketing suite, a free one-year domain, advanced site analytics, and advanced eCommerce. It is the only plan with an advanced developer platform.
And the winner is IONOS
Since Wix renewal prices are the same as the starting prices, we used IONOS renewal prices to make a comparison. Despite this, IONOS is the most affordable option. For instance, IONOS's most expensive plan (Pro eCommerce at $55/month) offers unlimited webspace & pages, SiteAnalytics Plus, and AI generator tools. The only Wix plan that offers unlimited storage costs $159/month.
Offers a variety of templates but prioritizes ease of use
Switching is not allowed once a template is chosen.
IONOS Ease of Use
Unsurprisingly, IONOS uses a drag-and-drop editor. This means you can arrange your website by simply dragging the elements to where you want them. We reviewed some of the IONOS templates and found them beautifully designed. They also include full-range functionality and mobile responsiveness.
Regarding user-friendliness and design assistance, IONOS errs on the side of simplicity. This means you can get a fully functional website by simply editing any of the templates. While this can move you quickly, it may seem slightly restrictive for advanced users.
IONOS shines when it comes to content and images. Thanks to IONOS AI generation tools, you can create all your content and images without leaving the platform. These include SEO articles, website logos, images, and more.
Wix Ease of Use
Wix uses a drag-and-drop editor. But you can tell the difference from the moment you sign up. For instance, Wix first asked if I was using the builder to build a personal site or create a site for a client. It then prompted me to use AI to build the website faster. While these prompts can get in the way of an experienced user, they are helpful to beginners and people who want a professional website with minimal effort.
Wix does not compromise user-friendliness for functionality. Many customization options make it easy for each website to be unique, even if it shares the underlying template with other websites.
Wix’s Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) tool makes it easy to customize your website. Just answer the questions, and you will get a customizable template. From there, you add your content and images.
And the winner is IONOS
Wix puts up a strong fight with its ultra-simple yet powerful website-building platform. However, IONOS also has a simple-to-use interface and stunningly beautiful templates. IONOS wins this round because of its AI content and image generation tools. For most users, a sufficiently easy-to-use website builder with beautiful templates and free image and text generation tools wins the day.
IONOS offers various templates that cut across all the major categories. You can scroll through the catalog and see how each template will appear on desktop, iPad, and mobile devices. These templates are professionally designed and have built-in functionality relevant to their category.
Most templates feature minimalist designs, so you have plenty of room to add extra elements as you deem fit. For most users, the catalog will contain at least one template that aligns with their needs.
Wix Design and Templates
When it comes to designing websites, Wix gives you two options. You can get an instant website template by using AI or browse through the templates catalog to find one that fits your needs. Before this step, you would specify the category that your website falls under so the templates you see are relevant to your project.
If you choose the template option, you can either browse the templates within your chosen category or expand to view all the categories. After you have chosen your template, you will be prompted to generate content across the site using AI. Making other changes is as simple as editing text and colors and adding and removing elements.
And the winner is Wix
Wix shines through with its wide range of templates and design capabilities. IONOS templates and designs are sufficient for average users, but people who want more design functionalities and templates will prefer Wix.
Various analytics tools are included based on your plan
Basic to advanced analysis for customers
Integration with Platforms
Yes, it integrates well with other platforms and apps
Yes, easy integrations through the application store
Development Platform
Yes, it supports developers on the top-tier plan
Yes, developer-friendly features on mid and top-tier plans
AI Tools
Yes, it handles design and other details depending on your plan
AI Website design capabilities are available on all plans
IONOS Features and Tools
Aside from the website builder, IONOS offers several tools to help you optimize and monitor your website. SEO and marketing tools are at the top of the line. The availability of these tools depends on the tier of your plan. The basic (Starter) plan lacks these features.
The Plus plan offers analytics tools to help you track website traffic and other important metrics. It also includes an SEO text generator. The highest tier plan (Pro) includes all of IONOS’s built-in tools, including AI tools.
Regardless of your plan, IONOS makes it easy to integrate your website with social media platforms and other additional services such as CRM systems, email marketing tools, or payment gateways.
You can also add other features by purchasing add-ons, such as E-Mail-Marketing Plus with a built-in AI text generator and rankingCoach Advanced for enhancing SEO, managing reviews, automating social media, and optimizing listings.
Wix Features and Tools
Wix offers a range of tools to help you build and manage your website. Like IONOS, the level of your plan determines the features and tools you can access.
However, Wix’s AI provides some basic marketing integrations and web content, depending on how you use it. The websites are also optimized to work with marketing tools, social media plugins, and email marketing services. You can add all these functionalities while setting up your website.
The Light plan is limited in terms of features and tools. However, you can easily integrate social media buttons and access minimal marketing tools.
The Core and Business Plans offer marketing and analytics tools. However, the full range of features and tools is available on the Business Elite plan.
These include email marketing capabilities, SEO optimization, developer tools, and full-range integration with other platforms. All Wix plans offer access to AI tools, albeit at varying degrees.
And the winner is IONOS
In all fairness, this is really a tie, as both providers offer powerful tools and features. IONOS gets the lead because it offers more features than Wix in the lower-tier plans.
IONOS offers full customer support for all customers. These support channels include dedicated phone lines for multiple countries and live chat support. The provider also uses email to communicate with customers and provide updates. For DIY users, there is a comprehensive knowledge base that covers everything from hosting to setting up a website. The provider also offers video guides on YouTube. However, the live chat channel seems to be dedicated to paying customers.
Wix Help and Support
Wix support channels include a vast knowledge base on their website and video guides on YouTube. The direct communication lines are email, live chat, and phone support. Wix offers phone support in multiple languages. There is email support for countries where phone support is not available (such as Russia). The live chat is always open, although you have to go through the AI chatbot first. Like IONOS, the live chat option is limited to customers.
And the winner is IONOS
While IONOS and Wix offer extensive eCommerce capabilities, IONOS is the only provider allowing entry-level users to access those capabilities without restrictions.
IONOS allows eCommerce on all plans. The only drawback is that the eCommerce functionality will add to your fee. The eCommerce functionality is the same across all plans, meaning you get inventory management, payment options, and marketing.
Wix eCommerce Capabilities Comparison
Wix varies the eCommerce capabilities on each plan. This means the Light plan is the least suitable for eCommerce, while the Business Elite is the best option for people who want advanced eCommerce capabilities.
And the winner is IONOS
While IONOS and Wix offer extensive eCommerce capabilities, IONOS is the only provider allowing entry-level users to access those capabilities without restrictions.
Our final recommendation for the IONOS vs Wix comparison is IONOS. Both providers do a good job of providing a fully functional and easy-to-use website builder. However, Wix restricts most of its best features to higher-payment customers. IONOS, on the other hand, makes it easy for most people to enjoy most of the features they offer.
Why Choose IONOS
Choose IONOS if:
You want fully responsive eCommerce hosting on a budget
You want a fully functional site in minutes
You want AI-generation tools for articles, product descriptions, and images
After all is said and done, IONOS is our winner because it offers a complete range of features and functionalities at affordable prices. Most people only need fast and easy website builders that do not put a hole in their budget. For this category, IONOS is the obvious winner. Advanced developers and businesses with larger budgets who need more features may consider using Wix.
Loe lähemalt IONOS kohta:
Ekspertide ja kasutajate ülevaated IONOS klientidelt:
No, Wix and IONOS are separate website-building platforms. You cannot directly use Wix with IONOS. However, you can connect your IONOS domain to a Wix website.
Can I build a website with IONOS?
Yes, IONOS offers a website builder along with their hosting plans.
Is IONOS a good website builder?
IONOS is a good option for those seeking affordable website hosting with a user-friendly builder.
Can I sell domains on IONOS?
No, IONOS allows you to purchase and manage domains, but you cannot sell them.
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