Why Building a Simple Website on Wix Is Faster (and Often Better) Than Coding It Yourself
Building your own website from scratch sounds exciting—until you realize the sheer amount of time and effort involved. For most small projects, a platform like Wix makes far more sense. With ready-made templates and a simple drag-and-drop editor, you’ll have a professional site up and running in days instead of weeks. Clients also love the user-friendly interface, which means they can maintain and update content on their own. Before you dive into coding everything by hand, consider whether you truly need a custom solution—or if Wix’s mature, cost-effective platform is the better choice.
As web developers, we sometimes take pride in coding every line ourselves. But let’s be honest—while creating a fully custom site from scratch can be a fun challenge, it isn’t always the most time-efficient or cost-effective route. Platforms like Wix.com have evolved tremendously over the years, offering powerful features and an easy-to-use interface that can save you (and your clients) a lot of hassle.
In this post, we’ll compare the complexity and effort of building a simple website on Wix versus rolling up your sleeves and coding it all by hand. We’ll also explore why clients often prefer these “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) platforms and how you can make the best decision for your next project.
1. The Complexity of Building From Scratch
Coding Every Aspect
When you decide to build a website from scratch—HTML, CSS, JavaScript, database integration, design decisions, and even SEO—every single aspect rests on your shoulders. While this can be rewarding, it’s also incredibly time-consuming.
- Steep learning curve: If you need any advanced features, you’ll be digging into frameworks (React, Vue, etc.), libraries, or specific plugins to get what you need.
- Maintenance overhead: Every new feature or request from the client means more coding and debugging.
Custom CMS? That’s Another Layer
If you want to provide clients with the ability to edit and publish content easily—without messing with code—you’d need to create or integrate a custom CMS. That alone is another project in itself:
- Database design: You’ll need to set up a database schema for posts, pages, media, and more.
- User management: Setting up roles, permissions, and access levels for different content creators.
- Security concerns: You’ll have to keep on top of vulnerabilities, updates, and server patches.
This complexity adds a significant layer of cost and time, which may not be ideal for simple projects.
2. The Benefits of Using Wix
WYSIWYG Simplicity
The greatest advantage of Wix is its drag-and-drop editor. You can visually build your website without worrying about the underlying code. Clients love this:
- Instant feedback: See exactly what the website will look like as you build it.
- Easy changes: Alter text, images, or layout with zero coding needed.
- User-friendly: Clients can maintain the site themselves, allowing them to update content or images without always calling you.
Pre-Built Templates and Apps
Wix offers hundreds of pre-made templates for various industries—restaurants, portfolios, e-commerce, and more. Additionally, the Wix App Market hosts a multitude of add-ons:
- E-commerce solutions: Already built-in checkout flows, product galleries, and payment integrations.
- Marketing tools: SEO, email marketing, and analytics solutions to help track and grow traffic.
- Support for custom code: For those who still want to get under the hood, Wix’s Velo platform allows you to add custom code snippets as needed.
Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient
When comparing the cost of Wix subscriptions (which include hosting, templates, and technical support) to setting up your own custom infrastructure, Wix often comes out on top for small to medium projects.
- Lower upfront costs: No separate hosting and domain management complexities.
- Ongoing support: Wix handles server uptime, security, and platform updates.
- Faster launch: A Wix site can be built in a fraction of the time compared to a fully coded solution.
3. Why Clients (and Friends) Prefer WYSIWYG
Control and Independence
Your client might not have a developer background, so a WYSIWYG solution lets them feel empowered to manage their own website. If they want to change a price, add a new product, or start a blog—they can do so instantly without needing a developer on standby.
Predictable Costs
Rather than paying for ongoing development hours or custom features, clients often prefer a straightforward monthly or yearly subscription to Wix. They know exactly how much they’re spending and can budget accordingly.
Quick Edits and Iterations
Sometimes a small website needs frequent content updates—specials, new announcements, or quick design tweaks. Clients find it easier to work with a friendly interface instead of emailing a developer and waiting for changes.
4. When Does Custom Building Make Sense?
There are situations where a fully custom solution is better:
- Unique Functionality: If your website requires highly specialized features or integrations that aren’t available on Wix or other similar platforms.
- Advanced Customization: If you need to manage a large-scale application, handle custom data structures, or integrate with external APIs in unique ways.
- Branding Requirements: If your brand identity demands a specific design or user experience that can’t be replicated with templates or existing tools.
However, for most small businesses, personal blogs, or portfolio sites, those advanced cases rarely apply.
5. Final Thoughts: Don’t Default to From-Scratch Every Time
Whether you’re building a website for a client, a friend, or your own side hustle, it’s crucial to weigh your options. Developers often default to building from the ground up because it’s what we know and love. But platforms like Wix exist to make the process faster, cheaper, and simpler for everyone involved—especially for straightforward or smaller-scale sites.
Ask yourself:
- What is the scope of this project?
- Do we need any advanced, custom functionality that isn’t easily achieved with a WYSIWYG tool?
- How important is quick deployment and easy maintenance?
If you’re honest, you’ll find that many times the best solution is a platform that’s already been built and refined for your exact purpose. It’s often far more cost-effective, less time-consuming, and friendlier for clients who want to control their own content without relying on a developer for every tweak.
So, next time you’re approached to build a simple website, consider all the pros and cons. There’s no shame in using (or recommending) a tool that empowers everyone—and frees up your time for the projects that really need a custom build.
This article is co-authored with ChatGPT
Cover image comes from Unsplash