Create a website from scratch is both more and more complicated and more and more simple. On the one hand, the knowledge to have to tweak the code is more and more important. On the other hand, many frameworks make life easier for developers. Between the two, website builders aim to facilitate the creation of a website even without technical skills. Among them, a famous name: Wix.
Wix is an Israeli company founded in 2006 that quickly gained recognition in several countries. However, it suffered for a while from a reputation for a not very serious platform: use of Flash at a time when it was already starting to be considered obsolete, SEO shaky ... Since then, many changes have been made and Wix is considered to be. a key player in the tool market for creating your website. Is right ?
9 See the offer Read the Wix conclusion
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Modern and varied designs
- Several levels of customization
- An honest free offer
- Video tutorials
- Impossible to adapt the design of its site for tablets without using the Editor X
Wix: the first steps
After creating an account, Wix welcomes the user by offering to immediately start using the editor or take a quiz that will allow the tool to identify the best themes in line with the need. The tool already offers features to add, allows you to create a URL, import content from an already existing site or a page on Google, add a logo or an address for build the contact page ... A fairly complete start that allows you to end up with a solid base to modify later.
The theme chosen by the user will be his working basis, but it is possible to change his mind later and choose another. Once in the editor called "Wix ADI", we are faced with two parts: a menu that will allow you to customize each part of the site, and a preview of the future site to see the changes live. The menu is quite intimidating at first glance, with its navigation not always intuitive and its many options, but we quickly take the fold with the help of the live preview. We will note all the same some slowdowns, probably caused by the rather greedy preview, which could become annoying on a slightly weak PC.
The dashboard presents a step by step indicating the basic steps necessary for setting up the site, such as referencing on Google or putting it online, but also other more personalized functions depending on the added features, such as writing a website. 'a first post if you have chosen to add a blog.
Wix: personalization
The ADI menu
It is of course possible to modify the text and the images (personalized or coming from Wix, Unsplash or the Shutterstock service at a lower cost). The more meticulous can also change the colors to their liking, while benefiting from an accessibility indicator that tells them if the text is easy to read or not. If you don't have a logo, Wix offers an automatic generator - which are very clearly lacking in originality, but which can allow start-ups to find a point of view.
It will be possible to quickly and easily add, modify, delete and rearrange the pages of the site, as well as to work on the referencing on each one. Full ready-made pages exist, but it is also possible to create one by choosing the parts that compose it from a large selection. Adding buttons and links to other pages or sites is just a few clicks away. In the end, creating a decent site with a modern and appealing design is easy, and takes a few hours at most. Note that it is possible to modify the design of its site for the mobile, but not for the tablets.
Editor
To add functionality to the site, we access an application store that works roughly on the same principle as WordPress plugins. You just have to look for the functionality you want and go to the editor to add it to the site, paying a small amount if necessary. The most basic features were created by the Wix team and are mostly free.
The App Market offered by Wix
The editor offers more possibilities for customization than ADI and offers more precision in the modifications made to each element of the site. You can enlarge and reduce their size, choose their pixel spacing, their margin, the number of columns, add animations ... Without being a tool with surgical precision, the editor will allow anyone with a minimum of knowledge on the principles of Flexbox and CSS Grid to customize each element in a fairly simple way, in particular thanks to the live preview which continues to be present in this mode.
Note that the editor will be the default modification mode for e-commerce sites, ADI not being available for them.
Wix: offers
Individuals, self-employed and small businesses
Wix is particularly suitable for micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to make a showcase site. Getting started is easy, all the necessary modules exist and it will suffice to bring a little care to SEO to succeed in finding a place on Google. The blog system will be suitable for those who wish to enhance their site with a few articles. However, an individual who is just looking to start a blog will find what they are looking for elsewhere, as the blogging tool is not deep enough to be used extensively.
A free offer exists, but it imposes advertisements on the site. To benefit from a "clean" site, there are four paid offers:
- 5,50 € / month to be able to have a personalized domain but while keeping the advertisements.
- 10,50 € / month to remove ads, have a free domain for one year, 3 GB of storage space, 2 GB of bandwidth and 30 min of video.
- 15 € / month for an unlimited plan, which passes your bandwidth to unlimited with a storage space of 10 GB, 1 hour of video as well as the Site Booster app which allows you to obtain an advantage on Google search and Visitor Analytics app that provides statistics on your visitors.
- € 29 / month for the VIP offer, which adds a professional logo with files adapted for social networks as well as priority access to customer service.
Business and e-commerce
Wix has several offerings for e-commerce, as well as marketing and financial tools. It is possible to directly choose to create an online sales site and the step by step will accompany you to explain how to set up the basic functionalities to sell on the platform.
However, if you want to be able to receive payments online, you will need to proceed to checkout. Wix offers three offers:
- 20 € / month for the entire base of offers from “classic” websites in addition to online payment, the recovery of abandoned baskets and an unlimited number of items to sell.
- € 30 / month to add multiple currencies, automated sales taxes on 100 transactions per month, access to dropshipping, social media sales and item reviews.
- 42 € / month will give you access to priority customer service and all the previous features, but in greater volume.
Wix: the extras that make the difference
Wix has two tools specially designed for professionals: “Editor X” for agencies and designers, and “Velo by Wix” for developers. Editor X will allow you to make custom layouts with many options, while ensuring that the designs are responsive thanks to personalized breakpoints. Almost everything is customizable without having to create CSS files yourself. The editor also comes with an integrated collaboration service for companies, allowing different employees to add comments and suggestions on a design.
Wix Editor X
Velo By Wix is aimed at developers, particularly JavaScript. It is possible to activate it directly from the editor, which will offer you, in addition to the visual modification, to add code. It is possible to create files and folders for reusable code on multiple pages at the front level. On the back side, files can be added to store information that should not be accessible on the front, for example. In addition to Wix APIs, it is also possible to directly install NPM packages.
Wix also offers “academies” for learning how to use its services. All the documentation is very comprehensive and the site has a large enough user base that each question can easily be answered. Unfortunately, some pages have not yet been translated and mastering a minimum of English will be essential.
Wix
9Wix is a great choice for building your website. Getting started is easy, the designs are beautiful, modern and responsive, and designing a website that meets your needs will take very little time. The free offer allows you to test all the possibilities of the platform before launching definitively.
Most
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Modern and varied designs
- Several levels of customization
- An honest free offer
- Video tutorials
The lessers
- Impossible to adapt the design of its site for tablets without using the Editor X
Tariffs 8
Ease of use 9
Design 9
Personalization 10
Features 9
See the offer- Most
- The lessers
- Details
- Easy and intuitive to use
- Modern and varied designs
- Several levels of customization
- An honest free offer
- Video tutorials
- Impossible to adapt the design of its site for tablets without using the Editor X
Tariffs 8
Ease of use 9
Design 9
Personalization 10
Features 9
See the offer
