Wix vs Wix Studio: What’s the Difference— and Which One Should You Use?

Wix vs Wix Studio: What’s the Difference— and Which One Should You Use?

So you’re Googling “Wix vs Wix Studio,” probably with 17 tabs open, a cold cup of coffee beside you, and a slightly furrowed brow that says, “Why do they have to name everything so similarly?”

Been there. No judgment. As a brand and web designer who builds websites for a living (hi, I’m Angel 👋), I’ve navigated this exact rabbit hole—and I’m here to be your translator.

If you’re trying to figure out whether Wix or Wix Studio is the better choice for your business website, this post is your no-fluff, no-jargon, absolutely-zero-gatekeeping guide.

Let’s break it down.

Quick Answer: Wix vs Wix Studio (TL;DR for the Skimmers)

• Wix is the OG drag-and-drop site builder— user-friendly, highly customizable, has hundreds of templates you can start from (or you can start from scratch entirely), and perfect for beginners or DIYers, and small businesses.

• Wix Studio is the newer, more advanced platform for pros who want full creative control, responsive layouts, super modern, cutting-edge features, elements, and even better performance. Best for larger companies and those that need massive scalability and deep functionality.

If you’re DIYing your site and want to launch quickly → Wix is your BFF. If you’re working with a designer (hi again), scaling your brand, or need major design freedom → Wix Studio is your power tool.

What is Wix?

Wix has been around since 2006 and has earned its reputation as the go-to platform for beginners, solopreneurs, and anyone who wants to build a decent-looking site without touching code.

It’s intuitive. It’s drag-and-drop. It’s... kind of like Canva for websites.

Wix Is Ideal for You If...

• You’re a new business owner building your first website.

• You need something live yesterday.

• You want to avoid the "blank canvas" stress and start from a beautiful template (or start entirely from scratch, depending on your level of design skills and how comfortable you are with learning!)

• You’re on a tighter budget or aren’t ready to hire a designer yet (you can navigate the backend confidently by yourself and are fine with waiting to hire a designer to help you til later on!)

• You want design freedom, built-in business tools and integrations to make your life and your business easier, and your processes more streamlined

Wix Pros:

• Beginner-friendly interface

• Hundreds of designer-made templates

• Solid built-in SEO tools

• App Market for added functionality

• Affordable monthly plans

• Velo (for advanced users) adds dev power

Wix cons:

• Not as FULLY responsive— mobile edits happen separately (Wix Studio has a magic AI responsiveness tool)

• Design is “section-based,” with lots of drag and drop freedom, but not 100% freeform

• Can feel limiting for super complex, intricate sites or largely scaling brands

• Some design quirks require workaround hacks (been there, fixed that)

👉 Important Note: You can go beyond the template. With strategic design, Wix Classic can be highly customized. It just doesn't offer the instantly responsive, flex/grid layout tools or modern dev features that Wix Studio brings to the table.

What is Wix Studio?

Wix Studio is the cool new kid on the block. It dropped in 2023 and sent professional designers into a full-blown frenzy— in the best way.

Think of Wix Studio as the grown-up version of Wix. It’s PACKED with professional, cutting-edge tools that give you way more flexibility, power, and control over your site’s layout, responsiveness, and performance. You can create true pieces of artwork with Wix Studio.

Wix Studio Is Ideal for You If...

• You’re hiring a web designer or agency

• You care about UX, performance, and pixel-perfection

• You want a responsive site that scales beautifully on all devices

• You’ve outgrown the limitations of classic Wix

Wix Studio Pros:

• Built-in responsive design (FINALLY!)

• Flex and grid layouts = total design freedom

• Cleaner performance + faster load times

• Perfect for collaborative projects

• Advanced dev tools built-in

• Seamless team workflows

Wix Studio Cons:

• Much steeper learning curve (especially if you’re DIYing)

• Not ideal for quick one-day launches

• Can feel overwhelming without design knowledge

• Plans cost a little more than websites hosted on the Classic Editor

Wix vs Wix Studio: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Wix	Wix Studio
Ease of Use	Extremely beginner-friendly	Built for pros & devs
Design Style	Section-based with templates	Freeform, responsive layout
Mobile Editing	Manual adjustments per device	Auto-responsive, optimized
Customization	Highly customizable	Total creative freedom
Performance	Great for most small sites	Faster, more scalable
Developer Tools	Velo by Wix (optional)	Advanced tools built-in
Team Collab Tools	Basic	Real-time collaboration
Best For	DIYers, small biz owners	Designers, devs, agencies, pros

When to Choose Wix

Wix is still a fantastic choice for a majority of business owners, especially if:

• You’re just getting started and want to test the waters

• You need a simple, beautiful website or service-based website

• You don’t want to mess with anything TOO techy

• You’re planning to DIY (or hire a designer on a budget)

Wix is fast, intuitive, and does the job really well. It’s not “less than”— just simpler and more straight-forward. And in most cases, for small businesses and solopreneurs, that’s exactly what you need.

When to Choose Wix Studio

Wix Studio is an incredible option if you’re ready to level up entirely and want more control over layout, responsiveness, animations, scroll behaviors, and design flow. It’s not replacing the classic Wix Editor— it’s just a different tool in the toolbox, built with web design professionals in mind.

It shines when:

• You ARE, or are working with a designer (like yours truly)

• You want full creative freedom with responsive design baked in

• You’re planning for scalability or a more complex site structure

• You care deeply about the user experience on every screen size

• You want access to more advanced dev tools without switching platforms

• You're a BIGGER company who needs a lot of bandwidth as you scale

Here’s the deal: I still use the classic Wix Editor for most of my clients. It’s dependable, versatile, and more customizable than people give it credit for (that's what happens when people don't bother to keep up with the advancements of all website platforms and just stay in their corner of the internet on the platform they're comfortable with). You can create some seriously stunning, strategic websites with it— I’ve built my entire design portfolio there, and those sites convert beautifully.

Wix Studio just brings a new level of flexibility and finesse. It’s the difference between using a high-end KitchenAid mixer and hand-whisking your egg whites— not necessary for every recipe, but game-changing when it is!

My Take as a Wix Designer Who Uses Both

I’ve built dozens (and dozens) of client websites using the Wix Classic Editor—and I still do. It’s the platform I use day in and day out to create clean, strategic, totally custom websites that are as functional as they are beautiful. So let’s get one thing straight: Classic is not “less than.”

It’s powerful. It’s flexible. And with the right design strategy (hi 👋), it can do a lot more than people give it credit for.

That said— when Wix Studio came onto the scene, it brought some fresh features that got my designer brain very excited. Built-in responsiveness. Flex and grid layout tools. A more modern dev experience. It didn’t replace Classic— it just gave me another tool in my toolkit for the right kinds of projects.

Now? I use both, depending on the client, the goals, the site complexity, and the timeline. Sometimes Classic is the perfect fit. Other times, Wix Studio gives us the extra creative freedom or functionality we need to go bigger.

Bottom line: It’s not about which one is “better. ”It’s about which one is better for you and your business.

Final Verdict: Wix vs Wix Studio

Here’s the TL;DR one more time:

Choose Wix's Classic Editor If:

• You’re a DIYer or new biz owner

• You want a fast, affordable, beginner-friendly site

• You’re working with a tighter timeline or budget

• You’re creating a simple site with low complexity

Choose Wix Studio If:

• You’re working with a designer

• You want full control over layout and responsiveness

• You need a high-performing, scalable site

• You’re building something advanced, custom, or next-level

Still Not Sure Which One is Right for You?

Let’s talk it out! I’ve helped dozens of business owners decide which platform suits them best—and I’d love to help you do the same.

FAQs: Wix vs Wix Studio

Can I switch from Wix to Wix Studio?

Not exactly. There’s no one-click upgrade button— but you can rebuild your site in Studio. (And yes, I can help with that).

Is Wix Studio free?

Yes! Like classic Wix, Studio is free to use— but you’ll need a paid plan to connect a domain and remove Wix ads.

Can I DIY a Wix Studio site?

Technically, yes. But fair warning: there’s a steep learning curve. There's still stuff I'm learning about it all the time. If you’re tech-savvy and looove design, go for it. Otherwise, you may want to team up with a pro.

Which is better for SEO?

Both platforms have solid SEO tools. Studio may edge out for performance and load speed—but it ultimately depends on how well your site is built, not just the platform.

Can I use templates in Wix Studio?

Yes, Wix Studio offers templates— not as many as the Classic Editor offers (they have hundreds of options), but they have some really MODERN, very eccentric templates with all kinds of animations, scrolling behaviors, and customizations that make them super engaging and unique.