Are you searching for a quick solution for building a website? The industry provides plenty of them these days. With their help, you can easily achieve the main goal – create an adequate online site for your business purposes. Yet, site builders may differ significantly and offer entirely different site-building experiences.
Take the examples of Mobirise and Wix. The two solutions are extremely popular with non-coders and users with little knowledge of web development. Mobirise is a downloadable offline web design software that is particularly favored for its straightforward, drag-and-drop interface, making it ideal for users with limited to no coding knowledge. It allows creating all types of projects – from small to medium-sized websites, landing pages, online resumes and portfolios. Due to the offline nature, Mobirise users can develop their websites with no internet access to further publish them to any hosting provider or local drive.
Wix is one of those DIY website builders that allows creating and managing projects online without deep coding expertise. It stands out with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, extensive range of templates and a vast app market that extends functionality with third-party services. Wix supports a wide variety of website types – from personal portfolios and blogs to robust eCommerce sites, making it a versatile choice for both novices and experienced designers. Wix also features an AI-driven design assistant known as Wix ADI, which can generate a complete website by answering a few simple questions to further generate an ultimately personalized project.
The two platforms are beginner-friendly (and I’ve also picked some other services friendly for beginners). However, you can expect different outcomes from them.
Should you assign Mobirise or Wix for your project? Let’s compare the instruments to simplify your choice.
Overview of Mobirise and Wix
Mobirise and Wix undoubtedly differ from each other in terms of overall website design approach, integrated functionality, nature, pricing and other aspects. To see this difference and to compare the platforms, I’m ready to offer you the overview of both systems.
Mobirise
Mobirise is quite a unique web design software that is not similar to traditional online platforms due to its offline nature. Ideal for users looking to create smaller, simpler websites, the system works great for non-tech-savvy users as well as professional designers who expect a quick and visual way to construct websites without diving into code.
One of the primary strong points of Mobirise lies in its flexibility and wide range of pre-designed blocks like image galleries, menus, footers etc., which can be easily dragged onto a canvas and arranged to the user’s liking. These blocks can further be edited by adding content and adjusting the layout to suit their needs. This modular approach allows for rapid website assembly while maintaining a modern and responsive design.
Additionally, Mobirise websites are highly customizable, with extensive options for tweaking the visual aspects like fonts, colors and button styles, to create a unique look and feel. As an offline tool, Mobirise allows for direct publishing to a local drive, an FTP server, or a linked Google Drive, giving users complete control over where and how they deploy their website.
Wix
As opposed to Mobirise, Wix is a fully hosted online platform that provides an incredibly user-friendly environment for website creation. Its comprehensive suite of design options, functionality and third-party applications make it a strong choice for a broad spectrum of users – from private bloggers to large enterprises. Wix’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, coupled with the AI tool and extensive template choice frequently becomes one of those decisive factors that make the system a smart pick for users with diverse interests and no coding background.
Along with standard website building features, Wix offers advanced options through its Wix App Market, where users can find a range of plugins and extensions to enhance their site’s functionality. This includes adding social media feeds, restaurant reservations, eCommerce capabilities etc. Wix also supports more complex web development needs with its Wix Velo platform, Editor X and Wix Studio. These options allow for deeper customization and functionality, including database management, dynamic pages and custom JavaScript. This blend of ease of use for beginners with the potential for complex, custom development makes Wix a versatile choice for a wide range of web projects.
To sum it all up, Mobirise and Wix have a set of key similarities and distinctive features that may affect users’ choice. Both platforms employ the drag-and-drop feature. They offer free domains and support the option of custom domains (although you have to purchase them from a third party in the case of Mobirise, while Wix offers its own domain registrar). Both have easy-to-use editors and page builders as well as excellent SEO and mobile solutions.
At the same time, Mobirise is a site-building application (explore other alternatives) that requires download and installation, while Wix is a cloud-based platform for web development (read my review). It does not require any downloads or setups. A user needs to choose a fitting plan to start the site-building process. This feature frequently appeals to beginners with no previous web design background.
Ease of Use
Mobirise and Wix might be the easiest site builders in the market so far. Without going into details, both platforms offer a similar algorithm for creating a website. You just have to complete a number of simple steps to get a project: pick a template, tune up its design in the intuitively managed interface of the editor, connect a domain along with required extensions and finally publish a ready website. Mind, however, that it’s not quite simple at all – there are nuances related to each system that may affect your final decision.
Mobirise: Offline Web Design Approach
Mobirise offers a completely offline experience and this is what many users like about the system. Get ready, though, to use at least baseline programming skills to download and install the system as well as to store the ready-made project afterwards.
The platform utilizes a block-based approach to design, where users can simply drag and drop pre-designed blocks (like headers, footers, galleries and sliders) into place. Each block can be customized in terms of content and styling, but the options are somewhat limited compared to more comprehensive online builders. Thus, Mobirise is particularly appealing to those users who need to put together websites quickly, without the complexities typically associated with deeper customization options. This makes it ideal for creating small, static sites like portfolios, small business pages and landing pages.
Wix: DIY Website Creation with No Coding Skills
Wix is a completely online software that provides users with access to a set of features and customization options directly through their web browser. Its editor allows for true drag-and-drop functionality, where nearly every element can be moved, resized, and styled according to the user’s precise requirements. This can include complex navigational structures, sophisticated design elements and a wide array of dynamic content options.
Wix makes it possible to independently extend website functionality by integrating extensions from its rich app market. Users can browse through numerous third-party apps that can be added to websites for extra functionality like eCommerce, booking systems and social media tools.
Due to the advanced AI tool, the website builder can automatically create a website for you based on a few user-provided criteria. Such a simple approach makes Wix one of the leaders of the DIY web design niche.
In summary, Mobirise and Wix offer equally simple web design processes – each in its niche. Mobirise offers an offline experience only, while Wix is a completely cloud-based software. For a Mobirise website, you must purchase hosting beforehand, while Wix includes free hosting in each of its plans. Thus, non-coders will gain much more possibilities in terms of simplicity with Wix than with Mobirise.
Design and Templates
Mobirise’s approach to web design is minimalistic and practical. The program has a clear, well-thought-out interface, thanks to which even a beginner can easily handle building a workable website.
Expect access to over 150 premium themes in Mobirise, while only two will be available for free. The site builder offers over 10000 blocks, so you can supply your website with headers, footers, maps, forms, sliders, galleries, and many other elements.
Once you launch the application, it starts with the default free theme. You can change it to a premium one and edit it using drag-and-drop. The Mobirise editor is structured. Although you can add any block to any part of your website under construction, the site builder allows users to add only one block per row. Only the menu block can be on the top of the page.
Besides the ability to add blocks to your chosen template, you can customize its color scheme, images, fonts, etc. All themes are created by professionals. Take any, and your website will gain an effective look. However, Mobirise does not classify themes by purpose, and I found their designs unvaried.
Recently, the platform has introduced its AI website builder that makes it simple and fast to set up a quality project. What you need is just to fill out a special form, describing in detail what your site will be about, what it will offer, who owns it as well as related benefits and specialities. The info can be submitted in any language. It will further be used by the system when generating your website in the AI mode.
Wix is a more sophisticated instrument in terms of design. Yet, do not think its editor is more difficult to learn or to use! The site builder offers two of them, both designed for non-techies.
The normal Wix Editor is a typical drag-and-drop instrument powered by an intuitive interface and a broad set of site-building tools. Here, you need to pick a proper template. Wix groups them so that you can quickly find the category you need (eCommerce, photography, restaurant, etc.). Then, you customize the chosen template. You’ll easily make it look original and fit your project’s concept without manipulations with code.
The other option, Wix ADI, is an AI-powered tool. If you opt for Wix ADI, it will build a website for you itself. You need to give some instructions, and the system will ask you a couple of questions about the purpose of your website, your design expectations, and so on. Then, you click the confirmation button, and your website is ready to be used in no time.
Along with standard design editing options, Wix has special solutions for advanced specialists. These include the innovative Editor X, Velo by Wix and Wix Studio.
Editor X is Wix’s response to the growing demand for responsive web design tools that cater to professional designers and agencies. This sophisticated platform offers advanced CSS capabilities, flexible grids and custom breakpoints, ensuring that websites look perfect on all devices. Editor X provides precise control over the layout with its cutting-edge design features and responsive behavior, allowing designers to create highly tailored experiences without compromising on design integrity across different screen sizes.
Wix Velo is a full-stack development platform integrated within Wix that allows developers to build more complex and interactive web applications. Velo provides advanced functionality through its ability to use custom JavaScript, APIs and database collections, making it ideal for creating dynamic sites that require database integration, such as membership systems, custom forms or any site requiring server-side logic.
Wix Studio focuses on collaborative design and is tailored for teams working together to build and manage websites. This tool allows multiple users to collaborate on the same project with various roles and permissions, making it ideal for agencies and larger organizations where teamwork is paramount. Wix Studio enhances workflow efficiency by enabling designers, developers and project managers to synchronize their efforts in real-time.
Overall, Wix has the following advantages from the design perspective:
- 900+ professionally-designed templates;
- two beginner-friendly editors;
- editing in real time;
- the Redo, Undo, and Preview options;
- the ability to change any element’s size, position, and alignment;
- convenient gridlines and horizontal/vertical rulers;
- Wix Logo Maker;
- Wix Pro Gallery;
- Wix Mobile App Builder.
Both Mobirise and Wix have a similar weakness. You should be extra careful when choosing an adequate template. You won’t be able to change it without losing all your settings and content on both platforms. However, you can build as many websites as possible on both platforms.
Mobirise and Wix give open access to code. So, more experienced users can edit their pages’ HTML and CSS code to improve their website’s uniqueness and design consistency.
While there are multiple analogs of Mobirise and Wix with similar editors, I see Wix as the best solution for most users. Regarding design simplicity and possibilities, Wix has advantages over Mobirise and most other site builders available in the industry today.
Read also: What’s the Difference Between Wix and Wix Editor X?Features and Functionality
Mobirise and Wix are two platforms that excel at functionality, customizability and impressive simplicity. Each system has a set of distinctive features that set them apart from competitors. Before you decide on the most suitable platform, take your time to review the major features and tools below.
Mobirise Integrations
When it comes to integrations, Mobirise is a very modest site builder. The Mobirise Kit offers around 30 extensions so far. Among them, you can find handy instruments like these:
- Feeds for major social networks;
- PWA Builder for simple website-to-app conversions;
- Popup Builder;
- Form Builder;
- Music player;
- Lazy Load (to optimize your CSS files);
- Chat Button.
Do not expect much from the application if you consider using Mobirise for eCommerce purposes. Its toolkit includes such extensions as PayPal Shopping Cart and Smart Cart. Yet, all these add-ons are enough for a tiny online store or an individual entrepreneur for whom the ability to accept payments via Stripe, PayPal, or Whatsapp is enough to start.
Wix Extensions
Wix represents a more efficacious instrument in this respect. The site builder offers over 500 integrations, and its toolkit includes various apps for smart analytics, marketing, and eCommerce. Within your Wix plans for personal and business use, you will be able to browse the App Market with hundreds of extensions (both free and paid) available for choice and integration.
The Wix App Market is a kind of marketplace offering widgets and extensions to extend your website capabilities. The apps available range from essential business tools like eCommerce solutions, booking systems and event calendars to marketing aids like email marketing tools, SEO enhancers and social media feeds.
Users can browse the Wix App Market to find applications that meet the specific needs of your project, whether you intend to improve site interaction, increase its visibility or streamline online operations. Each app comes with a detailed description, user ratings and reviews, which help users make informed decisions about what will best suit their website. The integration process is straightforward, including just a few clicks – no code-related hassle at all!
Both platforms make it possible to extend your website functionality via app integration. Both of them offer enough tools and widgets to do that. The number of extensions is really impressive – just take your time to explore the offerings available in stock in these two systems.
Marketing & Tracking
Whatever system you will go for, you will sooner or later face the need to promote your project and track its major stats parameters.
Mobirise Marketing Features
As an offline website builder, Mobirise doesn’t inherently include marketing tools or built-in analytics like some of its online competitors. However, it offers ample flexibility allowing users to integrate third-party marketing and analytics tools to enhance the functionality of websites built with Mobirise.
Mobirise allows for the integration of Google Analytics by adding the tracking ID directly to the site settings or inserting the Google Analytics code into the HTML of the pages. This setup enables users to monitor visitor behavior, track conversions, and gather other relevant data that can help in refining marketing strategies.
To facilitate email marketing, users can integrate tools like Mailchimp directly into their Mobirise websites. This can be done by adding custom HTML code blocks where users can embed signup forms connected to their email marketing service, thus building their marketing lists directly from their website.
Users can also embed affiliate tracking codes and advertisements from services like Google AdSense or affiliate marketing networks. This involves inserting custom HTML codes where necessary, enabling users to monetize their traffic and track affiliate marketing effectiveness.
Wix Website Promotion
Wix is a great choice in terms of marketing. Its instruments include a landing page builder, a form creator, a business card maker, a title generator, and a tool for creating QR codes. You add a bio link on social media networks. It can have an effective form of a pre-roll, a link with a shortened URL, etc.
Through the Wix App Market, you can integrate your website with add-ons like Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel and Google Tag Manager. Other available integrations include TiXel, StoreMetrics, Get Donation, and numerous others.
eCommerce
Despite the extensive functionality of Mobirise and Wix, these two systems are not the best solutions to set up large-scale web stores. Building small and medium stores, however, is possible here.
Mobirise eCommerce
If you need to sell goods or services through your website, the Smart Cart extension can help with easy integration with PayPal and Stripe. Mobirise includes a built-in option for adding PayPal buttons directly to your site. This simple solution allows you to sell products, accept donations or receive payments.
Setting up PayPal buttons in Mobirise is easy: you add the PayPal block to your page, configure the product details and prices right in the Mobirise editor, and the site is ready to handle transactions. This method is ideal for smaller stores or those selling a limited number of products.
Another (a much simpler) way to start selling online with Mobirise is just to accept order messages directly via WhatsApp.
Wix Web Store Creation
Wix realizes its eCommerce potential via Wix Stores widget integration and offers separate templates for web stores. They are designed to make the management of your online store seamless and fast. The template page contains a separate online store menu, which, in turn, is sectioned into subcategories like Fashion & Clothing, Electronics, Arts & Crafts, Pets & Animals, Food & Drinks and more.
Thanks to the Wix mobile app, you can build, publish, and manage your online store on the go. You can easily connect an extension necessary to extend your website’s functional capacities through the unified dashboard. Besides the tools noted in the above list, Wix offers advanced API instruments and Wix Velo. These platforms can help you create personalized solutions for your eCommerce project.
Wix supports unlimited products (digital ones included). You can organize product catalogs to look convenient and visually appealing to your customers. It is possible to add images and videos together with text descriptions to your goods. You can also edit the SEO settings of titles, descriptions, and other meta elements.
Regarding functional capabilities, Wix is a much more effective site builder than Mobirise. The latter can be used only for simple, individual projects. Wix will suit middle-sized online stores and businesses.
Pricing and Costs
While Mobirise and Wix differ in a variety of features and implications, their price formation approach differs as well. Let’s find out which software works best for your particular type of project.
Mobirise Cost
Mobirise is a free application. You download, install and use it without spending a cent. Yet, you’ll need to pay for a template (chances that you’ll wish to apply anything but the two free themes available on the platform) and extensions. Every premium theme on Mobirise costs $49. Prices for extensions range from $49 to $69.
Sums are affordable, but you might need to connect the best part of available add-ons. So, the final cost may skyrocket. If you need a lot of extensions, consider purchasing a one-year license for the entire Mobirise Kit.
All its apps will be accessible to you for 12 months for as much as $149. The further subscription will be 50% or 74% more expensive.
Pay attention that you’ll also need to buy hosting (browse best hosting providers) and a domain. The latter is needed if the /mobirisesite.com free domain does not satisfy your project’s ambitions.
Wix offers four plans plus a standalone Enterprise solution for advanced use. Each of them contains a well-thought-out set of features. You can select a suitable one, depending on the complexity of your project. If opting for annual billing, expect the following pricing model:
Remember that all Wix plans, including the cheapest ones, go without Wix branding. Their prices include free hosting, a free one-year domain, 24/7 support and a free SSL certificate.
So, Wix ensures better value for money if you plan to run a professional project. Mobirise can be extremely affordable, but it’s only a good bargain for simple projects.
SEO
When comparing SEO capabilities offered by Mobirise and Wix, it’s crucial to understand the different approaches each platform takes toward optimizing web content for search engines.
Mobirise SEO Features
Mobirise offers basic SEO settings that allow users to manually add meta titles, descriptions, and keywords to their web pages. As an offline website builder, Mobirise ensures more granular control over the HTML, which can be advantageous for those who have specific SEO strategies that involve detailed customizations, such as adding structured data markup or customizing URL structures.
What you should know though, is that Mobirise’s SEO capabilities are somewhat limited by the software nature (offline builder). Users may face the need to manually set up some settings like optimizing image sizes and ensuring mobile responsiveness. There are no automated tools to complete these tasks. Additionally, users must handle site submissions to search engines and track performance through external tools like Google Analytics as Mobirise does not offer built-in analytics or SEO monitoring tools.
Wix SEO Tools
Wix is rightfully considered a SEO-friendly website builder. That’s because all sites created with the system are well-optimized for the search engines. This is done via the use of Wix SEO Wiz tool that provides detailed guidelines for adjusting SEO parameters.
Wix automatically generates XML sitemaps and supports the easy addition of structured data, which enhances search visibility. The platform continually updates its system to align with Google’s best practices, thereby reducing the need for manual intervention and maintenance from the user’s side.
In terms of SEO, Wix definitely offers a more comprehensive SEO approach suitable for those who prefer convenience and automated project optimization for the search engines. Mobirise provides more direct control over web content and its optimization yet does not provide an automated set up process.
Support and Community
When evaluating the support and community aspects of Mobirise and Wix, each platform offers distinct advantages tailored to different user needs and preferences.
Mobirise Community and Support Options
Mobirise provides a somewhat minimalistic approach to customer support, primarily offering support through email and their extensive community forum where users can seek advice and share solutions.
The Mobirise forum is an active place where users – from novices to more experienced developers – exchange tips, tricks and custom code snippets, enhancing the overall user experience and filling in the gaps that might arise due to the limited direct customer support.
Moreover, because Mobirise is an offline software, many users rely on community-generated content and third-party tutorials available across various platforms to solve more complex issues or to enhance functionality, which fosters a form of peer-to-peer support system.
Wix Support Solutions
Wix provides a 24/7 support system that includes a comprehensive help center, email support and phone support across several countries. Wix’s help center is rich with detailed guides, videos, and articles that help users navigate through all aspects of building and managing a website.
Additionally, Wix has a vast online community where users can interact in forums, participate in webinars, and access a plethora of community resources. This level of structured support is particularly beneficial for beginners or less technically inclined users who might require more hands-on assistance.
Overall, while Mobirise offers the basics in support with a strong reliance on community forums and self-help resources, Wix provides a more comprehensive and structured support network, making it easier for users of all skill levels to get the help they need directly from the provider.
Making Your Decision
As you see, Mobirise and Wix differ in numerous parameters – starting with their initial implication, software nature and up to eCommerce features, SEO and marketing options, integrated functionality and pricing policy. Let’s briefly summarize the major parameters of both systems before making the final verdict.
Considerations for Choosing Mobirise
When considering Mobirise as your website building platform, there are several key factors to take into account:
- Offline Functionality: Mobirise operates as an offline application that you download and install on your computer. This is particularly beneficial for those who prefer to work on their website without requiring an internet connection;
- No Hosting Services: Unlike Wix, Mobirise does not provide hosting services. You will need to arrange your own web hosting and domain registration. This can be a pro or a con depending on your preferences for control over hosting and your comfort with managing these aspects independently.
- Extensions and Themes: Mobirise offers a variety of themes and extensions that can enhance the functionality and appearance of your website. However, many of these are not free – keep that in mind when making the choice.
- One-time Cost: Unlike many website builders that operate on a subscription basis, Mobirise offers a one-time purchase for its premium themes and extensions. This can be more cost-effective in the long run, especially for those who plan to use the site over an extended period without major changes.
- Focus on Small Projects: Given its straightforward design options and the ease of putting a site together quickly, Mobirise is particularly well-suited for small projects, personal sites, portfolios, and basic business sites.
Considerations for Choosing Wix
When deciding whether Wix is the right pick for your project, the following issues should be taken into account:
- Ease of Use: Wix is highly regarded for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it exceptionally user-friendly for beginners and those with limited technical expertise. The platform allows for easy creation and customization of websites without any coding proficiency.
- Integrated Hosting and Domain Services: Wix is a fully hosted platform, meaning that Wix takes care of all your hosting needs and also offers domain registration services. This makes Wix an all-in-one solution, convenient for those who prefer to have everything in one place. No need to pick hosting elsewhere – everything is available by default.
- Rich Template Collection: Wix provides hundreds of professionally designed templates that are tailored to a wide range of industries and niches. These templates are fully customizable, although once you choose a template and go live, you cannot switch to another template without rebuilding your site.
- Extensive App Market: Wix’s App Market offers hundreds of third-party applications that can easily be integrated into your site to add new functionalities. This includes eCommerce and SEO tools, marketing utilities, social media integrations etc.
- SEO Capabilities: Wix has significantly improved its SEO game in recent years, providing automatic SEO support that helps your site rank better without needing deep SEO knowledge. Wix also offers an SEO Wiz that creates a personalized plan to help you improve the searchability of your site.
- Pricing Approach: Wix operates on a subscription model, which can be a consideration for long-term budget planning. It offers several tiers with different features at various price points, including free, basic, and premium plans. Note that the free plan includes Wix branding and ads, so most professional sites will need at least a basic plan.
- Editing Options: Wix offers standard editor and Wis ADI for regular users and several options for coding experts – Editor X, Velo by Wix and Wix Studio. This makes the system a great choice both for beginners and web experts.
Conclusion: Final Thoughts on Mobirise vs Wix
Non-techies and users with little web development experience can opt for Mobirise and Wix. Both tools are easy to use. Yet, Mobirise will suit those who need simple websites for personal use without complex transactions and marketing activities. The platform is free until you need to extend your website’s capabilities. Most themes and all Mobirise extensions are paid, and the prices vary from $39 to $69 per item.
You can purchase a yearly subscription to Mobirise Kit, but it won’t include hosting. You’ll also need to buy a custom domain from a third-party registrar if the Mobirise-branded domain doesn’t fit you.
Wix is as easy to use as Mobirise, but its possibilities are much wider. Even its cheapest plan includes free hosting, an SSL certificate, and other must-have features. So, any Wix plan can be a more reasonable investment than the Mobirise Kit, let alone its pay-by-each-item system.
Wix will let you build a more complex website than Mobirise. The site builder offers an effective set of instruments ideally fitting for small and middle-sized businesses and online stores. In fact, you can build anything with the help of Wix’s smart editors and massive app market.
Thus, with a simplistic website in mind, you can go with Mobirise. However, I recommend calculating the final cost of hosting, a domain and the needed extensions beforehand so you do not get into a trap!
If you plan a professional eCommerce or business project, opt for Wix as a more capable and beneficial site-building instrument. Its price will pay in the long run.