Web Development
Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses: WordPress, Shopify, or Wix?
  • 04-Jun-2025

Starting a small business today means you need a website. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling products, offering services, or just trying to build your brand — having a good website is key. But choosing the right platform can be confusing. With so many options, you may ask yourself: Should I go with WordPress, Shopify, or Wix?

These three are among the Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses, but each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Your choice will depend on your business needs, goals, and budget. In this guide, we’ll help you understand which platform is right for you.

First: Know What Your Business Needs

Before comparing platforms, think about what your business really needs from a website. Are you going to sell products online? Do you just need a simple page to show your services and contact information? Will you be writing blogs or sharing news?

Most small businesses fit into one of these categories:

  • Service-based businesses (like salons, plumbers, or consultants)

  • Retail businesses (selling physical or digital products)

  • Content creators (bloggers or influencers)

The Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses will depend on your answers to these questions.

WordPress: Powerful and Flexible

WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms in the world, powering more than 40% of websites on the internet. When people mention WordPress, they usually mean WordPress.org—the version that gives you full control over your website.

The biggest reason people choose WordPress is flexibility. You can build almost any type of website — from a blog to a large online store. It also has thousands of themes and plugins, so you can add new features easily.

If SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is important to you, WordPress is a great choice. With plugins like Yoast SEO, you can fully control how your site appears on search engines.

However, WordPress is not the easiest platform for beginners. You need to find your own hosting, manage updates, and take care of backups and security. If you’re not tech-savvy, you may need help from a web developer.

Costs include hosting (around $5–$50/month), a domain name (around $15/year), and maybe some paid plugins or themes. But once your site is set up, it can be very cost-effective long-term.

WordPress is one of the Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses that want to grow, customize their site, and have more control.

Shopify: Made for Selling Products

If you’re planning to sell things online, Shopify might be the best option for you. Shopify was made for e-commerce and handles everything you need to run an online store — from payments and shipping to taxes and inventory.

Shopify also takes care of hosting and security, so you don’t have to worry about the technical stuff. Their templates look modern and work well on mobile phones.

Shopify’s basic plan starts at $29/month, which includes hosting and most store features. There are also fees for payment processing, and if you use a payment system other than Shopify Payments, there are extra charges.

Shopify is very user-friendly. You don’t need to know how to code, and you can have a store up and running quickly.

But if you’re not selling products, Shopify may not be the best fit. It’s designed for e-commerce, so if you just need an informational website, you might be paying for features you won’t use.

Still, for selling products online, Shopify stands out as one of the Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses.

Wix: Easy and Beginner-Friendly

Wix is known for being simple and beginner-friendly. You can build your website using a drag-and-drop editor — just click and move things where you want them. No coding needed.

Wix is great for small businesses that need a website quickly and don’t want to deal with technical tasks. You get hosting, security, and customer support all in one place. Their AI tool can even create a site for you based on your answers to a few questions.

Pricing starts with a free plan, but it includes Wix branding. For a professional look, paid plans start at around $14/month. If you want to sell products, Wix offers e-commerce plans starting at $29/month.

The downside? Wix isn’t as flexible as WordPress. And if your business grows, you may find it hard to add more advanced features. Moving your website to another platform later can also be difficult.

Wix is still a solid choice for beginners or businesses with simple needs, and it earns a spot among the Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses.

Cost Comparison: What Will You Pay?

Let’s break down the typical costs:

  • WordPress: Free software, but you pay for hosting ($5–$50/month), domain ($15/year), and optional extras. Long-term, it’s affordable if you’re comfortable with setup.

  • Shopify: Starts at $29/month. Simple pricing but includes transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.

  • Wix: Free plan with ads, or $14–$35/month for premium features. Easy to manage and good for budgets.

SEO and Performance

If being found on Google is important to you, SEO matters. WordPress is the best here. With full control and powerful SEO plugins, you can fine-tune everything.

Shopify also offers good SEO tools and fast site performance, which helps with rankings.

Wix has improved a lot in recent years, but it still doesn’t offer as much SEO control as WordPress. For basic needs, it’s fine. For more serious competition, it may fall short.

When choosing from the Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses, SEO should be a major consideration.

Support and Help

All platforms offer help, but in different ways.

  • WordPress: Huge community, forums, and tutorials. No official support unless you hire a developer.

  • Shopify: Excellent customer support via chat, email, and phone.

  • Wix: Good help center, phone, and email support for paying users.

Final Thoughts: What Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

Choose WordPress if:

  • You want full control and flexibility

  • You’re focused on SEO and long-term growth

  • You don’t mind learning or paying a developer

Choose Shopify if:

  • You want to run an online store

  • You need a secure, easy-to-manage shop

  • You like predictable monthly costs

Choose Wix if:

  • You need a simple site fast

  • You don’t want to deal with tech stuff

  • Your business has simple website needs

When picking from the Best Web Development Platforms for Small Businesses, think not just about today — but also about where your business will be in 3–5 years. Starting with a flexible platform can save you time and money later.

No matter what you choose, remember that a website is an investment. Choose a platform that fits your goals, and focus on offering helpful content, a smooth user experience, and good SEO. These are the real keys to online success.