StellarSites vs. Wix: Why ‘Ease of Use’ Isn’t Everything (Expert Analysis 2025)

In today’s world of website creation, “ease of use” has become the holy grail of digital marketing. However, after exhaustively analyzing both platforms and working with hundreds of clients on web projects, I can state unequivocally that true ease of use goes far beyond surface-level simplicity. When it comes to StellarSites vs. Wix, the choice boils down to more than just a simple feature comparison; it’s about understanding which platform offers a durable, adaptable solution for ever-evolving business needs.

StellarSites represents a significant evolution in the approach to website building, especially when compared to the real limitations that emerge when using Wix long-term. While Wix may seem intuitive at first, its superficial approach to ease of use often results in rigid websites that are difficult to scale. On the other hand, StellarSites offers a unique combination of flexibility and power, allowing users to not only create stunning websites but also maintain and optimize them over time without compromising user experience or digital marketing efficiency.

StellarSites vs. Wix: The Myth of Wix’s Ease of Use

Wix promotes itself as the easiest solution for creating websites, and indeed, its first steps are intuitive. The platform uses a drag-and-drop editor that allows users to move elements around the page visually. With over 240 million users worldwide, Wix has proven to be accessible for beginners. However, true ease of use is measured not just by how easy it is to start, but by how easy it is to maintain, scale, and migrate your website when your needs evolve.

The Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) promises to create websites in minutes by answering a few questions. This feature, launched in 2016, was a pioneer in using AI to automate web design. However, after years of hands-on experience, I’ve observed that this initial simplicity can become a trap as projects mature.

The Real Limitations You Discover Later

Once you get past the initial creation phase, Wix presents significant limitations that directly impact user experience and business growth:

Inability to change templates: Once you select a template in Wix, you cannot switch it without rebuilding the entire site from scratch. This limitation is particularly problematic for businesses that evolve their visual identity or need to adapt to new design trends. As Wix’s official documentation explains: “It is not possible to switch to a different template for a site that is already live.”

Export restrictions: Wix does not allow you to export your complete website. If you decide to migrate to another platform, you can only export basic HTML and CSS code, losing all dynamic functionality, images, and Wix-specific features. This limitation effectively locks you into the platform.

Real SEO limitations: Although Wix has improved its SEO capabilities, it still has major technical limitations compared to more flexible platforms. Users do not have full control over crucial elements like robots.txt, and implementing hreflang tags for multilingual sites is restricted on entry-level plans.

Hidden costs and scalability: Wix’s basic plans have severe limitations on ecommerce features, storage, and customization. To access professional features, users must upgrade to considerably more expensive plans, with the Business Elite plan costing $159 per month.

Recurring technical issues: In my experience, I have observed common technical errors like “Wix Error 10104,” browser compatibility problems, and editor glitches. These issues require technical workarounds that contradict the promise of simplicity.

StellarSites: Real Ease with Professional Power

StellarSites represents a fundamentally different approach: it combines the ease of use of SaaS platforms with the flexibility and power of WordPress. Officially launched in 2025, StellarSites is specifically designed to eliminate the traditional complexities of WordPress without sacrificing its inherent power.

The platform offers optimized managed hosting, pre-installed premium themes, and a full suite of professional tools starting at $15 per month. What sets StellarSites apart is its focus on specific verticals: foundations, ecommerce, online learning, event management, and fundraising.

Enterprise-grade infrastructure: StellarSites uses Nexcess infrastructure with Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, autoscaling, and advanced security measures. This setup provides 99.9% uptime and optimized performance that typically requires specialized technical configuration.

Integrated professional tools: Every plan includes KadenceWP, SolidWP Security, automatic backups, and pre-configured performance tools. Users get access to premium plugins that would normally cost hundreds of dollars a year if purchased separately.

Full ownership and portability: Unlike Wix, StellarSites maintains the open-source nature of WordPress, allowing users to migrate their entire site if they need to. This flexibility is crucial for long-term growth and vendor independence.

AI Site Wizard vs. Wix ADI

A comparison between the AI Site Wizard from StellarSites and Wix ADI reveals fundamental differences in approach and outcome:

Depth of customization: The StellarSites AI Site Wizard uses Kadence AI to create sites that not only look good initially but are optimized for growth. The system asks about specific business goals, tone of voice, and functional needs to create a truly customized site.

Post-creation flexibility: While Wix ADI creates a relatively rigid site, the StellarSites AI Site Wizard generates a complete WordPress site that can be modified, expanded, and customized without limitations. Users can change themes, install additional plugins, and modify any aspect of the site.

Integration with professional tools: The AI Site Wizard doesn’t just create a design; it pre-installs and configures specific tools based on business needs. If you select “I want to receive donations,” the system automatically installs GiveWP; if you choose “I want to display events,” it installs The Events Calendar.

True scalability: Sites created with the AI Site Wizard are built on WordPress, meaning they can grow from a simple site to a complex enterprise platform without needing to be rebuilt.

Real-World Use Cases: When Each Platform Works Best

Based on my hands-on experience with both platforms, I’ve identified specific scenarios where each one excels:

Wix is appropriate for:

• Personal websites or simple portfolios that do not require complex functionality
• Small businesses with very limited budgets that can tolerate the long-term limitations
• Temporary or test projects where future migration is not a concern
• Users who never plan to scale beyond basic features

StellarSites is superior for:

• Businesses that plan to grow and need real scalability
• Non-profit organizations that require sophisticated fundraising tools
• Course creators who need robust online learning features
• Ecommerce businesses that require flexibility in payment processing and inventory management
• Agencies and freelancers who manage multiple client sites

Practical example: A non-profit organization starting with basic donation needs can use the Fundraising Essential plan from StellarSites for $29/month (billed annually). This plan includes GiveWP Basic, all payment gateways, and professional security tools. If the organization grows, it can upgrade to the Ultimate plan to get peer-to-peer fundraising without rebuilding the site.

In contrast, a similar organization on Wix would have to use the Business plan ($36/month) for basic ecommerce functionality, without specialized fundraising tools. If they need more advanced features, they would face significant limitations or prohibitive costs.

Migration: The Day You’ll Want to Switch

Website migration is one of the most underestimated challenges in platform selection. According to migration experts, the most common problems include data loss, drops in SEO rankings, broken links, and downtime.

Wix’s migration limitations are particularly severe:

• No full export: You can only export basic HTML and CSS, losing all dynamic functionality
• Data loss: All images, media content, and specific settings must be transferred manually
• Lack of domain portability: Migration does not include automatic domain transfer

StellarSites offers complete portability:

• Standard WordPress sites: They can be migrated to any WordPress host using standard tools
• Full backups: Includes daily automatic backups that make migration easy
• Migration support: The StellarWP team provides specialized assistance for migrations

The real cost of migration: Migrating from Wix to another platform can cost between $2,000-$10,000 for business sites, depending on complexity. In contrast, migrating a StellarSites website is typically a straightforward process that can be completed in hours, not months.

Conclusion

True ease of use isn’t measured by initial simplicity, but by the ability to grow, adapt, and evolve without technical barriers. StellarSites represents the natural evolution of website building: it combines the accessibility users want with the flexibility and power that modern businesses demand.

In 2025, choosing a website building platform is a strategic decision that will impact your digital presence for years. While Wix may seem like the easiest option at first, the real limitations emerge when you try to scale, customize, or migrate. StellarSites offers an alternative that doesn’t sacrifice the future for short-term convenience, providing true ease of use backed by professional power.