Platform lock-in costs thousands yearly.
Most small business owners choose their website platform the same way they pick a phone plan. They focus on the monthly fee and ignore the real costs.
I’ve been building websites since the 1990s. I’ve watched platforms rise and fall, seen businesses trapped by their choices, and helped companies migrate when their platform couldn’t grow with them.
The numbers tell a clear story about why WordPress dominates.
The Market Has Already Decided
WordPress commands 43.4% of all websites globally. Among sites with a known content management system, that number jumps to 61.3%.
Those aren’t just statistics. They represent millions of business owners who’ve tested the alternatives and chosen WordPress.
The platform’s market share is three times larger than the combined market share of the following nine popular website builders. When you see that kind of dominance, you’re looking at a fundamental advantage.
Why Wix Hits a Wall
Wix markets itself as simple. It is, until you need to grow.
Wix offers 750 apps in their marketplace. WordPress provides over 59,000 plugins. That’s not just a bigger number – it’s the difference between basic functionality and unlimited growth potential.
Here’s where Wix traps you: once you pick a template, you cannot change it. You can modify your existing template, but switching to a completely different design means rebuilding your entire site.
Imagine outgrowing your brand identity but being stuck with your original design choices. That’s platform lock-in at its worst.
WordPress allows you to change themes, modify designs, and completely restructure your site without losing content or starting from scratch.
The Shopify Tax Adds Up Fast
Shopify charges hosting fees plus transaction penalties.
Shopify penalises you up to 2% per transaction if you don’t use their payment gateway. For a business doing $500,000 in annual sales, that’s $10,000 in unnecessary fees.
WooCommerce, WordPress’s e-commerce solution, charges no transaction fees. Zero.
The cost difference extends beyond transactions. Adding back-in-stock notifications might cost $59 per year on WooCommerce, versus $200-$ 800 on Shopify. Multiply that across every feature you need, and the savings become substantial.
What This Means for Your Business
Platform choice shapes everything that follows.
Choose Wix, and you’re choosing design limitations and restricted functionality. Choose Shopify, and you’re choosing ongoing transaction costs that scale with your success.
Choose WordPress, and you’re choosing the platform that 43% of the internet trusts for growth.
The learning curve exists, but so does unlimited potential. WordPress grows with your business instead of constraining it.
Making the Smart Choice
Most business consultants discuss strategy but struggle with implementation. Most tech people focus on features but miss business implications.
I bridge that gap. With thousands of websites built since the 1990s and decades of business consulting experience, I help small business owners choose the right platform and build both their website and their business strategy together.
No platform lock-in. No hidden costs. Just smart choices that grow with your success.
Get in touch for a straight-talking conversation about your website and business goals.
