Comparison
Wix and templates vs. a website built for your business
“Why pay someone if I can do it myself on Wix for $20 a month?” That is a fair question. The honest answer depends on what you need the website to do.
What Wix does well
Wix and similar builders solved a real problem. A website once meant hiring a developer, waiting weeks, and paying for every change. Today you can choose a template and publish it yourself. For many businesses, that is enough.
Direct comparison
| Wix / template | Arraigo Digital | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial price | $0–500 setup + $17–40/month | From $800, one-time website payment |
| Do you own the website? | No. If you stop paying, it disappears | Yes. Host it wherever you choose |
| Mobile speed | Often slower because of platform code | Optimized from the start |
| SEO and Google | Limited control | Basic SEO included, with clean URLs |
| Online booking | Third-party apps and generic integrations | Purpose-built system, 3% per completed booking, no fixed fee |
| Virtual assistant | Generic plugins or unavailable | Trained with your business information, from USD 29/month |
| Support | Generic support and forums | Speak directly with the person doing the work |
| Real customization | A template with limits | Built for your business and the way you work |
The comparison that matters is not the first month’s price
Wix costs $17 to $40 a month. Over three years that is $600 to $1,400, and you still do not own the platform. A custom website costs more upfront, but it is yours. The useful question is what each option costs over time and what you own at the end.
When a template is enough
- You are testing an idea and do not yet know whether the business will work
- You only need a page with a name, phone number, and hours
- You have the time and patience to build and maintain it yourself
- You do not rely on the website to find new customers
When you need something custom
- The website is how new customers find you
- You compete with others and the first impression matters
- You need booking, an assistant, or something specific to your field
- You already tried a template and outgrew it
- You want something that lasts for years, not a patch
In one sentence: a template gives you a presence; a custom website turns that presence into a business tool.
Read the detailed version on our blog: Wix and templates vs. a custom website.