Framer vs Wix: Which Should You Choose in 2026?

Framer is the better choice for B2B companies that need a fast, custom-designed website that converts visitors into leads. Wix is a solid option for small businesses and personal projects that prioritize ease of use over design quality. If your website is a growth tool — not just a digital brochure — Framer delivers meaningfully better results.

The Framer vs Wix comparison comes up often because both platforms let you build a website without writing code. But that is where the similarities end. These tools serve fundamentally different audiences, and choosing the wrong one costs you time, performance, and conversions.

This guide breaks down every meaningful difference between Framer and Wix so you can make a decision based on what your business actually needs — not marketing claims.

Platform Overview

What is Framer?

Framer is a design-first website builder created by the team behind Framer Motion, the most popular React animation library. It combines a visual editor that feels like Figma with production-grade hosting on a global CDN. Sites built in Framer are fast, responsive, and animation-rich by default.

Framer has gained rapid adoption among startups, SaaS companies, and design agencies because it produces pixel-perfect websites without requiring code. Its strength is enabling professional-quality web design that actually performs well in search engines.

What is Wix?

Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder that targets small businesses, personal projects, and beginners. It offers 800+ templates, a large app marketplace, and built-in tools for e-commerce, bookings, email marketing, and event management. Wix also offers Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence), which generates a basic site from a few prompts.

Wix has been around since 2006 and powers over 250 million sites worldwide. Its appeal is accessibility — anyone can build a functional website in an afternoon without technical knowledge.

Design Flexibility

This is the single biggest gap when comparing Framer or Wix for a business website.

Framer gives you a free-form canvas where elements can be placed anywhere with pixel-level precision. You can build custom layouts, create reusable components with variants, implement design tokens for consistency, and achieve results that look like they came from a professional design team. Because the editor works like Figma, designers can produce in Framer without learning a new paradigm.

Wix uses a template-first approach. You start from a pre-built design and modify it within the template’s structural constraints. While Wix’s drag-and-drop editor is easy to use, it produces layouts that look generic. Customization beyond the template’s framework is difficult, and the visual output rarely matches what a professional designer would create.

Key takeaways:

• Framer provides complete creative freedom — build anything you can design
• Wix constrains you to template structures with surface-level customization
• For B2B companies, this difference directly impacts brand perception and conversion rates

If your website needs to communicate credibility and quality to potential clients or investors, Framer’s design output is in a different league. Our complete guide to Framer website design covers how this design freedom translates to real business results.

Performance and Speed

Page speed is a conversion factor and a ranking factor. Slow sites lose visitors and rank lower in Google. This is where the Framer vs Wix gap becomes measurable.

Framer sites consistently score 90+ on Google PageSpeed Insights without manual optimization. Framer’s hosting infrastructure uses a global CDN with automatic image optimization, code splitting, lazy loading, and preloading. Core Web Vitals — LCP, CLS, and INP — are strong out of the box because Framer generates clean, lightweight code.

Wix has improved its performance over the years, but sites built on Wix still tend to score lower on Core Web Vitals. Wix injects its own platform code, scripts, and tracking into every page, which increases load times. The drag-and-drop editor also generates non-semantic HTML that is heavier than what Framer produces. Most Wix sites score between 40 and 70 on PageSpeed without significant effort to optimize.

Key takeaways:

• Framer sites load faster with no manual performance work required
• Wix sites carry platform bloat that degrades Core Web Vitals
• Every second of additional load time reduces conversions by up to 7%

For B2B companies where first impressions determine whether a prospect books a demo or bounces, this performance gap is not academic — it directly impacts pipeline.

SEO Capabilities

Search engine optimization determines whether your target audience finds you. Both platforms support the basics, but the execution quality differs.

Framer supports custom meta titles and descriptions, Open Graph tags, automatic XML sitemaps, canonical URLs, robots.txt configuration, and custom code injection for schema markup. Its clean code output and strong Core Web Vitals give it a technical SEO advantage. Pages load fast, render cleanly for crawlers, and avoid the code bloat that can dilute topical relevance.

Wix has improved its SEO tools considerably with Wix SEO Wiz and native support for meta tags, sitemaps, canonical URLs, and structured data. However, Wix’s heavier code output and slower page speeds create a technical SEO handicap. The platform historically had issues with JavaScript rendering that affected crawlability, and while most of those issues are resolved, the code cleanliness still lags behind Framer.

Key takeaways:

• Both platforms cover the SEO fundamentals
• Framer has a meaningful technical SEO edge through cleaner code and faster performance
• For competitive keywords, Framer’s Core Web Vitals advantage can be the tiebreaker

If you are serious about organic search as a growth channel, read our guide to Framer SEO for a deeper look at how the platform performs in search.

Comparison Table: Framer vs Wix

Feature	Framer	Wix
Design flexibility	Pixel-perfect, free-form canvas	Template-based with drag-and-drop
Performance	90+ PageSpeed scores typical	40-70 PageSpeed scores typical
Animations	Advanced — scroll, spring, page transitions	Basic — limited interaction options
SEO	Clean code, fast loading, strong technical SEO	Adequate tools, heavier code output
CMS	Built-in, clean and flexible	Built-in, broader but less refined
E-commerce	Limited — integrations via Stripe, Lemon Squeezy	Native — full store, checkout, inventory
Hosting	Global CDN included, auto-optimized	Included, adequate performance
Code access	Custom code components, clean output	Wix Velo (JavaScript), heavier output
Templates	200+ modern, design-forward templates	800+ templates, variable quality
AI features	AI layout generation, content assist	Wix ADI site builder, AI text generator
Pricing (custom domain)	From $5/month	From $17/month (ad-free)
Learning curve	Moderate — Figma-like interface	Low — beginner-friendly
Best for	B2B, SaaS, agencies, portfolios	Small businesses, personal sites, restaurants

Pricing

Cost matters, but total value matters more. Here is how the two platforms compare on pricing.

Framer pricing:

• Free: Framer subdomain, limited features
• Mini ($5/month): Custom domain, basic analytics
• Basic ($15/month): CMS, custom code, password protection
• Pro ($30/month): Advanced CMS, multiple editors, staging

Wix pricing:

• Free: Wix subdomain, Wix ads displayed
• Light ($17/month): Custom domain, remove ads
• Core ($29/month): Analytics, online payments
• Business ($36/month): Advanced e-commerce, subscriptions
• Business Elite ($159/month): Priority support, advanced features

For a business website with a custom domain and CMS, Framer costs $15/month versus Wix at $29/month. Over a year, that is a $168 difference — and Framer produces a significantly higher-quality result at the lower price point.

Wix’s free plan includes Wix branding and ads on your site, which is not appropriate for any business that wants to be taken seriously. Once you remove ads and add essential features, Wix is actually more expensive than Framer for comparable functionality.

Templates

Wix offers 800+ templates across dozens of categories — restaurants, fitness, photography, weddings, small business, and more. The quantity is impressive, but quality varies significantly. Many templates look dated, and because millions of Wix users start from the same designs, your site risks looking identical to competitors.

Framer has a smaller but more curated template library focused on modern, design-forward layouts. Templates are built by professional designers and follow current web design trends. Framer also has a community marketplace where designers sell premium templates. More importantly, because Framer gives you full design control, you are not locked into the template structure — it is a starting point, not a constraint.

Wix wins on template quantity. Framer wins on template quality and the freedom to move beyond templates entirely.

E-Commerce

If you are building an online store, Wix has the clear advantage.

Wix offers native e-commerce with product management, shopping cart, checkout flow, inventory tracking, shipping calculations, tax handling, abandoned cart recovery, and integrations with payment processors. It is a viable platform for small to medium online stores.

Framer does not have native e-commerce. You can embed payment tools like Stripe, Shopify Buy buttons, or Lemon Squeezy for digital products, but Framer is not built for transactional commerce. It is designed for marketing websites that drive leads, demos, and signups — not product catalogs.

If your primary business model is selling physical products online, Wix (or Shopify) is the better choice. If your website exists to generate leads and convert visitors into customers, Framer is the stronger platform.

Animations and Interactions

Modern websites use motion to guide attention, communicate personality, and create memorable experiences. This is where Framer dominates the Wix vs Framer comparison.

Framer was built by the team behind the most popular React animation library. Scroll-triggered animations, page transitions, hover states, spring physics, parallax effects, and complex interaction sequences are all configurable without code. Animations are GPU-accelerated and maintain 60fps performance across devices.

Wix offers basic animation options — fade in, slide in, spin — but nothing approaching the sophistication or fluidity of Framer’s motion system. Custom interactions are limited, and complex animation sequences require Wix Velo (their development platform), which defeats the purpose of using a no-code builder.

For businesses in competitive markets where visual differentiation matters — especially SaaS companies and technology firms — Framer’s animation capabilities create experiences that Wix simply cannot replicate.

CMS and Content Management

Framer includes a built-in CMS that handles blogs, portfolios, case studies, team directories, and other structured content. It is clean, intuitive, and integrates directly with the design. For businesses with moderate content needs — under 200 pages of structured content — Framer’s CMS is more than sufficient. For larger content operations, Framer pairs well with headless CMS solutions like WordPress.

Wix has a broader CMS with more built-in content types and a wider range of dynamic page templates. It handles larger content volumes natively and offers database collections for custom content types. However, the CMS output is tightly coupled to Wix’s template system, which limits how the content is displayed.

Wix has more CMS features out of the box. Framer has a cleaner, more flexible CMS that produces better-designed content pages. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize content volume or content presentation quality.

Code Access

Framer allows custom code components using React, which means developers can extend any aspect of a Framer site with custom functionality. The code Framer generates is clean, semantic HTML with modern CSS — search engines and accessibility tools parse it easily.

Wix offers Wix Velo (formerly Corvid), a JavaScript-based development platform for adding custom functionality. While Velo is capable, the underlying code Wix generates is proprietary and heavy. You cannot export your Wix site’s code or move it to another host — you are locked into the Wix ecosystem permanently.

Key takeaways:

• Framer generates clean, portable code that you can extend with React
• Wix locks you into proprietary code with no export option
• Platform lock-in is a serious risk for growing businesses

Hosting

Framer includes hosting on a global CDN with automatic SSL, image optimization, and edge caching. Sites are served from the nearest data center to each visitor, ensuring fast load times worldwide. You do not need to configure anything — performance optimization is built into the platform.

Wix also includes hosting with SSL and CDN, but the infrastructure is not as performant as Framer’s. Wix sites tend to have higher time-to-first-byte (TTFB) and larger page weights due to platform overhead. The hosting works, but it is not a differentiator.

For businesses serving a global audience or competing on page speed, Framer’s hosting infrastructure is meaningfully better.

When to Choose Framer

Framer is the right choice when:

• You are a B2B company that needs a website designed to convert
• Brand perception and design quality matter to your audience
• You want advanced animations and interactive elements
• Page speed and Core Web Vitals are important for your SEO strategy
• You need a site that does not look like a template
• Your team includes designers who work in Figma
• You want clean code output and no platform lock-in

When to Choose Wix

Wix is the right choice when:

• You need a basic website up quickly with minimal effort
• E-commerce is your primary business model
• Budget is the top priority and you need the lowest possible cost
• You want built-in tools for bookings, email marketing, and events
• Design customization is not a priority
• You are building a personal site, restaurant page, or hobby project

How Framer vs Wix Compares to Other Platforms

If you are evaluating multiple platforms, we have published detailed comparisons for the most common alternatives:

• Framer vs Webflow — for teams deciding between the two leading design-focused platforms
• Framer vs Squarespace — for businesses comparing template-first simplicity against design freedom
• Framer vs WordPress — for teams weighing modern design against the WordPress ecosystem

Each comparison covers the same categories — design, performance, SEO, pricing, CMS, and e-commerce — so you can make an apples-to-apples evaluation across all four platforms.

The Verdict

Wix is ideal for small businesses and personal projects. Framer is the better choice for B2B companies that need a fast, custom website that converts.

Wix is an accessible, all-in-one platform that does a lot of things adequately. If you need a restaurant menu page, a personal portfolio, or a simple online store, Wix can deliver that with minimal friction. It is the Swiss Army knife of website builders — versatile but not exceptional at any single thing.

Framer is a precision tool for businesses that treat their website as a competitive advantage. The design quality, performance, animations, and code cleanliness are in a different category. For B2B SaaS companies, healthcare organizations, and non-profits that need their website to actively drive growth, Framer delivers results that Wix cannot match.

The Framer vs Wix decision ultimately comes down to this: do you need a website, or do you need a website that works? If you just need an online presence, Wix is fine. If you need a site that loads fast, ranks well, looks professional, and converts visitors into customers, Framer is the clear winner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Framer better than Wix for business websites?

Yes, for most business use cases. Framer produces faster sites with cleaner code, better design quality, and stronger SEO performance. Every metric that drives business results — conversion rate, page speed, search rankings, and brand perception — favors Framer over Wix. The gap is especially large for B2B companies where website quality directly influences purchasing decisions.

Is Wix cheaper than Framer?

Not when you compare equivalent features. Wix’s free plan displays ads on your site, which is not viable for businesses. Once you remove ads and add CMS functionality, Wix costs $29/month compared to Framer’s $15/month. Framer is actually less expensive and delivers a higher-quality product at each price tier.

Can I migrate from Wix to Framer?

Yes. Since Wix does not allow code export, the migration involves rebuilding the site in Framer from scratch. This is typically an improvement — the rebuilt site ends up faster, better designed, and more effective than the original. We handle Wix-to-Framer migrations regularly and the end result is always a significant upgrade.

Does Wix or Framer have better SEO?

Framer has a meaningful SEO advantage due to cleaner code output and faster page speeds, both of which contribute to stronger Core Web Vitals scores. Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking signal, so faster sites have a measurable edge. Both platforms support meta tags, sitemaps, and structured data, but Framer’s technical foundation gives it the advantage in competitive search results.

Is Wix good for e-commerce?

Yes, Wix has solid native e-commerce with product management, checkout, inventory, and shipping. For small online stores, Wix is a reasonable choice. However, for businesses where the website’s primary purpose is lead generation rather than direct product sales, Framer is the better platform because it produces faster, more professional sites that convert visitors at higher rates.

Can Framer replace Wix for a small business?

In most cases, yes. Framer handles marketing websites, portfolios, landing pages, and content-driven sites better than Wix. The main exceptions are businesses that need built-in e-commerce, booking systems, or Wix’s specific app marketplace integrations. For service businesses, consultancies, technology companies, and professional firms, Framer is a direct upgrade from Wix.

What is Wix ADI and does Framer have something similar?

Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) generates a basic website from answers to a few questions. It is useful for getting something online quickly, but the results are generic and limited. Framer has AI-assisted layout generation and content tools that help speed up the design process while maintaining full creative control. Framer’s approach gives you AI assistance without sacrificing design quality.

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Ready to leave template-based builders behind? We are a specialized Framer design agency serving B2B SaaS, healthcare, and non-profit organizations. Book a strategy call to discuss your project and see what a custom Framer website can do for your business.