Are you a hair salon owner looking to revamp your website? With so many website builders out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why we’re here to compare two of the most popular platforms, Showit vs. Wix, and which website builder is best for hair salons and stylists. In this post, we’ll break down their features and capabilities specifically for hair salons, so you can make an informed decision on which builder is best suited for your business needs. Let’s dive in!
Feature | Showit | Wix |
---|---|---|
Drag & Drop Editor | 100% customizable. Intuitive, natural and precise movement of all objects. | Customizable |
Setup | Self-paced setup process | Guided setup process |
Mobile Design | Complete control over mobile (phone) version of your website | Mobile design flexibility |
Website Growth Beyond Original Template Choice | Capability to add unlimited add-on pages, sections or features to your website, even if not included in original template. | Limited to what’s included in your chosen template. |
Template Options | Dozens of professional, premium website templates tailored to salons & stylists | Dozens of free or affordable website templates tailored to salons & stylists |
Average Price of Templates for Salons | $300-600 | $0-100 |
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Built-in SEO tools + access to powerful WordPress Plugins such as Yoast SEO | Built-in SEO tools |
E-Commerce / Online Shop | E-commerce not built in. Compatible with your top cart software of choice (Shopify, WooCommerce, Thrivecart, etc.) | Built-in e-commerce tool (must use Wix e-commerce) |
Plugins & Integrations | Access to all WordPress Plugins that exist for endless integration capabilities | Built-in tools |
Blogging | Connected to WordPress (top blogging platform on the market) | Built-in blogging tool |
Domain Name | Domain hosting not available. Purchase from your domain host of choice (we recommend GoDaddy) | Domain hosting available (note: makes difficult to switch to another host later) |
Price (for comparable features) | $19-34/month | $16-32/month |
Appointment Booking | Compatible with your booking software of choice | Built-in booking tools |
Support | 24/7 in-app, email, Facebook & emergency support | 24/7 email & phone support with VIP level support with larger subscriptions |
Both Showit & Wix offer a fully drag & drop editor. Showit’s editor feels intuitive, natural and precise – similar to editing a graphic on Canva. You can move any elements exactly anywhere you want to put them. Wix’s editor feels slightly more grid-locked in comparison. While you have the opportunity to completely customize your template using Wix’s drag & drop editor, you’ll still find there are pieces you won’t be able to get exactly where you want them.
With both options, remember that with great customizing power comes great responsibility.
Showit and Wix’s setup process is one of the biggest differences between the two. Wix offers a guided setup process, walking you step-by-step through the process of setting up all facets of your website. The guided setup is even individualized to your specific industry or website type, which is a helpful feature. Showit’s setup process is more self-paced in comparison. When starting your Showit website, the builder offers an orientation of the website, but then leaves you to start where you want.
Both Showit and Wix offer the opportunity to optimize the mobile version of your website. Showit gives complete design control and allows for a fully separate mobile experience. On the other hand, Wix’s mobile design offers flexibility to optimize while keeping similar features and structure to the desktop design.
What happens a few years down the road when you are ready to expand on your website? If you need to add a page or section to your website that wasn’t included in the original template? When compared, Showit is much more flexible in adding new features as time goes on. Showit allows you to add a new section (canvas), website page, or specific features to your current website, even if it wasn’t already included in the original template. The options for website growth are endless with Showit. Contrarily, when using a Wix website, you are limited to what’s included in your originally chosen template. That means you cannot switch or add in new features if they weren’t already included.
Both Showit and Wix have dozens of website templates to start from, making it simple to DIY your website. The difference between the two is in the quality. First, Wix’s templates for salons fall from $0-100. Contrarily, Showit’s templates for salons average $300-600. While Wix templates are far more affordable, they can tend to lack in quality. Showit’s library of templates for salons are designed to have a more premium, high-end design created by professional designers for the beauty industry.
If you’re hoping to rank high in search results, it will be important to manage SEO on your website. Showit and Wix both have built-in SEO tools. In addition to the built-in tools, Showit’s 2nd and 3rd tier plans include a subscription to WordPress. With your WordPress subscription, you have access to their powerful plugins, including the highly trusted Yoast SEO.
When it comes to selling products on your website, Showit and Wix offer convenient options. Showit does not have built-in e-commerce tools. Instead, you can use your chosen cart software to connect to your Showit website. Popular Showit e-commerce options include Shopify, WooCommerce and Thrivecart. Wix, on the other hand, has built-in tools to manage and operate your online store, keeping everything in one place.
Both website builders offer plugins and integrations for your salon website. Showit allows you to embed features from other softwares directly into your design. In addition, when subscribed to Showit’s 2nd or 3rd tier plans, you’ll have access to WordPress. With WordPress comes their library of plugins which give you endless possibilities for integrations. Wix offers built-in tools to add features to your website.
Showit and Wix both offer blogging options. Wix’s blogging platform is built in. Conversely, Showit has paired with the most powerful and top blogging engine on the internet: WordPress.
While Wix offers domain hosting in-house, Showit allows you to purchase your domain elsewhere. When launching a website with Showit, you’ll need to obtain your domain from a domain host (we recommend GoDaddy). On the other hand, Wix’s built-in domain hosting keeps everything in one place. However, Wix’s built-in domain hosting makes it extremely difficult to move to another domain host if you were to ever need to switch website builders down the road. Therefore, regardless of where you build your website (Showit vs. Wix) I recommend purchasing your domain from GoDaddy to ensure a seamless switch later if needed.
Considering comparable features, Showit and Wix have similar monthly pricing. Wix offers a free plan, though it maintains the Wix branding and lacks other features you’ll need for a professional website. Showit does not offer a free plan, but allows you a 14 day free trial. When subscribing to Showit with this link, you can get your first month for free.
The features within each website builder’s subscription plans vary greatly. You can view Showit’s pricing here, and view Wix’s pricing here.
You can integrate online appointment booking with both Showit and Wix. When using Showit, you may keep using your favorite appointment booking software you are familiar with. Just connect it using Showit’s embed code option or link directly to your booking page. When using Wix, you are limited to their built in tools for appointment booking.
Both website builders offer great support. Showit’s 24/7 support includes in-app, email, Facebook group and emergency contact options. Showit offers the same top level support to all users and is known to send gifs throughout their conversations with you, making the experience more enjoyable. Wix’s 24/7 support is available to all users, though you get more “VIP” level support if you’re paying for a larger plan.
All things considered, Showit and Wix are both popular website builders that offer great features for creating a professional-looking salon website. However, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Depending on your specific needs, one of these two platforms may be the better option for you. Ultimately, Showit’s ability to grow with your brand as well as the more premium template options make it a great option for successful and growing brands. On the other hand, Wix is ideal for those who prefer an all-in-one solution. Ultimately, we hope this post has helped you decide between Showit vs. Wix and decide which website builder is the best for hair salons. Whichever platform you choose, we wish you luck in taking your business online!
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