Wix Review 2024: Features, Pros & Cons, Cost, & Is It Right for Therapists?

Wix Review – Key Takeaways

• Wix is a general website-building tool that can be used to create beautiful, professional therapist websites.
• Websites can be built with Wix for no cost, or premium features can be added for a cost range of $17 – $159 monthly.
• While Wix isn’t specifically designed for therapists, it can be a powerful tool for creating websites for therapists and mental health practitioners.
• Wix offers an extensive variety of integrations and tools to add to your website.
• Websites can be created in minutes by using Wix’s Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) tool.

What Is Wix?

Wix is an all-in-one self-service website-building tool that helps businesses create websites. Wix can provide your practice with various website-building tools, such as hosting management and SEO support. The base cost of Wix is $17 monthly, however, this price can increase rapidly depending on additional features. Wix even has select web-building tools available for free.

While Wix is not designed specifically for therapists, it does have many features that can help you design a beautiful, professional website for your mental health practice.

Types of Website Builders

Wix is a DIY web design solution that allows you to create a fully-functional website without the need for a web design consultant. Wix uses a combination of intuitive self-service tools and AI assistance to help you create any kind of website you can imagine.

Website builders can range from completely do-it-yourself systems wherein you build the website mostly on your own to fully professionally managed websites designed by experienced web designers. Depending on your experience, budget, and the amount of time you’d like to spend on setup, different options may be better for you.

Wix Specs

How Easy Is Wix to Use?

Building a website with Wix is easy, as long as you don’t mind putting in some work. With its AI-driven design system I was able to create a custom website and get it published in about 6 clicks, and 5 minutes. While it can’t compare to full-service website design consultants that handle everything for you, Wix is one of the best self-service website-building options available.

Wix offers an intuitive drag-and-drop system for customizing your website that is very powerful. Wix has also integrated an AI-driven design system, known as Wix ADI. This system helps you to design your website based on the themes and aesthetics you’d like. It automatically fills out your details and helps you avoid a good deal of the work by selecting an ideal template and updating the information to match your practice.

The steps for creating a website with Wix are:

1. Enter your business description and details: During onboarding, you will submit the details of your business to Wix and it will provide you with suggested templates, or help ADI build your website. (5-10 minutes)
2. Build your website with Wix ADI or by templates: You will select a template you would like and begin to make changes to it, or, you can allow Wix ADI to do the work for you. (5 minutes with ADI, 30+ minutes on your own)
3. Review your draft website and make revisions: You will review the draft website, and make any necessary changes or add any additional integrations or features you would like. (5 minutes)
4. Your website goes live: Once this process is complete, you will publish your website.

How Much Does Wix Cost?

Premium Wix subscription costs range from $17 – $159+ monthly and include a custom domain for one year, an SSL certificate, and an ad-free website. A basic website can be built for free, although Wix will assign you a domain, and there will be Wix ads on your site. Wix has no set-up fee.

Wix has a variety of plans for personal and business use. More expensive plans are ideal for businesses that accept payments online, but a successful website for a therapist or mental health practice could feasibly be made with the free plan. Most likely, you will feel most comfortable with the “Unlimited” plan. For more information on business and eCommerce plans, visit the Wix Website Pricing Guide.

Wix Website Pricing Plans

How to Get Started with Wix

To get started with Wix, simply navigate to the Wix home page, enter a few details and begin building your website. If you’d like the easiest solution, select the option to allow Wix ADI to build your website for you. If you’d like more control, you can select from many templates to get started with.

Wix Web Builder Core Features

Wix provides an intuitive design suite to create your website and offers plans for hosting your website and handling all of the behind-the-scenes work. Wix offers tools like curated templates, smart integrations, SEO features, and blogging that would work well for a therapist’s website.

Templates & AI-Driven Design

Wix offers over 800 templates that you can use to start designing your website. All of these are fully customizable and Wix consistently releases new website templates. While it is not possible to change your website template after a website is live, you can create as many websites as you’d like.

Since most of the templates on offer will not be applicable for therapists, it can be a bit overwhelming to comb through this huge selection of templates to find a good fit. However, Wix includes features for searching based on business type, and will suggest ideal templates for you based on your business description.

Aside from selecting one of the templates available, Wix has created a tool called Wix ADI. This AI tool prompts you to select the aesthetic you would like your website to embody, as well as enter some details about your practice. This tool will then generate a complete website that can be published immediately. The AI tool saves a lot of time in the website building process, however, if you would prefer to have more control over the process, it is not required. It is possible to begin with ADI, and, if you don’t like the outcome, start from scratch on your own.

Design Customization

The design customization that’s available with Wix is unparalleled. Almost every aspect of your site can be tweaked and modified to suit your needs. While full customization is available if you’re creating a website on most platforms, Wix really shines because of its accessibility and intuitive nature.

Instead of relying on highly technical inputs that require knowledge of coding, Wix implements drag-and-drop functionality. If you don’t like where an image is placed on your site, simply pick it up and move it. This is improved by options for snapping the elements in place based on other elements, as well as overlapping grids for ensuring detailed placement.

The overall flow and layout of the website can be changed as well, and Wix allows for great visualizations of your website’s layout. Throughout my time with Wix, I didn’t experience any confusion on how, exactly, my website’s pages would be laid out.

Wix provides stock images and videos which can be searched by keyword and are sourced either by Wix itself or through Shutterstock. Wix offers image and video editing tools to help enhance the media on your website. There are also a multitude of apps available through the Wix App Market that allows you to access a wide variety of media, content, and design elements. All of these tools will enhance your website design and make it more engaging for the users that will be visiting it.

Elements that can be customized by you in Wix:

• Changing/uploading images
• Changing text content
• Customizing submittable forms
• Creating new pages from a template
• Sitewide color scheme
• Font size and color
• Overall flow of the website
• Recoloring individual design elements
• Moving text, images, or other items around on a page
• Custom code and web APIs in Dev Mode

Elements that cannot be customized by you in Wix:

• The website template once published

Website Integrations

Wix operates a marketplace of apps that can be integrated with your website. Apps available include tools to help you with design and layout, marketing, social media, and media and content. Integrations also allow you to add additional functionality to your website in the form of online stores, payment processing, messaging, and many others – some of which may incur extra fees. Some apps worth noting for therapy practices are those that help with booking appointments, managing social media, or creating submittable forms for your clients.

Many apps are developed by Wix, but there are others that are created by third-party developers. Some may require premium memberships and others are free of cost. It is worth noting that these integrations are likely not HIPAA-compliant, so you should put policies in place to protect your clients’ data.

SEO Tools

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a very important aspect of running a successful website. Wix provides a suite of tools to help you manage your website’s performance on search engines. After your website is published, Wix provides you with a checklist of tasks to complete to start the process of getting your site optimized. After this, you are granted access to a handful of tools to help improve it. Keep in mind that most SEO tools and functionality are only available with a premium membership. Access to the “Site Booster” app becomes available at the “Unlimited” subscription level.

In addition to built-in SEO tools, there are also a number of integrations or apps that can be added to your website to help with SEO, from analytics to on-page content. Wix also includes access to an SEO knowledge base to help you get acquainted with concepts and ensure that your site is performing as well as it can be.

Marketing

Both built-in and in the Wix App Market, there are a ton of marketing features available with Wix. These can range from managing social media presence, email campaigns, and ad campaigns, as well as converting site visitors to clients. Most Wix and third-party apps for marketing are only available with a premium subscription.

In addition to marketing features, Wix offers services for building your brand such as logo design. Starting at the “Pro” subscription level, you are given access to Wix’s logo design tool to create a professional logo and are provided full rights to its use and all the files you might need for it.

Additional Tools & Functionality

With over 300 apps available on the Wix App Market, it would be impossible to list out all of the additional tools at your disposal with Wix. While many aren’t useful for therapists or mental health practices, there is a solid list of tools that could benefit your practice.

Here are some of the Wix tools that would be most useful for therapists:

• Wix Blog – a comprehensive tool for managing a blog
• Wix Bookings – scheduling, calendar, and online booking
• Wix Chat – a 24/7 chat tool for site visitors to ask questions
• Wix File Share – a shared file library for site members; great for sharing mental health resources
• Omnisend: Booking Emails & SMS – a tool for sending and automating custom emails and SMS
• Form Builder & Payments – a tool for building contact and other forms

Wix Domains & Hosting Features

Wix includes a domain registration with your purchase of a premium plan, or you can import one that you already own. Wix will fund your domain for one year, and then you will be responsible for renewal fees. A free plan with Wix does not allow for any sort of custom domain. A custom email address with your domain name can be added for an extra fee. Costs for custom email mailboxes start at $4.50 monthly for 1 GB storage and rise depending on storage capacity needed.

Hosting is included with any premium subscription – the subscription level you select determines how much storage, space, and bandwidth you will get. So, if you expect your website to host a lot of video content, or receive a high level of traffic, a more expensive subscription will be required, however, this shouldn’t be an issue for a therapist website. Wix also includes 24/7 customer support for all hosting issues.

Who Is Wix Right For?

Wix is a very flexible website builder that would be best suited for those who want a great deal of control over their website, those who don’t mind putting in a bit of manual work, practices on a tight budget, and those who need a website quickly.

People Who Want Full Control of Their Website

Wix provides a great deal of flexibility in the types of websites that can be made, and features and tools that can be integrated. Far from just a basic practice website, Wix would make it easy to open an online shop, comprehensive blog, and many other features. If you would like to put your own spin on things, Wix also has a Developer Mode that allows you to integrate custom Javascript code or external APIs.

Those Who Don’t Mind a Little Work

While there is a breadth of capability with Wix, it does require more hands-on time. If you’re the type of person who likes to have full control of your website and doesn’t mind a DIY approach, Wix may be a good option for you.

Practices on a Tight Budget

Wix offers the ability to start a website for free and publish it. While free plans lack a lot of features, if you only need something very basic, it could be a great starting point. You can always upgrade later as your website starts to grow.

Practices That Need a Website Quickly

During my time using Wix, I was able to create and publish a custom website in less than 15 minutes. If you don’t have a lot of time to wait, Wix allows you to get your website built very quickly.

Who May Want an Alternative to Wix?

While Wix has many benefits, certain practices might be better off looking elsewhere for website builders. For instance, those who want a therapist-specific website builder, people who prefer a hands-off design experience, or those who prefer all-in-one pricing may want an alternative.

Those Who Want a Therapist-Specific Website Builder

Wix is a generalist in terms of website builders. While this contributes to the wide variety of options and tools, it is lacking in the special features of therapist-specific website builders. A good alternative, and therapist specific website builder is TherapySites, which includes many great pre-generated mental health resources on all of its websites.

A notable difference between Wix and TherapySites is that TherapySites is fully HIPAA-compliant, so you don’t have to worry about your client’s data being compromised at any point.

Take a look at our comprehensive review of TherapySites for more information.

People Who Want a Hands-Off Design Experience

Wix can be intimidating in terms of how much time you may spend with it. If you want a solution that requires less effort on your part, you might consider Brighter Vision – a full-service website design consultant built with mental health practices in mind.

You can read more about my experience using Brighter Vision in our Brighter Vision review.

Those Who Prefer All-in-One Pricing

Figuring out the pricing plan you need with Wix can be a bit difficult. If you want a platform with a more straightforward, all-in-one pricing approach, SimplePractice Website Builder may be a better solution, as you will be receiving a website and EHR access for the same monthly price.

Read more about how it stacks up with Wix in our SimplePractice Website Builder review.

What Users Are Saying About Wix

Overall, Wix tends to receive high reviews, averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars across multiple user review aggregate sites. Users praised Wix for its quick, no-fuss, and intuitive design and its relative affordability. However, many users experienced problems with customer service and some hidden fees.

The Good

Quick and No-Fuss

Wix users tend to agree that building a website with Wix is quick and painless, and tends to require only a minimal amount of effort for users.

Affordable

Several users commented on the relative affordability of Wix. Compared to web design consultants who do all the work for you, Wix costs significantly less. Wix also offers free versions.

The Bad

Poor Customer Service

Many of the reviewers that responded negatively to Wix mentioned that Wix’s customer service is poor. They stated that customer service was often unhelpful, and, at their worst, rude. However, during my experience using Wix, I did not have any issues with customer service.

Hidden Fees

Some reviewers mentioned that pricing can be difficult to figure out when initially using Wix. As you scale your website, costs can begin to pile up pretty rapidly.

Wix Vs. TherapySites

TherapySites is a therapy-specific website-building platform that offers custom designs, as well as some DIY functionality. In terms of raw design capability, TherapySites cannot compete with Wix. On the other hand, if you are willing to pay a bit more, you can get a website built with almost no hands-on time with TherapySites.

TherapySites also offers pre-generated mental health content to add to your website. However, it does require a considerable amount of collaboration with a design specialist. TherapySites is significantly more expensive than Wix both upfront, and ongoing. TherapySites costs $59 monthly, with add-ons dramatically raising this price. TherapySites also requires a $199 upfront setup fee for professional design.

For more information about TherapySites and how it compares to Wix, take a look at our TherapySites review.

Wix Vs. Brighter Vision

While Wix is a completely DIY and self-service solution, Brighter Vision will completely design and build your website on your behalf. Since Brighter Vision is also built specifically for therapists, they offer features your practice will need without having to wade through the unnecessary features that Wix has available.

Brighter Vision is a much greater investment of time, albeit passive time. It can take up to one month to get a website built with Brighter Vision, whereas you could build one on Wix in an afternoon’s time easily. Given it is full service, Brighter Vision is significantly more expensive and requires more upfront cost. Brighter Vision requires a $100 setup fee, followed by an ongoing cost of $69 – $149 monthly, depending on the desired features.

To learn more about Brighter Vision, take a look at our Brighter Vision review.

Wix for Therapists – Our Final Verdict

Overall, Wix is a fantastic tool for building websites. It offers a large array of tools, templates, and design options to help you build a great therapist website. Considering the relatively low cost compared to other website builders, it is an enticing option. However, if you need a more streamlined solution built for therapists, or don’t have a great eye for design, you may be better served elsewhere.

You should consider signing up for Wix’s free trial if you:

• Want a wide variety of design options
• Need a lot of integrations and apps
• Are familiar with website design

You should consider looking for an alternative to Wix if you:

• Don’t want to spend a lot of effort on building a website. A better alternative may be Brighter Vision. You can read our Brighter Vision review for more.
• Need only the basic features for your website. A better alternative may be TherapySites. You can read our TherapySites review for more.
• Are in need of an EHR platform. SimplePractice website builder offers a full suite of practice management tools. Read more in our SimplePractice Website Builder review.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wix

Is Wix HIPAA-Compliant?

Wix is not currently HIPAA-compliant. If you are making a therapist or mental health website, you will want to put precautions in place to ensure your clients’ data is protected.

Is Wix Free to Use?

Yes. Wix has a free version that allows you to create and run a website. The free version is limited, with ads.

What Type of Service Is Wix?

Wix is a DIY website builder that allows you to create beautiful, professional websites without help from a professional.

How Easy Is it to Get Set Up with Wix?

Wix is remarkably easy to get set up with. Simply create an account and get started designing your therapist website. By using WIx ADI, it’s possible to get a full website up and running in an afternoon.

Does Wix Own Your Content?

All of the content that is hosted by Wix is owned by the owner of the Wix account or the person who pays for the premium subscription.

What Security & Safety Features Does Wix Offer?

Wix offers a full SSL certificate with all of its websites, ensuring that everyone who visits your site will be protected. Websites with eCommerce features will have additional protections to secure payment data.

Does Wix Offer Help & Support?

Yes, Wix offers 24/7 customer support with all of its premium plans.

Does Wix Have E-Commerce Features?

Yes. Wix has many built-in eCommerce features, as well as third-party add-ons for accepting payments, drop shipping, and many other eCommerce needs.

Additional Website Builder FAQs

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting, in layperson’s terms, is the process of making your website’s data available and accessible to the internet. Web hosting companies provide the storage needed on a physical server, which you would then rent to store your website’s data.¹

What Is a Domain Name?

Domain names are human-readable addresses for any given web server accessible on the internet.² This address corresponds to a computer’s IP address which your web browser will use to access the page you’d like to view. Domain names are a way to make these IP addresses easier to read for humans.

What Is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is the process of optimizing a website to be more visible on the results page of a search engine like Google or DuckDuckGo.³