When Wix is right
- You like tinkering and have time to learn the editor
- You need a specific feature Wix happens to ship out of the box
- Your budget is genuinely under $500
- You don't mind that the site will look like a Wix site
Stratus Creative vs Wix.
DIY website builder with the most features per dollar.
Wix gives you more flexibility than Squarespace at a similar price point — they've shipped hundreds of features. The catch is that flexibility means complexity. Most small business owners don't have time to learn another tool, and the sites they build often look like Wix sites. We build websites that look like your business.
When Stratus is right
- You want a site that doesn't look like a Wix site
- You want professional content (not auto-generated copy)
- You'd rather hand it off and not think about it
- You expect to expand into automation, AI, or integrations
- Performance and SEO matter to your business
Side by side
| Feature | Wix | Stratus |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | $1,495 flat (Starter) |
| Monthly cost | $17–$159/mo | $0 (own it) or $49–$99/mo managed |
| Design | Drag-and-drop templates | Custom design |
| Editor learning curve | Hours-to-days for first site | None — we build it |
| Performance | Variable, often slow | Sub-1s LCP, statically generated |
| AI features | Wix AI site generator (cookie-cutter) | Custom AI agents and workflows quoted per project |
| Code ownership | Locked to Wix platform | You own the code |
| Migration cost when leaving | Full rebuild — Wix doesn't export | $0 — it's already portable |
Pricing math
Wix Core ($17/mo) over 5 years = $1,020 — but that's the cheapest tier without ads, custom domain, and most useful features. The realistic Wix Business plan ($36/mo) over 5 years = $2,160. Stratus Starter is $1,495 one-time, and you keep the site if you ever leave us.
Want a Loom audit of your current site instead? It's free.
Bottom line
Wix is fine if you want to build it yourself and accept the look. We're better when you want a real custom site without the time investment, and when you're planning to grow beyond a brochure site.