Neither WordPress nor Wix guarantees the phone rings: they're page builders, not lead systems. Wix is rented software; WordPress means you maintain plugins, themes and forms yourself. What actually helps is a short site: your trade, your area, a call button and real job photos. Scalesites builds one for $750 (5-page, most popular) or $500 (3-page), live in 2 weeks.
The short version
WordPress and Wix are both website builders, not lead-generation systems. Picking one over the other won't make the phone ring by itself. WordPress gives you full control, but you maintain the hosting, themes, plugins and forms. Wix is easier to start, but you're renting the platform for as long as you use it.
| WordPress (self-hosted) | Wix (DIY) | Scalesites (done-for-you) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Free software + hosting | From ~$25/mo | $750 (5-page) · $500 (3-page) |
| Ongoing cost | From ~$10/mo + a developer | Monthly fee, never stops | Optional $99/mo hosting, cancel anytime |
| Your time | Setup, plugins, security patches | Many weekends | A short form + a preview |
| Who maintains it | You, or a developer | You | We do |
| Local SEO setup | Plugin or developer | DIY, you learn it | Included and configured |
| Ownership | Yours, but you run it | While you keep paying | Yours outright |
| Time to live | Months with help | Up to you | 2 weeks |
Where WordPress works
WordPress runs more of the internet than any other platform, and it's genuinely flexible. But that flexibility is the catch: you (or a developer you pay) are responsible for hosting, security updates, plugin conflicts and the forms that capture enquiries. For a tradie who just wants a site that works, that's a lot of ongoing upkeep for not much extra payoff.
Where Wix works
Wix is the easier starting point: drag-and-drop, no plugins to patch, decent templates. The trade-off is that you're renting it, the monthly fee never stops, and moving off it later usually means starting again. See the full Wix vs a custom website comparison for the detail.
What actually gets the phone to ring
WordPress vs Wix isn't the real decision. What matters is what's on the site: your trade, your area, a call button above the fold, and real photos of jobs you've done. A short site built around those four things does more work than a bigger site built around neither.
That's the same structure behind our websites for electricians and websites for plumbers pages. If design is more your priority than code, the design-led DIY option is covered in Squarespace vs a custom trades website.
Done for you, owned by you
A 5-page Scalesites site is $750 (most popular) or a 3-page is $500, live in 2 weeks, no lock-in. Get a free preview before you pay anything.
Summary
WordPress and Wix are both website builders, not lead-generation systems, so neither one gets the phone ringing by itself. WordPress means you maintain the hosting, plugins and forms yourself; Wix means you're renting the platform for as long as you use it. What works for tradies is a short site built around the trade, the area, a call button and real job photos, which Scalesites builds for $750 (5-page, most popular) or $500 (3-page), live in 2 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress or Wix better for a tradie website?
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Neither is built to bring in jobs by itself. WordPress gives you full control but means you maintain hosting, themes, plugins and forms yourself. Wix is easier to start but you're renting the platform. What actually helps a tradie get found is a short site built around your trade and your area, not which builder you pick.
Can I move off Wix or WordPress later?
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A WordPress site can usually move with you since it's self-hosted, but you'll need a developer to do it properly. A Wix site doesn't transfer cleanly and typically means a rebuild. Owning your site outright from the start, as you do with Scalesites, avoids that problem.
Is a done-for-you site worth it over WordPress or Wix?
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If your time is better spent working, yes. For a flat $750 (5-page) or $500 (3-page) you get a short site built around your trade, your area, a call button and real job photos, live in 2 weeks, with no lock-in.
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