When evaluating popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Weebly for their SEO capabilities, it’s important to compare them across several key categories. Here are five categories we recommend you consider when selecting a CMS from an SEO perspective.
When looking at customizability and SEO features, you should definitely consider the following points. Depending on your needs and level of expertise, the achievable results and level of effort can vary widely between platforms.
Each platform allows you to customize meta titles and descriptions for better search engine visibility. WordPress offers extensive control through plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO, while Wix, Shopify, and Weebly have built-in tools for editing meta tags.
A clean, keyword-rich URL structure is essential for SEO. WordPress allows full control over URL customization, while Wix and Weebly offer limited control. Shopify generates automatic URLs for product pages, but you can customize other page URLs.
Adding structured data to your website helps search engines better understand your content. WordPress plugins like Schema Pro and Rank Math make it easy to add schema markup, while Wix, Shopify, and Weebly provide limited built-in support or require manual implementation.
An XML sitemap helps search engines crawl your site more efficiently. WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO and Google XML Sitemaps can generate sitemaps automatically, while Wix, Shopify, and Weebly offer built-in sitemap generation tools.
To avoid duplicate content issues, it’s essential to use canonical tags. WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO make it easy to add canonical tags. Shopify supports canonical tags by default, while Wix and Weebly require manual implementation.
Controlling search engine crawlers’ access to your site using a robots.txt file is important for SEO. WordPress allows you to edit robots.txt files through plugins, while Shopify, Wix, and Weebly offer limited built-in support or require manual editing.
AMP is a Google initiative to provide faster loading times for mobile users. In WordPress, you can add AMP support using plugins like AMP for WP, while Wix, Shopify, and Weebly do not provide native support for AMP.
Breadcrumbs help users and search engines navigate your site more easily. WordPress offers breadcrumb functionality through plugins like Yoast SEO, while Wix, Shopify, and Weebly have built-in support or require manual implementation.
Analyzing your site’s SEO performance is essential for improvement. WordPress plugins like SEOPress, Yoast SEO, and Rank Math provide built-in SEO analysis tools. Wix, Shopify, and Weebly offer limited SEO analysis features, and you may need to rely on third-party tools like Google Analytics or SEMrush.
Connecting your website to Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google My Business is crucial for tracking performance and enhancing your online presence. All four platforms support integration with Google services, but WordPress offers more seamless integration through various plugins.
| WordPress | Wix/Weebly | Shopify | |
| Meta tags | Plugin | Built-in tools | Built-in tools |
| URL structure | Native Support | Limited control | Automatic |
| Schema markup | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Manual | Built-in tools/ Manual |
| XML Sitemap | Plugin | Built-in tools | Built-in tools |
| Canonical tags | Plugin | Manual | Native Support |
| Robots.txt | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Manual | Built-in tools/ Manual |
| AMP | Plugin | No Support | No Support |
| Breadcrumbs | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Manual | Built-in tools/ Manual |
| SEO auditing | Plugin | Limited | Limited |
| Google services | Native Support/ Plugin | Native Support | Native Support |
Fast-loading websites rank higher in search results, so compare the platforms based on their ability to deliver optimized site speed and performance. This includes evaluating factors like caching, image optimization, and content delivery network (CDN) integration.
All four platforms offer performance-related features, but you may need additional plugins or extensions to further optimize your site’s speed.
In more detail, here are some considerations when looking at site speed and performance. The larger your site and the more traffic you have coming to it, the more you should consider the importance of speed and performance issues.
Caching improves site speed by storing static content, reducing server load, and decreasing page load times. WordPress has several caching plugins, such as WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, and WP Super Cache. Wix, Shopify, and Weebly have built-in caching features, but they offer less control over caching settings compared to WordPress.
Optimizing images reduces their file size without compromising quality, improving page load times. WordPress plugins like Smush and EWWW Image Optimizer handle image optimization automatically. Wix and Weebly have built-in image optimization features, but they may not be as robust as WordPress plugins. Shopify offers apps like Crush.pics and Image Optimizer for image optimization.
Minifying and compressing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files can improve site speed by reducing file sizes. In WordPress, plugins like Autoptimize and Fast Velocity Minify handle minification and compression. Wix, Shopify, and Weebly provide built-in file compression, but the level of customization may be limited compared to WordPress.
A CDN speeds up content delivery by serving cached content from geographically distributed servers. WordPress supports various CDN services like Cloudflare, MaxCDN, and KeyCDN through plugins. Shopify includes a built-in global CDN, while Wix and Weebly offer limited CDN integration options or require manual setup.
The hosting environment plays a crucial role in site speed and performance. WordPress provides a wide range of hosting options, from shared hosting to dedicated servers and managed WordPress hosting. Wix, Shopify, and Weebly offer their own hosting solutions, which can vary in performance. For example, Shopify’s hosting is tailored for e-commerce, providing optimized server response times for online stores.
Each platform has different approaches to site speed and performance optimization. While WordPress offers greater flexibility and customization through plugins, Wix, Shopify, and Weebly have built-in features that may be more user-friendly for beginners. It’s essential to consider the trade-offs between control and ease of use when choosing a platform for your website.
| WordPress | Wix/Weebly | Shopify | |
| Caching | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Limited | Built-in tools/ Limited |
| Image optimization | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Limited | Plugin |
| Compression | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Limited | Built-in tools/ Limited |
| CDN | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Limited | Built-in tools |
| Hosting | Requires hosting provider | Hosting is provided | Hosting is provided |
WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Weebly all offer responsive themes or templates.
WordPress boasts an extensive collection of responsive themes, whereas Wix, Shopify, and Weebly furnish built-in responsive templates. It is imperative to evaluate a theme or template’s mobile adaptability and user interaction before choosing it.
Easy-to-use CMS systems such as WIX and Weebly make it easy to set up basic layouts, but if you are in need of customization or have some unique needs, you may well end up requiring more developer assistance than a site designed to be highly adaptable such as WordPress.
Expedited mobile page loading is vital for user satisfaction and SEO. WordPress plugins such as WP Rocket and Autoptimize contribute to optimizing your site for swift mobile performance. While Wix, Shopify, and Weebly incorporate native mobile optimization features, utilizing additional external tools might be necessary to achieve optimal results.
The ability to modify and preview your site on mobile devices aids in refining design and user experience. WordPress’s Gutenberg editor and several page builder plugins offer mobile visualization. Simultaneously, Wix, Shopify, and Weebly facilitate mobile editing and previews within their website construction tools.
As mentioned earlier, Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) project seeks to offer accelerated loading times for mobile users. WordPress facilitates AMP integration through plugins like AMP for WP, while Wix, Shopify, and Weebly lack native AMP compatibility, which may influence mobile performance.
Focusing on mobile SEO is essential for achieving visibility in mobile search results. WordPress plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math encompass mobile-oriented SEO features. In contrast, Wix, Shopify, and Weebly include built-in SEO utilities that address mobile SEO, although their range of capabilities may not be as exhaustive as those found in WordPress plugins.
| WordPress | Wix/Weebly | Shopify | |
| Responsive layouts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Mobile load-time optimization | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Limited | Built-in tools/ Limited |
| Mobile editing and visualization | Page builders | Built-in tools | Built-in tools |
| Google AMP compatibility | Plugin | No Support | No Support |
| Mobile-centric SEO capabilities | Plugin | Built-in tools/ Limited | Built-in tools/ Limited |
Each platform presents varying degrees of mobile-friendliness and accompanying features. While WordPress affords more comprehensive customization and optimization possibilities, Wix, Shopify, and Weebly cater to individuals seeking to establish a mobile-optimized website without requiring in-depth technical expertise.
If you’re planning to run an online store, consider the e-commerce SEO features offered by each platform. Shopify is specifically designed for e-commerce and offers strong SEO tools for online stores, while WordPress has plugins like WooCommerce to support e-commerce functionality. Wix and Weebly also provide e-commerce features, but their capabilities may be more limited compared to Shopify and WordPress.
If you’re interested in a more in-depth analysis of the e-commerce SEO capabilities of Shopify and WordPress, check out our post “Comparing E-commerce SEO Capabilities of Shopify and WordPress.” This article piece provides a comprehensive comparison of the SEO features for e-commerce offered by both platforms.
Biggest advantage: The extensive library of plugins and themes allows users to easily add functionality and customize their website without requiring advanced technical knowledge. The WordPress ecosystem provides solutions for almost any website need, making it a versatile choice for users with varying levels of expertise.
Biggest advantage: Wix offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, enabling users to create and design their website without any coding skills. The intuitive interface, combined with a range of pre-built templates and elements, simplifies the process of building a website for beginners
Biggest advantage: Weebly’s drag-and-drop website builder is designed for ease of use, allowing users to create and customize their websites without any coding experience. The platform also provides a variety of pre-built themes and elements, making it an accessible option for users who are new to web design.
Biggest advantage: Shopify’s streamlined, all-in-one e-commerce solution makes it easy for users to set up and manage an online store without dealing with the complexities of hosting, security, or performance. The platform offers a range of built-in e-commerce features, tools, and themes that simplify the process for store owners.
When it comes to ease of use, Wix and Weebly are often considered the most user-friendly, as their drag-and-drop website builders cater to beginners with limited technical knowledge.
Shopify ranks closely behind, offering a streamlined e-commerce solution that simplifies online store setup and management. WordPress, while offering extensive customization and flexibility, may present a steeper learning curve for users who are new to website development.
It’s important to note that ease of use is subjective and depends on individual preferences and experience levels. While Wix, Weebly, and Shopify provide more beginner-friendly interfaces, users with a background in web design or development may find the customization and flexibility offered by WordPress more appealing.
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice will depend on your specific needs and requirements. Keep these five categories in mind when selecting the CMS platform that will best serve your SEO objectives.
