In this guide · 8 sections
Summary: the three platforms side by side
"WordPress" means two different things. WordPress.com is a hosted service with paid plans. Self-hosted WordPress (from WordPress.org) is free software you install on hosting you pay for yourself. The table treats self-hosted WordPress as the default, because that is what most agencies build.
| WordPress (self-hosted) | Shopify | Wix | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best at | Content sites, blogs, custom features | Online stores | Simple sites you edit yourself |
| Who runs hosting and security | You or your developer | Shopify | Wix |
| Monthly cost | Hosting plus any paid plugins | Plan fee plus apps | Plan fee |
| Online payments | WooCommerce with Stripe, HitPay and others | Shopify Payments or a third-party provider | Wix checkout with a connected provider such as HitPay |
| Upkeep | Regular core, theme and plugin updates | Mostly handled; review apps | Mostly handled |
| Moving away later | Easiest: copy files and database to any host | Products and customers export; design stays | Site must stay on Wix's servers |
Whichever you pick, register the domain in your own name, separately from the website platform. Then you can change platforms later without losing your email or your address on the web.
What each costs per month (approximate, October 2026)
Platform fees only, before payment fees, apps or a designer. Check the pricing pages on the day you sign up, because plans and promotions change often.
| Platform | Entry plan | Mid plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Basic: S$39/month paid monthly, or S$29/month paid yearly | Grow: S$132/month paid monthly, or S$99/month paid yearly | Per Shopify Singapore pricing |
| WordPress.com | Personal: US$4/month billed yearly | Business: US$25/month billed yearly | Excludes tax; plugins allowed on paid plans, per WordPress.com pricing |
| Self-hosted WordPress | Software is free | Hosting varies widely | You choose and pay a host; premium themes and plugins cost extra |
| Wix | Light: about US$18/month billed yearly | Business: about US$40/month billed yearly | Wix says prices and currency vary by location; see Wix plans |
On top of the plan, budget for a domain, business email (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace), and payment fees if you sell online. Ask for these running costs before you compare quotes.
Selling online and taking PayNow
Payments are where Singapore businesses most often feel the difference.
- Shopify has the best built-in store: products, stock, shipping, discounts and checkout. Shopify Payments takes cards from 3.2% + S$0.50 online on the Basic plan. Shopify's own page for Singapore payment methods does not list PayNow, so most stores add PayNow through a third-party app such as HitPay. Shopify then charges its third-party transaction fee (2% on Basic) on those orders.
- WordPress with WooCommerce lets you plug in Stripe or HitPay directly, both of which take PayNow and cards. There is no platform transaction fee, but you are responsible for keeping the shop plugins updated and secure.
- Wix has built-in stores and bookings. HitPay lists a Wix plugin among its integrations, which is one way to add PayNow.
For the fees side by side, see how to accept PayNow on your website.
Upkeep, security and speed
A hosted platform (Shopify, Wix, WordPress.com) handles server security, software updates and SSL certificates for you. You still need strong passwords and two-factor sign-in on your admin accounts, and you should review the apps you install.
Self-hosted WordPress puts all of that on you. WordPress core, the theme and every plugin need regular updates, and an out-of-date plugin is a common way into a small business site. Daily off-site backups matter more, because nobody else is keeping a copy. Done properly this is not hard, but somebody has to own it every month. A monthly care plan or a fixed calendar reminder is the usual way to make sure it happens.
Speed depends more on the theme, images and apps than on the platform. All three can pass Google's Core Web Vitals with a light theme and compressed images. A heavy theme with many plugins or apps can be slow on any of them.
SEO and moving platforms later
All three let you set page titles, descriptions and clean URLs, and all three generate a sitemap. For a small business, rankings depend far more on useful pages, a fast mobile site and a complete Google Business Profile than on the choice of platform.
Leaving is different. Plan for the day you might want to move:
- WordPress is the most portable: the files and database can move to almost any host, and the design comes with them.
- Shopify lets you export products, customers and orders as CSV files, but your theme stays on Shopify.
- Wix says on its help page about exporting that a Wix site has to be hosted and run on Wix's servers. You can connect a domain you manage elsewhere, but moving away means rebuilding the site and copying the content over.
When you do move, keep your page addresses or redirect each old one to its new page, so you keep your Google rankings. Our website migration checklist covers this step by step.
Which suits which business
| Your situation | Usually the better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Selling physical products, 10 or more items | Shopify | Built-in stock, shipping and checkout; fewer moving parts |
| Clinic, salon or consultancy that mainly needs enquiries and bookings | Wix or WordPress | Simple pages plus a booking tool; low upkeep on Wix |
| Content-heavy site, blog or two languages | WordPress | Flexible content structure and the widest choice of plugins |
| Want to edit everything yourself, no developer | Wix or Shopify | Visual editors and managed hosting |
| Custom features or integrations | WordPress, or a custom build | Full access to code and hosting |
| Want the freedom to change hosts later | WordPress | Easiest to move with the design intact |
Do it yourself or get help?
If you have a few hours a week, a clear list of pages and a simple need, start on a free trial of Shopify or Wix and build it yourself. Use a template close to what you want and spend your time on the words and photos.
If you want it done properly in a fixed time, a Business Website (S$1,490, up to 6 pages) or a Shopify Store (S$1,890, up to 30 products with PayNow and cards) is built on accounts in your name. Already on the wrong platform? Website Migration (S$490) moves you without losing pages, email or rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Wix is easier if you want to edit a simple site yourself and not think about updates or hosting. WordPress gives you more control, more plugins and the freedom to move hosts, but someone has to keep it updated and backed up every month.
Usually yes, if products are the main thing you sell. Shopify Basic costs S$39 a month paid monthly, or S$29 a month paid yearly (October 2026), and includes checkout, stock and shipping. Add the cost of any apps and payment fees when you compare.
Yes, through a payment provider. On WordPress, WooCommerce works with Stripe or HitPay, both of which offer PayNow. On Shopify, PayNow usually comes through a third-party app such as HitPay. HitPay also lists a Wix plugin.
Not directly. Wix says sites must be hosted on its servers, so moving means rebuilding the design on the new platform, copying the content and redirecting old page addresses so you keep your Google rankings.
Any of the three can rank well. Page titles, useful content, mobile speed and a Google Business Profile matter more than the platform. Avoid heavy themes and too many apps or plugins, which slow a site down.