Bespoke wins. A hand-coded tradesman website scores 95+ on Google Lighthouse, costs less over 3 years than Wix and starts ranking on Google from day one. Wix scores 40–60, costs £612 over 3 years in subscription fees alone, and consistently underperforms in local search. This article explains exactly why — with numbers.
The Verdict Upfront
For a tradesman who wants to rank on Google and win more work, bespoke beats Wix on every metric that matters. Wix looks appealing because you pay nothing upfront. The reality is it costs more over 3 years, performs worse on Google and requires your own time to build and maintain.
If your goal is a website that sits quietly online and does not generate many calls — Wix is fine. If your goal is a site that ranks for “plumber near me” and brings in consistent enquiries — Wix will not get you there.
Cost Comparison — Upfront and Over 3 Years
Wix is not free. It is a subscription that costs more than a bespoke site over any meaningful time horizon.
| Cost Factor | Wix Business | RapidWeb Bespoke |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £0 | £499 |
| Monthly subscription | £17/month | £0 mandatory |
| Optional ongoing care | Included (locked in) | £40/month optional |
| Year 1 total | £204 | £499 |
| Year 2 total (cumulative) | £408 | £499 |
| Year 3 total (cumulative) | £612 | £499 |
| Your time to build | 10–30 hours | None |
| If you stop paying | Site disappears | You own it forever |
📈 The3-year reality: Wix costs £612 in subscriptions alone — more than a bespoke site. And unlike a RapidWeb site, the moment you stop paying Wix your site disappears. You own nothing. With a bespoke site, you own the codebase outright.
Google Performance — Lighthouse Scores Compared
Google uses Core Web Vitals as a direct ranking factor. A Wix site scores 40–60 on Lighthouse. A hand-coded RapidWeb site scores 95+. That gap is why Wix sites rank below bespoke sites for the same keywords.
| Metric | Wix Business | RapidWeb Bespoke |
|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse Performance | 40–60 | 95+ |
| Lighthouse SEO | 70–85 | 100 |
| Lighthouse Accessibility | 75–90 | 100 |
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | Often 4–8s on mobile | Under 1.5s |
| Schema markup control | Limited | Full (all types) |
| Local search ranking potential | Poor | Excellent |
Features Side by Side
| Feature | Wix | RapidWeb Bespoke |
|---|---|---|
| Bespoke design | ❌ Template only | ✅ Hand-coded for your brand |
| Mobile-first build | ⚠️ Responsive but not mobile-first | ✅ Designed for phones first |
| SEO from day one | ❌ Limited schema control | ✅ Full schema, sitemap, canonicals |
| Hosting speed | Shared Wix servers | Netlify CDN, global edge |
| You own the code | ❌ Locked to Wix forever | ✅ Full codebase handover |
| Time to live | Days to weeks (you build it) | 5 working days |
| AI chatbot option | Paid add-on | ✅ Included in Managed Care plan |
| Ongoing SEO option | ❌ Not included | ✅ Included in Managed Care plan |
| 3-year total cost | £612+ | £499 |
Why Wix Fails Tradesmen Specifically
Wix was not built for tradesmen trying to rank locally on Google. It was built for small businesses that need a presence, not a ranking engine. The problems for tradesmen specifically:
- Speed kills conversions: Over 80% of trade searches happen on mobile. Wix sites load in 4–8 seconds on mobile. 53% of users abandon a site slower than 3 seconds. That is half your visitors gone before they even see your phone number.
- Schema markup is limited: Tradesmen need LocalBusiness, Service and Review schema to rank well locally. Wix gives you limited control over this. Google sees a generic template, not a specialist trade site.
- You are renting, not owning: The day you stop paying Wix £17/month, your site disappears and your Google rankings reset to zero. With a bespoke site you own the code permanently.
- Template recognition: Google has become very good at identifying low-quality, templated pages. Wix sites use shared template structures that Google increasingly treats as commodity content.
See the Difference Before You Commit
We will build a free demo page around your trade business. See exactly what a bespoke site looks like compared to any template — before you spend a penny.
Get Your Free Demo →When Wix Is Acceptable
Wix is acceptable in exactly one scenario: you need a placeholder page right now and plan to replace it within 6 months. It is better than nothing if you genuinely cannot afford £499 today.
In every other scenario — if you want to rank on Google, win local work and own your digital presence — a bespoke site is the better investment. At £499 with a full refund guarantee and a free demo before you pay, the risk is as close to zero as it gets. See our full £499 site vs DIY builder breakdown →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wix good for tradesmen websites?
No. Wix scores 40–60 on Google Lighthouse and costs £612 over 3 years — more than a bespoke £499 site that ranks far better. For tradesmen who want Google enquiries, Wix is the wrong choice.
What is the difference between Wix and a bespoke website?
Wix is a template-based subscription. A bespoke site is hand-coded for your business on fast hosting. Bespoke scores 95+ on Lighthouse, ranks better on Google and you own the code outright. Wix scores 40–60 and disappears if you stop paying.
How much does Wix cost for a tradesman website?
Wix Business costs £17/month (£612 over 3 years) and requires your own time to build. A £499 RapidWeb site is cheaper over 3 years, ranks better on Google and is built for you in 5 days.
Can a Wix website rank on Google?
For very low-competition keywords, sometimes. For competitive local trade searches (plumber Middlesbrough, electrician Teesside etc.), Wix sites consistently underperform. The Core Web Vitals scores are too low to compete with well-built bespoke sites.
Should I use Wix or pay for a bespoke website?
Pay for bespoke if you want real Google rankings and enquiries. Use Wix only as a temporary placeholder. A £499 bespoke site from RapidWeb pays for itself on the first job it generates.
Is Wix cheaper than a bespoke website?
No. Wix costs £612 over 3 years in subscriptions. A £499 bespoke site from RapidWeb is cheaper, you own it permanently and it performs far better on Google. Wix only looks cheaper at month one.
Why do Wix websites rank poorly on Google?
Slow Core Web Vitals (LCP often 4–8s on mobile), bloated JavaScript, template-based HTML and limited schema markup control. These are structural problems, not fixable by adding more content or paying for Wix SEO tools.
Can I move from Wix to a bespoke website later?
Yes, but you lose months of potential rankings and enquiries. Starting with a proper site from day one is cheaper and more effective. RapidWeb builds bespoke from £499, live in 5 working days.
Ready to Switch From Wix — or Start Right?
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