Wix Studio vs Framer: Which one should you choose in 2026?

Choosing the right website builder can make or break your web design workflow. After spending hours building with both Wix Studio and Framer, I'm breaking down everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

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Building a Hero Section: The Design Experience

I started by creating the same hero section in both platforms to compare the design experience firsthand.

Wix Studio offers a familiar drag-and-drop interface that feels intuitive from the start. The canvas-based approach lets you position elements freely, though you'll need to pay attention to breakpoints manually. The learning curve is gentle, making it accessible for those transitioning from traditional design tools.

Framer takes a component-based approach that feels more like designing in Figma. The auto-layout system is powerful once you understand it, creating responsive designs that adapt intelligently. There's a steeper initial learning curve, but the payoff is faster, more predictable responsive behavior.

Responsiveness: How They Handle Different Devices

Responsiveness is where these platforms diverge significantly.

Wix Studio requires you to manually adjust layouts for different breakpoints. You'll create separate designs for mobile, tablet, and desktop. While this gives you pixel-perfect control, it also means more work maintaining consistency across devices.

Framer shines here with its constraint-based system. Elements automatically adapt based on the rules you set. Change the desktop design, and mobile often adjusts intelligently. This approach saves considerable time and reduces the chance of responsive bugs.

Animations: Bringing Your Designs to Life

Both platforms support animations, but with different philosophies.

Wix Studio provides timeline-based animations through their animation panel. It's straightforward for simple effects like fades and slides. For more complex animations, you might find yourself limited without diving into custom code.

Framer is built for interaction design. The animation tools are intuitive yet powerful, with spring physics, gesture controls, and variants that let you create sophisticated micro-interactions without code. If animations are central to your design vision, Framer has the clear advantage.

SEO Features: Getting Found Online

Search engine optimization is crucial for any website's success.

Wix Studio comes with comprehensive SEO tools built-in. You get customizable meta tags, automatic sitemap generation, structured data options, and SEO patterns that help maintain consistency. The platform also includes built-in analytics and site speed optimization.

Framer offers solid SEO fundamentals including meta tag customization, automatic sitemap generation, and clean code output. However, some advanced features may require manual implementation or third-party integrations. The performance out of the box is excellent, which matters for SEO.

Custom Code: Extending Beyond the Platform

Sometimes you need to add functionality beyond what the builder offers.

Wix Studio supports custom code through Velo (formerly Corvid), their JavaScript framework. You can add custom interactions, connect to external APIs, and build advanced functionality. The integration between visual elements and code is seamless.

Framer allows you to add custom React components, giving developers significant flexibility. If you're comfortable with React, you can extend Framer's capabilities considerably. You can also embed custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript when needed.

Pricing Breakdown: What You'll Actually Pay

Understanding the true cost is essential for decision-making.

Wix Studio operates on a tiered pricing model. Free plans exist but come with Wix branding and limitations. Professional plans start around $17/month for basic features, with advanced plans scaling up based on features, storage, and bandwidth needs. E-commerce adds additional costs.

Framer offers a free plan for personal projects with Framer branding. The Mini plan starts at $5/month per site for custom domains. The Basic plan at $15/month per site removes branding and adds more CMS items. For professional use, you're looking at $25/month per site for the Pro plan with advanced features.

My Recommendation: Which Should You Choose?

After extensive testing, here's my take:

Choose Wix Studio if:

• You're building client websites and need an ecosystem they can manage

• You want comprehensive built-in features without technical complexity

• You need robust e-commerce capabilities out of the box

• You prefer a traditional drag-and-drop workflow

• You're building content-heavy sites with complex page structures

Choose Framer if:

• You're a designer who values design-to-web workflow efficiency

• Animation and interaction design are central to your projects

• You want modern, performant websites with minimal effort

• You're comfortable with a component-based design system

• You're building marketing sites, portfolios, or product pages

Both platforms are capable tools that excel in different scenarios. Wix Studio offers breadth and accessibility, making it ideal for client work and comprehensive websites. Framer offers depth in design capabilities and performance, making it perfect for designers who want creative control and modern interactions.

The best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, technical comfort level, and the types of projects you're building. Consider trying both with their free plans before committing to see which workflow feels more natural for your process.