Comparison
Dark Space Labs vs Wix
Wix is an excellent tool for some situations. Custom development is better for others. Here's an honest comparison — including where Wix has advantages.
| Feature | Dark Space Labs | Wix |
|---|---|---|
Custom design Wix templates are visually distinguishable as Wix templates | ||
Performance (Core Web Vitals) Wix-generated code is bloated; most sites score poorly on Lighthouse | ||
SEO control Wix has basic SEO tools but limited control over page structure and schema | Partial | |
Own your code Wix sites cannot be exported — you're locked to the platform | ||
Own your data Your site data lives in Wix infrastructure only | ||
Custom functionality Wix has an app marketplace but custom code is limited to Velo (their proprietary platform) | ||
Predictable pricing Wix increases prices regularly; premium plans required for e-commerce and custom domains | ||
Self-service changes Wix has a drag-and-drop editor — simple changes without developer help | Partial | |
Get started in hours Wix is genuinely fast to get something live | ||
Email hosting included Wix offers email through a Google Workspace reseller at additional cost | Partial |
When Wix Makes Sense
- You need something live today, not in 2-4 weeks
- Your budget is under $500 and you're comfortable with template design
- You want to make all design changes yourself without developer help
- It's a temporary or experimental site with uncertain longevity
- You're a solo operator with simple needs and no traffic ambitions
When Custom Development Wins
- You care about site performance and SEO rankings
- Your brand needs to look professional and distinct
- You need custom functionality Wix can't provide
- You want to own your code and move freely between providers
- Your site will generate significant revenue and needs to be reliable
- You're planning to be in business for 5+ years and need a real foundation
The Real Cost of Wix
Wix starts at a low monthly price but costs add up quickly. The Business plan (required for e-commerce) runs $36/month. Premium apps from the Wix App Market — booking systems, advanced forms, email marketing — layer on additional monthly costs. After two years, most Wix sites have spent more than a custom site would have cost.
More importantly, Wix takes the biggest cost when you outgrow it. Migrating from Wix to custom development or any other platform requires rebuilding everything from scratch — your content, your design, your SEO authority. Wix doesn't export sites in a useful format. You can't take your work and move it.
A custom site built with Next.js, on the other hand, lives in a Git repository you own, deploys to any server, and can be handed to any developer. The investment retains value indefinitely.
Ready to build something you own?
Tell us what you need and we'll give you an honest assessment of whether custom development makes sense for your situation.
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