Theo vs Wix: who does the work after launch
The difference is who does the updates, the new posts and the search work after launch: on Wix, you or a professional you pay; on Theo, Theo.
| Theo | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | Theo, from a chat or your current site's address; first preview usually in minutes | You, from a prompt to Wix's AI builder, then its drag-and-drop editor |
| Who edits it | You type the change in chat; Theo makes it | You in the editor, or a hired Marketplace professional |
| Who does the search work | Theo, on Starter and Pro; no credits used | You, with the SEO Setup Checklist, or someone you hire |
| Hosting | Included; a static site over HTTPS | Included; the site runs only on Wix's servers |
| Domain and email | Connect your own or buy one inside Theo; email stays where it is | Own domain needs a paid plan; business email sold separately |
| Online store | Shopify and Wix Stores connect directly; checkout in the store | Wix Stores on Core, Business or Business Elite; Light and Free cannot take payments |
| Leaving | You own the site and content and can copy them | No site export; products export as CSV files |
| Price, as of October 2026 | $29.99 a month on Basic; $69.99 on Starter with the growth work, free for the first 30 days; $129.99 on Pro | Yearly billing, paid up front: Free $0 with Wix ads; Light $17, Core $29, Business $39, Business Elite $159 a month. Monthly prices not public |
How much does Wix cost compared with Theo
As of October 2026, Wix's US plans page lists yearly-billing prices, paid in full when you buy: Free at $0, Light at $17 a month, Core at $29, Business at $39 and Business Elite at $159. Monthly billing is not priced on the public page, so none is quoted here; a plan bought at a discount renews at the standard rate. Free runs on a wixsite.com address with Wix ads; Light cannot take payments. A yearly plan's domain voucher covers one year, then renewal is paid; business email is Google Workspace, sold separately; and there is no free trial of a paid plan, only a 14-day refund on a first purchase.
Theo bills monthly with no long-term commitment: Basic is $29.99 a month for the site and hosting; Starter is $69.99 a month, adds the ongoing growth work and is free for the first 30 days; Pro is $129.99 with more weekly pages and read-only code access. The first build is free, and you see the result before choosing a plan; Pricing lists what each plan includes and the paid extras.
Does Wix do SEO for you
No. Wix's SEO is a set of tools, and the work is the owner's. The SEO Setup Checklist takes your business name, whether you serve customers from a physical address or online, and three keywords, and returns steps for you to complete; the SEO Assistant adds per-page recommendations, and connecting Google Search Console requires a paid plan and a connected domain.
On Starter and Pro, Theo does the work rather than listing it: it researches keywords and competitors, writes new pages and posts each week, fixes technical issues, improves speed, submits pages through Search Console and works toward citations in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews. Drafts wait in the Growth tab for your review unless you turn on auto-publish, and none of it uses chat credits.
Of the 272 Wix sites with search data in Theo's audit of 5,974 small business websites, 47 percent got an estimated zero visitors a month from Google search (The State of Small Business Websites 2026).
Who updates a Wix site after launch
On Wix, updates are yours to make in the drag-and-drop editor. Otherwise the Wix Marketplace lets you hire an independent professional for site updates: each sets a starting price (roughly $25 to several hundred dollars, as of October 2026), you agree the price with them directly, and Wix says it does not get involved in disputes.
On Theo there is no editor to learn and no one to hire: you, and anyone you invite, describe the change in chat and Theo makes it. The Wix alternatives list puts the other platforms beside Wix on the same question.
Can I keep my Wix store if the website moves to Theo
Yes, on every plan. Wix Stores connects directly, as Shopify does: your products, prices and stock appear on the Theo site with a cart, and checkout completes on Wix. After a change in Wix, click Refresh my products on the Theo site.
So a Wix store owner can move the website and leave the store alone; the Wix plan that allows payments stays, because checkout runs there. To leave Wix Stores as well, export the products as a CSV file; Theo recommends Shopify for a new store and connects to it the same way. If your Wix checkout runs on your domain, unassign the domain from the Wix site first so checkout moves to the free Wix address.
Moving from Wix to Theo
Wix does not export a site or let it run elsewhere, so every move away is a rebuild. Theo rebuilds from your Wix address, with a first preview usually ready within minutes. Moving your website from Wix has the full steps; in short:
- Give Theo your Wix address, review the free first build and ask for changes in chat.
- Publish; the new site sits on a temporary address while your domain still points at Wix.
- Point your domain at Theo when ready: root and www, forwarding and parking turned off at the registrar, email records left alone. The Wix site stays live until the registrar's records update, usually within a few hours.
- Connect Google Analytics and Search Console: old addresses that still get traffic are redirected, and on Starter and Pro the growth work switches on.
- Before anything moves, run the free audit on the Wix site: it shows what the site earns from search today, with no login.
- More platforms: the comparison hub.
The short answer
Pick Theo if
You want the website built, hosted and worked on by someone else, and would rather type a change than make it yourself or hire it out. Basic is $29.99 a month for the site and hosting; Starter, $69.99 a month and free for the first 30 days, adds the growth work; a Wix store connects on every plan.
What Wix leaves to you
Building the site, every update after launch and the search work, by you with Wix's editor and checklists or by a Marketplace professional at a price you agree. The site cannot be exported, so leaving later means rebuilding; a Wix store can stay and connect to a Theo site.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Wix cost compared with Theo?
As of October 2026, Wix's US plans page shows yearly-billing prices paid up front: Free $0, Light $17 a month, Core $29, Business $39 and Business Elite $159; monthly billing is not priced publicly. Theo is $29.99 a month on Basic, $69.99 on Starter with the growth work (free for the first 30 days) and $129.99 on Pro.
How long does it take to move a website from Wix to Theo?
The first preview is usually ready within minutes of giving Theo your Wix address. Reviewing takes as long as you want, and the Wix site keeps running until the registrar's records update after you point the domain at Theo, usually within a few hours.
Do I own my site on Theo, and can I cancel?
Yes to both. You own the site and its content and can copy the site and images at any time; Pro adds read-only code access on GitHub. Cancel anytime, with no long-term commitment; the confirmation shows the date the subscription ends. A Wix site, by comparison, cannot be exported.
Can I keep my Wix store if my website is on Theo?
Yes. Wix Stores connects directly on every Theo plan: products, prices and stock show on the Theo site with a cart, and checkout completes on Wix. If your checkout uses your domain, unassign the domain from the Wix site before you point it at Theo.
Does Wix do SEO for you?
No. Wix gives you SEO tools and a checklist built from your business name, location type and three keywords; the steps are yours to carry out or hire out. On Starter and Pro, Theo does the search work each week and holds it for your review.