Platform Comparison · BC Contractors & Trades · 2026

Wix vs WordPress vs Static HTML: which is right for a BC contractor?

The straight comparison nobody gives you — speed, security, cost, ownership, and local SEO — across all three platforms. From someone who builds all three and charges for only one.

Ravinder Singh The Rainmaker · Surrey, BC Published May 2026 9 min read

Time to first byte

Server response speed

600 – 2,000ms

PHP processing, database queries, plugin execution all happen before anything is sent to the browser.

200 – 800ms

Better than WP but platform overhead still adds latency. Wix serves from their CDN, but the page is dynamically rendered.

<50ms

Pre-built HTML file served instantly from Netlify edge location nearest the visitor. No processing.

Mobile PageSpeed

Google's score (0–100)

35 – 65 (typical BC trades site)

Plugin-heavy WordPress sites almost never score above 70 on mobile without significant optimization work.

55 – 75

Wix has improved significantly but their bloated platform JavaScript still drags mobile scores down.

95 – 100

Sardaar G Automotive scores 99/100 mobile. This is the baseline, not the ceiling.

LTE load time

Real-world field connection

3 – 8 seconds

On a spotty LTE connection in Abbotsford or Hope, a WordPress site with images and plugins can take 6–8 seconds. Most users bounce after 3.

2 – 5 seconds

Better than WP. Still slow on weak connections. Platform JavaScript adds 150–400kb of overhead regardless of content.

<1 second

Under 1 second on LTE consistently. Even on 3G, a well-built static site loads before competitors' WP sites have finished their database query.

Attack surface

Large. Login page, database, 20+ plugins, PHP, REST API, XML-RPC. Hackers run automated scripts targeting WP installs 24/7.

Managed. Wix/Squarespace handle platform security. But you're trusting a corporation's security posture. You have no control.

Zero. No login page. No database. No plugins. No PHP. There is nothing to attack. Literally.

Who's responsible

You. Every plugin, every theme, every update is your responsibility. Most BC trades businesses don't have time to manage this.

The platform. Wix patches their own system. But if Wix gets breached (it's happened), your site is affected and you can do nothing.

Nobody — there's nothing to secure. The site is a file. Netlify is responsible for their CDN infrastructure (99.99% uptime, enterprise-grade).

If something goes wrong

$500 – $3,000 recovery. Google blacklisting. Lost leads. Potentially weeks of downtime and reputation damage.

Wix restores from their backup. You have limited control and no way to run your own emergency recovery.

Re-upload the HTML file. 30 seconds. Back online.

Monthly × 36 months

$200/mo avg = $7,200 (hosting + maintenance + plugins)

$45/mo avg = $1,620 (subscription, no escaping)

$0/mo hosting. $0 maintenance. Just ~$15/yr domain.

What you own

Nothing. Stop paying, site goes dark or you lose access.

Nothing. Platform lock-in. Cannot export your site properly.

Everything. One HTML file. Host anywhere. Forever.

Core Web Vitals

Poor to fair. Most WP sites fail on LCP and INP without expert optimization. Hurts local ranking directly.

Fair. Wix has improved but platform overhead still creates CWV issues on complex pages.

Excellent. 95–100 PageSpeed consistently. Strong positive ranking signal for Google Maps and organic.

Structured data (JSON-LD)

Possible via plugin (Yoast, RankMath). Another plugin dependency.

Limited. Wix adds basic schema but you can't control LocalBusiness or AutoRepair type specifically.

Fully custom. Every Rainmaker site includes ProfessionalService or AutoRepair JSON-LD, canonical, OG tags — baked in, not plugged in.

Mobile usability

Good if theme is mobile-first. Plugin conflicts can break mobile layouts.

Good. Wix mobile editor exists but is separate from desktop — you edit twice.

Mobile-first by default. One codebase. Same fast load on every device.

Best for

WordPress

E-commerce stores, content-heavy news sites, businesses with dedicated IT staff who can manage updates. Not trades. Not local service businesses operating without a developer on call.

Best for

Wix

Solo operators who want to build and manage their own site and don't mind the monthly subscription. Acceptable for a restaurant or boutique. Slower and more expensive over time than it appears.

Best for BC contractors

Static HTML

Any trades business, shop, or service operator who wants a fast, professional site they own outright, with zero monthly fees, zero maintenance, and zero risk of being hacked or locked out.

The scorecard — static HTML wins on every metric that matters for BC contractors

Speed winner

Static

Loads before WordPress finishes its first database query. Under 1 second on LTE consistently.

Security winner

Static

Zero attack surface. Cannot be hacked. No login page, no database, nothing to exploit.

3-year cost winner

Static

$445–$1,845 total vs $1,620+ (Wix) or $9,200+ (WordPress). And you own it.

For a BC plumber, roofer, auto shop, or contractor: the correct choice is static HTML. It is faster, cheaper, more secure, better for local SEO, and you own it. The only reason not to choose it is if you want to manage the site yourself using a visual builder — and even then, Wix is a better option than WordPress for most trades businesses.