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Visual Studio vs Wix Studio

Visual Studio logo

Visual Studio

Developer Tools

IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Wix Studio logo

Wix Studio

Web Development

Web platform for agencies and enterprises to build high-performing sites

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Visual Studio community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use; Wix Studio free plan lacks advanced features and requires Wix branding
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Visual Studio and Wix Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where Visual Studio and Wix Studio differ
AttributeVisual StudioWix Studio
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription, rates shown per country and not published in a fixed currency
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile app
CategoryDeveloper ToolsWeb Development
FoundedUnknown2006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Visual Studio

Nothing recorded that Wix Studio does not also cover.

Only in Wix Studio

  • Responsive editor with pixel-perfect control
  • Flexbox and section grid controls
  • No-code animations
  • Custom CSS capabilities
  • JavaScript support
  • Frontend and backend APIs
  • eCommerce with customizable checkout
  • Bookings and appointments

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Visual Studio

  • Managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platformsnot Wix Studio
  • Commercial development in small businessesnot Wix Studio
  • DevOps and automated deployment workflowsnot Wix Studio
  • Windows/SQL Server developer and tester rolesnot Wix Studio
  • Short-term or month-to-month IDE access needsnot Wix Studio

Wix Studio

  • Building responsive websites for creative portfoliosnot Visual Studio
  • Launching high-converting eCommerce storesnot Visual Studio
  • Managing service business bookings and schedulingnot Visual Studio
  • Creating event ticketing and registration platformsnot Visual Studio
  • Scaling multi-site management for agenciesnot Visual Studio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Visual Studio

  • Community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
  • Monthly subscriptions are $45 per user per month for Professional and $250 per user per month for Enterprise, and do not include perpetual use rights the way annual Standard subscriptions do
  • A standalone perpetually licensed Visual Studio Professional 2022 costs $499 as a one-time purchase, separate from the subscription tiers

Wix Studio

  • Free plan lacks advanced features and requires Wix branding
  • Pricing increases with additional site collaborators
  • Storage limits on lower-tier plans may constrain media-heavy sites
  • Prices shown are GST-inclusive and vary by location
  • Business Elite tier at $159.77/month is expensive for small sites
  • Published plan prices vary by country and are rendered dynamically, so the rate you see may differ from the figures quoted here

Pricing, plan by plan

Visual Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio review.

Wix Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Wix Studio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Visual Studio if

  • You want to start without paying.
Visual Studio review

Choose Wix Studio if

  • You need responsive editor with pixel-perfect control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want flexbox and section grid controls.
Wix Studio review

Questions people ask

Is Visual Studio or Wix Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Visual Studio starts at Free and Wix Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Visual Studio or Wix Studio?
Visual Studio starts at Free and Wix Studio at Free.
Does Visual Studio or Wix Studio run on more platforms?
Visual Studio runs on Web. Wix Studio runs on Web, Mobile app.
Can I use Visual Studio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Visual Studio best used for?
Visual Studio is most often used for managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platforms, commercial development in small businesses, devops and automated deployment workflows, windows/sql server developer and tester roles. Of those, managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platforms and commercial development in small businesses are not what Wix Studio is typically brought in for.
What can Visual Studio do that Wix Studio cannot?
Wix Studio covers Responsive editor with pixel-perfect control, Flexbox and section grid controls, No-code animations, Custom CSS capabilities.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Visual Studio: What are the pricing differences between subscription types?

Standard subscriptions include access to more benefits, such as Azure dev/test pricing, monthly Azure individual credit, software and download access, services, training, and support. Monthly subscriptions offer flexibility but fewer benefits.

Source
Wix Studio: What is included in all Wix plans?

All plans include custom domain option, reliable web hosting, AI creation tools, 24/7 customer care, and 14-day money-back guarantee.

Source
Visual Studio: Are discounts available for startups?

There aren't any discounts available to start-ups, however an unlimited number of users within an organization can use Visual Studio Community for specific scenarios like open source work.

Source
Wix Studio: How does storage scale across Wix Studio plans?

Free and Light plans offer minimal storage. Core plan includes 50 GB, Business plan includes 100 GB, and Business Elite includes unlimited storage.

Source
Visual Studio: Who can use Visual Studio Community for free?

In non-enterprise organizations, up to five users can use it. Enterprise organizations (greater than 250 PCs or greater than $1M annual revenue) cannot use it beyond academic/open-source scenarios.

Source
Wix Studio: Are Wix Studio prices the same globally?

No. Prices and currency vary by location. USD prices displayed are for reference only and include GST.

Source
Visual Studio: What's the renewal pricing structure?

Enterprise standard renews at $214.09/month (after initial $499.92); Professional at $66.59/month (after $99.99).

Source
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