Which Web site Builder is Higher?

After I launched my weblog, I wasn’t overwhelmed by choices. I had already narrowed it all the way down to Wix and WordPress

That’s what made it traumatic.

Each promise knowledgeable web site. Each declare to be beginner-friendly. And each energy hundreds of thousands of websites. However selecting between them felt like selecting the inspiration my total website would sit on.

As a result of as soon as your web page is dwell, listed, and rating on Google, migrating means redirects, damaged layouts, and hours of cleanup. So as an alternative of guessing, I constructed on each.

I examined how every platform handles setup, customization, Search engine optimisation management, ongoing upkeep, and long-term flexibility, not as a developer, however as somebody investing in a website meant to develop.

For those who’re evaluating Wix vs. WordPress and need a clear reply on which web site builder software program deserves your time, cash, and dedication, this breakdown will enable you to make that decision with readability.

Wix vs. WordPress: At a look

Right here’s a fast function comparability of each Wix and WordPress to see the distinction in capabilities.

Notice: Each Wix and WordPress roll out new updates to their platform. The main points beneath mirror essentially the most present options as of March 2026, however could change over time.

• Arrange and possession:  Wix manages all of it. It handles updates, safety, and all of the behind-the-scenes stuff. You mainly simply log in, construct your website with out ever worrying in regards to the backend. With WordPress, issues work otherwise. That you must choose a webhosting platform, arrange WordPress, and handle your themes and plugins your self until you might be utilizing managed internet hosting by WordPress.org.
• Platform kind and customization:  Wix is a closed, all-in-one web site builder that makes setup and upkeep straightforward by dealing with internet hosting, safety, and updates, but it surely limits customization and scalability. WordPress is an open-source content material administration system (CMS) that provides customers full management over a website’s construction, options, and integrations because it grows. Its open-source nature permits performance to be prolonged with customized code, themes, and plugins with out being restricted to a single platform’s ecosystem.
• Pricing:  Wix makes use of a bundled pricing mannequin. Its paid plans embody internet hosting, safety, templates, buyer assist, and core options in a single month-to-month or annual subscription. This makes prices predictable and simpler to funds, particularly for small groups. WordPress itself is free open-source software program, however working a WordPress website entails separate prices. You have to pay for internet hosting, and relying in your wants, you might also buy premium themes, paid plugins, safety instruments, backup companies, and efficiency optimization.
• Search engine optimisation capabilities:  Wix covers the Search engine optimisation fundamentals rather well. You’ll be able to edit web page titles, add meta descriptions, customise URLs, insert alt textual content to photographs, and handle redirects, all from the settings operate. WordPress provides related core options however stands out for highly effective Search engine optimisation plugins (Yoast Search engine optimisation, RankMath) that allow deeper management over metadata, schema, website construction, and technical Search engine optimisation, making it higher fitted to superior content material websites.
• Modifying expertise: Wix makes use of a drag-and-drop operate. You’ll be able to transfer components wherever on the web page, layer them, and tweak spacing. What you see is precisely what you get. WordPress is block-based by default. You construct pages by stacking blocks in a structured structure.
• Plugins vs. built-in options:  With Wix, a number of the stuff individuals want is already there from day one, issues like contact varieties, primary Search engine optimisation instruments, e-commerce, and analytics. For those who want extra options, they do have an app marketplace for add-ons. However WordPress takes the alternative strategy. The core platform is fairly lean, and most options come from plugins. You’ll be able to choose precisely what you need, but it surely additionally means you’re accountable for choosing the proper plugins and preserving them up to date.

Wix vs. WordPress: What’s related?

In my expertise, Wix and WordPress are related in that they each make it doable to construct a totally practical web site with out coding. Let’s dive into a few of their frequent capabilities.

• No-code platform:  Wix could be very very similar to “what you see is what you get” platforms. You drag issues round, drop them the place you need, tweak colours, add buttons, and hit publish. You don’t want to grasp how web sites work. WordPress can be no-code, but it surely approaches design otherwise. You construct with blocks inside an outlined structure system. You stack sections, customise them, and refine settings by way of menus quite than direct visible motion. It’s nonetheless code-free, but it surely expects you to suppose a bit extra about construction earlier than styling.
• Templates and themes: Each Wix and WordPress provide a variety of ready-made templates and themes, making it straightforward to launch a website with out designing from scratch. Wix templates come pre-designed with layouts, fonts, and pattern content material and will be personalized throughout the platform, whereas WordPress themes additionally present versatile design beginning factors that may be tailored and prolonged with plugins or customized code. The platforms now present an AI assistant that may design your web site in minutes.
• Constructed-in content material administration system: Each Wix and WordPress include built-in content material administration programs that make creating, modifying, and organizing content material fairly easy. You’ll be able to handle pages and posts by way of visible editors and dashboards, and replace content material throughout your website with out having to rebuild every little thing.
• E-commerce retailer: E-commerce is native to the platform on Wix. You’ll be able to add merchandise, set costs, join funds, and also you’re good to go. The whole lot lives in a single dashboard, and it’s fairly beginner-friendly. WordPress has its personal e-commerce website, WooCommerce, inside its platform. It’s highly effective and tremendous customizable, but it surely additionally requires extra setup. You need to select plugins, configure settings, and sometimes replace issues. Extra appropriate for superior customers.
• Cell-friendly platforms:  On each Wix and WordPress, you don’t have to fret about constructing a separate “cellular website.” Templates and themes are already designed to look good on telephones and tablets. 

You’ll be able to view the total immediate set right here!

1. Web site setup

For the web site setup check, I targeted on which builder was best and quickest to arrange with little to no outdoors assist. My aim was easy: get a practical web site up and working as shortly as doable. Since pace and ease had been the precedence, I made a decision to make use of the AI setup function for each Wix and WordPress.

With Wix, I used to be requested a collection of questions on Internal Tide Yoga, associated to its companies, hours, and site, which took beneath 5 minutes. After that, the setup was pretty straightforward and required no technical experience or ability. I used to be given an possibility of both including my enterprise particulars manually or simply giving prompts to AI.

As soon as the skeleton of the location was generated, I spent beneath half-hour refining the design till it appeared like a totally functioning web site. For customers in a time crunch or taken with designing a lean web site, this can be a nice possibility for you.

WordPress requested me two questions associated to my enterprise for setup: what my enterprise does and the precise location. Then I used to be given the choice of increasing my immediate. Since I had responded to a few follow-up questions with Wix, I added the identical responses to WordPress to even the enjoying discipline.

WordPress’s design was swift (beneath three minutes), faster than Wix. Whereas web site era was faster, the expertise was much less intuitive total. It took me a while to determine how one can navigate between completely different sections to arrange the location. Wix had clearly labelled its sections and instruments, making it straightforward to search out precisely what you’re searching for. WordPress, then again, relied extra closely on icons and its personal navigation system, which can really feel much less beginner-friendly at first.

When it comes to ease of setup and intuitive navigation for newbies, I’d say Wix is the best way to go. I used to be in a position to construct an internet site with none steering or sources. For those who don’t have a technical group or simply need to construct an internet site by yourself, that is the most suitable choice for you.

Winner: Wix

2. Design and suppleness

Right here, I needed to see how shortly I may create a stupendous design for my yoga studio, Internal Tide Yoga, with none design experience — simply primarily based on prompts. I additionally evaluated how a lot management I had over the touchdown web page after the AI generated the preliminary design.

With Wix, designing the web site was constructed into the setup. The preliminary immediate I gave was used to design the web site. If I didn’t like one thing, I may both regulate the AI directions or manually tweak particular sections of the structure.

All the era took lower than 10 minutes. From there, I may drag and drop options, change structure, coloration, and model components with no trouble. The built-in sections diminished important guide effort each for design and replica. My model colours had been accessible immediately from the sidebar, which made consistency easy. I may additionally replace CTA buttons, insert graphics, and add varieties with only a few clicks.

Primarily based on such a primary immediate, I used to be shocked by how full the location appeared — even higher, the content material completely aligned with my earlier responses for what my Yoga studio was about.

With WordPress, the design felt extra minimalistic and structured. I favored that the interface separated content material into sections, such because the homepage, weblog, and pricing plans, which I may customise individually utilizing the block editor. The whole lot was in-built blocks — headings, photos, buttons, columns, spacers — which made the structure really feel extra organized.

Having layouts, coloration palettes, fonts, and templates accessible from the sidebar made it simpler to regulate the design with out rebuilding sections from scratch. The World Kinds panel was particularly useful on the free plan as a result of I may change typography, model colours, and spacing sitewide with out modifying each particular person web page.

I did strive their AI design immediate and examined a number of variations. I specified that I used to be constructing a yoga studio web site and chosen model preferences. The AI-generated layouts together with related sections like class schedules, teacher bios, and call-to-action areas. Nonetheless, the designs felt extra like structured templates quite than absolutely fleshed-out model experiences. The spacing, imagery model, and visible move didn’t absolutely match the calming, earthy, and immersive aesthetic I had in thoughts.

General, the AI gave me a stable basis, but it surely required refinement to higher mirror my imaginative and prescient. The free plan allowed significant customization by way of blocks, international types, and patterns, however attaining a extremely particular aesthetic required extra guide adjustment.

Winner: Wix

3. E-commerce

Elements like including merchandise,  creating fee plans, and taking a look at analytics are important for any retailer, and I needed to see which platform made the job simpler.

With Wix, my unique immediate routinely generated an internet retailer with three forms of yoga courses and a product retailer for promoting wellness necessities — full with pricing and descriptions. That was a robust place to begin and felt surprisingly full for an AI-generated setup.

Including extra data, like connecting fee strategies, setting working hours, and creating reductions, was easy. The shop options had been absolutely practical out of the field. I didn’t want to put in any plugins, extensions, or third-party integrations to allow core e-commerce capabilities.

Including merchandise and organizing them into classes was equally easy. The dashboard supplied clear fields for pricing, stock, product photos, and descriptions, making the setup course of intuitive even with out prior expertise. I additionally appreciated how the platform routinely dealt with important retailer components like checkout move, tax settings, and order monitoring.

Cost processing, product listings, stock administration, transport settings, and primary tax configurations had been all constructed immediately into the platform. Analytics had been clearly seen and simple to grasp, and I used to be capable of finding extra insights like deserted cart monitoring while not having additional instruments.

General, the e-commerce expertise felt tightly built-in and beginner-friendly, particularly for somebody who desires to focus extra on working the enterprise than managing the technical backend. The whole lot labored inside a single dashboard, which made the method really feel streamlined and environment friendly.

Because the WordPress free plan doesn’t embody built-in e-commerce options, I’m referring to recurring G2 suggestions on WooCommerce. The strongest and most constant benefit customers point out is flexibility. WooCommerce integrates seamlessly with WordPress, permitting companies to mix content material, Search engine optimisation, and commerce in a single ecosystem. It’s open-source, extremely customizable, and supported by an enormous plugin and theme market.

One other recurring level customers respect about WooCommerce is how straightforward it’s to get began whereas nonetheless providing room to develop. Many reviewers point out that the preliminary setup is fast, with core options like product listings, stock administration, transport choices, and fee gateways figuring out of the field.

You’ll be able to promote each bodily and digital merchandise, combine with instruments like Google Analytics and e-mail advertising and marketing platforms, and tailor the checkout expertise, giving customers the boldness that the platform can adapt to their particular wants over time.

Many customers point out that the platform permits them to increase performance by way of third-party plugins and instruments, including options akin to fee gateways, transport calculators, CRM integrations, and advertising and marketing instruments solely when wanted. That is particularly useful as a result of it lets them construct their retailer step-by-step, including solely the capabilities required for his or her particular operations with out overwhelming the preliminary setup.

General, in accordance with G2 critiques, WooCommerce is extensively seen as a versatile and dependable possibility throughout the WordPress ecosystem, significantly for companies that worth management and customization, with the trade-off being extra hands-on administration as complexity will increase.

Winner: Cut up

4. Search engine optimisation and running a blog

I created a check weblog on each Wix and WordPress to guage their running a blog performance as a way to higher perceive how intensive every platform’s Search engine optimisation capabilities actually are.

I may simply run an audit of my website pages and join Search engine optimisation monitoring instruments like Google Search Console with out digging by way of settings. Since I’m testing Search engine optimisation and running a blog on Wix’s free plan, it’s value noting that the free website makes use of a Wix-branded area (yourname.wixsite.com/sitename). Whereas every little thing capabilities the identical, a branded area can impression Search engine optimisation notion and belief in comparison with a customized area, particularly for companies attempting to construct authority.

Running a blog felt very beginner-friendly. Wix routinely created a weblog primarily based on my earlier setup, and I may entry it immediately from “My Weblog” within the sidebar. Including a brand new submit was easy. I may write every little thing myself or use their AI to generate concepts, add an overview, or starter content material.

One other useful function is Wix’s built-in Search engine optimisation guidelines and steering instruments. The platform walks you thru key optimization steps akin to setting web page metadata, connecting to Google Search Console, and enhancing web page visibility by way of a guided setup course of. This step-by-step strategy will be particularly helpful for newbies who is probably not conversant in Search engine optimisation finest practices

The weblog editor additionally permits you to schedule posts, assign classes and tags, handle feedback, and customise submit URLs, which helps with content material group and Search engine optimisation construction. You’ll be able to edit meta titles and descriptions for particular person weblog posts, which is vital for enhancing click-through charges in search outcomes.

Their Search engine optimisation capabilities are nice for any particular person or enterprise. You’ll be able to edit key components like web page titles, meta descriptions, and customized URLs, add alt textual content to photographs, and handle 301 redirects all throughout the editor. It additionally offers a guided Search engine optimisation setup with ideas and reminders to enhance visibility, plus automated sitemaps and mobile-friendly web page designs that assist with search indexing. Wix additionally routinely generates structured knowledge for sure web page varieties, which may assist wealthy leads to search. You’ll be able to customise URL slugs for weblog posts, management indexing settings for every web page, and combine analytics instruments immediately from the dashboard.

WordPress labored particularly effectively for running a blog. Their “Focus Mode” helped block distractions, and the clear, minimal interface made it simpler to focus on writing and structuring every paragraph. The writing expertise felt barely extra content-focused in comparison with Wix, particularly in case your important aim is publishing articles commonly. I used to be additionally in a position to schedule posts, set up them with classes and tags, and customise submit URLs, which is vital for sustaining a clear weblog construction.

On the WordPress free plan, you’ll be able to nonetheless confirm your website with Google Search Console and join primary analytics, however the course of felt barely much less guided. Superior Search engine optimisation integrations and detailed Search engine optimisation monitoring instruments sometimes require plugins, that are solely obtainable on higher-tier WordPress plans.

WordPress provides AI-powered writing help by way of Jetpack AI (with restricted utilization on free plans). It could possibly assist generate weblog submit drafts, counsel headlines, and enhance readability, just like Wix’s AI content material instruments. Nonetheless, Wix’s AI felt extra built-in into the general site-building and Search engine optimisation setup course of, whereas WordPress’s AI felt extra targeted purely on content material era.

WordPress has very primary built-in Search engine optimisation options as a result of most customers sometimes set up Search engine optimisation plugins like Yoast or Rank Math — however on the free plan, you’ll be able to’t set up customized plugins. Throughout the editor, I may handle titles, meta descriptions for posts and pages, classes, and tags immediately.

One factor Wix had that WordPress didn’t (on the free plan) was the structured, step-by-step Search engine optimisation setup guidelines and built-in website audit steering. WordPress provides you management over core components, but it surely doesn’t actively stroll you thru enhancing your rankings. However, WordPress felt stronger purely as a writing setting. If running a blog is the primary focus, WordPress feels barely extra streamlined and distraction-free. If Search engine optimisation steering and built-in optimization prompts are the precedence, Wix felt simpler on the free plan. So for this spherical, it’s going to be a cut up.

Winner: Cut up

5. Buyer assist and sources

To check buyer assist and studying sources, I ran two experiments:

• I requested dwell, and AI assist the identical query on each platforms: “Can I take advantage of my customized area on the free plan?”
• I searched the assistance heart for: “How do I make my website present up on Google?”

I needed to guage the total assist expertise on each platforms, together with the standard of their self-serve documentation, the effectiveness of their AI assistants, and the responsiveness and helpfulness of their human assist groups.

With Wix, my expertise with the AI chatbot earlier than reaching a human agent was easy and environment friendly. After I requested a direct query about connecting a customized area, the AI immediately supplied a transparent and correct response: that connecting a customized area requires a Premium plan, and that the free plan makes use of a Wix-branded subdomain (username.wixsite.com/sitename). The reply was concise, appropriate, and didn’t require follow-up clarification.

To check the expertise for customers who would possibly need to escalate a problem to a human, I requested to talk with a assist agent. The AI put up a little bit of resistance and requested for a sound purpose earlier than permitting me to proceed (no precise emotions had been damage). Inside a couple of minutes, I used to be related to a human assist professional who was heat, pleasant, and gave me a solution to my question shortly. No notes right here. I’ve additionally included screenshots of the particular human chat dialog for added context.

With the second check, issues had been completely different. I entered the query “How do I make my website present up on Google?” within the assist heart. The AI initially tried to summarize a solution however struggled to offer an entire, actionable response. After a few tries, I used to be in a position to get a transparent response from the AI abstract, together with extra hyperlinks to attach and work with Google on Wix. I can anticipate this case being difficult for customers if it occurs greater than as soon as.

With WordPress, the AI assistant additionally responded clearly once I requested about connecting a customized area. It defined that on the free plan, you’ll be able to’t set a customized area as your website’s main tackle and that upgrading to a paid plan is required to make use of a customized area. The response was easy and correct, giving me the knowledge I wanted with out confusion or pointless steps.

I then requested to talk to the boss and was politely moved to the human chat assist line. Inside 1-2 minutes, their happiness engineer was talking to me. Identical as my expertise with Wix; the assist group was pleasant, useful, and answered my query successfully. That’s an A+ in my books for buyer assist.

For the following check of discovering the best sources, I searched the query “How do I make my website present up on Google?” within the WordPress assist heart. I used to be directed to a number of related sources, together with step-by-step documentation, assist articles on indexing, steering for connecting Google Search Console, and associated details about Google Workspace. The outcomes had been clearly organized and complete, making it straightforward to grasp the following steps while not having additional clarification. General, I used to be glad with how clearly WordPress introduced its assist sources.

Winner: WordPress

6. Apps and plugins

I needed to see how intensive the gathering of apps and plugins actually was, whether or not they had been restricted to particular plans, and the way related they felt throughout completely different use instances. I explored classes like advertising and marketing, Search engine optimisation, varieties, e-commerce, bookings, and analytics to grasp if each platforms catered solely to primary wants or additional supported superior use instances.

Wix’s App Market felt genuinely expansive, with apps obtainable throughout virtually each class from advertising and marketing and Search engine optimisation to occasions, bookings, analytics, and e-commerce. I favored that there was a mixture of free and paid choices, which meant I may nonetheless experiment with performance on the free plan with out instantly feeling blocked. With over 800 net apps obtainable, the range was spectacular, particularly for small companies and creators.

I may combine TikTok adverts immediately into my on-line retailer, use AI-powered site visitors and Search engine optimisation instruments to spice up visibility, and simply add visible components like banners, badges, pop-ups, and announcement bars with out touching any code. Most apps are put in in only a few clicks and mix seamlessly into the Wix dashboard, making them straightforward to handle and fast to customise. General, the app ecosystem felt designed to assist customers develop and market their website quicker, with out overwhelming them with technical choices.

WordPress additionally has an enormous library of paid and free plugins. They’ve many WooCommerce-centered plugins which might be made for e-commerce companies, like WooCommerce PayPal funds, Product filters for WooCommerce, and WooCommerce subscriptions. Whereas WordPress does have free plugins, you’ll be able to’t obtain them on their free plan; you must improve to make use of them.

Plugins in WordPress are able to deeply modifying website conduct quite than simply including surface-level options. They will introduce new content material varieties, alter website construction, allow superior integrations, and assist advanced workflows akin to memberships, studying administration programs, and customized e-commerce setups. Since WordPress is open-source, plugins are developed by a worldwide group, which ends up in frequent updates, intensive documentation, and compatibility with customized code, APIs, and third-party instruments.

I selected WordPress for the apps and plugins spherical as a result of its plugin ecosystem provides far larger depth and suppleness, with instruments that may essentially change how a website capabilities. Although plugins require a paid plan, the power to assist advanced use instances like superior e-commerce, memberships, and customized integrations made me choose WordPress for this spherical.

Winner: WordPress

Wix vs. WordPress: Head-to-head comparability desk

Right here’s a desk displaying which web site builder received the duties.

Wix makes it straightforward to launch an internet retailer with built-in e-commerce instruments, easy product administration, and built-in fee choices, with out coding or plugins. Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, customizable storefronts, and beginner-friendly workflows enable you to arrange and handle merchandise, orders, and advertising and marketing from one dashboard.

Q2. What platform offers superior Search engine optimisation instruments for web sites?

Each Wix and WordPress present superior Search engine optimisation instruments for web sites. Wix provides built-in options akin to customizable meta tags, structured knowledge, Search engine optimisation analytics, automated sitemaps, and an Search engine optimisation setup guidelines. WordPress offers much more superior Search engine optimisation management by way of plugins like Yoast Search engine optimisation and Rank Math, which embody schema markup, XML sitemap administration, key phrase optimization evaluation, redirect administration, and technical Search engine optimisation customization.

Q3. What’s the most inexpensive web site builder for SMBs?

Wix provides pricing inclusive of all-in-one internet hosting, templates, and important options, making it cost-effective for small companies.

Really useful: Enterprise Primary $39/month

This fall. Which web site builder provides essentially the most customizable design templates?

With WordPress, you’ll be able to select from hundreds of themes and simply customise them utilizing visible web page builders like Elementor or Divi, or by modifying the theme if wanted. This makes it easy to vary how your website seems to be and works so it matches your actual wants. 

Q5. Which web site creation software is best for newbies?

Wix is best for newbies. It has a simple drag-and-drop editor, built-in instruments, and a easy setup, so you’ll be able to construct an internet site with none coding or technical abilities. It guides you step-by-step, which makes it best in case you are new to creating web sites.

Q6. Is a drag-and-drop editor enough for knowledgeable enterprise web site?

Sure, a drag-and-drop editor will be enough for knowledgeable enterprise web site, particularly for small and medium-sized companies. Drag-and-drop builders like Wix provide professionally designed templates, mobile-friendly layouts, and dependable efficiency. This enables companies to launch shortly, look credible, and hold their web site up to date while not having technical abilities.

Q7. Which is less complicated to take care of over time?

Wix is less complicated to take care of over time than WordPress. Wix handles internet hosting, safety updates, backups, and software program upkeep routinely. This implies there may be much less work and fewer technical duties for the location proprietor.

Q8. How arduous is it emigrate from Wix to WordPress?

Migrating from Wix to WordPress will be reasonably troublesome. Wix doesn’t provide a one-click migration, so most content material, like pages, weblog posts, and pictures, must be moved manually or with third-party instruments.

Q9. Is Wix higher than WordPress?

Wix is best if you’d like an entire, easy-to-use web site builder that permits you to get on-line shortly with minimal setup or upkeep. WordPress is best for customers who need extra management and customization and are keen to take a position time in managing and increasing their website.

Q10. What’s the top-rated touchdown web page builder for entrepreneurs?

Wix is mostly the top-rated touchdown web page builder for entrepreneurs as a result of it’s simpler to make use of, consists of built-in design instruments and templates, and allows you to launch pages shortly with out technical setup.

Q11. Which vendor provides AI-assisted web site design options?

Each Wix and WordPress provide in-built AI options for web site design: Wix consists of native AI instruments that assist generate layouts, content material, and design components, and WordPress additionally has AI capabilities constructed into its ecosystem, particularly by way of the block editor and built-in instruments, in addition to AI-powered plugins and integrations.

Wix vs. WordPress: My remaining verdict

Wix and WordPress differ primarily in ease of setup versus depth of management. Wix offers an all-in-one, beginner-friendly expertise with internet hosting, design instruments, and core options in-built, making it straightforward to launch a completed website shortly with out technical setup. WordPress provides larger flexibility and long-term scalability, however a lot of its performance is determined by plugins, configuration, and ongoing administration.

Groups prioritizing pace, simplicity, and minimal upkeep will possible discover Wix extra environment friendly. These requiring superior customization, integrations, or full possession of their technical setting could profit extra from WordPress.

Earlier than selecting a platform, resolve what issues most to your group. If it is advisable to launch an internet site shortly and don’t have a lot technical expertise, strive Wix’s free plan and see if its built-in instruments meet your wants. For those who plan so as to add customized options, join different instruments, or develop your website over time, look into what WordPress requires, akin to plugins, internet hosting, and ongoing setup. Take into consideration your group’s abilities, your funds, and your plans earlier than making a remaining alternative.

For those who’re to be taught extra about web site builders, take a look at this piece on the high 6 web site design software program.