Wix’s native menu editor is simple, visual, and built into the platform — no installation needed. Navi+ is a dedicated AI-powered navigation builder that adds Tab Bar, Mega Menu, FAB, and more to any website including Wix. This comparison covers every meaningful difference to help you decide which approach fits your store.
TL;DR — Quick Verdict
If you’re building a simple brochure site on Wix, the native menu covers the basics. If you’re running an ecommerce store, need Tab Bar navigation for mobile, or want an AI to set up your menu structure, Navi+ is the significantly stronger choice.
Bottom line: Wix's menu editor is functional but limited. Navi+ was built specifically for conversion-focused navigation on ecommerce stores.
What Is Wix’s Native Menu?
Wix includes a drag-and-drop menu editor built directly into the Wix Editor. It supports basic dropdown navigation, simple hover effects, and page links. For most small informational websites, it works well out of the box.
What Wix native menu does well:
- Zero setup — it’s already there when you create a Wix site
- Visual editor integrated into the Wix interface
- Works automatically with Wix pages
Where it falls short for online stores:
- No Tab Bar / Bottom Navigation for mobile shoppers
- No Mega Menu with images, columns, or rich content
- No FAB (Floating Action Button) for quick access
- No AI-powered menu generation or suggestions
- Wix-locked — doesn’t work if you move to Shopify or WooCommerce
- No multi-language menu controls (9+ languages)
- No Smart Publish (device or URL-based visibility)
What Is Navi+?
Navi+ AI Menu Builder is a dedicated navigation platform built for ecommerce. It supports five distinct menu types, runs on Shopify, WordPress/WooCommerce, and any website (including Wix via script embed), and includes an AI engine that generates complete menu structures from your catalog in seconds.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Navi+ | Wix Native Menu |
|---|---|---|
| Tab Bar / Bottom Navigation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mega Menu (multi-column) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Slide Menu / Drawer | ✓ | ✗ |
| FAB / Floating Action Button | ✓ | ✗ |
| Grid Menu | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Menu Generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| AI Design Suggestions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Visual Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom CSS | ✓ | ~ (limited) |
| Multi-Language (9+ langs) | ✓ | ~ (Wix Multilingual) |
| Smart Publish (device/URL filter) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dark Mode Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero Page Speed Impact | ✓ | ~ |
| CDN-Delivered Assets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Works on Shopify | ✓ | ✗ |
| Works on WordPress | ✓ | ✗ |
| Works on Any Website | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free Plan Available | ✓ | ✓ (included in Wix) |
The Mobile Gap: Tab Bar vs No Tab Bar
The single biggest difference for ecommerce stores is Tab Bar navigation. Over 70% of online shoppers browse on mobile. Wix’s native menu collapses to a hamburger icon on mobile — a single-click entry point that hides all your categories behind an extra tap.
Navi+’s Tab Bar adds a persistent bottom navigation bar, similar to what you see in native apps (Instagram, Amazon, etc.). This gives shoppers one-tap access to your most important sections — collections, search, cart, and account — without ever opening a menu.
Tested result: Stores that switch from hamburger-only to Tab Bar typically see a 15–30% increase in pages visited per session on mobile.
AI vs Manual Setup
Setting up Wix’s native menu means manually adding items one by one, naming each, setting the URL, adjusting the design — all by hand. For a store with 20+ categories, this takes hours.
Navi+’s AI Menu Builder scans your store’s product categories and generates a complete, organized menu structure in seconds. It suggests groupings, names, and hierarchy — you review and publish.
Platform Lock-In
Wix’s native menu is tied to Wix. If you ever migrate to Shopify or WordPress (which thousands of growing stores do), your entire navigation setup disappears. You start from scratch.
Navi+ works on Shopify, WordPress/WooCommerce, and any website via script embed. Your navigation investment carries over even if you switch platforms.
Pricing
Wix’s native menu is included with any Wix plan — no extra cost. However, to use it on an ecommerce store you still need a Wix Business plan ($17–$35/month), which doesn’t include any advanced navigation features.
Navi+ offers a free plan that includes the core menu builder. Paid plans start at a low monthly fee and unlock AI features, more menu types, and advanced publish rules.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Wix native menu if:
- You’re building a simple portfolio or informational site (not ecommerce)
- You want zero extra setup
- Your visitors are primarily on desktop
Choose Navi+ if:
- You run an online store with product categories
- Most of your traffic is on mobile
- You want AI to handle the menu structure
- You might move platforms in the future
- You want Tab Bar, Mega Menu, FAB — not just basic dropdowns
Explore the topics
This guide links out to focused articles — dive deeper on each.