When contemplating creating a website, one of the first thoughts that crosses your mind is: Is Wix free? You’ve likely noticed those commercials — sophisticated design, drag-and-drop functionality, no coding necessary — all for zero cost. But is it as easy as that?
In this article, we’re going to break it all down in simple terms so that you understand fully before publishing on your new site.
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What Is Wix?
Wix is an all-inclusive, powerful website creation and hosting platform. With its new flagship Studio builder suite and emphasis on empowering individual developers and small business operators, Wix ranks as one of today’s most popular website platforms.
With more than 800 available templates for free, Wix has two website builders: Wix Classic Editor and Wix Studio. Studio is more flexible and provides additional customization to suit developer requirements, in addition to an option to have a developer design a site for them.
Understanding Wix’s Free Plan
Wix offers a free plan that works for someone who is simply trying it out or wants to have a basic website. But keep in mind that, as is typical with most free services, there are some limitations to this free plan.
Features of the Free Plan
Here are some features you can get with the Wix free plan:
- Drag-and-drop builder: No tech skills? No problem. You can move things around and design your pages with ease.
- Professional-looking templates: Wix gives you a lot of options to make your site look good right out of the gate.
- Secure hosting: Your site lives on Wix’s servers, so you don’t have to worry about setting up a host.
- Basic SEO tools: It’s not super advanced, but you’ll be able to tweak titles, descriptions, and URLs to help your site show up in searches.
- Wix subdomain: Your site’s web address will look something like yoursite.wixsite.com, which isn’t ideal for a business, but fine for a hobby.
- Storage and bandwidth: You’ll get 500MB of storage and 1GB of bandwidth. That’s enough for small sites with light traffic.
Limitations of the Free Plan
Of course, the free plan has its drawbacks, and some of them might shock you:
- Wix ads: Every page of your site will have Wix branding. You don’t get to remove this unless you upgrade.
- No custom domain: You can’t use your own domain name like www.mycoolsite.com. That’s only for paid plans.
- Limited space: If your site grows or you want to add more photos or videos, you might run into the storage/bandwidth limits.
- No advanced analytics: You won’t be able to use tools like Google Analytics to track how people are using your site.
- Weak eCommerce tools: You can’t accept payments or really run a full online store without a paid plan with proper eCommerce Hosting.
Advantages of the Wix Free Plan
Even with Wix website builder’s free plan limitations, the free plan has its advantages:
Zero Fee Startup
Most users asking themselves ‘Is Wix free?’ will be delighted to discover that the website platform provides an authentic free option for website development. The Wix free plan enables you to create a website for zero cost. Suitable for newbies or website development for the first time, there is zero cost for hosting or basic design features.
Platform for Beginners
Wix features a drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to create a website even for non-technical individuals. The platform features an array of professionally designed templates to assist users in creating beautiful websites that suit their requirements.
Mobile Optimization
Each website that is developed on Wix is optimized for mobile by default, making sure that all your pages look fantastic on whatever size screen. This is crucial to keeping individuals engaged, since browsing on mobile remains on the rise.
Access to Free Application
The Wix app market includes various free tools that enhance functionality. Whether you want to add a contact form, integrate social media, or optimize your site for search engines, these apps provide easy solutions at no additional cost.
Disadvantages of the Wix Free Plan
On the other hand, Wix’s free plan has disadvantages too. The following are the prime concerns that you’ll face.
Branding and Ad Display
One major disadvantage is that there is Wix branding on all your website’s web pages. Not only is it unattractive on your website, but it also appears less professional to users.
Restricted Scalability
The 500MB storage space and 1GB bandwidth in the free plan are enough for individual projects, but not for bigger sites or expanding businesses. Such limitations might prevent you from growing as your needs increase.
Lack of Advanced Features
Features such as adding your own domain, advanced search engine optimization features, Google Analytics, and e-commerce features aren’t available for use on the free plan. Such businesses that desire growth or monetization will find these limitations to be constrictive, most often needing an upgrade to a higher plan.
When inquiring, ‘Is Wix free?’, realize that although there is a free plan, premium plans have much to offer. The following table outlines the main variations between Wix’s free plan and premium plans, to assist in determining which is most suitable for your needs:
| Feature | Wix Free | Wix Paid |
| Custom Domain | No | Yes |
| Wix Ads | Yes | No |
| Storage | 500MB | 2GB – Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | 1GB | 2GB – Unlimited |
| Google Analytics | No | Yes |
| eCommerce Tools | No | Yes |
| SEO Tools | Basic | Advanced (including SEO VPS level features) |
| Customer Support | Limited | Priority (varies by plan) |
Upgrading to premium is necessary if your objectives surpass the confines of the free plan. The following are some situations where upgrading is worthwhile:
Branding for Professionals
Building a professional image depends on having a custom domain and an ad-free experience. Companies, independent contractors, and artists may update their websites to accurately represent the reputation of their brand.
Company Expansion
Your website requirements increase as your company expands. Premium subscriptions provide greater storage, sophisticated SEO tools, and eCommerce features that let you run online stores and collect payments properly.
Overview of Wix Paid Plans
Wix offers several premium plans, and they’re pretty clear about what each one includes:
Wix Light Plan
Wix Light Plan is suitable for use by individuals or for basic websites. Its features include basic website functionality in the form of a custom domain, 2GB storage, and elimination of Wix ads. Wix Light plan is suitable in case you simply want to have a professional site but don’t require eCommerce or extended features.
Wix Core Plan
One step higher than Light, Wix Core is suitable for freelancers or small businesses that require more functionality. Storage is 50GB, banner removal is enabled, and premium apps and integrations are available. Suitable for individuals who require more refined sites but aren’t in need of advanced eCommerce features.
Wix Business Plan
Wix Business is their second most costly option and their suggestion for new businesses. The Business plan features that you’ll require for an eCommerce store, such as being able to offer products online, process payments, and have 100GB of storage.
Wix Business is for entrepreneurs or small businesses that wish to design a professional, fully-featured online store.
Wix Business Elite Plan
The Wix Business Elite is the most advanced option available and is the most costly. It offers all features in the Business plan, advanced marketing tools, unlimited storage, as well as priority support.
The Business Elite plan is for bigger businesses or for those who require more features, quick support, and lots of storage for their expanding website.
Wix Website Builder Alternatives
Wix isn’t the only player in town. Here are a few other options to consider:
Squarespace
Squarespace is renowned for having stunning, mobile-optimized templates. It’s most suited for users who desire a sleek, professional website, particularly designers or small businesses.
Pros:
- Squarespace has gorgeous designs and excellent in-built features such as blogging and e-commerce.
Cons:
- It’s more costly compared to Wix, and it has a learning curve to get used to.
WordPress
With more control and secure WordPress hosting, WordPress is one of the most popular options for businesses and bloggers alike. Steep learning curve, but very powerful.
Pros:
- Extremely customizable with powerful blogging tools as well as eCommerce tools.
Cons:
- Technical knowledge is needed to fully explore all that it has to offer, particularly design and advanced functionality.
Weebly
Weebly is an intuitive, affordable website builder with drag-and-drop tools and fundamental eCommerce functionality. It’s perfect for straightforward personal websites or tiny stores online.
Pros:
- Its easy interface, as well as affordable cost, make Weebly perfect for beginners.
Cons:
- Limited options for customization and fewer features in comparison to Wix and other rivals.
Conclusion
So is Wix free? Yes — but much like anything else in life. The basic version is an excellent place to begin, particularly if you’re dipping in for the first time. However, if you’re serious about your business, brand, or blog, sooner or later, you’ll need to step it up.
Wix’s prices aren’t exorbitant, and you definitely get quite a lot for your money. Just realize that with the free plan, there are some trade-offs. Decide based on where you’re at — and where you’d like to have your site go.
When considering Wix or any other website builder, it’s essential to have reliable hosting to ensure your site performs at its best. Look no further than UltaHost for an exceptional web hosting service that will elevate your online presence.
FAQ
Can I use my own domain on Wix for free?
No, using a custom domain requires a paid plan.
Will Wix show ads on my site forever?
Only if you’re on the free plan. Upgrading removes the ads.
Is Wix good for SEO?
Wix offers basic SEO on the free plan, but advanced SEO tools are unlocked in premium plans.
Can I run a shop with the free plan?
No, eCommerce Hosting is only available on business plans.
Is Wix cheaper than WordPress?
It depends. WordPress has low-cost options but may need separate payments for secure WordPress hosting, plugins, and themes.
How much is the Wix Light Plan?
Prices change, but it’s usually one of the most affordable upgrades. Always check the Wix pricing page for the latest.
Is my site safe with Wix?
Yes, Wix provides secure hosting through its own servers, keeping your content protected and online.
