Key highlights
- Wix’s free plan offers essential tools like a drag-and-drop builder, templates and secure hosting but includes ads and subdomains.
- The free plan is suitable for hobbyists, students and personal projects but lacks features like custom domains and eCommerce tools.
- Upgrading to a premium plan removes ads, supports custom domains and unlocks advanced analytics and eCommerce capabilities.
- Free plans have strict limitations on storage (500MB) and bandwidth (1GB), which can restrict website growth.
- Your website goals and target audience should determine whether to use the free plan or invest in premium features.
Introduction
You’ve probably heard about Wix as a popular way to create websites. This website builder has gained attention for an appealing promise: you can build a website for free. The idea sounds perfect – drag and drop your way to a professional website without spending money. Yet the real question isn’t just “Is Wix free?” but rather “What can you actually do with Wix’s free plan?”
Millions of users start their online journey with Wix’s free plan. Some create portfolio websites to showcase their work. Others launch blogs to share their stories. Small businesses test their online presence before investing in premium features. Each user faces a crucial decision: Does the free plan provide enough tools to achieve their goals?
This guide explores every aspect of Wix’s free plan you need to know. You’ll learn about its features, understand its limitations and discover if it matches your website goals.
Let’s dive into what Wix really offers at zero cost and help you make an informed decision about your website building journey.
What does Wix’s free plan offer?
Wix’s free plan is a popular starting point for website creation, offering essential tools without an upfront cost. With this plan, users gain access to the Wix editor, a drag-and-drop platform that simplifies the creation process. It includes Wix hosting through Wix’s secure servers, ensuring your site remains accessible. Web pages created under this plan operate on a Wix subdomain and display Wix ads.
Features of the free plan
- Drag-and-drop builder for easy customization
- Access to a variety of professional templates
- Secure hosting through Wix servers
- Basic SEO tools to improve visibility on search engines
- Wix subdomain (e.g., yoursite.wixsite.com)
- 500MB storage and 1GB bandwidth for small projects
Limitations of the free plan
- Wix ads appear on every page
- Only supports Wix subdomains; no custom domain option
- Limited storage (500MB) and bandwidth (1GB)
- No access to advanced analytics like Google Analytics
- Lacks robust eCommerce features like accepting payments or advanced online store tools
Advantages and drawbacks of Wix’s free plan
Before you start building your website with Wix’s free plan, you need to understand what you’ll get and what you’ll miss. This balanced look at Wix’s free features helps you decide if it matches your website goals.
Why choose the free plan?
The Wix free plan offers several compelling benefits for new website creators. You get essential features to build a functional website without any upfront costs. These advantages make the free plan an attractive starting point.
Cost-free start
Many users wondering ‘Is Wix free?’ will be pleased to know that the platform offers a genuine no-cost option for website creation. The Wix free plan allows you to build a website without spending a dime. It’s perfect for beginners or individuals exploring website creation for the first time. There are no hidden fees for hosting or basic design tools, making it accessible to everyone.
Beginner-friendly platform
Wix offers a drag-and-drop builder, which simplifies the creation process even for those without technical expertise. The platform includes a library of professionally designed templates, allowing users to create stunning websites tailored to their needs.
Mobile optimization
Every website built on Wix is automatically optimized for mobile devices, ensuring your content looks great on any screen size. This feature is essential for engaging visitors, as mobile browsing continues to grow.
Access to free apps
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.
Challenges of the free plan
The Wix free plan has specific limitations you need to consider. These constraints will affect how you build and grow your website. Here are the main challenges you’ll encounter.
Branding and ad display
One significant drawback is the presence of Wix branding on every web page of your website. The ads not only detract from your website’s appearance but can also make it seem less professional to visitors.
Restricted scalability
The free plan limits storage to 500MB and bandwidth to 1GB, which is sufficient for personal projects but inadequate for larger sites or growing businesses. These limitations can hinder your ability to expand as your needs evolve.
Lack of advanced features
Features like connecting a custom domain, advanced search engine optimization tools, Google Analytics and eCommerce capabilities are unavailable on the free plan. Businesses aiming for growth or monetization will find these limitations restrictive, often necessitating an upgrade to a premium plan.
Comparing Wix free plan with premium options
When asking, ‘Is Wix free?’, you should understand that while there is a free tier, premium plans offer significant advantages. The table below highlights the primary differences between Wix’s free plan and its premium options, helping you decide which best suits your needs:
Feature | Free plan | Paid plans |
Custom domain | Not available (Wix subdomain only) | Available with all premium plans |
Ads | Wix ads displayed on every page | Ad-free experience |
SEO tools | Basic tools only | Advanced SEO features for optimization |
Analytics | Limited | Access to Google Analytics and other tools |
eCommerce capabilities | Not supported | Full eCommerce features (accept payments, manage online stores) |
Storage | 500MB | Up to unlimited storage depending on the plan |
Support | Standard | Priority customer care in higher-tier plans |
When is it time to upgrade?
Upgrading to a premium plan is essential when your goals exceed the limitations of the free plan. Here are scenarios where upgrading becomes beneficial:
Professional branding
A custom domain and ad-free experience are crucial for establishing a professional image. Businesses, freelancers and creators often upgrade to ensure their websites reflect their brand’s credibility.
Business growth
As your business grows, so do your website needs. Premium plans offer more storage, advanced SEO tools and eCommerce capabilities that allow you to accept payments and manage online stores effectively.
Real-life benefits of premium plans
- Custom domains: Enhance your brand identity with a personalized domain name.
- Ad-free experience: Remove Wix branding for a more polished, professional site.
- Advanced analytics: Use tools like Google Analytics to track visitor behavior and optimize your site.
- Priority support: Gain access to faster, dedicated customer support to resolve issues.
- eCommerce capabilities: Sell products or services online with secure payment options and inventory management.
Who should use Wix’s free plan?
Not every website builder suits every user’s needs. The Wix free plan works particularly well for specific types of users and projects. You’ll find the most value in these common use cases.
Hobbyists and personal bloggers
Wix’s free plan is perfect for hobbyists and personal bloggers who want to share their stories or interests online without investing money upfront. Whether you’re creating a blog about your travel adventures, sharing recipes or showcasing DIY projects, the free plan provides everything you need to get started.
Key benefits:
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor that requires no technical skills.
- Access to a library of free templates designed for blogging and creative pursuits.
- Built-in mobile optimization ensures your content looks great on any device.
Pro tip: Use the Wix app market to add social sharing buttons or photo galleries to enhance user engagement.
Students and freelancers creating portfolios
If you’re a student or freelancer looking to showcase your skills, Wix’s free plan offers a cost-effective way to create a professional portfolio. With visually appealing templates and customization options, you can highlight your work and make an impression on potential clients or employers.
Key benefits:
- Templates for diverse industries such as design, writing and photography.
- Mobile-friendly designs to ensure your portfolio is accessible anytime, anywhere.
- Ability to add sections for testimonials, downloadable resumes or contact forms.
Pro tip: Leverage the SEO tools included in the free plan to improve your portfolio’s visibility in search results, increasing your chances of landing new clients.
Step-by-step guide to getting started with Wix’s free plan
Creating your first website with Wix is straightforward. You won’t need a credit card to begin, and you can start building right away. Here’s how to get started.
Sign up and explore templates
Getting started with Wix’s free plan is quick and straightforward.
- Visit the Wix website and sign up for a free account using your email address.
- After signing up, Wix will guide you through the setup process, including selecting your website type (e.g., blog, portfolio, business).
- Explore Wix’s library of professionally designed templates tailored to various industries and niches. Templates are categorized to help you find the perfect design for your needs.
Pro tip: If you’re unsure about your template choice, start with a flexible design. You can always customize it later to suit your preferences.
Customizing content and publishing
Once you’ve selected a template, you can begin customizing your site using the Wix drag-and-drop editor.
- Add or remove sections, such as an “About Me” page, photo galleries or contact forms.
- Edit text, images and videos directly on the page, ensuring your content aligns with your goals.
- Preview your site to check how it looks on desktop and mobile devices.
- Publish your website when you’re satisfied, making it live for visitors.
Pro tip: Save your work regularly while editing to avoid losing changes. Wix also lets you revert to previous versions if needed.
How to maximize the free plan
You can get significant value from Wix’s free plan despite its limitations. The platform includes useful tools and features for an effective website without paid upgrades. These strategies will help you optimize your free website.
Using Wix’s built-in SEO tools
SEO is essential for driving traffic to your site. Wix’s free plan includes basic SEO tools to help improve your website’s visibility on search engines.
- Use the Wix SEO Wizard to optimize your site’s metadata, such as titles and descriptions.
- Add relevant keywords to your content to target your audience.
- Ensure your site is mobile-friendly, as search engines prioritize mobile responsiveness.
Pro tip: Regularly update your website’s content with new blog posts or images to keep it relevant for search engines.
Enhancing functionality with free apps
The Wix app market provides free tools to enhance your website’s performance and user experience.
- Add a contact form to capture visitor inquiries.
- Integrate social media feeds to showcase your latest updates.
- Install analytics tools to track your website’s traffic and user behavior.
Pro tip: Experiment with different apps to find features that resonate with your audience, but avoid overloading your site with unnecessary tools.
Alternatives to Wix website builder
You have several options when choosing a website builder for your project. Each platform offers unique features and benefits that might better suit your needs. Let’s examine some popular alternatives to help you make the right choice.
Bluehost WordPress Website Creator (WonderSuite)
Bluehost WordPress Website Creator (WonderSuite) offers an intuitive and seamless way to create professional websites. Designed for beginners and experienced users, it combines the simplicity of drag-and-drop functionality with the power of WordPress. Unlike Wix’s free plan, Bluehost also provides secure web hosting plans and allows you to connect a custom free domain across all its plans.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop builder: Easily customize your website without any technical skills.
- WordPress integration: Access thousands of plugins and themes for advanced functionality.
- Free custom domain: Build a personalized online presence with your unique domain name.
- SEO and analytics: Built-in tools to optimize your website for search engines and track performance.
- 24/7 customer support: Dedicated support to assist with any technical issues.
Best for: Small business owners, bloggers and professionals seeking a scalable and reliable website-building solution.
Weebly
Weebly focuses on simplicity and eCommerce capabilities. The platform offers a straightforward website builder with basic online store features in its free plan.
Weebly is most suitable for small businesses and hobbyists starting an online store. The platform includes SSL security and mobile-responsive templates, though advanced features require a paid upgrade.
Key features:
- Free eCommerce tools: Sell products online with a simple setup.
- Mobile-optimized templates: Create responsive websites that work seamlessly on all devices.
- SSL security: Protect your site and visitors with included SSL encryption.
- Custom domains in paid plans: Upgrade to connect to a professional domain.
- App integration: Enhance functionality with apps for forms, galleries and marketing.
Best for: Small businesses, hobbyists and individuals launching simple online stores.
Squarespace (trial plan)
Squarespace is renowned for its stunning templates and advanced customization features. While it doesn’t offer a permanent free plan, its 14-day trial provides access to premium features, enabling users to test the platform before committing. It’s an excellent choice for creatives looking to build visually impressive websites.
Key features:
- Award-winning templates: Beautifully designed, modern templates for creative industries like photography and fashion.
- eCommerce capabilities: Manage online stores, inventory and payment processing.
- SEO and analytics: Tools to optimize your website and track its performance.
- 24/7 customer support: Reliable help for technical or design challenges.
Best for: Designers, photographers and small business owners who value aesthetics and professional-grade design.
Webnode
Webnode specializes in multilingual website creation. The platform helps you reach international audiences with its language tools and simple interface.
The free plan includes basic features and a Webnode subdomain. You’ll need to upgrade for professional features like custom domains and advanced analytics, similar to other website builders.
Key features:
- Multilingual support: Build websites in multiple languages for international reach.
- Free plan: Includes a Webnode subdomain and basic customization options.
- Custom domains and analytics: Paid plans provide more advanced features for tracking and branding.
- Mobile-optimized templates: Ensure your website looks great on all devices.
Best for: Freelancers, small businesses and bloggers targeting diverse audiences.
Final thoughts
So, is Wix free? Yes, but with important considerations. While Wix offers a legitimate free plan that provides a solid starting point for individuals and small projects looking to create a website without financial commitment.
With its drag-and-drop builder, customizable templates and secure hosting, it’s an accessible option for beginners, hobbyists and students. However, the limitations of the free plan—such as Wix ads, subdomains and restricted features—can hinder scalability and professionalism.
For those aiming for business growth, advanced customization or eCommerce functionality, upgrading to Wix’s premium plans or exploring alternatives may be more beneficial.
Want to build a professional website that grows with your business? Launch your website with Bluehost’s AI-powered WonderSuite and get your custom domain free. Experience the difference of truly professional web hosting trusted by millions.
FAQs
Yes, you can start with Wix’s free plan to explore its features and upgrade to a premium plan whenever you’re ready. Upgrading is seamless and unlocks key features like custom domains, advanced SEO tools, eCommerce capabilities and priority customer support. Many users start with the free plan to test the platform before committing to premium features.
No, Wix’s free plan does not support custom domains. Websites built on the free plan will have a subdomain like yoursite.wixsite.com. To connect to your own domain, you’ll need to upgrade to a premium plan. Premium plans also include features like ad removal and advanced analytics, making them ideal for professional use.
Unfortunately, eCommerce features are not available on the free plan. This means you cannot accept payments, set up an online store or manage inventory. To sell products or services, you’ll need to upgrade to a business or eCommerce premium plan, which provides secure payment options and tools to manage your store.
Wix’s free plan includes 500MB of storage and 500MB of bandwidth. While sufficient for small personal websites or portfolios, these limits can quickly become restrictive for image-heavy sites or those with significant traffic. Premium plans offer increased storage (up to unlimited) and bandwidth to accommodate growing website needs.
Yes, Wix places ads on all pages of websites created with its free plan. These ads promote Wix’s platform but can detract from your website’s professionalism. Upgrading to a premium plan removes these ads, creating a cleaner and more polished experience for your visitors.