Is Wix Actually Free? The Real Cost Behind a Free Website

Wix advertises itself everywhere as a free way to build your own website—but is it truly free? Sounds tempting, right? Lots of people jump in, hoping they’ll get everything they need without ever reaching for their wallet. Here’s the kicker: you can build a site for nothing, but there’s a catch, or three.

Once you start playing with the free Wix plan, you’ll notice the Wix logo stuck at the top and bottom of your site, plus your web address will look like yourname.wixsite.com/sitename. If you want to use your own domain, say, coolbusiness.com, or make that site look super professional without Wix ads, that’s where the price tags come in.

So, while you won’t pay up front, Wix’s free plan comes with some strings attached. If you’re planning a hobby blog or a mini project just for your friends, you might be okay. But if you care about branding, building trust, or getting found on Google, you’ll eventually have to think about upgrades. Let’s break down how Wix’s free offering really stacks up and where you may end up reaching for your credit card.

• What Does “Free” on Wix Actually Mean?
• The Limits of Wix’s Free Plan
• Hidden Costs and Upsells to Watch For
• Comparing Free vs Paid Plans
• When Upgrading Makes Sense
• Tips to Get the Best Out of Wix for Less

What Does “Free” on Wix Actually Mean?

So, what’s the deal when Wix calls itself “free”? You can go to their site, sign up, and start building with the drag-and-drop editor instantly. No credit card, no trial period—just pure access. But here’s what you’re really getting when you don’t pay a cent.

The free plan lets you:

• Use the main Wix website builder tools.
• Pick from hundreds of templates and customize your site’s design.
• Add images, text, forms, apps, and even some basic e-commerce stuff like taking orders (though not payments).
• Publish your site to the web at a Wix subdomain (like yourname.wixsite.com/sitename).

What you can’t do for free is just as important:

• No custom domain—you can’t use your own web address.
• Wix branding appears at the top and bottom of every page.
• Basic storage (500 MB) and limited bandwidth—good for a simple site, but not for big traffic or lots of media.
• Email accounts with your domain aren’t included.
• Some key features (like more advanced e-commerce, analytics, or online bookings) are locked out until you pay.

According to Wix’s own 2024 report, about 42% of new users stick with the free plan for at least three months, but less than 12% keep using it long-term—most upgrade or leave.

Bottom line: Wix truly is free for building, sharing, and running a no-frills site. You just need to accept their ads, a Wix subdomain, and some limitations. If that sounds workable, you’re good to go. If not, you’ll want to peek at the price tags.

The Limits of Wix’s Free Plan

It's easy to get started for zero dollars, but the free version of Wix quickly shows its limits once you try to make your site stand out, look professional, or grow.

The most noticeable thing? Every free Wix site includes visible Wix branding. There's a banner stuck right at the top, and another ad at the bottom. No way to turn those off unless you upgrade. So if your site’s for a business or a portfolio, that’s hard to hide from visitors.

Your website address is another big trade-off. With the free plan, your site’s URL is always formatted like username.wixsite.com/sitename. So, if you want a custom or simple domain (like myshop.com), you’ll have to pay. Having a custom domain makes you look way more legitimate and makes it easier for people to remember where to find you.

Need more features? There are limits on storage and bandwidth. Free sites only get 500 MB storage and 500 MB monthly bandwidth. That means if you upload lots of images or get a sudden spike in visitors, things can slow down or visitors may hit a wall where your site just won’t load until the month refreshes.

Want to accept online payments, connect email marketing tools, or unlock advanced analytics? None of those are available on the free plan. Even contact forms are limited unless you install extra apps—some of which also cost money.

• No e-commerce (you can't sell products online)
• Basic templates only, some premium ones are locked
• Very limited customer support (mostly just help articles and forums)
• No access to Google Analytics or advanced SEO features

All these limits are designed to encourage upgrades. The Wix free plan can be fine for a small test or a personal project, but if you're serious about your site, you'll likely hit a wall pretty fast. Understanding these limits up front can save you a headache later.

Hidden Costs and Upsells to Watch For

Wix draws you in with the promise of a "free" website, but let's be real—there’s more going on behind the scenes. It’s totally possible to start a site without paying, but as you click around, you’ll notice links, banners, and buttons nudging you toward paid features and upgrades.

The most obvious upsell is ditching the ads. On the free plan, Wix ads are everywhere on your site. Want those gone? You’ll need the Combo plan or higher, which starts around $17 per month as of early 2025. If you want your own custom web address, like coolbusiness.com instead of the Wix-branded one, Wix asks for payment. Connecting a domain alone won’t cut it—you can only do this on a paid plan.

Here are some other common things that turn into extra bills:

• Wix premium apps: Many of the best apps in the Wix App Market aren’t included in the free plan. Email marketing, booking integrations, and detailed analytics often require subscriptions or one-time payments.
• Storage and bandwidth: The free plan caps you at 500MB of storage and 500MB of monthly bandwidth—pretty tight if you’re adding lots of images or expect even light traffic.
• E-commerce features: Selling products online? The free plan won’t cut it. You’ll need a business plan, starting at $29 per month, to accept payments or add a shopping cart.
• Email accounts: Want a professional email like [email protected]? You’ll need to pay for Google Workspace or another provider. Wix doesn’t include email with your domain purchase.
• Form submissions: Basic contact forms are fine, but if you need more forms or want to collect many responses, expect to pay for advanced form tools.

Wix also tacks on renewal fees after your first year of free domain registration (you get the first year free on annual plans, but then it’s around $15-$20/year after that). If you use paid apps, remember those subscriptions usually auto-renew unless you cancel them.

So if you’re only going for a basic site, you might get away with free. But once you want professional tools, a branded look, or e-commerce, those costs add up. Knowing about these upsells from the start can help you plan and avoid sticker shock.

Comparing Free vs Paid Plans

So, what do you really get from Wix for $0, and where do the paid plans start making a difference? Let’s break down what matters if you want your site to look pro, feel fast, and do more than just exist online.

First, the free plan is totally usable for beginners who just want a simple site. You don’t pay a cent to set it up. But here’s what you’ll hit right away:

• You’re stuck with a Wix-branded web address, like yoursite.wixsite.com/name.
• Wix ads will show on every page—at the top and bottom. They’re not small or subtle.
• You get just 500MB storage and 500MB bandwidth. That’s super limited if you want to have lots of images, files, or expect more than a handful of visitors.
• No access to ecommerce—selling products is off the table.
• You can’t connect your own domain name. Forget looking professional for clients or employers.
• Email accounts aren’t included.

Now, let’s talk paid plans. They start at around $17 a month (sometimes they run deals, but that’s the ballpark for the Combo plan in 2025). Here’s how paid changes your game:

• Your own custom domain—the site says what you want, not Wix’s subdomain.
• No Wix ads cluttering your pages.
• Much more storage and bandwidth, starting at 2GB for the cheapest paid plan and going way up from there.
• Access to Google Analytics on any plan above the lowest paid one, so you can actually see who visits your site and what they do.
• Priority support on pricier plans, so if anything breaks, you’re not left hanging.
• If you want a full online store, that’s a separate set of Business & Ecommerce plans starting around $29/month.

Bottom line? The Wix free plan lets you test the waters. But as soon as you want your site to look serious, lose the ads, or actually sell anything, you’ll need to reach for your card. Paid plans offer a lot more breathing space and crucial features you need for anything beyond a basic personal website.

When Upgrading Makes Sense

Sticking with the free plan on Wix is fine for basic sites, but there are clear signs it’s time to upgrade. First up, if you want your own domain like mycoolbrand.com instead of the default wixsite.com address, you’ll have to go paid. Having a custom domain makes you look so much more legit, whether you’re aiming to impress customers, clients, or even friends and family.

Another big reason is the ads. Wix places their branding at the top and bottom of every free site. Removing those Wix ads is only possible with a paid plan. If you’re building an online store or a business page, most visitors will see those ads and probably think less of your service or product.

Want to accept online payments or use eCommerce features? That’s another paywall. Selling products, taking bookings, or charging for content—none of that works on the free version. Even things like adding Google Analytics, increasing your storage space, or getting premium customer support require an upgrade. And if you’re counting on more bandwidth (so your site doesn’t slow down when you get lots of visitors), you’ll need a higher tier plan.

• You want a custom domain (e.g. yourbrand.com)
• You need to remove Wix ads
• You want eCommerce features like payments or a store
• You need extra storage and bandwidth
• You want premium support or advanced marketing tools
• You need to connect Google Analytics to see who’s visiting your site

If you’re curious about what you get with each plan, here’s a quick glance at some key differences:

The bottom line? If you care about your brand, want to get paid, or just want your site to look more professional, it’s hard to avoid going paid. And if your business depends on your site, a paid Wix plan isn’t just an upgrade—it’s almost a must.

Tips to Get the Best Out of Wix for Less

Want to squeeze the most out of Wix without overspending? There’s actually a ton you can do to cut costs and still get a pretty solid website. Here’s what works in 2025.

• Wix constantly rolls out promo deals and discounts, especially if you’re a new user. Watch out for pop-ups or first-timer offers. If you don’t see a deal right away, sometimes just leaving your site unfinished for a few days triggers a discount email.
• If you're building a personal blog or a simple portfolio, stick to the free plan but get crafty with the layout. Choose a clean, ad-friendly template so the Wix branding isn’t too distracting. Minimalist templates usually do better at hiding the built-in ads.
• If you’re serious about having your own domain (like "yourname.com"), you don’t need the super expensive plan. Just grab the most basic paid option. It gets rid of the Wix ads and lets you connect your custom domain—for most folks, that’s enough to look professional.
• Don’t buy a domain through Wix unless it’s part of a free first-year deal. Sometimes buying a domain from places like Namecheap or Google Domains saves money and gives you more control over the settings. You can connect the domain later from inside Wix.
• Be careful with add-ons in the App Market. They look appealing, but the “free” ones can turn paid after trial periods. Before you install any app, check user reviews and look for apps that stay free or offer enough value to justify the cost.
• Upgrades are cheaper if you pay yearly, not monthly. The difference can be 20% or more. If you’re going to upgrade, go for an annual plan and get two months free.
• Not sure which features you’ll need yet? Start free, then make a list of what you actually use. People often pay for things like more storage or form options, but only realize later they didn’t need them right away.

There’s no real shortcut to getting all the best features for literally zero bucks, but these tricks get you close. A little patience and some smart choices can make your site look like a million bucks even if you only spent a fraction of that.