Is Wix Really Free? The Truth About Free Website Builders

Wix is everywhere these days—ads promising you can build your own website for free in minutes. But here’s what most folks want to know before jumping in: is Wix really free, or does a surprise bill show up later?

Let’s get straight to it. Yes, Wix has a free plan, and it works fine for getting a site live without opening your wallet. You get hosting, a builder packed with features, and a customisable template. But there’s a catch: your site will sport a Wix-branded domain (like yoursite.wixsite.com) and ads you can’t remove unless you pay. If you’re just showing off a hobby or testing an idea, this is enough. Planning to look serious for a business or personal brand? That free tag starts to slip.

Now, before deciding, you should think about what you actually need. For example, if you want to use your own domain or ditch those Wix ads, you’ll have to upgrade. The free plan has a few other limits too—like lower storage, no custom email, and some blocked features (like e-commerce or advanced analytics).

• What Does 'Free' on Wix Really Mean?
• Hidden Costs and Restrictions
• Wix Free vs. Paid Plans: Side-by-Side
• Real-world Examples: What You Can Build for Free
• How Wix Compares to Other Free Builders
• Tips for Making the Most of Free Wix

What Does 'Free' on Wix Really Mean?

If you look at Wix’s homepage, you’ll see big promises like “free website builder” splashed everywhere. But here's what's actually included if you sign up for the free plan.

• Wix gives you basic website hosting that costs nothing. Your site can be live day one.
• You can choose from hundreds of website templates—no extra charges for picking a design you like.
• The core drag-and-drop builder is unlocked. No need to know code or anything techy.
• You get basic features like image galleries, text, blog options, and even forms.

But everything comes with boundaries. Your site’s web address will look like this: yourusername.wixsite.com/sitename, not a custom domain. You’ll also see Wix ads popping up on every page and at the bottom of your site. There’s zero way to remove these unless you pay for a premium plan.

If you’re just building a personal project, school portfolio, or want to test some ideas, the free plan really works. For anything where you want to control your brand and remove those ads, budget for at least the lowest paid option. So, Wix is free—as long as you’re okay with their branding and the basic starter setup. Want more? That’s when the meter starts running.

Hidden Costs and Restrictions

It’s easy to think you’re getting a full website for nothing with Wix, but there are a bunch of costs that can catch you off guard if you’re not careful. The big one? As long as you stick with the free plan, you’ll never get rid of the Wix branding and ads. Your site address will always be something like yoursite.wixsite.com/home, which just doesn’t look professional if you’re hoping to impress clients or customers.

To get your own domain name (like yoursite.com), you have to move to a paid plan—that starts at around $16/month. On top of that, email addresses tied to your domain (like [email protected]) aren’t included; those are powered by Google Workspace and start at an extra $6/month. So, the extras add up quicker than you might expect.

Here’s a breakdown of what you get (and don’t get) with the free vs paid plans:

There’s also a little-known limit: if your site gets too popular, Wix can slow your traffic or ask you to upgrade. And if you ever want to move your site to another platform? Exporting your content from Wix isn’t as simple as you’d expect. The platform keeps you pretty locked in.

• If you want to sell products (even a few), that’s not included with the free plan—you’ll need a business/commerce plan, which starts even higher.
• Want to use extra apps or widgets from the Wix App Market? Many are only free for basic use, but the good stuff usually sits behind a paywall.

The takeaway: Wix is a great way to start, but the Wix free plan comes with a handful of hidden restrictions. Keep an eye on those, or you’ll end up paying more than you expected just to unlock features you thought were included from the start.

Wix Free vs. Paid Plans: Side-by-Side

If you’re weighing the free plan against Wix’s paid options, it helps to see where the main differences pop up. Most new users start out with free because, well, who doesn’t like saving cash? But it’s not just about money—it's about what you can (and can’t) do with each plan.

Here’s a simple comparison to make things clear:

The Wix free plan is really just a taste. It’s well-suited for portfolios, testing out designs, or school projects where branding isn’t a big deal. But suppose you want to look professional—like you’re running a business, or just want people to take your site seriously. In that case, paying for a Combo or Unlimited plan makes sense.

• Custom domains make you look legit. Visitors are more likely to trust a site called "mycafe.com" than "mycafe.wixsite.com."
• Storage and bandwidth matter as your site grows. If you're planning on photo galleries, videos, or expect a bunch of visitors, 500 MB vanishes fast.
• No online payments or e-commerce on free. If you need to sell anything or take bookings, jump to at least the Business Basic plan.

One sneaky thing: some features look free in the Wix editor but prompt you to upgrade at publish-time. Stuff like form builders, some templates, or booking tools gets locked behind a paywall when you actually try to go live.

So, check your priorities. Do a quick list of "must-have" features. If you don’t need much, the free deal is okay. But for anything more than the basics, you’ll likely hit a paywall sooner rather than later.

Real-world Examples: What You Can Build for Free

If you're wondering how far the free option on Wix can actually take you, let's break down what real people have done. Sure, you won't be running a full e-commerce store or get your business email address, but you can do more than you might think without paying a cent.

• Personal Portfolios: Tons of students and freelancers interview-ready sites with project galleries, a contact form, and an about page. Everything fits right into the templates Wix offers for free. Sandeep, a friend of mine who’s a designer, built his portfolio in a weekend and started sharing it with clients the next day.
• Event Pages: Birthday, wedding, class reunion—you can make a single-page site to send invites, upload photos, and collect RSVPs. Wix’s drag-and-drop lets you slap up a schedule and Google Maps box for directions in about 15 minutes.
• Hobby Blogs: Want to talk about baking, cricket, or home repairs? The free blog tool lets you post articles, galleries, and even comments. One Wix-backed food blog I checked last year got about 2,000 monthly visitors—all on the free plan.
• Community Clubs or Groups: If you run a local football club or reading circle, a free Wix site can share schedules, announcements, or photos. I set one up with Meera for our housing society so neighbors could book community spaces and get news alerts. Worked like a charm, minus the Wix ad footer glaring at everyone.

What's the catch? Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s possible on the free plan:

If your needs are basic and you’re okay with having the Wix branding around, these free sites do the job. But when you want your own web address or to kick off a serious business, those limits start to bug you. Until then, you can actually build something real, for real money: zero.

How Wix Compares to Other Free Builders

Whenever you hear about building a website for free, Wix isn’t the only big name out there. You’ve got options like WordPress.com, Weebly, and Google Sites. So, how does Wix actually stack up beside these other free website builders? Here’s what you need to know if you're trying to pick the right tool without spending a cent.

Let’s break it down by what most people care about:

• Wix gives you a ton of design options, more than most other free builders. Drag and drop is smooth, and you get lots of templates. But your free site gets a long Wix subdomain and their ads all over the page. No custom domains unless you upgrade.
• WordPress.com is a good choice if you want to focus on blogging. Their editor isn’t as visual, but you get a slightly shorter subdomain (like yoursite.wordpress.com). Ads are also present unless you go premium. Customization is more limited unless you pay up.
• Weebly (owned by Square) is super easy for beginners. Its free plan gives you a Weebly-branded domain and some ads, but the ad placement is a bit less in-your-face than Wix. Weebly’s editing is a bit more limited, but it covers the basics well.
• Google Sites is totally free and has no ads, but the downside is you only get the basics. Handy for simple team pages, portfolios, or school projects, but don’t expect to build anything slick or modern-looking. It’s all about function.

Here’s a quick head-to-head to compare the big four free builders:

*Google Sites uses your Google Drive space, which is 15GB for free across all Google services.

The big win for Wix is pure design freedom compared to the rest. But if you really want a site without ads, or you're okay with a super simple look, Google Sites might work. Want more storage? WordPress.com offers the most, but gives up some design control. Honestly, if visual customization is your thing, Wix is the strongest free pick, just remember about the ads and the lack of your own domain name until you pay. The lesson? Match the builder to what matters more: style, simplicity, or zero branding.

Tips for Making the Most of Free Wix

If you’re using Wix’s free plan, you’ve got to be a bit strategic to actually squeeze good value out of it. Here’s how you can make the most out of what they offer without getting tripped up by unexpected roadblocks.

• Wix includes their branding on every free site—there’s no way around this, but you can pick a template that works well with the Wix banner so it doesn’t feel out of place. Minimalist templates usually hide the banner better, making your site look cleaner.
• Stick to simple image and video uploads to avoid running out of free storage. Wix’s free plan caps you at 500MB, so compress images before uploading. Free tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh can help cut down file sizes fast.
• Link out to free external apps whenever possible. Want a contact form or calendar integration? Use Google Forms or an embedded Google Calendar, so you skip Wix’s paywall features.
• Get creative with your site address. Since you’re stuck with the wixsite.com domain, pick a subdomain that actually makes sense. It’ll look more legit than a random jumble of numbers or words.
• Skip e-commerce or booking features unless you just want to show info. Selling or accepting online bookings will force you to pay. Instead, provide a contact link, maybe even your WhatsApp or Instagram, for people to reach out for sales or questions.
• Promote your site yourself. Wix won’t give your free site much of a boost in search rankings since you can’t connect your own domain. Share links through social media, email, or messaging apps to drive traffic, and keep things super easy to update so you don’t waste time fixing things later.

Honestly, free Wix is best for simple projects, portfolios, event pages, or quick landing pages where you just need something live. If you keep these tips in mind, you won’t end up frustrated—or spending more than you aimed to.