Wix Free Plan: What You Get and What to Expect

If you’re thinking about putting your business, passion project, or personal brand online, you've probably heard about Wix. The big question most people have? Is there a Wix free plan, or do you have to pay just to get started?

Yes, Wix really does offer a totally free plan. You can sign up, design your site, and publish it—without reaching for your credit card first. It’s a legit way to see what you can build before making any big decisions or investments.

Wix’s free plan is super popular because you don’t need to know any coding. Everything is drag-and-drop. Even if this is your first time trying a website builder, you’ll have your site up in less than an hour. You get to pick from tons of good-looking templates and change stuff until you’re happy with the look.

But here’s what most people miss: the free plan has a few strings attached. For starters, your site will have a Wix-branded domain—think mystunningart.wixsite.com, instead of your own custom domain like mystunningart.com. You’ll also spot Wix ads on your pages, and certain features like online payments are locked behind their paid plans.

Still, the free tier is far from useless. If you’re testing an idea, building a personal site, or just learning, you have room to play around and get a real website live. Just don’t expect to look like a Fortune 500 company until you’re ready to pay for more control and fewer limits.

• Is There a Wix Free Plan?
• What You Can Do on the Free Plan
• The Main Limitations to Watch For
• Smart Ways to Maximize Your Free Wix Site
• When to Consider Upgrading

Is There a Wix Free Plan?

Short answer? Yes, there’s a wix free plan, and you can build and publish a site without spending a dime. All you need is an email address and a few minutes. Wix doesn’t ask for payment info when you sign up for the free version, so there are no sneaky charges down the road. As of April 2025, this hasn’t changed – the free plan is still available to anyone, anywhere.

The draw here is pretty obvious: you can test every part of the free website builder without making a commitment. Whether you want to create a portfolio, set up a blog, or try out layouts for a hobby, the free plan gives you full access to the editor and hundreds of templates.

Here’s how the process goes once you land on Wix:

• Click "Get Started" or "Sign Up" on Wix.com.
• Select the type of website you want, or let Wix’s ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) build a first draft for you.
• Customize your pages, add text, images, and all kinds of features.
• Hit "Publish"—and your site goes live under a URL like yourname.wixsite.com/sitename.

This free plan is a big reason why so many beginners flock to Wix. According to Wix’s own analytics shared in 2024, over 80% of new Wix users started with the free version before considering an upgrade.

If you’re wondering if there’s a catch with the wix free plan, it’s mostly about the extras. You can create, design, and launch—but you won’t get a custom domain or an ad-free experience. More on that in the next section.

What You Can Do on the Free Plan

With the wix free plan, you can jump straight into building a real website without paying a cent. The coolest part? You get access to almost the same drag-and-drop editor as paid users, so you’re not stuck with some half-baked watered-down tool. Pick from more than 800 templates—yep, that’s a huge number—and tweak whatever you want: colors, fonts, images, text, buttons. Want to move sections around or add a funky gallery? Go for it.

You can create as many pages as you need and there’s no time limit. Your site can stay live on the free plan as long as you want. You also get hosting for free, so you don’t have to worry about where your files are stored. Wix even lets you install free apps from their App Market to add features like forms, events, or social feeds.

Here’s a quick list of what the wix free plan covers:

• Website builder tools: Full drag-and-drop editor with tons of templates
• Unlimited pages: No restriction on page count
• Free web hosting: No server setup needed
• Wix App Market (free items): Add features like contact forms, chat, and more
• Mobile optimization: Your site will automatically adjust for phones and tablets
• Image and video galleries: Show off your photos or media
• Blogging: Start your own blog in minutes
• Basic site analytics: Get simple stats about your visitors with free apps

If you’re curious, Wix host millions of sites worldwide, and their free plan is behind a big chunk of those. Some folks use it as an online business card, a project portfolio, or even to share event invites. You can definitely get something professional-looking out in the wild—all without paying upfront.

But keep in mind that your site address will include wixsite.com, and Wix ads will appear on the top and bottom of your pages. Still, for a test run or a basic web presence, the wix free plan packs in a surprising amount of value.

The Main Limitations to Watch For

The wix free plan makes it easy to get started, but it comes with several clear restrictions that can get in your way if you're building something serious. Before you dive in, it's smart to know exactly what to expect so you don’t get stuck or disappointed later on.

• Wix ads everywhere. Every page of your site will have a noticeable Wix banner or ad, usually at the top or bottom. If you want a clean and professional look, this is a pretty big drawback.
• No custom domain. Your website address will include Wix branding—something like yoursite.wixsite.com/yourblog. You can’t use your own domain name (like yoursite.com) unless you upgrade to a paid plan. If you’re trying to look credible, especially for a business, this feels limiting.
• Limited storage and bandwidth. The free plan gives you just 500MB of storage and 500MB of bandwidth per month. That’s enough for simple sites, but it can run out fast if you post a lot of photos or get steady traffic.
• No ecommerce or online payment features. If you want to sell products, accept appointments, or take payments, you’ll need to pay for a premium plan. The free version is just for showcasing content, not running a store.
• Basic support only. Support is there if you run into trouble, but don’t expect phone support or quick responses like paid plans get.
• Basic SEO tools. The crucial SEO features are locked behind paid plans, which means you can’t really push your site up Google’s search rankings as easily.
• Email and analytics are missing. You can’t use a custom business email (like [email protected]), and you don’t get access to advanced analytics to see who’s visiting.

If you’re curious about how the wix free plan measures up against the cheapest premium plan, here’s a quick look:

The bottom line: For simple personal sites or testing ideas, the wix free plan does the job. But if you want to build a brand, add real features, or look more polished, you’ll hit these limits fast.

Smart Ways to Maximize Your Free Wix Site

Just because you’re on the wix free plan doesn’t mean your site should look basic or unfinished. There’s lots you can do to level things up without spending a dime. Here’s how to squeeze out the most value from your free Wix website builder setup.

• Punch Up Your Design with Custom Images: Wix's free templates are easy to tweak. Upload your own high-quality photos and logos to stand out. Don’t settle for the default stock pics—that’s an instant giveaway you’re using a free tier.
• Streamline Your Navigation: Keep your menu simple. Too many pages make sites look messy, and simple menus help people (and Google) find your best stuff faster.
• Optimize Text for SEO: Wix lets you add custom titles and descriptions to every page. Use the wix free plan and free website builder keywords naturally in your text. It helps your site show up in searches and tells visitors what you do right away.
• Take Advantage of Wix Apps: Even on the free plan, the Wix App Market has dozens of apps you can use (like contact forms, chat widgets, and social feeds). You don’t need extra cash to make your website interactive.
• Link Up Your Social Accounts: Just paste your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook links into your Wix free site. It’s a quick win—lets visitors connect across your platforms and builds some trust.
• Stay Mobile-Friendly: Wix sites come with a mobile version by default, but always double-check. Preview everything on your phone, adjust sizes, and make sure buttons actually work for mobile visitors.

A cool stat: Wix claims that over 85% of sites made in 2024 got at least one visitor from a smartphone, so don’t skip mobile checks!

And remember, the free site does show wix branding and ads. Use clear headers, strong visuals, and sharp content to distract from those banners. Focus on making your main message and call to action pop so people care about your offer, not the Wix logo.

When to Consider Upgrading

If you’ve been playing around with the wix free plan and start to feel like you hit a wall, it might be time to look at going premium. Not everyone needs to pay for Wix, but there are some clear signs when an upgrade makes a lot of sense.

First, wanting your own custom domain—something like www.coolshop.com instead of coolshop.wixsite.com—can be a big deal if you want to look professional. People trust sites with custom domains way more, especially if you’re running a business or building a portfolio.

The free plan always has Wix ads on your pages. If you want your site to look clean and fully yours, it’s worth upgrading just to get rid of those ads. Wix won’t sneakily remove them on the free tier—paying is the only way.

Here’s how to know if you’re ready to level up:

• You need to accept payments or use e-commerce features (like an online store or booking system)—these are only on paid plans.
• Your site’s storage or bandwidth hits the max (the free plan offers just 500MB of each—this runs out fast with lots of images or traffic).
• You want more control over how your site looks on mobile or need access to advanced SEO features (like editing page meta tags directly or using Google Analytics).
• You want extra goodies like customer support that replies fast or tools for email marketing—these are reserved for paid subscribers.

Here’s a quick side-by-side to help you decide:

One last tip: Wix sometimes runs discounts for new users, especially around big shopping days. If you’re thinking about making the jump, look out for promo codes or deals—it could save you a good chunk of cash on your first year.