Is Wix free to use for building websites?
Understanding Wix's Free Plan
Yes, Wix does offer a completely free plan that allows you to create and publish a website without any financial commitment. This makes it an accessible option for individuals and small businesses who want to establish an online presence or test the platform before investing in a premium plan.
What You Get With the Free Plan
The Wix free plan provides access to the full Wix Editor, giving you the ability to use drag-and-drop tools to build your site. You can choose from hundreds of customizable templates across various industries, and you'll receive 500 MB of storage and bandwidth. The platform also grants access to the Wix App Market, where you can add various features and functionalities to your website.
Important Limitations to Consider
While the free plan is functional, it comes with several notable restrictions. Your website will display Wix branding and advertisements, which can appear unprofessional for business purposes. You won't be able to connect a custom domain; instead, your site will have a URL in the format of username.wixsite.com/sitename.
The 500 MB storage and bandwidth limitations may restrict your website's growth and visitor capacity. Additionally, you won't have access to direct customer support—only community forums are available for assistance. Most significantly, the free plan doesn't include eCommerce capabilities or advanced marketing tools, making it unsuitable for online selling.
When to Upgrade
The free plan works well for personal projects, hobby sites, or testing purposes. However, if you're running a business, want to appear professional, need to sell products online, or require more storage and features, you'll want to consider upgrading to one of Wix's premium plans. These paid options start around $10-$17 per month and remove ads, provide custom domain connections, offer enhanced storage, and unlock business features.
The good news is that you can use the free plan indefinitely and upgrade whenever you're ready to expand your website's capabilities.