Is Wix 100 Percent Free? What You Really Get Without Paying

Type “free blog sites” into Google, and Wix always pops up. So, is Wix totally free or are you signing up for surprise bills? Here’s the real deal: you really can start and run a blog on Wix without paying a cent. You can choose a template, write posts, even get your blog live using a wixsite.com address. But you might notice right away—it’s not all rainbows.

Yes, the basics are unlocked from the start. No credit card needed, no countdown timer before the trial ends. And for someone testing ideas or launching a personal blog, you might find this is all you need. The catch? You’ll spot some pretty obvious Wix ads on your site (not hidden in a corner—right at the top and bottom), and you can’t use a custom domain like myawesomeblog.com. Plus, you’re working with basic storage and features.

• Wix Free Forever: What's Included?
• The Catch—Wix Free Plan Limitations
• Hidden Costs and Upgrade Triggers
• Tips to Get The Most Out of Free Wix

Wix Free Forever: What's Included?

Wix says its free plan is “forever,” and they mean it—there’s no catch where it just flips to paid without warning. You get real tools without spending anything. Starting out, you can build unlimited basic sites and you’ll have access to the same drag-and-drop editor that the paid plans use. So you’re really playing with the same building blocks the pros use, just with a few more boundaries.

Here’s what you honestly get with the forever free plan:

• Wix free subdomain: You can pick your own site name, but it’ll end with “wixsite.com,” like joeblogsworld.wixsite.com.
• Over 800 templates: From simple blogs to flashy portfolios, all available with no cost.
• Basic site hosting: Wix actually hosts your stuff, so you don’t have to pay anyone else for web hosting space or mess with servers.
• SSL security: Even on free, your site has that little lock icon in the browser bar. Handy for trust and SEO.
• Free Wix branding: Yes, that means you get Wix ads, but you do get a steady, working blog with no downtime.
• Free storage: 500MB for files, photos, and blog posts—decent for most text-based blogs and small image galleries.
• 1GB bandwidth: Plenty for a blog just starting out, enough for hundreds of monthly visitors.
• Basic tools: Built-in forms, social icons, and access to basic SEO like custom page titles and descriptions.

Just to make things clearer, here’s a side-by-side with the essentials you get and what’s locked behind paywalls:

Every site you publish on the free plan is technically “live” and open to Google. It’s a fully functioning blog for personal stories, opinions, or even a tight community. If you’re itching to get your thoughts online without any upfront cost, there’s not much stopping you.

The Catch—Wix Free Plan Limitations

Wix gets a lot of eyeballs with its free offer, but the devil’s in the details. For starters, you can’t use your own domain name. Your blog lives at something like yoursite.wixsite.com, which makes it harder for people to find you or remember your site. Not great if you want to look pro.

Then there are the Wix ads. These banners show up on every single page and definitely make your site feel a little less personal. According to Wix's own help center:

“All free websites display a prominent Wix banner and Wix footer across every page.”

You're also limited in space. Free Wix accounts get up to 500MB storage and 500MB bandwidth each month. That’s fine for a basic text blog. But if you plan to upload lots of photos, videos, or you suddenly get a spike in visitors, you’ll quickly hit the wall. Check out this quick comparison of free vs paid:

It’s also important to know that free users have limited access to customer support—you’re basically on your own searching the help docs. Need e-commerce? Not happening on the free plan. Forms and marketing tools? Mostly limited too.

• No ability to install certain apps unless you upgrade
• No favicon (the little logo in browser tabs) customization
• Google Analytics is reserved for paid plans

Bottom line: you can definitely try out Wix free for simple blogging, but once you start thinking bigger, you’ll start hitting these speed bumps fast. Most people end up upgrading once they care about looking professional, growing traffic, or unlocking more tools.

Hidden Costs and Upgrade Triggers

Wix hits you with the "100 percent free" promise, but there are clear moments when you’ll need to think about reaching for your wallet. The biggest triggers? Removing Wix branding, using your own domain, getting more storage, or unlocking extra apps and features.

Here’s a quick list of situations where free hits its limit and you’ll bump into upgrade prompts:

• Custom Domain: You can’t use your personal domain (like yourname.com) on the basic free plan. Stuck with “yoursite.wixsite.com,” unless you upgrade.
• Wix Ads: Free sites come with Wix logos at the top and bottom of every page. They’re impossible to hide unless you pay up.
• Storage and Bandwidth: The free plan gives 500MB of each. That’s just enough for a basic blog, but you’ll run out fast if you share lots of images or get decent traffic.
• Online Shop: Want to sell products? E-commerce features need a paid plan—no way around it.
• Analytics and Extra Features: Need Google Analytics or premium support? Those are locked until you upgrade.

If you’re a hobby blogger, you might live with these limits for a while. But anyone serious about growing a Wix free blog quickly sees the nudge to upgrade. Here’s a look at what the main paid tiers offer, so you can plan ahead before getting too deep:

Watch out for upsells too. Wix pushes paid apps, premium email inboxes, and website boosters. Some “free” apps are just basic teasers. Bottom line: If you just want to blog and don’t care about branding, stick with free. But if you need more, budget for an upgrade.

Tips to Get The Most Out of Free Wix

Trying to squeeze every bit of value out of Wix’s free version? You’re not alone. Even though you’re not dropping any cash, a few smart moves can make your site punch above its weight.

• Wix free plan already gives you access to over 800 templates. Pick a modern design that’s mobile-friendly—about 54% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, according to Statista’s 2024 report.
• Customize your template as much as you can. Rearrange sections, swap out colors, and update fonts—Wix’s editor is drag-and-drop and doesn’t require coding. Spend time in the Design settings for a unique look because you can’t use plugins to change everything later like on other platforms.
• Create a logo using Wix’s free logo maker tool if you don’t have one. Added branding always kicks things up a notch, even if your domain is still .wixsite.com. Basic logos download free in a low-res format—good enough for personal blogs or hobby sites.
• Use all the free apps in the Wix App Market. Some highlights: Wix Blog, Wix Chat, and visitor analytics—all at zero cost for basic versions. Don’t go wild adding every app, though, since free plans have limited storage (500MB) and bandwidth (500MB/month).
• Focus on site speed. On the free version, your site might feel a bit slower, mostly if you overload it with huge images or lots of external content. Compress photos, stick with JPGs, and avoid heavy homepage videos.
• Since you can’t connect a custom domain for free, make your chosen site name short and memorable. Example: www.username.wixsite.com/coolblog. It’ll be easier for readers (and you!) to share.

If you’re curious which features come with the free plan, check this quick table for clarity:

One last thing: If you ever hit the limits, remember you can always download your content and move to another platform. But until you outgrow it, free Wix can take you surprisingly far if you play it smart.