Is Wix Really Free Forever? Hidden Costs and Limitations Explained

There's this idea floating around online that you can build a polished website without spending a single dollar, just by using Wix. But is that promise of "free forever" all it’s cracked up to be? People scroll through ads and catch phrases like, “Launch your dreams—free!” and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in designing the perfect homepage. But before you hit publish, curiosity starts nagging: What’s the catch?

What You Really Get With Wix’s Free Plan

When you jump into Wix and sign up for a free account, it feels almost like you’ve beaten the system. The sign-up takes a few minutes, and suddenly you’re plopped into the editor, ready to drag and drop everything from galleries to booking forms. Wix doesn’t mess around on the creative side. You’ve got access to their huge library of templates and the ability to pick up design ideas from their App Market. You can build as many free sites as you want. There’s no limit on the number of pages, either. They let you use the features you probably care about at the start—text editing, blogs, image galleries, contact forms, maps, and even basic online stores (for display only, not for transactions).

Sounds more than generous, right? Thing is, your free site sits on a Wix-branded domain (think: username.wixsite.com/sitename), not your own snappy .com address. Wix ads will pop up in the header and footer of every page. You also get a pretty tight 500MB storage limit and 500MB bandwidth each month. To put that into perspective, if you post lots of high-res photos or expect over a thousand visitors in a month, the site could run out of juice. You also miss out on Google Analytics, e-commerce (such as accepting payments), and advanced design elements like custom scripts or fonts.

Here’s a simple table showing the features on the free plan versus paid:

Does “Free Forever” Actually Mean Forever?

The short answer: wix free forever does give permanent access to the free tier. Wix states that you can use the free plan for as long as you want, no time limits. You won’t suddenly get locked out or lose your work—your website stays live (unless you violate their terms, of course). People have had free Wix sites up for years without paying a cent. So, technically, yes, Wix is free forever if all you need is the most basic setup.

But here's the kicker. The moment you want your own domain, get rid of those ads, or start accepting payments, you have to upgrade. There’s no sneaky trial clock ticking down, but the limitations become obvious. Over time, as your site grows—or your ambitions change—it gets harder to ignore where the free plan falls short. That’s ultimately how Wix makes money: lure millions in for free, then charge for resources and features pros or growing businesses can’t skip. It’s a smart business move.

If you do end up needing more, Wix’s paid plans start at around AU$15 a month for the lightest version with your own domain. E-commerce plans cost more. So, while your site never gets forcibly upgraded, most serious users outgrow the free setup. It’s kind of like those streaming services: you can listen to songs for free, but eventually the ads and skips get to you.

Breaking Down All the Limitations

Some people feel let down when they realize everything the free plan leaves out. The most noticeable trade-off is the domain. Say you want www.bobsbeachcafe.com or something that sounds sharp in a CV. On the free plan, forget it. You’re stuck with wixsite.com in the address forever. That’s not great for branding or looking credible if you’re running a business.

The other biggie is Wix ads. These banners aren’t subtle—they sit right up top and bottom of each page, following your visitors around. It’s not a professional look. Plus, you don’t get email addresses with your domain, so you can’t set up something like [email protected] on the free tier.

For anyone thinking about search engines, free Wix plans don’t allow Google Analytics integration. That means you can’t see exactly who’s visiting, what pages they like, or where they’re bouncing. Built-in stats are basic at best. If you want to sell things, the free version only lets you display products; you can’t hook up a payment system, cart, or checkout. Subtle but important details, especially for businesses aiming to look legit.

There’s even a cap on bandwidth. If your link goes viral, Wix’s 500MB a month could disappear fast. Your site could temporarily drop offline until the next month rolls around. And if you like playing with code or adding special plugins? Free Wix doesn’t allow for full code customization or advanced widgets. The App Market is hugely limited in what’s available on the free plan, with some features locked behind a paywall.

Who Should Stick With Free and Who Should Upgrade?

The reality is, not everyone needs to pay for a website. If you’re a student building a project for school, running a family event page, or just want a place to share photos with mates, the free Wix plan is surprisingly handy. Same goes for “just in case” landing pages, hobby blogs, or portfolios without huge traffic goals. Those limitations—ads, domain, no analytics—won’t bother you if there’s no pressure to look polished.

Where things change is when you need to build trust—think freelancers, shops, service providers. A free site with banners and a clunky address stirs up doubts: is this legit? That’s when upgrading is worth it. Even a basic paid plan unlocks a custom domain and hides the ads. If your goal is to accept bookings, sell online, or run ads yourself, going premium is a must. For growing sites, the extra storage and bandwidth keep things running smooth.

Here’s a tip: If you’re unsure, you can start free and only upgrade when you hit a wall. It’s not a bait-and-switch—Wix makes it obvious when you need more juice.

Clever Ways to Get More From Free Wix

For people determined to dodge the upgrade, there are a few tricks to stretch the free plan. First up: limit your media uploads. Compress photos, stick to a handful of core images, and use platforms like YouTube to embed video, saving on storage.

Use the free Site Booster app trial to get a quick SEO check-up, and take full advantage of Wix SEO Wiz to improve your search presence without pro tools. Personal blogs and simple CVs can still look sharp with careful template tweaks—even if you’re stuck with wixsite.com as your address.

If you want to make the site less obviously free, design your pages to draw focus away from the header and footer—think big, central hero photos or slideshows that break up the default layout. Keep your homepage content light and split large galleries into separate pages, so no single section tips your bandwidth over the line. And, if you need feedback on traffic, lightweight analytics tools like Statcounter can sometimes be embedded with custom HTML elements, even on free plans, though this isn't officially supported.

There’s also no rule against starting your site with Wix free, then porting the site’s content over to another host if you find better value elsewhere down the line. Just remember that design elements built within Wix’s editor aren’t always easy to export. Save your copy, images, and blog content somewhere safe just in case.

Wix’s Free Model: Worth It For You?

Wix changed how people approach making a website. Before, you needed to know code, or pay hundreds to a web developer. Now, anyone can drag-and-drop a site together after dinner. For small, personal projects or micro-sites, the free forever plan genuinely opens doors. No constant “upgrade” pop-ups, no charge after 30 days. But the expectation that you’ll stick to free forever, as your needs change, is a bit of a fantasy. The platform is upfront about its limitations—you’ll know when you’ve outgrown them.

If reputation, sales, or customization matter, and if you want to control your own brand, upgrading will be on your mind before long. For lots of us, the free plan is the on-ramp, not the destination. But there’s nothing wrong with seeing how far it’ll get you. With a little creativity and some clever hacks, you’ll squeeze more out of “free forever” than you probably thought possible.