Is Wix Really Free Forever? What You Need to Know Before You Build

Wix is one of the most talked‑about website builders, and a lot of people sign up because the free plan looks too good to pass up. The reality, however, is that "free forever" comes with strings attached. In this guide we’ll break down exactly what you get on Wix’s free tier, the hidden costs that pop up later, and the moments when moving to a paid plan actually saves you time and money.

What the Free Plan Gives You

When you create a Wix account you instantly get a sub‑domain (yourname.wixsite.com/yoursite) and access to dozens of templates. You can drag‑and‑drop elements, add a blog, and publish in minutes. That’s great for hobby projects, class assignments, or testing ideas without spending a dime.

But the free plan also slaps a Wix banner on every page, forces you to use the Wix sub‑domain, and limits your storage to 500 MB. You can’t connect a custom domain, and e‑commerce features are locked behind a paywall. If you’re okay with these trade‑offs, the free version works fine for a simple showcase.

Hidden Costs and When Upgrading Pays Off

As your site grows, those limitations start to bite. The moment you need a professional look, you’ll want to remove the Wix ads and attach your own domain. That’s the first paid tier – usually around $14/month for a year contract. It also bumps up storage to 3 GB and gives you a bit more bandwidth.

For online stores, Wix’s e‑commerce plans start at about $23/month and include payment gateways, inventory management, and unlimited products. Skipping straight to a higher tier can feel pricey, but it prevents you from losing sales to a clunky checkout or a site that constantly shows ads.

Another hidden cost is SEO. Free sites on Wix have limited control over meta tags and URL structures, which can hurt your rankings. Upgrading unlocks SEO Wiz, custom 301 redirects, and the ability to add schema markup – tools that can make a real difference in traffic.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider using the free plan for a landing page while you test content ideas. Once you know what works, switch to a paid plan just for the features you need – a custom domain and ad‑free pages are often enough to look credible.

Finally, watch out for renewal rates. Wix, like many SaaS platforms, offers a discount for the first year and then bumps the price after the contract ends. Set a reminder to review your plan before it auto‑renews, and compare with alternatives like WordPress.com or Squarespace if the cost seems steep.

Bottom line: Wix’s free tier is a useful sandbox, but it’s not a long‑term solution for serious businesses or brands. Know the limits, calculate the real cost of ads and SEO downtime, and upgrade only when the benefits outweigh the extra monthly fee.