Wix Free Forever: What You Get, Limits & Real‑World Tips

If you’re hunting for a no‑cost way to launch a website, Wix’s Free Forever plan is often the first name that pops up. It’s easy to sign up, you get a drag‑and‑drop editor, and you can publish a site in minutes. But “free” isn’t the same as “unlimited.” Let’s break down the actual features, the hidden catches, and how to squeeze the most value out of a Wix free site.

Core features you actually receive

When you click “Start for Free” on Wix, you instantly unlock a handful of useful tools:

• Wix ADI & Editor: Choose a ready‑made template or let the AI build a layout based on your answers.
• Free Wix domain: Your site lives at username.wixsite.com/sitename. No custom domain unless you upgrade.
• 500 MB storage & 1 GB bandwidth: Enough for a simple blog or portfolio, but not for heavy traffic.
• Wix branding: A small Wix logo appears in the footer of every page.
• Basic SEO tools: Title tags, meta descriptions, and a sitemap are included.

All of these are genuine freebies. You can publish a functional site without spending a dime.

Limitations you can’t ignore

The Free Forever plan comes with clear trade‑offs. First, the Wix ads at the bottom of the page can look unprofessional, especially for a business site. Second, the storage and bandwidth caps choke growth quickly – a photo‑rich portfolio or a video gallery will hit the limits fast.

Third, you can’t connect a custom domain (like yourbrand.com) unless you move to a paid plan. That means you’ll always hand out a longer, less memorable address. Finally, e‑commerce features are locked behind premium tiers, so you can’t sell products directly from a free Wix site.

Knowing these constraints helps you decide if the free tier matches your goals. For a personal blog, a landing page, or a test project, it’s often enough. For a serious brand, the branding and domain limitations usually push you toward an upgrade.

Practical tips to get the most out of Wix Free Forever

1. Keep it lightweight. Compress images before uploading and avoid large video files. Use Wix’s built‑in image optimizer to stay under the 500 MB cap.

2. Leverage free SEO basics. Fill out every title tag and meta description. Use headings (H1, H2) wisely and add alt text to images. This improves chances of ranking even without a paid plan.

3. Hide the Wix badge if possible. Some templates let you turn off the footer logo via the editor. If you can’t, consider it a temporary trade‑off while you validate your idea.

4. Collect emails with free tools. Embed a Mailchimp or Google Forms signup form. You’ll start building a list even before you decide to upgrade.

5. Plan an upgrade path. If you anticipate traffic growth, note the cost of Wix’s Combo or Unlimited plans. Knowing the price ahead helps you budget for a custom domain and ad‑free experience.

Bottom line: Wix Free Forever is a solid launchpad for a simple site or a prototype. It gives you a taste of the platform without any financial risk. Just be aware of the storage, bandwidth, and branding limits, and use the tips above to stretch the free plan as far as possible. When you outgrow the free tier, Wix makes upgrading a one‑click process, turning your temporary site into a full‑featured online presence.