Wix is one of the few major website builders with a genuinely free plan — but the free plan exists mostly to get you onto a paid one. Here’s what Wix actually costs in 2026, what the free tier really gives you, and which paid plan fits your needs.
Wix Pricing in 2026
| Plan | Per month (annual) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Testing and learning Wix |
| Light | $17 | Personal sites, no selling |
| Core | $29 | Small online stores |
| Business | $36 | Growing stores |
| Business Elite | $159 | High-volume / enterprise sites |
Free — $0
The free plan lets you build and publish, but with hard limits:
- Wix branding and ads on every page
- A Wix subdomain (
yourname.wixsite.com) — no custom domain - No ecommerce, no email campaigns
It’s fine for learning the editor, not for a real business. To connect a custom domain or sell anything, you must upgrade.
Light — $17/month
Everything in Free, plus:
- Connect a custom domain and remove Wix ads
- 2 GB storage and basic marketing tools
- Light is a website-only plan — no online store
Light suits portfolios, blogs, and brochure sites that don’t sell directly.
Core — $29/month
Everything in Light, plus:
- Ecommerce enabled — accept payments, manage products
- Abandoned-cart recovery and basic marketing automations
- 50 GB storage
Core is the entry point for selling on Wix and the most popular plan for small stores.
Business — $36/month
Everything in Core, plus:
- Advanced ecommerce and additional payment options
- More storage and standard analytics
- Room to scale product catalogs
Business Elite — $159/month
Everything in Business, plus:
- Unlimited storage and the full developer platform
- Advanced reporting and priority support
- Built for high-volume stores and complex sites
How Wix Compares on Price
| Tool | Free plan | Paid starts | Store from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | ✅ (branded) | $17/mo | $29/mo (Core) |
| Squarespace | ❌ | $16/mo | $16/mo (Basic, 2% fee) |
| Webflow | ✅ | ~$14/mo | Higher tiers |
| Framer | ✅ | $5/mo | Limited commerce |
Wix’s advantage is breadth — it does everything for everyone, with the easiest drag-and-drop editor and a real free plan. Squarespace wins on template polish; Webflow wins on design control. Wix wins on “just get it done.”
Is Wix Worth the Cost?
It’s worth it if:
- You want the easiest possible drag-and-drop editor
- You need a free plan to learn before committing
- You want one platform that handles sites, stores, bookings, and email
Look elsewhere if:
- You care most about design refinement — Squarespace or Webflow look more premium
- You want a clean, code-export-friendly site — Framer or Webflow fit better
- You only need a simple landing page — the cheaper builders may suffice
Tips to Save on Wix
- Pay annually — monthly billing costs noticeably more
- Don’t pay for Core if you don’t sell — Light is enough for non-store sites
- Use the free domain year included with annual plans, then budget for renewal
- Skip Business Elite unless you genuinely need unlimited storage or the dev platform
The Bottom Line
Wix is the most beginner-friendly major builder, and its free plan is real — just heavily branded. For a non-selling site, Light at $17 is plenty. For a small store, Core at $29 is the right entry point, and most businesses never need Business Elite. If ease of use matters more than design prestige, Wix is excellent value.
Compare website builders side by side →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wix really free?
Yes, but the free plan shows Wix ads, uses a Wix subdomain, and can’t sell products or use a custom domain. It’s best for testing, not for a live business.
Which Wix plan do I need to sell online?
You need at least the Core plan ($29/month) to accept payments and run an online store. Light and Free do not include ecommerce.
Is Wix cheaper than Squarespace?
Their entry prices are similar ($17 Wix Light vs $16 Squarespace Basic), but Wix has a free plan and Squarespace doesn’t. For stores, Wix Core ($29) competes with Squarespace Core ($23).