How to Build a Free Website with Wix: Step-by-Step Guide

Signing up takes only a few seconds. Head to the registration page, enter your email address, and create a password. Once you are in, Wix's built-in AI greets you and asks a few questions about your project — what the site is about, what kind of business or personal use it serves — before guiding you into the main interface.

After the brief onboarding, you land in your dashboard. From here you can monitor site analytics, view visitor messages, and manage your content. To start building, click Design Site to enter the template library.

Wix offers over 800 templates, and every single one is free to use on the platform. You can filter them by industry — options include business, health and wellness, education, and design, among others. Before committing to a template, click View to preview the full layout and browse through the pages.

Once you find the right fit, click Edit to open the template in the live editor. You are still on the free plan at this point — no payment required to access templates or the editor.

The Wix drag-and-drop editor is fully available on the free plan. Here is what you can do without paying:

• Edit text directly on any element — click a text block and type your own content
• Upload your own images — select any image, click Change Background Image, then upload from your desktop; Wix automatically optimises the file size to preserve loading speed
• Add new pages — the free plan does not cap the number of pages; you can add an About page, a Contact page, or any other section using Wix's built-in page templates
• Drag and rearrange elements — move sections, columns, and widgets anywhere on the canvas

Because Wix auto-optimises uploaded images for loading performance, you do not need to manually compress files before uploading.

Wix includes a range of business apps you can install and explore without upgrading. From the editor's App Market or the Business Solutions panel, you can add:

• Wix Stores — set up product listings, upload images, and configure prices; you can explore the store builder for free, but processing actual payments requires a paid plan
• Wix Chat — a live chat widget that lets visitors message you directly; this app works on the free plan, so people can contact you straight away
• Wix Bookings — lets visitors schedule appointments with you; installation is free, though some booking features require an upgrade

Installing and testing these apps on the free plan is a practical way to see whether a particular feature fits your workflow before committing to a subscription.

When you are ready to share your work, click Publish. Your site goes live immediately — no additional steps required. On the free plan, your URL follows this format:

yourname.wixsite.com/yoursitename

You can customise both the name segment and the path segment, but the

wixsite.com

portion always stays. Alongside the subdomain, a banner appears at the top of every page stating "This website was built on Wix." This banner includes Wix branding and a call to action for visitors to create their own site.

Despite these limitations, your site is fully live and accessible. You can share the link with colleagues, collaborators, or family so they can review the design and send you messages through Wix Chat.

The two plans most relevant to beginners are Light and Core. The Light plan removes the ad banner and connects a custom domain, and comes with 2 GB of storage — sufficient for a site with around 10–20 images. The Core plan adds the ability to accept payments, making it the right choice if you want to sell products or services through your site. Higher-tier plans (Business, Business Elite) exist for established businesses and can always be upgraded to later.

The free plan is a genuine starting point, not just a trial. You can design a complete site, add pages, install apps, and publish — all without paying. The two main reasons to upgrade are:

1. You need a custom domain. The

   wixsite.com

   subdomain works fine for testing or sharing drafts, but a branded domain is important for professional credibility.
2. You need to remove the Wix banner. The top-of-page banner appears on every page of a free site and directs visitors away from your content.
3. You need to accept payments. Online stores and paid bookings require a Core plan or higher.

If you upgrade within the first three days of signing up, Wix may show a 50% discount in the editor's upgrade panel. Using a partner link when you register increases the likelihood of seeing this offer. The discount can apply to either one year or two years of billing — choosing a two-year billing cycle locks in the reduced rate for 24 months.

For more on building with Wix, see the full walkthrough in How to Build a Website with Wix: A Step-by-Step Tutorial or, if you are creating a portfolio specifically, How to Build a Free Portfolio Website with Wix.

If you want to compare Wix with another free website builder, the How to Build a Webador Free Website guide covers a similar step-by-step process for that platform.

The Wix free plan is more capable than most people expect. You get access to over 800 templates, a full drag-and-drop editor, unlimited pages, auto-optimised image uploads, and even working apps like Wix Chat — all before spending anything. It is a practical way to build a first version of your site, test a concept, or share a draft with others.

The two clear upgrade triggers are wanting a professional domain and needing to remove the Wix banner. If you also need to sell products or services, the Core plan is the logical next step. Either way, starting free and upgrading only when those specific needs arise is a sensible approach.

Try Wix for free to get started today.