Wix Free vs Premium in 2026: what Julian tested, what you can build for free, and when a custom domain or payments make upgrading necessary.
If you are deciding between Wix Free and Wix Premium, the short answer is simple: Wix’s free plan is genuinely usable, but it is best for testing, hobby sites, and early drafts. Upgrading becomes necessary when you want a custom domain, no Wix banner, or the ability to accept payments.
That conclusion matches what Julian demonstrates in the video. He signs up for Wix for free, goes through the onboarding flow, enters the editor, publishes a site, and then checks what changes once you need a more professional setup.
What Julian actually tested in Wix
The video is helpful because it focuses on the real upgrade points instead of just listing marketing bullet points. Julian walks through the free signup flow, explains what he could do without paying, and then shows the paywalls that appear when a site needs to look professional or process money.
Here is the workflow he describes:
- Sign up with an email address for a free Wix account.
- Answer a few onboarding questions and choose a template.
- Enter the Wix editor and start building.
- Move elements around, upload images, and build pages without an immediate time limit.
- Publish the site and check the live URL.
- Compare what stays free and what requires an upgrade.
His main takeaway is that Wix does not behave like a short free trial. He explicitly contrasts it with builders such as Squarespace or Shopify, where free access is time-limited. In his test, Wix lets you keep building and publishing on the free plan for as long as you want.
That makes Wix a strong low-risk starting point if you want to learn the editor first. If you want a walkthrough of the actual free setup process, see this step-by-step guide to building a free Wix website.
Key differences at a glance
The biggest differences are not subtle. In Julian’s comparison, two limits matter far more than the others: you do not get your own domain on the free plan, and Wix shows a branded banner on your site.
| Feature | Free Version | Premium Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Site URL | Wix subdomain such as | Custom domain connection |
| Wix branding | Wix banner displayed on the site | Banner removed |
| Storage | 500 MB | Starts at 2 GB on the Light plan; higher tiers offer more |
| Selling online | Not available | Available on eligible plans |
| Bookings with payment | Booking flow can exist, but paid appointments require upgrade | Payment collection enabled |
| Email marketing tools | Limited on free; Julian flags automations as a premium area | More complete access depending on plan |
| Best for | Testing, hobbies, drafts | Professional sites and businesses |
What the free Wix plan is actually good for
The free version is not useless. In fact, Julian’s test shows that Wix gives you access to the part many beginners care about most: the builder itself.
You can build a real site without paying first
Inside the editor, Julian says it does not feel like a crippled demo. He is able to move items around, upload his own images, and build out the website before making any payment decision.
That matters because it lets you test whether Wix suits your workflow before you commit. You can draft your layout, create pages, and get comfortable with the editor without racing against a countdown.
The free plan does not expire
This is one of the clearest advantages Julian points out. Wix is not just offering a 7-day or 14-day preview of premium features. You can stay on the free plan indefinitely.
For a personal project, student page, hobby site, or early concept, that is valuable. You can keep the site live and share it with friends even if you never upgrade.
Some apps are still usable for free
Julian mentions Wix apps such as Wix Blog, Wix Stores, and Wix Bookings. His key distinction is that some features are usable on the free plan, but payments are where the upgrade wall appears.
For example:
- Wix Blog: he says you can use it for free and start publishing blog posts.
- Wix Stores: selling requires payment processing, so you need an eligible premium plan.
- Wix Bookings: people may be able to book time, but getting paid through Wix requires an upgrade.
So if your goal is content publishing, the free plan goes further. If your goal is transactions, it does not.
Where the free plan starts to feel limiting
Once a site moves from "experiment" to "real project," the missing pieces become much more obvious.
1) You are stuck on a Wix subdomain
After publishing, Julian shows that the site gets a Wix URL in the format of a branded subdomain. In his example, the first and last parts can be customized, but
remains in the middle.wixsite.com
That is the biggest reason he recommends upgrading. Even if the site content looks good, the URL still signals that the project is on a free hosted subdomain rather than a standalone web property.
For casual sharing, that is fine. For a résumé, consulting site, portfolio, or local business, it looks less polished than a custom domain.
2) Wix ads stay visible on the page
Julian also highlights the banner shown on free Wix sites. He describes it as a top banner telling visitors the site was built on Wix and inviting them to create their own website.
That is not just a cosmetic issue. It can distract visitors at the exact moment you want them focused on your brand, service, or offer.
3) Payments are blocked on free
This is the hard functional paywall. In Julian’s test, you cannot accept payments on the free plan.
That affects several common use cases:
- selling products online
- charging for bookings or appointments
- running basic e-commerce
- accepting online checkout for services
He also notes that once you do upgrade to the appropriate plan, Wix can support payment methods such as credit cards, PayPal, Klarna, and others.
4) Storage is limited
Julian gives a concrete storage comparison:
- Free plan: 500 MB
- Minimum paid plan shown in the video: 2 GB
- Next plan mentioned: 50 GB
This will not stop a tiny text-based site, but it matters if you upload many images or build a more media-heavy project. Free storage is enough to start, not ideal for growth.
5) Marketing features are more restricted
Julian also calls out Wix’s newsletter and email marketing tools as an area where free access is more limited. His transcript around automations is slightly messy, but the clear point is that advanced email marketing capability is part of the premium value proposition, not the free plan’s strength.
If your site needs lead capture, follow-up sequences, or more serious outreach, free Wix is unlikely to be the final setup.
Does the free plan hurt SEO?
This is where a careful edit matters.
In the video, Julian argues that a
wixsite.comThe SEO point needs a bit more nuance. A Wix subdomain is not automatically invisible to Google, but a custom domain is usually the better long-term foundation for:
- brand trust
- cleaner backlink building
- easier citation consistency
- stronger perceived legitimacy
- clearer ownership of the web property
So the practical recommendation still holds: if organic search matters to your business, upgrade for a custom domain. Just avoid the overstatement that a free Wix site cannot rank at all.
For a broader platform-level view, read this detailed Wix review 2026.
Which premium plan should you choose?
Julian keeps the plan choice fairly simple.
He says you do not need to overthink every tier because you can upgrade later. In his view, most users are effectively deciding between a basic site plan and the first plan that enables payments.
Light plan: best for basic websites
According to the video, the Light plan is the entry point he highlights for people who mainly want to remove the free-plan limitations.
He says it includes:
- a custom domain
- 2 GB of storage
- a setup suitable for basic websites
This is the plan to consider if your site is informational and does not need checkout or paid bookings.
Core plan: best if you need payments
Julian recommends the Core plan when you want to:
- accept online payments
- run a basic online store
- charge for bookings or appointments
That makes Core the practical threshold for business use cases where transactions matter.
Discounts may appear, but do not plan around them
Julian mentions that Wix sometimes shows discount offers, including possible 50% off promotions for new users. He also says some people claim these arrive at certain times or by email, but he is not certain.
So the careful takeaway is this: discounts may appear during the signup journey, but availability is not guaranteed. If you are ready to upgrade, make your decision based on the plan features first.
If you want help with the actual checkout flow, this guide on how to buy a Wix Premium plan is the most relevant next step.
Free vs Premium by use case
The right choice depends less on theory and more on what the website needs to do.
| Use case | Free Wix is enough if… | Premium is necessary when… |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby site | You just want a simple site to share casually | You want a cleaner brand presence |
| Personal portfolio | You are still drafting and testing layouts | You want a professional domain for job or client outreach |
| Blog | You mainly want to write and publish | You want stronger branding and room to grow |
| Local business site | Rarely the best long-term option | You need credibility, no banner, and your own domain |
| Online store | Not enough | You need checkout and payment processing |
| Coaching or appointment site | Not enough once money is involved | You need to accept payment for bookings |
So, is upgrading really necessary in 2026?
Not at the beginning. Yes for most serious projects.
That is the most accurate version of Julian’s conclusion. Wix Free is good because it lets you build first and decide later. You can explore the editor, publish on a Wix subdomain, and keep the site online without a trial clock running out.
But once the website represents your work publicly, the free plan’s limits stop being minor. The Wix-branded URL, the visible Wix banner, the storage cap, and the inability to accept payments all push professional users toward Premium.
Final recommendation
If you are building a hobby site, a rough draft, or a first version of a portfolio, start with Wix Free. It gives you real access to the editor and enough freedom to decide whether the platform fits your style.
If the site is for your business, freelance work, appointments, or online sales, plan to upgrade. The move to Premium is not about vanity. It is about having your own domain, removing Wix branding, and unlocking the business features that the free plan intentionally keeps behind a paywall.
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