Wix: what it is, how it works & who it's for

Drag-and-drop and AI website builder with a free plan, ecommerce and booking tools

Updated · Pricing checked October 2026

What is Wix?

Wix is a cloud-based website builder that lets people create sites with a drag-and-drop editor or an AI builder that drafts a full site from a conversation. It was founded in 2006 and is based in Tel Aviv, and it reports more than 300 million users worldwide. Hosting is included, and a free plan lets anyone build and publish a site before paying anything.

Paid Premium plans add a custom domain, more storage, payments, ecommerce, scheduling and marketing tools. For professionals, Wix Studio offers an advanced platform aimed at agencies and enterprises. Wix also has a large app market and a developer platform, so users can add features such as bookings, events, restaurant ordering or custom code as their needs grow.

Wix at a glance

Wix infographic: how it works in 5 steps, key features, pricing model and who it is best for
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How does Wix work?

  1. Sign up and choose how to start

    Create a free account, then describe your site to the AI builder or pick a template.

  2. Edit in the drag-and-drop editor

    Move elements freely on the page, change text and images and adjust the design for mobile.

  3. Add apps and business features

    Install apps for stores, bookings, events or forms from the Wix App Market.

  4. Upgrade and connect a domain

    Choose a Premium plan to remove Wix ads, connect a custom domain and accept payments.

  5. Publish and market

    Publish, then use built-in SEO tools, email marketing and analytics to grow.

Wix key features

AI website builder

Creates a complete site through a conversational prompt, which you can then refine in the editor. The AI draft includes pages, text and images.

Drag-and-drop editor

Free-form placement of elements with thousands of templates to start from. Changes can be previewed on desktop and mobile views.

Ecommerce

Online store tools from the Core plan, with standard and advanced ecommerce on higher tiers. Payments are accepted from the Core plan upward.

Scheduling and services

Booking tools for appointments and classes are available on business plans. Clients can book and pay online.

Marketing suite

Email marketing, SEO tools and social features, with more capacity on higher plans. Higher plans raise marketing limits.

Wix Studio

A separate platform for agencies and enterprises with advanced design and client management tools. It targets teams that build sites for clients.

App Market and developer platform

Add third-party apps or build custom functionality with Wix's developer tools. Developers can extend sites with custom code.

Why use Wix?

  • Wix has a genuinely free plan, so you can build and test a site at no cost.
  • The AI builder and templates make it fast to get a first version online.
  • Free-form editing gives more layout freedom than structured template builders.
  • Business tools such as bookings, stores and email marketing live in one dashboard.
  • A 14-day money-back guarantee covers new Premium upgrades.

Who is Wix best for?

A good fit for

  • Small businesses that want an easy all-in-one site
  • Service providers who need online booking
  • Beginners who want to start free
  • Agencies building client sites with Wix Studio

Less suited to

  • Large stores with complex inventory or multichannel needs
  • Users who expect to move their site to another platform later
  • Teams that need full control over hosting and code

Wix pricing

Pricing modelFreemium
Free planYes
Free trialNot confirmed
Starting price$0 (Free plan); Premium prices vary by location

Premium plans are Light, Core, Business and Business Elite, each adding storage, collaborators, marketing capacity and ecommerce features. Wix shows prices by region and offers a 14-day money-back guarantee instead of a trial.

Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Wix pricing page before you buy.

Wix pros and cons

Pros

  • Free plan with hosting included
  • Fast AI site creation
  • Flexible drag-and-drop design
  • Large app market for added features

Cons

  • Free plan shows Wix branding and uses a Wix subdomain
  • Sites are hard to migrate to other platforms
  • Advanced ecommerce requires higher-priced plans

Wix integrations and platforms

Available on

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android

Wix alternatives

Wix FAQ

Is Wix free?

Yes. Wix has a free plan that includes hosting, the drag-and-drop editor and thousands of templates, with no credit card required. Free sites use a Wix subdomain and show Wix branding. To connect a custom domain, accept payments or sell online, you need one of the Premium plans. Higher plans add more storage, collaborators and ecommerce features.

What is Wix used for?

Wix is used to build websites for small businesses, freelancers, restaurants, service providers and online stores. Many users rely on its booking, ecommerce and email marketing tools so they can run key parts of the business from the same dashboard as their website. Wix Studio serves agencies and professionals who build sites for clients.

Is Wix good for beginners?

Yes. Wix is one of the most beginner-friendly website builders. The AI builder can draft a full site from a short conversation, and the editor lets you place elements anywhere on the page. Hosting and security are managed, so there is no technical setup to handle.

Wix vs Squarespace: what's the difference?

Wix offers a free plan, an AI builder and a free-form editor with a large app market. Squarespace has no free plan and uses structured templates that keep designs consistent. Wix suits people who want flexibility and lots of add-ons, while Squarespace suits those who prefer polished templates. Both include hosting, so neither requires technical setup.

Does Wix offer a free trial?

Wix does not offer a traditional free trial for Premium plans, because the free plan serves that purpose. When you upgrade, a 14-day money-back guarantee applies, so you can cancel within 14 days of your first Premium purchase for a full refund. The free plan remains available if you only want to keep testing.

Sources

This overview is based on Wix's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.