Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder that suits small businesses who want to design a site themselves without code, with plans that add online selling and business features as you grow. The free plan is fine for testing but uses a Wix web address. Check which plan includes the features you need before you build.
This is a buyer's guide rather than a hands-on product test. It uses Wix's own plans page to explain how the service is organised, then covers the questions small business owners should ask before committing a website to any builder.
How the plans are organised
Wix's plans page lists plans called Light, Core, Business and Business Elite, with more features unlocked on the higher tiers, especially for selling online. There's also a free way to start, which gives you a Wix web address in the form username.wixsite.com/sitename. Wix's own FAQ suggests replacing that free URL with a custom domain to help people find you and promote your brand.
The selling limits worth reading
Here's a detail that matters if you plan to sell. On Wix's plans page, dropshipping through its Modalyst integration lists 25 products on the Core plan, 250 on the Business plan and 50,000 on Business Elite, and isn't included on Light. Features like back-in-stock notifications and branded gift cards also change by plan. If online sales are part of your plan, read the ecommerce rows of the comparison table carefully, because the right plan depends on your product count, not just your page count.
At a glance
| Area | What to know |
|---|---|
| Building | Drag-and-drop editor and AI tools to create a site |
| Free option | Uses a username.wixsite.com address |
| Plan names | Light, Core, Business, Business Elite |
| Selling online | Ecommerce features vary by plan |
| Domains | Connect one you own or buy one through Wix |
Who Wix suits
- Small businesses that want to design their own site visually.
- Service businesses that need bookings, forms and a clean brochure site.
- Shops with a modest product range selling through one website.
- Owners who want everything, including hosting, in one place.
Who should look elsewhere
- Businesses that need a lot of custom code or unusual integrations.
- Large catalogues that would sit at the top of a plan's product limits.
- Teams that want to move their site between hosts easily in future.
If you're still weighing your options, my guide to choosing a DIY website builder for a small business walks through the decision, and agencies may find my piece on streamlining website builds useful.
Questions to answer before you build
- What does the site need to do: inform, book, sell or all three?
- How many products, pages and team members will you have in a year?
- Which payment, booking and email tools must it connect to?
- Will you use your own domain from day one?
- How would you move the site if you outgrew the builder?
Domains and email
Use your own domain from the start if you can. It looks more professional and keeps your search reputation tied to an address you own. Wix's FAQ also explains that once you have your own domain you can add a professional email address through Google Workspace. If you only need a single page for a campaign, my answer to whether you need hosting for a landing page may save you building a full site.
Getting found in search
A website builder can give you clean pages, but search visibility depends on what you put on them. Write a clear page for each service you offer, use the words your customers use, add your location if you serve a local area, and keep your business details consistent everywhere they appear online. Check that each page has its own title and description, and add alt text to images. These basics matter more than the platform.
Blogging helps too, if you can keep it up. A few useful guides answering customer questions will do more than a dozen thin posts.
Bookings, forms and the extras
Many small businesses choose a builder for one feature, such as bookings, events or a members area. Before you commit, list the extras you need and check which plan includes each one. It's easy to build a site on one plan, then discover the feature you needed sits on the next tier up.
Planning your pages
- Home: who you help and what you do, in one clear sentence.
- Services or products: one page each, with the details people ask about.
- About: why you, with real photos.
- Contact: every way to reach you, plus a simple form.
- Blog or resources, if you'll keep it updated.
My take
Wix is a sensible choice for owners who want to build and run their own site visually. Start with a clear list of what the site must do, pick the plan that covers it, especially if you'll sell, and connect your own domain early. Choose for where your business will be in a year's time, not just this week.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Wix good for small businesses?
It suits small businesses that want to design and manage their own site visually, with business and ecommerce features on higher plans.
Does Wix have a free plan?
You can start free with a Wix web address in the form username.wixsite.com/sitename.
What are the Wix plan names?
Wix's plans page lists Light, Core, Business and Business Elite.
Can I sell online with Wix?
Yes, on plans that include ecommerce. Product limits for features like dropshipping vary by plan.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes. You can connect a domain you already own or buy one through Wix.
Can I get a professional email address?
Wix's FAQ says that once you have your own domain you can add a Google Workspace plan for a custom email address.
Can a Wix site rank in Google?
Yes. Clear service pages, good titles and descriptions, and helpful content matter more than the builder you use.
Which pages should a small business site have?
Home, services or products, about, contact, and a blog or resources page if you'll keep it updated.
