Wix suits most small businesses starting a site today, with a free plan, paid plans from Light to Business Elite, built-in payments, booking tools and 2000+ templates. Weebly still offers a free plan and simple paid tiers, Personal, Professional and Performance, but its site footer still reads 2019 Square, Inc, which hints at how little it has changed. If you sell through Square, Weebly can make sense; otherwise Wix gives you more to grow into.
Both builders promise drag-and-drop websites for small businesses, but they've moved at very different speeds. I read Wix's home and plans pages and Weebly's home and plans pages to see how they compare now.
Wix and Weebly at a glance
| Wix | Weebly | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card needed | Yes, for basic use |
| Paid plans | Light, Core, Business, Business Elite | Personal, Professional, Performance |
| Custom domain | Included on paid plans, free domain for 1 year | From the Personal plan |
| Storage | 2 GB on Light up to unlimited on Business Elite | Not covered on the pages I read |
| Selling online | Payments and eCommerce from Core | Online store builder |
| Team access | 2 to 10 site collaborators by plan | Not covered on the pages I read |
| Refund window | 14-day money-back guarantee | Not covered on the pages I read |
What Weebly's footer tells you
Scroll to the bottom of Weebly's home page and the copyright line reads 2019 Square, Inc. Square is Weebly's owner, and the builder still works, with a free plan and free SSL on every tier. To me, though, a copyright line that hasn't changed in years is a fair hint about where the product team's attention isn't. Wix's plans page, by contrast, leads with AI creation tools and a long list of business features.
What you get with a Wix plan
Wix lists five options: Free, Light, Core, Business and Business Elite. The paid plans include a custom domain with a free domain for 1 year, hosting, AI creation tools, 24/7 customer care and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Light gives 2 GB of storage and 2 site collaborators, Core adds 50 GB, payments, basic eCommerce and scheduling with 5 collaborators, Business gives 100 GB and 10 collaborators, and Business Elite offers unlimited storage. Wix also offers point of sale, a CRM and a logo maker.
Wix's wider product menu covers domain registration, business email and Wix Headless for developers, so you can keep most of your web presence in one account. Weebly has an App Center for adding features, but the pages I read don't list as many built-in business tools, and that gap grows as your business does. If you expect to add a shop, bookings or a second editor within a year or two, that's a strong reason to start on Wix.
What Weebly still does well
Weebly keeps things simple. Its home page lists a drag-and-drop editor, step-by-step guidance, predesigned layouts, eCommerce, a blog, site stats and video backgrounds. The free plan covers basic use, Personal lets you connect a custom domain, Professional adds more customisation and Performance adds features to drive growth and manage operations. For a very small brochure site, that's often enough, especially if you already take payments through Square.
Five questions before you build
- Will you sell products or take bookings soon?
- How many people need to edit the site?
- Do you need a custom domain from day one?
- Do you already use Square for payments?
- How easily could you move the site later?
If you're weighing more options, read my comparison of Wix and WordPress for a small business site and this guide to choosing a DIY website builder.
My advice on Wix or Weebly
For a new small business site, Wix is the safer pick: the plans are clear, eCommerce and bookings are built in, and the 14-day money-back guarantee gives you a way out. Weebly only makes sense if you need a very simple site and you're already in Square's world. Either way, start on the free plan, build your home page and contact page, and only upgrade when you're ready to connect your own domain.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Weebly still available?
Yes. Weebly's site offers a free plan and paid Personal, Professional and Performance plans. Its footer shows Square, Inc as the owner.
Does Wix have a free plan?
Yes. Wix lists a Free plan that needs no credit card.
Which Wix plan includes eCommerce?
Wix's Core plan adds accepting payments and basic eCommerce, and Business adds standard eCommerce.
Can I connect my own domain on Weebly for free?
Weebly's Personal plan is the one described as letting you connect a custom domain.
Does Wix offer refunds?
Wix lists a 14-day money-back guarantee on its paid plans.
