Wix: What It Is, What It Really Costs, and Who It Suits
Then watch how customers pay.
The short answer
Wix is a hosted website builder with drag-and-drop design and an online store from the Core plan up. Store plans cost $29–$159 a month billed yearly. Wix takes no cut of product sales, but card fees with Wix Payments start at 2.9% + 30¢ and rise sharply for Amex, PayPal and buy now, pay later.
It suits small stores, service businesses and studios that want design freedom without a developer. If you expect a large catalogue or need a huge app library, Shopify is the stronger store platform.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hosted website builder with built-in store |
| Store plans | Core $29, Business $39, Business Elite $159 a month billed yearly |
| UK store plans | From about £16 a month billed yearly (excl. VAT) |
| Wix fee on store sales | None |
| Card fees | 2.9% + 30¢ in the US; 2.1% + 20p in the UK |
| Product limit | 50,000 on Core and above |
| Best for | Small stores, services, studios, design-led brands |
| Skip it if | You may want to switch templates or scale a big catalogue |
What Wix is
Wix is a website builder first. You drag elements anywhere on the page, start from one of hundreds of templates or let its AI build a first draft. Hosting, security and updates are handled for you.
The store, bookings, memberships and Wix POS all run from the same dashboard. That makes Wix popular with businesses that sell more than products: salons, studios, coaches, restaurants and event organisers.
Wix plans and prices in 2026
| Plan | US yearly | US monthly | UK yearly (excl. VAT) | Can sell? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | $17 | $24 | About £9 | No |
| Core | $29 | $36 | About £16 | Yes |
| Business | $39 | $46 | About £25 | Yes |
| Business Elite | $159 | $172 | About £119 | Yes |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Yes | ||
Yearly plans are charged in full upfront. Every paid plan includes a free domain for the first year, which then renews at about $21 a year for a .com. There is a 14-day money-back guarantee on your first payment only, not on renewals.
Wix Payments: the fees depend on how customers pay
Wix doesn’t add a fee to store orders. You only pay processing, but the rate changes a lot with the payment method your customer picks.
| Wix Payments rate | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Standard cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.1% + 20p |
| American Express | 3.7% + 30¢ | 3.1% + 20p |
| PayPal or Venmo | 3.49% + 49¢ | Check at signup |
| Buy now, pay later | 6% + 30¢ | Check at signup |
| In person (Wix POS card reader) | 2.6% | 1.7% |
| Chargeback | $15 | Fee applies |
Selling across borders adds more: in the US, 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion. Refunds don’t return the original processing fee.
Core or Business: the $10 question
Most new stores start on Core. The question is when Business earns its extra $10 a month.
What a Wix store really costs
Here are two worked examples, using US rates and yearly billing.
How setting up a Wix store works
- Choose a template carefully, or let Wix’s AI draft a site. You can’t switch templates later without rebuilding.
- Pick a store plan (Core or higher) before you take orders.
- Add products with photos, prices, variants and stock.
- Set shipping and tax. Automated sales tax needs Business.
- Turn on Wix Payments and choose which payment methods to offer.
- Connect your domain, free for the first year.
- Place a test order, then publish.
A small store can go live in a day. Wix POS hardware, from about $69 for a card reader, is bought separately if you sell in person.
Wix’s limits that most reviews skip
- No template switching. Changing your template means rebuilding your site’s design.
- Core has hidden caps: dropshipping is limited to 25 products and back-in-stock alerts to 10 a month.
- Automated sales tax covers 100 transactions a month on Business.
- A 2–4% fee on memberships and packages sold through Pricing Plans on Core and Business.
- A smaller app market than Shopify, and apps only work inside Wix.
- You can’t move your site off Wix. Product and order data can be exported, but the design stays behind.
Wix vs Squarespace vs Shopify
| Wix | Squarespace | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Drag-and-drop freedom | Polished templates | Store features and apps |
| Store plan from | $29 a month on Core, billed yearly | $29 a month on Core, billed yearly | $29 a month on Basic, billed yearly |
| Platform fee on product sales | None | 2% on Basic only | 0.6–2% outside Shopify Payments |
| Fee on memberships | 4% Core, 2% Business | 5% Core, 1% Plus | Through apps |
| Change your design later? | Only by rebuilding | Restyle anytime | Switch themes anytime |
| Best for | Small stores and service businesses | Design-led stores and creators | Growing product stores |
Is Wix worth it?
For small stores and service businesses that want design control and everything in one dashboard, yes. Choose your template carefully, start on Core, and move to Business once you sell abroad or sell memberships worth $500 or more a month.
Want the full scores? Read our Wix review. Still comparing? See our best ecommerce platforms for small business.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Wix store cost?
Store plans cost $29–$159 a month billed yearly ($36–$172 monthly). Add card fees of 2.9% + 30¢ per US order and any paid apps.
Can I sell on the free Wix plan?
No. You need Core or higher to take orders. Light ($17) is also website-only.
Does Wix charge transaction fees?
Not on store orders. You pay only processing fees. Wix does charge 4% on Core and 2% on Business for memberships and packages sold through Pricing Plans.
What are Wix Payments fees in the UK?
2.1% + 20p for standard UK cards, 3.1% + 20p for Amex, and 1.7% in person with Wix POS.
Can I change my Wix template later?
No. Switching templates means rebuilding your design, so choose carefully at the start.
Is Wix or Shopify better for an online store?
Shopify is better for growing product stores and specific app needs. Wix is better for small stores and service businesses that want design freedom and bookings or memberships in the same place.