Start with a Wix account and pick a template

Creating a Wix site begins with signing up at wix.com and choosing a template that matches what you want to build. Wix shows you templates sorted by industry — restaurants, portfolios, online stores, blogs — so you can start with something close to your vision rather than a blank page.

When you land on a template you like, click it and Wix will ask you to create an account using an email address and password, or to sign in with Google or Facebook. After that, Wix opens the template in the editor, and you own a working website when ready. You can change almost everything about it from there.

The template is not locked in. If you decide later that you picked the wrong one, you can switch to a different template without losing your content — Wix will move your text, images, and pages to the new design. This means your first choice does not have to be perfect.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create a Wix account and choose a template in minutes, and your site is live when ready even though you have not finished building it.
  • The Wix editor lets you click on any element — text, image, button — and change it without writing code or learning design software.
  • Adding pages, connecting a domain name, and setting up email all happen inside the same editor, not in separate places.
  • Wix charges monthly for hosting and a domain name, and the cost depends on which plan you choose and whether you want extra features like email or an online store.
  • Your site is visible to the public as soon as you publish it, but you can keep working on it and publish changes anytime.

Edit text, images, and layout by clicking directly on them

The Wix editor works by clicking. When you see text on your template that says "Click here to edit", you click it, and a box appears where you can type your own words. The same goes for images — click an image, and Wix shows you options to replace it, resize it, or move it around the page.

Every element on the page — a heading, a paragraph, a button, a photo — can be moved by dragging it with your mouse. If you want to make text bigger, click it and use the size slider. If you want to change a color, click the element and pick a new color from a palette. You do not need to know HTML or CSS or use any design software outside of Wix.

The left sidebar shows you all the sections on your current page. If you want to delete a section, hide it, or rearrange it, you can do that from the sidebar without clicking around the page itself. This is useful when your page gets crowded and clicking the exact element you want becomes difficult.

Add new pages and organize your site structure

Most websites have more than one page — a home page, an about page, a contact page, maybe a blog or a services page. In Wix, you add pages by clicking the plus icon next to "Pages" in the left sidebar. Wix will ask whether you want a blank page or a page based on a template section, and you can choose either.

Once you have created pages, you can organize them in the Pages menu. Pages you want to appear in your navigation menu (the bar at the top or side of your site) should be marked as "Main Pages". Pages you want to hide from the menu but still be accessible by a direct link — like a thank-you page after someone fills out a form — can be marked as "Hidden Pages".

You can also create sub-pages, which appear as dropdown menus under a main page. If you have a Services page with multiple service types, you could create a sub-page for each one, and they would all nest under Services in your menu.

Connect a domain name and publish your site

A domain name is the address people type into their browser — something like yourname.com or yourbusiness.com. Wix lets you buy a domain directly through its platform, or connect a domain you already own from another registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap.

To buy a domain through Wix, click "Domain" in the top menu of the editor, then search for the name you want. Wix will show you whether it is available and what it costs per year. Most domains cost between $10 and $20 annually, though some specialty extensions cost more. Once you buy it, Wix connects it to your site automatically.

When you are ready to make your site visible to the public, click the "Publish" button in the top right of the editor. Wix will ask you to confirm, and then your site goes live at your domain name. You can keep editing after you publish — any changes you make will update on the live site within a few seconds.

Set up email and contact forms

Wix includes a contact form builder that requires no coding. Click the plus icon in the left sidebar, search for "Contact Form", and drag it onto your page. Wix will place a form with standard fields like Name, Email, and Message. You can add more fields, remove fields you do not need, or change the labels.

When someone fills out your contact form, their message goes to an email address you choose during setup. You can have messages sent to your personal email, or you can set up a business email address through Wix itself — something like hello@yourbusiness.com. A Wix email plan costs extra per month, but it looks more professional than a Gmail address.

You can also view all contact form submissions directly in the Wix dashboard without checking email. This is useful if you want to keep track of inquiries in one place or if you need to see which forms are getting responses.

Understand Wix pricing and what each plan includes

Wix offers several pricing tiers, and the cost depends on what features you need. The free plan lets you build a site and publish it, but it includes Wix branding in the footer and you cannot connect your own domain name — your site address will be something like yourname.wixsite.com.

Paid plans start around $15 per month and go up from there. A basic paid plan removes Wix branding, lets you connect a domain, and includes email support. Higher tiers add features like advanced analytics, priority support, or the ability to sell products online. If you want to run an online store, you will need a plan that includes eCommerce, which costs more than a basic site plan.

Domain names and email addresses are usually billed separately from your site plan, though Wix often bundles them together at a discount. When you are deciding on a plan, add up the total monthly cost — site plan plus domain plus email if you want it — to see what you will actually pay.

Troubleshoot common problems during setup

If your domain name is not showing up in search results, it may take a few days for the internet to recognize it. This is normal and is called DNS propagation. Your site is live and working, but search engines have not indexed it yet. You can speed this up by submitting your site to Google Search Console, which is free and takes a few minutes.

If you cannot find an element you want to edit, it may be locked or hidden. Check the left sidebar to see if the element is there, and look for a lock icon next to it. If it is locked, click the lock to unlock it. If it is hidden, click the eye icon to show it.

If your site looks different on a phone than it does on your computer, that is because Wix is adjusting the layout for a smaller screen. You can preview how your site looks on mobile by clicking the phone icon in the top right of the editor. If something does not look right on mobile, you can adjust it specifically for phones without changing the desktop version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my template after I have already built my site?

Yes. Click "Change Template" in the top menu, and Wix will move your content to the new design. Some formatting may shift, and you may need to adjust a few things, but your text and images will transfer over. This is much faster than rebuilding from scratch.

Do I have to pay for a domain name, or can I use a free one?

You can use Wix's free subdomain (yourname.wixsite.com) if you do not want to pay for a domain. However, a custom domain looks more professional and is easier for people to remember. Most domains cost $10 to $20 per year through Wix.

Can I sell products on my Wix site?

Yes, but you need a plan that includes eCommerce features. These plans cost more than basic site plans and include tools for managing inventory, processing payments, and tracking orders. Wix also charges a small transaction fee on each sale.

What happens to my site if I stop paying?

If you stop paying for a paid plan, your site will revert to the free plan. Your content stays, but Wix branding reappears and you lose access to your custom domain. If you stop paying for a domain name, someone else can buy it, and your site will no longer be accessible at that address.

Can I move my Wix site to a different website builder later?

Moving away from Wix is difficult because Wix does not make it straightforward to export your content. You can take screenshots and save your text, but you will likely have to rebuild your site on the new platform. This is one reason to think carefully about your choice of builder before you invest a lot of time.