Guide
Wix Domain vs Your Own Registrar: What Year Two Costs
A Wix domain is fine, but it is not cheap after year one. Wix lists a .com at $7.90 the first year, or free with a yearly plan, and $21.35 a year to renew. An at cost registrar charged about $11 in October 2026. You can buy the domain elsewhere and still run the site on Wix.
Three Things to Know
- Wix's free domain voucher covers one year of a new domain. It leaves out private registration, and the domain renews at the regular price.
- Over ten years, a .com at Wix's listed prices costs about $89 more than at Porkbun's October 2026 price.
- Of 248 shop sites we found on Wix, 130 bought the domain from Wix. The other 118 kept it at GoDaddy, Squarespace and others, and the sites work the same.
Plenty of owners believe the Wix domain is free. It is, for one year. Wix's own blog lists a .com at $7.90 for the first year, or free with a qualifying yearly plan, and then $21.35 to renew for one year.1 Wix's voucher page says the free domain renews the next year at the regular price.3
So a Wix domain is a real bill from year two on. Whether it is the right bill depends on how much you value one login over a lower price.
What a Wix Domain Costs After the Free Year
| What Wix lists | |
|---|---|
| .com, first year | $7.90, or free with an eligible yearly plan1 |
| .com, renewal | $21.35 a year1 |
| .net, first year | $11.902 |
| .org, first year | $6.902 |
| .co, first year | $14.902 |
| Free voucher deadline | Within 2 months of buying the plan3 |
| Private registration | Not covered by the voucher3 |
The voucher comes with the first purchase of selected yearly or multi year Premium or Studio plans. It covers one year of a new domain, not a renewal, and not a domain you bought before the plan.3 Wix's domain price page lists first year prices only and says renewals vary by ending.2
Ten Years of One .com, Side by Side
A business keeps its name for as long as it is open. So the fair test is ten years, not one. These are our worked examples from list prices in October 2026, with no price changes assumed.
| Where the .com lives | Year one | Years two to ten | Ten year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix, bought outright | $7.901 | $21.35 a year1 | $200.05 |
| Wix, free with a yearly plan | $03 | $21.35 a year1 | $192.15 |
| Porkbun | $11.087 | $11.08 a year7 | $110.80 |
The gap is about $81 to $89 over ten years, before any privacy add on. Porkbun says its prices already include ICANN and other fees.7 Wholesale .com prices also go up on November 1, 2026, which our domain cost guide covers. Expect every registrar's renewal to drift up a little, Wix's included.
Is about $10 a year at renewal worth one login? For some owners it is. Just make it a choice, not a surprise.
Where 248 Wix Shop Sites Keep Their Domains
This part is our own data. On October 22, 2026 we took the same 3,000 random independent auto repair shop domains from our email check and looked up which ones ran on Wix. 251 did. Registry records came back for 248, and they show where each domain is registered.
- About half bought from Wix. 130 of 248, or 52 percent.
- The other 118 kept the domain elsewhere. GoDaddy held 59 of them. The sites load the same either way.
- Most handed DNS to Wix anyway. 215 of the 248 used Wix name servers. That includes 85 of the 118 registered elsewhere. The other 33 used pointing.
- The domain does not trap the site. We found 11 more domains still registered at Wix whose sites now run on other platforms.
Name Servers vs Pointing, in Plain Words
If you buy the domain somewhere else, Wix gives you two ways to connect it.5
- Name servers. Wix calls this the recommended way. Wix hosts all your DNS records, and you manage them in your Wix account. Wix says it brings over your existing MX records, so email keeps flowing. Some mail providers need extra records you add by hand.5
- Pointing. Your DNS stays where it is. You change the A record and the CNAME at your domain host, and nothing that affects email changes. Wix suggests pointing when your DNS is complicated, and for Office 365 email that already works.5
Wix says a new connection can take up to 48 hours to finish.5 A domain bought from Wix connects by name servers on its own.5 Our DNS records guide explains what an A record, a CNAME and an MX record each do.
Moving a Wix Domain Out
You can move a domain bought from Wix to another registrar. Wix lists the steps on its help page.4
- Check the 60 day lock. A domain registered, transferred or changed in its contact details in the last 60 days may not move yet.4
- Turn off Private Registration first, so you don't miss the transfer emails.4
- Make sure the domain is unlocked, then open Domains in your Wix account and pick Transfer away from Wix.4
- Get the code. Wix emails the transfer code to the registrant contact address. Make sure that inbox is yours.4
- Start the transfer at the new registrar and paste the code. Wix says it usually takes up to 7 days.4
- Add your MX records again. Wix warns that business email stops working after the transfer until you do.4
The move itself costs a year, not a fee on top. ICANN's transfer policy says a completed transfer adds one year to the registration.6 Porkbun lists its .com transfer at the same price as a renewal.7
Moving the domain also disconnects your Wix site from it, so you reconnect by pointing or name servers afterward.4 If all you want is to run your DNS somewhere else, Wix's own tip says you can keep the domain at Wix and switch to custom name servers.4
If a Wix Domain Lapses
Wix gives you a grace period of about 30 days after the renewal date. You can renew then at no extra cost.8 After that the domain enters redemption. Wix says the fee to get it back varies and shows in a notice on your Domains page. Once redemption ends, the domain is released and anyone can register it.8
Keep auto renew on, and keep a card on file that won't expire. Our guide to what happens when a domain expires covers every stage.
How I'd Set It Up
For a new shop starting on Wix today, I'd do this.
- Buy the domain at a registrar you'd keep for ten years, in the business's name, on a login you control.
- Connect it to Wix by name servers if Wix will also run your email records. Use pointing if your email already works and you don't want to touch it.5
- Skip the free voucher unless the plan is yearly anyway. If you do take it, move the domain out before the first renewal.
If one bill and one login matter more to you than about $10 a year, keeping it at Wix is fine. The domain is still yours, and the 11 sites we found prove it can leave.
Get Help With Your Domain
T3CHS can register or move your domain and connect it to the site you already have. Call or text (949) 65-T3CHS, or ask us about your domain.
Before You Call
How much does a Wix domain cost per year?
Wix lists a .com at $7.90 for the first year, or free with an eligible yearly plan, and $21.35 a year to renew. Private registration is extra and is not covered by the free voucher.
Can I use a domain I bought somewhere else on Wix?
Yes. Connect it by name servers, where Wix hosts your DNS, or by pointing, where you change the A record and CNAME at your domain host. In our sample, 118 of 248 Wix shop sites used a domain registered outside Wix.
Do I own my Wix domain?
Yes. You can transfer a domain bought from Wix to another registrar once it is past the 60 day lock. We found 11 domains still registered at Wix whose sites run on other platforms.
How long does it take to transfer a domain away from Wix?
Wix says a transfer usually takes up to 7 days. Turn off Private Registration first, and add your MX records again at the new host or business email will stop.
What happens if my Wix domain expires?
Wix gives a grace period of about 30 days to renew at no extra cost. Then the domain enters redemption, where getting it back costs a fee that varies. After that it is released and anyone can buy it.
Is the free Wix domain really free?
For the first year only. The voucher must be used within 2 months of buying a yearly plan, covers a new domain, and the domain then renews at the regular price.
Cited Pages
- Wix Blog: How Much Does a .com Domain Cost on Wix?wix.comOpened October 2026
- Wix: Domain Pricingwix.comOpened October 2026
- Wix Help Center: Using Your Free 1 Year Domain Vouchersupport.wix.comOpened October 2026
- Wix Help Center: Transferring Your Wix Domain Away From Wixsupport.wix.comOpened October 2026
- Wix Help Center: Pointing vs. Name Servers Domain Connection Methodssupport.wix.comOpened October 2026
- ICANN: Transfer Policyicann.orgOpened October 2026
- Porkbun: Domain Pricingporkbun.comOpened October 2026
- Wix Help Center: Retrieving an Expired Domain During the Redemption Periodsupport.wix.comOpened October 2026
Last reviewed November 1, 2026.
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