The True Cost Of Wix: What they don't tell you!
Thinking about building your website on Wix? The advertised prices look tempting... until you see what you actually need to run a proper business website.
We broke down the real costs, and the results might surprise you. Spoiler: a professionally designed website could actually save you money whilst giving you a site that actually works for your business.
The Wix Reality Check
Wix’s marketing makes it look affordable. But here’s what you’ll actually pay for a business website that can be found on Google:
Wix's True 2-Year Cost Breakdown:
- Business Package: £31.10/month (when paying annually) = £746.40
- Domain: = £56.50 (2-years, paid upfront)
- Professional Email = £6/month (£144 over 2 years)
Total 2-year cost: £946.90 when paying annually up front – more if paid monthly!
Aileron Digital Works 2-Year Cost:
- Professional Website Design: From £400, no ongoing cost for the website.
- Domain: = £12/year (Annually renewed)
- Professional Email & Hosting = £60/year
Total 2-year cost: £564 – broken down as £472 in Year One, £72 in year two!
What You Get From Wix:
- A DIY website you have to build yourself
- Basic SEO capabilities (basic meta data only available on this tier)
- Limited customisation within Wix templates
- Your site lives on Wix’s platform (you don’t truly own it)
- Generic support via help articles and forums
- Hours (or weeks) of your time learning the platform
What Wix Doesn’t Include:
- Professional design expertise
- Strategic SEO implementation
- Copywriting support
- Technical troubleshooting
- Someone to ask when things go wrong
- Training on how to manage your site
- Peace of mind
What You Get From Aileron Digital Works
- Professionally designed, bespoke website (up to 5 pages)
- Full SEO setup from day one
- 2 professional domain email addresses
- Optional shop or gallery functionality
- WordPress platform (the industry standard used by 43% of all websites)
- Complete ownership – it’s YOUR website
- 1-to-1 training so you can manage it yourself
- Direct support from real people who know your business
- Hourly backups for 48 hours, then daily backups
- SSL certificate, firewall, and malware protection included
- No time wasted learning a platform – we build it for you
- A saving of almost £400
Beyond the Price Tag: The Hidden Costs of DIY
Your Time Has Value
Building a Wix site yourself typically takes 20-40 hours for someone new to the platform. If your time is worth £20/hour (a modest estimate for most business owners), that’s £400-£800 of your time. Time you could spend actually running your business.
The SEO Trap
Without proper SEO setup, your beautiful new website won’t be found on Google. Wix’s basic SEO tools require technical knowledge to use effectively. Many business owners don’t realise their site isn’t optimised until months later when they’re wondering why no one’s finding them online.
With a professional designer, SEO is built in from day one. Your site launches ready to be found.
The “Just One More Feature” Problem
Wix’s app marketplace is full of premium features that cost extra. Need advanced booking? That’s another subscription. Want better analytics? Another fee. Professional contact forms? You guessed it. These costs add up quickly and aren’t included in the base price.
Platform Lock-In
Your Wix website can’t be moved. If you outgrow the platform or want to switch providers, you’re starting from scratch. With WordPress, your site is portable – you own it completely and can move it anywhere.
The Support Gap
When something breaks at 9pm on a Sunday and you’ve got a big launch on Monday, Wix’s help articles won’t cut it. With a professional designer, you’ve got real people who know your site and can actually fix problems.
Real Talk: When Does Wix Make Sense?
We’re not here to slag off Wix entirely. It can work for:
- Personal blogs or hobby sites
- Very temporary landing pages
- Testing a business idea before committing
But for a serious business website that needs to be found on Google and convert visitors into customers? The professional route saves you money, time, and headaches.
The Bottom Line
Over 2 years:
- Wix DIY: £946.90 + 20-40 hours of your time = A website you built yourself
- Professional Design: £564 + a couple of hours of your time gathering information = A website built by experts
You save nearly £400 and get a better website. It’s really that simple.
See the Full Breakdown
Want the complete cost comparison including year-by-year breakdowns, feature comparisons, and a checklist to help you decide which route is right for your business?
Download our free guide: “The Real Cost of DIY vs Professional Web Design”
Ready to Get Your Website Sorted?
Our Basic Package (from £400) includes everything you need to get online professionally:
- Up to 5 pages, professionally designed
- Full SEO setup
- 2 professional email addresses
- 1 year hosting and domain included
- Optional shop or gallery
- 1-to-1 training so you can manage it yourself
Serving small businesses across Chesterfield, Mansfield, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire.
Complete Digital Solutions for Web Design Mansfield
Our Client-Led Design Process
Website Design & Development
- Custom WordPress websites using the latest Kadence & Divi themes
- Shopify and WooCommerce for online shops that actually sell
- Mobile-responsive design as standard (because most of your customers browse on their phones)
- Full ownership transfer – it’s your website, not ours
Our Website Packages
- Up to 5 pages of content
- 2 professional email addresses (@yourcompany.co.uk)
- Online shop capability (up to 10 products)
- 1 year hosting and domain included
- Basic SEO setup to help people find you
- Full website ownership transfer
- Comprehensive 1:1 training so you’re never stuck
Our Website Packages
- Up to 10 pages of content
- 5 professional email addresses
- Online shop capability (up to 50 products)
- 1 year hosting and domain included
- Basic SEO setup and optimisation
- Full website ownership transfer
- Comprehensive 1:1 training and ongoing support
Optional Ongoing Support Services
Because websites need looking after, we offer monthly health checks from £35/month. This includes security monitoring, performance optimisation, backups, and basic SEO reporting. No long-term contracts – just a minimum 3 months with 1-month notice.
What our clients have to say:
I would highly recommend Andrew.
From start to finish the service I received was fantastic and not only that I now have an amazing website for my business. Communication and advice was superb.
Thank you!
Andrew migrated our website over to a new UK based host server, moving all payment systems, email and the site itself.
He communicated very well the process and what he was doing, keeping us in the loop at all times. He even went the extra mile to tweak background settings to get the best performance possible for us.
We are really pleased with the job and it was a pleasure working with Andrew. I would recommend Aileron’s services to anyone who wants a more personal, hands on approach at very good prices. I will be using them again, for any future work required! Many thanks, a thoroughly happy customer!!
Professional Standards, Local Service
Reliable Hosting & Security
- UK-based hosting with 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Daily backups so your website is always safe
- SSL certificates and security monitoring included
- Fast loading speeds with Cloudflare integration
Built for Search Engines
- Google Analytics and Search Console setup
- Local SEO optimisation for Mansfield searches
- Mobile-first design (Google loves this)
- Image optimisation for faster loading
We started Aileron because we were fed up with the web design industry’s jargon, hidden costs, and “build it and disappear” approach.
Our approach is different:
- No jargon: We explain everything in plain English
- Transparent pricing: No hidden costs, ever
- We train you: 1-to-1 training so you’re never stuck
- We’re part of your team: Questions are always free
- Local support: Real people in Derbyshire who actually answer the phone
We’ve helped dozens of local businesses get online without the stress, confusion, or inflated costs. We’d love to help you too.