You’ll pay R6303-R15194 annually for Wix domains depending on the extension, with .com domains costing R8149 per year. While you can snag a free domain with annual premium plans, you’re locked into that subscription to keep the offer. Multi-year registrations save money upfront—two years costs around R12133 total—but require full payment immediately. Privacy protection’s included free, though renewal rates can jump considerably after your first year, and there’s a maze of additional fees ahead.
Base Domain Registration Pricing Structure
When you’re investigating Wix’s domain pricing, you’ll find their base registration costs follow a straightforward structure that varies by extension type.
Standard .com domains cost R8149 annually, while .net and .org extensions are cheaper at R6303 per year.
You’ll pay more for specialised options like .info domains at R15194 or .blog extensions at R10535 yearly. This pricing sits within the typical industry range of R4209-R18976 per year.
Though you’re not getting the cheapest rates available, the pricing remains competitive. The base costs exclude add-ons like privacy protection, which runs an extra R4187 annually.
While Wix’s domain pricing isn’t the cheapest option available, it remains competitive with transparent costs and optional privacy protection for R4187 annually.
Wix’s structure is transparent with no hidden fees or surprise charges. You’ll see exactly what you’re paying upfront, making budget planning straightforward for your website project. You can reduce annual costs through multi-year registrations, which offer progressively better rates for longer commitment periods.
First-Year Free Domain Offers With Premium Plans
You’ll find Wix’s most attractive domain pricing comes through their premium plans, which include a free domain for your first year.
However, this offer isn’t as straightforward as it appears – you must purchase an annual premium plan and redeem your voucher within 60 days.
The catch is that this free domain benefit only applies to first-time premium purchases, so you can’t stack renewals or upgrades to keep getting free domains. Your chosen domain comes with free web hosting included, ensuring your website maintains proper security and uptime from day one.
Premium Plan Requirements
Three specific conditions must align perfectly for you to snag Wix’s free domain offer, and missing even one means you’ll pay full price from day one.
First, you’ll need to purchase a Premium Plan – the free tier won’t suffice. The Light plan starting at R299 monthly qualifies, but here’s the catch: you must commit to annual billing. Monthly subscribers get no domain perks, despite paying more overall.
Second, this voucher only works for first-time Premium purchases. Upgrading from an existing plan or renewing your subscription? You’re out of luck.
Third, you’ve got exactly 60 days to redeem your voucher after purchase. Miss that window, and your free domain disappears forever.
The offer covers popular extensions like .com and .net, plus niche options like .shop. Premium plans also provide reliable web hosting with guaranteed 99.99% uptime and enhanced security features.
Domain Voucher Limitations
While Wix’s free domain offer sounds like a brilliant deal, several limitations can catch you off guard if you’re not paying attention.
Your domain voucher expires just two months after purchasing your Premium plan. There’s no extension, no second chances, and definitely no automatic notifications. Miss that window? Your voucher’s gone forever.
Here’s what you’re facing:
| Limitation | Impact | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Voucher expires in 2 months | Permanent loss if unused | R250+ annually |
| No domain privacy included | Public contact information | R165 yearly |
| First-year only benefit | Regular pricing starts year two | R250+ annually |
| Transfer restrictions apply | Technical knowledge required | Varies |
| Grace period limitations | Website goes offline if expired | Recovery fees |
You’ll need to budget for renewal costs and privacy protection separately. Remember that this free domain benefit is only available with annual plans, excluding the Connect Domain plan option.
Multi-Year Registration Discount Benefits
You can secure significant savings by registering your Wix domain for multiple years in advance instead of renewing annually.
Whilst the first year is provided free with premium plans, extending your registration for two or three years safeguards you against future price rises and reduces the inconvenience of yearly renewals.
The initial upfront payment might appear substantial, but it’s a astute financial decision that ensures your domain’s future at current rates.
Two-Year Registration Savings
Two years might seem like a long commitment for a domain, but Wix’s multi-year registration option actually delivers practical benefits that go beyond simple convenience.
You’ll pay R539 for two years at the standard R269.50 annual rate, which protects you against potential price increases during that period.
Here’s what makes two-year registration smart:
- Administrative relief – You’ll skip the annual renewal dance for 24 months.
- Price protection – Your rate stays locked regardless of future increases.
- Zero expiration anxiety – No worrying about accidental lapses that could crash your site.
- Streamlined payments – One transaction handles two years of domain costs.
The automatic renewal system kicks in 30 days before expiration. Your domain stays active without manual intervention, giving you complete peace of mind.
Three-Year Cost Reduction
Since longer commitments often reward users with better pricing, you’d expect Wix to offer substantial discounts for three-year domain registrations – but the reality doesn’t quite match that expectation.
Unfortunately, specific information about three-year domain discounts isn’t readily available in Wix’s standard pricing documentation. While many domain registrars clearly advertise multi-year savings, Wix keeps these details surprisingly under wraps.
You’ll need to check during the actual checkout process to see if any three-year discounts appear.
Most registrars offer 10-15% savings for longer commitments, but Wix’s approach seems less transparent about these potential benefits. This lack of upfront pricing information can be frustrating for South African businesses planning their digital presence budgets.
If you’re planning a long-term website, you might find better multi-year pricing with dedicated domain registrars who specialise in competitive bulk registration discounts.
These providers often cater specifically to the South African market with clearer pricing structures than bundled hosting packages.
Upfront Payment Requirements
Upfront Payment Requirements
When Wix offers multi-year domain discounts, they’re fundamentally asking you to pay everything upfront – and that payment structure creates both opportunities and obstacles for South African businesses.
The two-year registration discount drops your cost to R295 per year, but you’ll pay R590 immediately. That’s real savings, but it ties up your cash flow.
| Registration Period | Annual Cost | Upfront Payment | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | R313 | R313 | R0 |
| 2 Years | R295/year | R590 | R36 |
Multi-year discounts only apply during registration – you can’t add years later at the discounted rate. Payment’s due in full when you register, so budget accordingly.
The savings are modest but legitimate if you’re committed to keeping your domain long-term. For South African businesses managing tight cash flows, weigh the immediate outlay against the annual savings carefully.
Domain Privacy Protection Costs and Features
One significant advantage of choosing Wix for your domain needs is their approach to privacy protection – it’s included free with eligible domains rather than being an expensive add-on.
While third-party registrars typically charge R1126-R2251 annually for WHOIS protection, Wix automatically applies this service at no extra cost.
Your personal details get replaced with Wix’s contact information in public databases.
You’ll receive a dedicated email format like example.com@wix-domains.com for legitimate contact purposes.
The protection includes voice number replacement with an online contact form system, plus a free SSL certificate.
The privacy service replaces your phone number with a secure contact form and includes complimentary SSL certification.
However, you’ll need to extend your domain for at least one additional year to activate private registration.
Privacy protection won’t help if you’re listing personal details directly on your website.
Plan-Specific Domain Benefits Comparison
Wix’s domain benefits vary dramatically depending on which plan you choose, and grasping these differences can save you from expensive surprises down the road.
Here’s what you’ll actually get:
Light Plan (R320/month): Basic DNS editing and standard domain management. Nothing fancy, but it’ll work for simple sites.
Core Plan (R545/month): Adds e-commerce domain readiness and forwarding features – essential if you’re selling anything online.
Business Plan (R680/month): Upgraded security features and advanced DNS configuration. Worth considering for professional sites.
Business Elite (R3000/month): Unlimited domain connections plus priority support. Overkill for most users, honestly.
Enterprise: Custom portfolio management with dedicated specialists. Corporate-level stuff that comes at premium pricing.
The sweet spot? Core plan delivers solid value without breaking the bank for most South African businesses.
Domain Ownership Rights and Transfer Process
Beyond choosing the right plan, you’ll want to understand precisely what happens to your domain if you choose to leave Wix – and fortunately, the news is positive.
You retain full ownership rights to any domain purchased through Wix, with your name recorded as the official registrant in ICANN’s database. This ensures complete control over your digital property.
Your domain remains entirely yours with full ownership rights and complete control over your digital property through ICANN registration.
When you’re ready to transfer, click the three-dot icon next to your domain name and select “Transfer away from Wix.”
You’ll receive an authorisation code via email after confirming your decision. The transfer typically takes 5-7 business days once you provide this code to your new registrar. This timeframe is standard across the industry in South Africa.
Keep in mind: your domain must be registered for at least 60 days before transfer eligibility comes into effect.
Annual Renewal Rates and Promotional Cycles
Domain renewal pricing at Wix follows a straightforward structure, though you’ll want to budget for the rate increase after your first year. After your complimentary domain expires, you’ll pay standard renewal rates ranging from R280 to R470 annually for most extensions.
| Domain Extension | Annual Cost | Multi-Year Discount |
|---|---|---|
| .com | R365 | R290 (3-year) |
| .org/.net | R282 | Available |
| .blog | R472 | Limited |
| .online | R680 | Varies |
Wix runs promotional cycles approximately every two weeks, offering 50% off plans with consistent frequency. These limited-time offers expire quickly but return regularly.
You’ll save 24% by choosing annual billing over monthly payments. Longer commitments reduce per-year costs considerably, making multi-year plans attractive for established businesses.
Hidden Fees and Additional Domain Services
While renewal costs paint one image of domain ownership expenses, several additional charges can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared.
Wix’s domain privacy protection requires a separate payment beyond your standard registration fee. Without it, your personal information becomes publicly accessible through WHOIS databases, which is hardly ideal for most South African business owners.
You’ll also encounter transaction fees that quietly accumulate:
- Processing fees of 2.9% apply to all eCommerce transactions through your domain.
- Service fees of 2.5% get added to event ticket sales beyond standard processing.
- App Market tools range from R45 to R8999 monthly for domain-related functionality.
Domain transfer services carry additional costs. Reactivation after expiration and specialised redirect tools all require one-time fees.
These costs aren’t included in your subscription, making budgeting more complex than initially expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use My Existing Domain From Another Registrar With Wix?
Yes, you can connect your existing domain from another registrar to your Wix website at no extra charge. You’ll still pay your current registrar’s renewal fees whilst using it with Wix.
What Happens to My Domain if I Cancel My Wix Plan?
If you cancel your Wix plan, you’ll lose custom domain connectivity and your site will revert to a .wixsite.com subdomain. However, you will still own your domain and can transfer it elsewhere.
Does Wix Offer Refunds for Unused Domain Registration Time?
You can’t get refunds for unused domain registration time since domains are typically registered for full yearly periods. However, you may qualify for a refund if requesting within fourteen days of purchase.
Can I Register Multiple Domains Under One Wix Account?
Yes, you can register multiple domains under one Wix account. There’s no limit on Wix-purchased domains, though you can only connect six external domains from other registrars to your account.
Are There Geographic Restrictions on Certain Domain Extensions Through Wix?
Yes, you’ll find geographic restrictions on certain domain extensions through Wix. Country-code domains like .uk or .au often have specific registration requirements, residency rules, or documentation needs that vary by region.
How Much Does It Cost to Migrate From One Platform to Another?
You’ll pay between R2251-R11255 for simple site migrations, R6753-R22510 for small business websites, and R18008-R56275+ for eCommerce platforms. Complex custom sites can cost R45020-R225100+ depending on functionality.