A few years ago the comparison was easy to state: a traditional builder gave you a blank page and tools, and an AI builder gave you a finished site. In 2026 that line has blurred. Wix, for example, lists AI creation tools as part of every plan on its own plans page. So "AI or not" is no longer the useful question. The better question is how much of the work you want to do yourself.

What Wix offers today

According to Wix's plans page, as we read it on October 19, 2026, you can create a site for free and choose a paid plan when you are ready. The paid plans, Light, Core, Business and Business Elite, all include a custom domain, hosting, AI creation tools, 24/7 customer care and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Accepting payments starts at the Core plan, and Wix lists scheduling and services from Core upward as well. Wix shows yearly prices paid upfront and they vary by region, so check wix.com/plans for the current figures.

Three ways to get a website

Build it yourself in an editor. You choose a template or start from AI suggestions, then edit the layout, text and images. This gives you the most control and takes the most of your time. It suits people who enjoy the process or need specific features, such as a store.

AI-assisted building. You describe your business, a tool drafts the pages, and you review and refine them. Several platforms now work this way, including GoDaddy's builder. You still make the decisions and do the editing, but the first draft arrives quickly.

A delivered site. You describe your business, the finished site is built for you, you review it before paying and you pay a monthly fee that covers hosting. You give up some hands-on control in exchange for less work. websiites works this way.

How to choose

Ask yourself four questions:

1. Do I want to edit the site myself? If yes, a platform with an editor makes sense. If you would rather ask for a change and have it done, a delivered site fits better. 2. Do I need to sell products or take bookings online? Platforms built for that, Wix among them, are the stronger choice. A delivered site that presents your business and collects inquiries is enough for many service businesses, but it is not a store. 3. What is the full yearly cost? Add the plan, the domain after the first year and any apps you need, on the billing period you will really use. 4. How much time can I give it? The honest answer to this question often decides everything.

A fair test

Write one paragraph describing your business. Enter it into each option you are considering, whether that is Wix's AI tools, another AI builder or a delivered service, and compare how long each takes, how close the first draft is and what the total yearly cost would be. Ten minutes of testing tells you more than any comparison article.

Where websiites fits and where it does not

A delivered site like this builds a complete multi-page site from your description and shows it to you before you pay. Ours costs $39, $79 or $149 a month, month-to-month, with hosting, SSL and unlimited rebuilds included. It does not run an online store or take bookings itself, so it is not the right tool if selling online is the main goal.

The takeaway

The choice has shifted from AI against no AI to who does the work. Decide how much you want to do, check what you need the site to do and compare real totals.

If you would like to see a finished site for your own business before paying anything, websiites will build one from a short description.