Moving Away from Wix? Why Transferring Your Domain Is the Key to Full Website Freedom

Wix domain restrictions vs hosting freedoms

Wix makes it easy to launch a website quickly. Hosting, templates, and domains are bundled together, so you can get online without touching any technical settings. But that convenience can become limiting when your website outgrows the platform.

If you’re planning to move from Wix to a more flexible website builder – one that lets you choose your own host, customize more deeply, and scale without restrictions – there’s one critical step many people overlook:

Transferring your domain name.

The Hidden Limitation of Wix Domains

If your domain is registered with Wix, you can edit certain DNS records, like the A record. This allows you to point your domain to an external server, i.e. your new web hosting account.

However, there’s a catch:

  • ✅ You can change individual DNS records
  • ❌ You cannot change nameservers
  • ❌ DNS must remain locked inside Wix’s system

This means Wix stays in control of how your domain works – even if your website no longer lives there.

For simple setups, this might be fine. But for more advanced builders and hosting environments, it often leads to unnecessary friction.

Why Nameservers Matter When Leaving Wix

Modern website builders and hosting providers rely heavily on nameserver access to:

  • Automatically configure SSL certificates
  • Set up email correctly
  • Manage subdomains
  • Enable CDNs and performance features
  • Apply DNS changes reliably

When nameservers are locked, these processes usually become manual, error-prone, or partially unsupported.

That’s why many builders designed for flexibility – such as UltimateWB or self-hosted WordPress – work best when you fully control your domain.

The Clean Solution: Transfer Your Domain

If you’re serious about moving away from Wix, transferring your domain to a neutral registrar is the cleanest and most future-proof solution.

Once transferred, you can:

  • ✅ Change nameservers freely
  • ✅ Choose any hosting provider
  • ✅ Let your builder or host handle DNS automatically
  • ✅ Avoid platform lock-in
  • ✅ Switch builders again later without restrictions

This gives you real ownership of your website – not just the content, but the infrastructure behind it.

Wix vs Flexible Builders: A Key Difference

Wix

  • Hosting is locked in
  • Domains stay tied to Wix’s DNS
  • Limited control over server-level features

Flexible builders (like UltimateWB or WordPress)

  • You choose your hosting
  • You control DNS and nameservers
  • You can move, scale, or customize at any time

If flexibility and long-term control matter to you, this difference is crucial.

When You Might Not Need to Transfer (Yet)

There are cases where staying with a Wix-registered domain can work temporarily:

  • You’re testing a new platform
  • You only need a simple A-record setup
  • You don’t rely on advanced hosting features

But even then, domain transfer is often delayed, not avoided.

Final Takeaway

If you want the freedom to choose your host, change platforms easily, and avoid unnecessary limitations, transferring your domain away from Wix isn’t optional – it’s essential.

Website builders like UltimateWB and WordPress are designed around openness and flexibility. Pairing them with a domain that’s still locked inside Wix undercuts those benefits.

True website ownership starts with domain control.

Posted in Domains & Hosting, Wix | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Switching From a Free Domain to a Custom Domain: Do You Keep the Free One?

domain name on Wix vs custom domain

If you’ve ever started a website on a free plan – Wix, Google Sites, WordPress.com, or any other hosted builder – you’ve probably used one of those long, platform-branded URLs like:

account.wixsite.com/your-site-name
sites.google.com/view/yourproject
yourname.wordpress.com

They’re great for getting started. But at some point, upgrading to a custom domain becomes the next logical step for branding, professionalism, and SEO.

One question comes up a lot, especially from Wix users:

“If I switch to a custom domain, do I still get to keep the free domain – and will it redirect?”

Let’s break down how this works across the major free website builders.

Does Wix Let You Keep the Free Domain After Switching?

Short answer: Yes, it still exists – but no, it doesn’t redirect automatically.

On Wix:

  • Your free URL (the wixsite.com address) continues to exist in the background.
  • You cannot set that free Wix URL to automatically redirect to your new custom domain.
  • Wix uses the free domain only as a fallback if your premium plan lapses.

In other words:
Your old free site won’t disappear, but it won’t act like a redirect either.

If someone visits the old free URL after you’ve connected a custom domain, Wix will often show a generic version of your site, but without the custom-domain benefits. It’s not an SEO-friendly redirect, and you can’t turn it into one.

What About Google Sites?

Google Sites is completely free, so:

  • The sites.google.com link always continues to exist.
  • You can map a custom domain if you want.
  • But again – Google Sites does not turn the free URL into a redirect. Both URLs are simply active.

Visitors can reach your site using either link, but Google will treat them as two versions of the same site unless you set up canonical tags (Google Sites doesn’t allow custom SEO settings for this).

What About WordPress.com?

On WordPress.com free plans:

  • Your wordpress.com address continues to exist.
  • When you add a custom domain, the free WordPress.com URL automatically redirects – but only as long as you keep your paid plan active.
  • If you cancel the paid plan, the redirect stops.

So WordPress.com is one of the few builders that actually gives you a real redirect.

Should You Worry About the Free Domain Staying Active?

Here’s the truth: once you switch to a custom domain, you should not rely on the free one for anything important – SEO, branding, traffic, etc.

If the old free URL remains accessible, it can cause:

  • Duplicate content issues
  • Brand confusion
  • Unprofessional URLs showing up in search results

Ideally, you want everything funneling into your custom domain, with proper redirects and full control.

Builder platforms like Wix often don’t give that control because the free URL is tied to their own hosting system.

If You Want Full Control Over Redirects

If you ever want true control – real 301 redirects, canonical URLs, and the ability to decide what stays live or goes offline – you need a platform that gives you server-level access.

For example, on UltimateWB, you choose your own custom domain from the beginning, and you can redirect your old page URLs to new URLs if you decide to change them, by editing the .htaccess file. You get to work with full hosting access. No platform-imposed hits to your SEO.

Not every project needs that kind of control, but it’s good to know your options.

Final Answer (Simplified)

If you’re switching from a free domain to a custom domain:

  • Wix: You keep the free site link, but it does not redirect.
  • Google Sites: Free link stays live, no redirect.
  • WordPress.com: Free link does redirect, but only while you maintain your paid plan.

If you want predictable redirects and full control, choose a platform where you – not the website builder – control the hosting.

Posted in Domains & Hosting, Google Sites, Wix, WordPress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Webflow’s Wobbles: Inside the Outages Rocking the No-Code Community

Webflow issues, status updates

For years, Webflow has been a dominant force in the no-code and low-code web development space, empowering designers and businesses to create stunning websites with visual tools.

But lately, many of its most loyal users are asking a tough question:

What’s going on with Webflow?

Over the past couple of months, Webflow has been hit by a series of outages and performance issues that have shaken user confidence. From broken dashboards to mysteriously vanishing updates, it’s been a rocky ride – and the Webflow community isn’t staying quiet about it.

🚨 A Summer of Service Disruptions

In both June and July 2025, Webflow users experienced significant downtime. We’re not just talking about a few slow-loading pages here and there – multiple core features went down.

Some of the highlights (or lowlights) include:

  • July 2025: Users reported problems with the dashboard, visual editor, and even basic form submissions. Some couldn’t even adjust number input fields in the Style panel – an oddly specific, but frustrating, bug.
  • June 2025: A major internet outage worsened things, but even outside of that, users noticed their hosted sites were lagging or inaccessible. Meanwhile, the Designer and Dashboard felt sluggish or completely unresponsive.

While Webflow’s official status page exists to keep users in the loop, some users say it’s often out of sync with what’s really happening. Independent monitoring tools and community reports painted a bleaker picture, with frequent alerts and downtime across the board.

🗣️ “A Platform Stability Crisis”

The tipping point came when a frustrated Webflow agency published an open letter on the official Discourse Webflow forum, calling the situation exactly what it feels like to many: a “platform stability crisis.”

The post describes issues that go far beyond mere inconvenience:

  • Designer crashes – multiple times per hour
  • Work that doesn’t save
  • Publishing errors
  • A dashboard that feels “barely functional”

That’s not just annoying. That’s business-threatening. The letter details how these problems are eroding client trust, burning out developers, and putting projects at risk. The core message? New features are great – but not at the expense of platform reliability.

🧾 The Bigger Picture

Even before the outages, some long-standing gripes have lingered in the Webflow community. For example:

  • Pricing: Webflow isn’t exactly cheap, especially for freelancers and smaller agencies juggling multiple sites.
  • Learning curve: For a platform that brands itself as “no-code,” Webflow can feel surprisingly complex. Getting the most out of it often requires a steep time investment and some technical know-how.

When you combine those ongoing concerns with sudden instability, it’s no surprise that some users are starting to explore alternatives – or at least thinking about backup plans.

💡 A Wake-Up Call for Web Creators

There’s a broader lesson here. If you build your business on someone else’s platform, you’re also relying on them to stay stable, transparent, and fast to fix issues. And when they don’t? Your clients – and your reputation – can take the hit.

That’s why more developers are considering solutions where they have more flexibility – with full access to upload your files where you want, optimize your database, and choose your hosting. Whether that’s a CMS like WordPress or a platform like UltimateWB, having more control over your environment gives you more options when things go sideways.

🚀 What Comes Next?

Webflow still offers some of the best visual design tools in the industry, and its community is packed with smart, passionate creators. But these recent wobbles are a warning sign. If Webflow wants to maintain its status as a no-code leader, it needs to rebuild trust – not just release new features.

For the rest of us, it’s a reminder: no platform is bulletproof. Always weigh your tools carefully. And always have a plan B.

If you’re looking for a Webflow alternative that is more stable and might even cost less – both in money and time – check out your website builder options at ChooseWebsiteBuilder.com .

Posted in Webflow | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Host Your HTML, CSS & JS Website on GitHub Pages for Free — Step-by-Step Guide with Themes & Custom Domains

GitHub website
GitHub website

Dreaming of getting your personal portfolio, small business landing page, or side project online without spending a dime on hosting? Or maybe you want to publish a coded website for your school project or homework assignment. If your website is built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — a “static” website — then GitHub Pages is your golden ticket!

GitHub, known for collaborative coding and version control, offers a fantastic free hosting service for static sites. You can even use themes to style your site easily, and set up your own custom domain for a professional touch. While it involves a few extra steps compared to uploading files to a traditional web host, the benefits — like built-in version control, free HTTPS, and reliable performance — can make it worth the effort.

Let’s walk through exactly how to host your static website on GitHub Pages — including using themes and custom domains — step by step.

What is GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages is a free static site hosting service offered by GitHub. It allows you to host your website directly from a GitHub repository. When you push changes to a designated branch (usually main or gh-pages), GitHub automatically builds and deploys your site, making your updates live within minutes.

💡 Note: A static website means it’s built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript only — no server-side code like PHP or databases.

Types of GitHub Pages Sites: User/Organization vs Project

GitHub Pages supports two types of sites:

  • User or Organization Site:
    You get one user or organization site per GitHub account or organization. This site must be hosted in a repository named exactly yourusername.github.io. Your entire site will live at
    https://yourusername.github.io/.
  • Project Site:
    You can create unlimited project sites under your account or organization. These are repositories with any name you choose. Project sites are hosted at
    https://yourusername.github.io/project-repo-name/.

Prerequisites: What You’ll Need

Before you start, make sure you have:

  • ✅ A GitHub account — sign up at github.com.
  • ✅ Git installed on your computer — download it from git-scm.com.
  • ✅ Your website files — HTML, CSS, JS, images, and other assets organized in one folder. Make sure your main page is named index.html.

Step-by-Step Guide to Hosting on GitHub Pages

Step 1: Create a New GitHub Repository

  1. Log in to GitHub.
  2. Click the New button (on the left sidebar or the “+” in the top right) and select New repository.
  3. Set a name for your repository:
    • For a User/Organization Site: Name the repo exactly yourusername.github.io (replace with your GitHub username).
    • For a Project Site: Use any name you like, e.g., my-project.
  4. Optionally, add a description.
  5. Choose Public (GitHub Pages is free only for public repos).
  6. Do not initialize with a README (we’ll push files manually).
  7. Click Create repository.

Step 2: Initialize Git and Add Your Website Files Locally

  1. Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows).
  2. Navigate to your website folder: cd /path/to/your/website/folder
  3. Initialize a Git repository: git init
  4. Add your website files: git add .
  5. Commit the files: git commit -m "Initial commit: Add website files"

Step 3: Connect to GitHub and Push Your Files

  1. Go to your new GitHub repository page.
  2. Copy the HTTPS URL, which looks like:
    https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo-name.git
  3. Add the remote origin: bashCopyEditgit remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo-name.git
  4. Rename the branch to main (if not already): git branch -M main
  5. Push your files: git push -u origin main

Your files will now be on GitHub!

Step 4: Enable GitHub Pages

  1. Go to your repository on GitHub.
  2. Click Settings (top nav).
  3. In the left sidebar, click Pages.
  4. Under Source, choose the branch (main) and folder (/root or /docs if your site files are in a subfolder).
  5. Click Save.
    GitHub will build and publish your site, usually within 5 minutes.

Step 5: Choose and Apply a Theme (Optional)

GitHub Pages supports built-in themes to style your site without much setup.

  1. In your repository, create a file called _config.yml.
  2. Add a theme line, for example: yamlCopyEdittheme: jekyll-theme-cayman
  3. Commit and push this file to your repository.
  4. Your site will refresh with the new theme applied.

You can explore more supported themes here.

Step 6: Access Your Live Website

  • User/Organization Site:
    Your site will be live at:
    https://yourusername.github.io/
  • Project Site:
    Your site will be live at:
    https://yourusername.github.io/your-repo-name/

You can also find the live URL in the GitHub Pages settings.

Optional: Set Up a Custom Domain

Want a custom domain like www.yoursite.com?

Both User/Organization sites and Project sites fully support custom domains, so you can personalize your website address regardless of the site type.

  1. In GitHub Pages settings, under Custom domain, enter your domain name.
  2. In your repository, create a CNAME file (uppercase, no file extension) with your domain name inside.
  3. Update your domain registrar’s DNS records:
    • For www.yoursite.com, add a CNAME record pointing www → yourusername.github.io.
    • For root domains (e.g., yoursite.com), add A records pointing to these GitHub IPs: 185.199.108.153 185.199.109.153 185.199.110.153 185.199.111.153

🕒 DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours.

Benefits of Using GitHub Pages

  • 💸 100% Free static site hosting
  • 🚀 Fast & reliable, backed by GitHub’s global CDN
  • 🔄 Version control with Git for easy updates and collaboration
  • 🔧 Simple deployment — just push your changes
  • 🌐 Support for custom domains
  • 🔒 HTTPS enabled by default via Let’s Encrypt

Limitations to Know

  • ❌ Static only — no server-side code like PHP, Python, or Node.js
  • 📏 Repository and build limits (usually 1 GB repo size, soft build time limits)
  • 🔒 Private sites require a paid GitHub plan

Let’s Recap

GitHub Pages is an amazing, cost-effective solution for developers, designers, and hobbyists who want to get a static website online fast. With built-in version control, instant deployments, free HTTPS, and support for themes and custom domains, it’s a free solution for portfolios, documentation, blogs, and simple web apps.

Give it a try — you might be surprised how quickly your site goes live!

If you want a traditional web hosting solution—with easy file uploads and full support for both static and dynamic sites—you can get started for under $5/month, with SSL included, through UltimateWB web hosting plans.

Posted in GitHub | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment