Is The Knot free in 2026? Wedding website pricing and alternatives

Yes, The Knot wedding websites are completely free to create, customize, publish, and share, with 100+ template designs included. The only extra website cost is an optional custom domain at $19.99 for one year (or $99.99 per year for a .wedding domain). This guide compares The Knot with Zola, Joy, Squarespace, and Heya.

See the comparison Start with the wedding template

Heya is ours, so read its row with that in mind. Every other number comes from each company's own pages, checked on October 29, 2026.

The short answer

Best free all-in-one The Knot is completely free with 100+ template designs, built-in RSVP tracking, a guest list manager, and registry linking; optional custom domains start at $19.99 for one year.
Best for template variety Zola is free to create and publish, offering over 600 artist-designed templates, digital RSVPs with meal preferences, password protection, and custom domains starting at $17.99.
Best for guest privacy Joy costs $0 per month for unlimited guests, zero-fee cash registries, page-by-page visibility controls, personalized guest schedules, and custom CSS.
Best simple mobile-friendly site Heya Free costs $0 for up to 5 pages with a wedding template, full phone editing, and a button you can link to a Google Form or Tally RSVP form.

The Knot wedding website pricing vs Heya plans

Compare what comes with The Knot's free website and paid domain upgrades alongside Heya's free and low-cost plans.

Plan	Price	Custom domain	Templates & pages	RSVPs & guest list
The Knot Free Website	Free	Not included (can forward third-party domain)	100+ designs, customizable sections	Built-in RSVPs, guest list manager, messaging
The Knot + Standard Domain	$19.99 for one year ($39.98 for two years)	Custom domain included, auto setup	100+ designs, customizable sections	Built-in RSVPs, guest list manager, messaging
The Knot + .wedding Domain	$99.99/yr	.wedding domain included, auto setup	100+ designs, customizable sections	Built-in RSVPs, guest list manager, messaging
Heya Free	$0	Not included (uses yourname.heya.bio)	Up to 5 pages per site, wedding template	Link a button to a Google Form or Tally form
Heya Pro Lite	$3/mo	Not included (requires Pro Standard at $6/mo)	Up to 20 pages per site, no Heya badge	Link a button to a Google Form or Tally form

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

All prices and plan features reflect data checked on October 29, 2026.

The Knot and wedding website alternatives compared

The Knot

Free; domains from $19.99/year

The Knot lets you build, customize, and publish a wedding site for free with over 100 templates, RSVP collection, a guest list manager, and registry links. Custom domains cost $19.99 for one year ($39.98 for two years), or $99.99 per year for .wedding.

Better at: Couples wanting a free wedding site with built-in RSVP tracking and mobile app integration.
Watch out: Custom domains are non-refundable, cannot be edited once registered, and must be renewed manually.

Zola

Free; domains from $17.99

Zola lets you create and publish a free wedding website using over 600 artist-designed templates. Sites include a gift registry, guest list, digital RSVPs with meal preferences, and a photo and video gallery. Custom domains start at $17.99, alongside paid Premium Website effects.

Better at: Over 600 templates, optional password protection, and automated thank-you notes after the wedding.
Watch out: Custom domains and Premium Website effects cost extra; connected domains require public guest visibility.

Joy

Free ($0/month); paid upgrades available

Joy costs $0 per month for unlimited guests, with hundreds of templates, digital invites, and zero-fee cash registries. Its RSVP system handles follow-up questions, plus-one limits, and custom guest schedules. Paid upgrades cover custom domains, text messaging, and premium stationery.

Better at: Page-by-page privacy controls, multiple editor accounts without sharing passwords, and custom CSS.
Watch out: Guests must install the Joy mobile app if they want to upload photos to your shared gallery.

Heya

Free; Pro from $3/mo

Ours is a no-code builder you can edit on a phone without an account. Heya Free is $0 for up to 3 sites (5 pages each) with a wedding template. Pro Lite is $3 a month, and Pro Standard is $6 a month.

Better at: Full mobile editing, no account needed to draft, and 68 templates on every plan.
Watch out: Free sites show a small badge and allow 5 pages; custom domains require Pro Standard ($6/mo), and publishing requires Google sign-in.

Squarespace

14-day free trial; paid from $19/month

Squarespace is a drag-and-drop builder using Fluid Engine and Blueprint AI. You get a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. The Basic plan starts at $19 per month (save up to 36% paying annually) and includes a free custom domain, SSL, and 24/7 support.

Better at: Full drag-and-drop layout control, built-in analytics, and ecommerce or portfolio tools.
Watch out: No permanent free plan; starts at $19 per month after the 14-day trial ends.

What The Knot's free wedding website really gets you

You can create, customize, publish, and share a wedding website on The Knot for free, with no subscriptions, required fees, or trial periods. You get over 100 free templates where you can adjust the colors, photos, text, and sections. Built-in sections cover your wedding party, events, travel info, and dress code, plus registry integration that links any gift registry in one spot.

The free setup also handles your guest coordination. It comes with RSVP collection tools, a free guest list manager, and guest messaging with reminder templates that link right to your RSVP page. Everything connects with The Knot mobile app at no cost.

Which option most couples need

The Knot's free site lets you share event details, link registries, and collect RSVPs without spending a cent. You only pay The Knot if you buy a custom domain through them, which runs $19.99 for one year or $39.98 for two years. If you already bought a domain from a third-party registrar, you can forward it to your free The Knot address without paying for an upgrade.

If you'd rather draft a simpler site without making a wedding-platform account first, or you want to build and edit everything on your phone, a general builder like Heya is worth a look.

Extra costs and custom domain rules on The Knot

The Knot doesn't charge hidden setup fees on its $19.99 per year ($39.98 for two years) custom domains, though a .wedding extension jumps to $99.99 per year. Once you register a domain on The Knot, you can't edit or change it, and all purchases are non-refundable with no prorated refunds if you remove it.

Hosting setup is automatic when you buy through The Knot, and your free address stays active and redirects to the new one. Domains don't auto-renew, so you have to renew manually within 30 days before expiration, or your site reverts intact to its free address. For third-party domains, The Knot supports forwarding redirects, not domain masking.

Free and low-cost alternatives: Zola, Joy, Heya, and Squarespace

Zola and Joy let you publish for $0. Zola has over 600 templates, RSVP tracking, password protection, and custom domains starting at $17.99. Joy is $0 per month for unlimited guests, zero-fee cash registries, and page-by-page privacy, with paid upgrades for domains, text messaging, and stationery.

For a lightweight builder, our Heya Free plan ($0) has a wedding template with a countdown, schedule, story, registry buttons, and travel page at yourname.heya.bio. For RSVPs, you can link a button to a Google Form or Tally form. Pro Lite is $3 a month, and Pro Standard is $6 a month. Squarespace starts at $19 per month after a 14-day free trial.

Open the wedding template in the editor or see what it includes.

How we checked

We compared The Knot, Zola, Joy, Squarespace, and Heya using their published pricing, domain rules, and feature lists for wedding websites. The facts come from squarespace.com/pricing, squarespace.com/websites, helpcenter.theknot.com/hc/en-us/articles/49532117369364-Are-wedding-websites-on-The-Knot-free-to-use, theknot.com/gs/wedding-websites, helpcenter.theknot.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042645552-How-do-I-purchase-a-custom-domain-for-my-wedding-website, withjoy.com/pricing, withjoy.com/wedding-website, zola.com/wedding-planning/website, zola.com/faq/category/115000342412-wedding-website, zola.com/faq/360001340151-how-do-i-connect-a-domain-name-i-bought-through-zola-to-my-wedding-website-, heya.page/pricing, heya.page/docs.

Plans change often. If a number here is out of date, email hello@heya.page and we'll fix it.

FAQ

Is The Knot wedding website completely free?

Yes, The Knot wedding websites are completely free to create, customize, publish, and share, with no trial periods, subscriptions, or required fees. You get over 100 templates, RSVP tools, a guest list manager, and registry linking at no cost. You only pay if you want an optional custom domain upgrade.

How much does a custom domain cost on The Knot?

A standard custom domain bought through The Knot costs $19.99 for one year or $39.98 for two years, with no hidden setup fees. A premium .wedding domain extension costs $99.99 per year. You can also forward a domain from a third-party registrar to your free The Knot site.

What happens when a custom domain on The Knot expires?

When your custom domain expires, your wedding website isn't lost and reverts intact to its original free address. Domains on The Knot don't renew automatically. To keep your custom address active, you need to manually renew it within 30 days before it expires.

Can I change or refund a custom domain on The Knot?

No, you can't edit or change a custom domain on The Knot once it's registered. Custom domain purchases are also non-refundable, and removing one from your site won't get you a prorated refund.

How do Zola and Joy compare to The Knot on price?

Like The Knot, Zola and Joy both offer free wedding websites, and Zola and Joy include built-in RSVP tracking, guest lists, and registries. Zola's custom domains start at $17.99 compared to The Knot's $19.99 for one year. Joy is $0 per month for unlimited guests and zero-fee cash registries, with optional paid upgrades.

Can I build a wedding website on Heya instead of The Knot?

Yes. Heya Free ($0) includes a wedding template, countdown and Google Maps blocks, and lets you link a button to a Google Form or Tally form for RSVPs. Connecting a domain you own takes Heya Pro Standard at $6 a month.

Try Heya free

Start building with Heya's ready-made wedding website template for $0 in your browser with no account required to draft, and publish up to 5 pages for free when you sign in with Google.

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