Wix, the popular website builder, is stepping into the visual design arena with a new platform called Wixel, directly taking on established players like Canva and Adobe Express. Built with artificial intelligence at its core, Wixel promises a point-and-click level of simplicity for creating graphics.
The company, which built its reputation on making website coding unnecessary for the average user, is applying the same philosophy to graphic design. Wixel is designed to be incredibly user-friendly while still packing enough power to handle sophisticated design tasks.
After spending some time with Wixel, I found its interface to be more intuitive than some other free design software, including Canva. Features like one-click background removal for images are impressively fast and accurate. I also enjoyed experimenting with its library of icons and design elements, with great-looking results.
The platform also includes AI image generation. However, during my test, when I prompted it to create “a bird with a rainbow behind it,” the result was the pre-existing butterfly icon simply placed against a rainbow background. This suggests the AI is powerful but may still need some fine-tuning for complex requests.
The real strength of Wixel lies in its streamlined workflow. The user interface is clean and guided, with clear prompts for actions like “Smart Select,” “Remove Background,” and “Add Elements.” This makes it ideal for artists and small business owners who need to quickly place product images onto new backgrounds, add text, and create social-media-ready graphics.
Wix has confirmed that more advanced features, including video and story creation tools, are in development.
“AI is the foundation of Wixel,” stated Avishai Abrahami, Co-founder and CEO of Wix. “Design is in our DNA, and simplifying complex experiences is what we do best. We are determined to revolutionize design by democratizing access to powerful creative tools for everyone, regardless of their skill level. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see the creativity Wixel will unlock.”
Following a familiar model, Wixel will be available in both free and premium tiers. The free version includes a set amount of AI credits, while a paid subscription unlocks premium templates, design assets, and enhanced usage limits.
