Wix vs. Squarespace vs. WordPress: Which Should You Choose?

If you’re starting a business, you’ll need a website to build your online presence. But, not everyone is tech-savvy or has the time or patience to design a site. At the same time, you might not be able to afford a professional web developer.

The good news is you don’t need any technical skills to build a website these days. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress make it super easy to get started. They come with drag-and-drop builders, ready-made page templates, and many other handy features – you’ll just need to make sure that you choose the right platform for your needs.

‘In this post, we’ll compare Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress in terms of features, cost, ease of use, and other factors. We’ll then discuss which platform you should use to launch your business website. Let’s dive right in!

A Quick Introduction to Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress

Wix and Squarespace are among the most popular website builders on the market. In fact, Wix accounts for over 43 percent of the global market share when it comes to site builders, while Squarespace accounts for over 20 percent. 

WordPress is a bit different from Wix and Squarespace. It’s not a website builder as such, but rather a Content Management System (CMS) that’s free and open-source. It’s used by 43 percent of websites on the web.

But, before we compare these platforms in more detail, let’s provide a quick overview of each one.

Wix

Wix is an all-in-one website solution. You can use it to build online stores, portfolios, blogs, restaurant sites, and more:

With Wix, you get everything in one place. Your website is hosted on the company’s cloud-based environment, and anything from domain names to marketing integrations can be accessed and managed from your Wix account. 

Squarespace

Like Wix, Squarespace is an all-in-one platform. That means you’ll get your hosting, domain name, and website builder bundled in one account:

While Squarespace is primarily geared towards online stores, you can still use it to build other types of websites, like portfolios. 

WordPress

WordPress is open-source software. You can use it to build any type of website:

However, unlike Wix and Squarespace, you’ll need to get hosting and a domain name separately. The good news is that reputable hosting companies like NameHero offer WordPress-specific plans, which include domain registration and auto installs of the software.

Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress: 4 Factors Compared

Now, let’s compare these website solutions in different areas. We’ll be looking at how easy they are to use, their key features, customization options, and pricing.

Ease of Use

Wix has an easy setup guide. You can choose the specific type of website you want to build, and provide some information about your store (such as the type of products you sell):

You can then ask Wix to create the website for you (based on your site profile), or choose a template:

After that, you can use the Wix editor to customize the template or the design that was generated for you:

The editor is quite comprehensive, so it might take a while to familiarize yourself with all the available settings and options. However, its drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to rearrange elements on your page. 

Let’s move on to Squarespace. This website builder will first ask you some questions about your business:

Then, you can choose a template or build a custom website with Squarespace Blueprint AI. If you select the latter option, Squarespace will ask you to select your colors, fonts, and pages:

It will then generate your site according to your selections, and you can open it in the editor to replace the placeholder text and images with your own content:

Here, you can also add other elements and sections. The interface is quite straightforward and shouldn’t take long to master.

WordPress, on the other hand, has a slightly steeper learning curve. Once you install the software and create your login credentials, you’ll get access to the admin dashboard:

You’ll need to navigate to the tabs in the side menu to create new pages or posts, configure your settings, or customize the design. 

While WordPress may be a bit more difficult to learn, it gives you a lot of customization options. For example, you can install themes and edit them with the WordPress Customizer or Site Editor (more on this later).

Features

Now, let’s look at some key features that add more functionality to your website. 

With Wix, you’ll have access to an app market where you can find all sorts of tools. For example, if you have an online store, you can install apps for loyalty programs, Etsy integrations, coupons, shipping and delivery, plus a lot more:

Wix also comes with a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) checklist to help you boost your site’s visibility in search results. It also supports various marketing integrations, including Google Analytics.

Similarly, Squarespace has an extensions marketplace where you can browse through sales and marketing tools, as well as shipment, finance, and inventory tools:

Squarespace also offers built-in analytics and email marketing. This means you can monitor your site’s performance and create newsletters from the same dashboard. 

WordPress doesn’t come with a lot of built-in features. However, its plugin directory contains thousands of tools for all sorts of purposes:

These include essentials like security plugins and SEO tools. If you’re building an online shop, you can install WooCommerce, which is the leading ecommerce plugin for WordPress:

Additionally, since WordPress is so popular, it can be integrated with many third-party services. For example, your preferred email marketing service or online learning platform will likely have a plugin that lets you connect your account to your WordPress site.

Customizations

Of course, you’ll want your website to align with your branding. All of the platforms in this comparison guide let you customize elements like fonts and colors, upload your logo, and use your own media. 

If you’re looking for more advanced customization options, here’s what you need to know about each tool’s native editing tools:

• Wix Editor. This lets you add elements (e.g., buttons and text) and sections (e.g. testimonials and about), and make customization to each component. You can also change the layout of your page, build your own header and footer, add a background color or image, and more. 
• Squarespace Fluid Engine. This lets you add blocks (text, images, buttons, etc.) and sections (contact, portfolio, services, etc.) and customize them on an individual level. 
• WordPress Site Editor. With this tool, you can customize site templates like your homepage and shop page, as well as global components such as your header and footer. You can add blocks (images, paragraphs, icons, headers, etc.) and configure their settings. 

It’s also worth noting that when you create a page or post in WordPress, you can design it from scratch with the Block Editor:

You’ll find blocks for various elements, plus pre-made designs (known as block patterns), which you can add to your page and customize. 

Cost

Finally, let’s look at costs. Squarespace plans start at $16 per month. But, if you’re launching a store with online payments, you’ll pay at least $23 per month:

Wix offers a free plan, but with it, you won’t have a custom domain. Premium plans start at $17 per month for a basic website, and $29 per month for ecommerce sites:

As mentioned earlier, WordPress in itself is free, and you can download it from the official page:

However, you’ll need to purchase web hosting and a domain name.

Fortunately, many web hosts offer budget-friendly plans which include domain registration. Some of these plans start at less than $5 per month, which makes WordPress more affordable than all-in-one solutions like Wix and Squarespace.

So Which Platform Should You Choose?

WordPress is by far the most flexible solution for starting a website. Customization possibilities are almost limitless, and you can expand your site’s functionality with WordPress plugins (many of which are free).

If you need a web hosting account, NameHero provides WordPress plans that start at just $2.69 per month:

These include automatic WordPress installations, free daily backups to help keep your content safe, a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, and many other essential features.  

If you purchase the Turbo or Business plan, you’ll also get a free domain. These start at $6.98/month and $10.48/month, which still makes them cheaper than Wix and Squarespace. 

Conclusion

Wix and Squarespace are all-in-one website building platforms that enable you to manage all aspects of your site from one place. They come with user-friendly site editors and a large selection of add-ons for all your marketing and ecommerce needs. However, they’re a bit pricey compared to WordPress. 

With WordPress, you get more control over your website in terms of customization and functionality. Plus, you can purchase hosting from a reliable host like NameHero. This will also include security features to protect your site. 

Do you have any questions about using Wix, Squarespace or WordPress for your business site? Let us know in the comments section below!