Deciding on a website platform for your business can be overwhelming. You want to know how much the website will cost to be hosted monthly online, so you can choose what is best for your budget. You also want to know if you can easily make updates to your website or if you will need to hire help making changes to your website once it is launched online. Depending on your vision you may want to know how much you can easily customize your website design, and how much your website can grow with your business over time. Also, how much control will you have over your website?
As a small business, entrepreneur, or professional creative, I will help you clearly understand the differences between Squarespace and WordPress.org websites so you can make a better choice between the two platforms. Squarespace and WordPress are the website platforms I have the most experience with from design to running online.
Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder, and it is a closed system. Squarespace handles everything including domain, hosting, security, updates, and backups of your website. As for web design, you can use Squarespace templates, or your website can be more customized using a user friendly, drag and drop interface. These are technically simpler websites to design. However, Squarespace websites are more limited in how much customization and functionality you can achieve when designing and setting up your website. You are limited to Squarespace’s built-in features and how much you can grow your website.
WordPress.org is a content management system (CMS) that has a vast library of themes and plugins to choose from to customize your website, and you have a lot of flexibility. WordPress websites can be simple to very complex. Your website can grow along with your business without limitations like Squarespace. However, you need a lot more technical skill to design and set up a WordPress website with a much steeper learning curve. WordPress websites can also be highly customized with coding. You will need to host your WordPress website on a hosting platform you choose for your website to be live online. You are responsible to make sure your website stays secure and is updated and backed up regularly. You fully own all your content and data on your WordPress website. You can change and transfer to different hosting platforms anytime. You are not locked into one platform and limited in growth and design long term like you are on a Squarespace website.
As for costs Squarespace offers four monthly fixed-price subscription plans you can choose from based on your needs that include everything for your website including hosting, templates, and support. You can also save by paying for a full year upfront rather than paying monthly. With an annual plan you get a free domain name registered, otherwise this is a separate cost on Squarespace.
WordPress.org itself is free but to make your website live online there are more variable costs including separate costs of web hosting, your domain name registration, costs of a premium theme, and premium plugins. More basic themes are free to use design, but premium themes are often a better choice for design customization. Many plugins that help your website’s functionality are free also. Though you may also need a specific plugin that will have a cost like a specific scheduler or for courses or membership. These costs can add up depending on your needs.
As for maintenance security Squarespace handles all your updates, backups, and security, so you do not have to worry about your website’s vulnerability since your website is in a closed system. This can give you more ease and peace of mind.
You are responsible for the maintenance of your WordPress website. Core WordPress software, themes and plugins need regular backups. Some plugins can help you with this. Your website host may also assist with security and backups with extra costs when you sign up for hosting. It is important to keep your website safe from security risks and running smoothly. You can hire a web consultant who is experienced with WordPress for regular website maintenance as well.
Squarespace websites are ideal for professional creatives who need a portfolio website to display their work including artists, illustrators, surface pattern designers, photographers, textile artists, or craftspeople. Squarespace offers templates that are designed for visual content making them ideal for creating stunning, image heavy portfolio websites. Some customizations can be done within the Squarespace platform on these templates to make them more individualized. Squarespace also offers ecommerce to sell a small store of products if you want this capability in addition to your portfolio. For a more individualized portfolio website with full control over design and content WordPress is a better choice for a portfolio website. You can also sell more products on WordPress with the WooCommerce plugin.
For small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking a simple but effective website Squarespace offers an easy all-in-one platform that is easier to maintain and update. You have the ability to book clients, sell digital products and courses, create a newsletter, and blog on Squarespace. For coaches with a more complex vision for how they want to grow their coaching business and desire a more individualized design WordPress is an excellent option for a website. WordPress offers more scalability over time, and complete control over how every detail can be designed for your needs with themes and plugins. You can add the ability to sell digital products, set up courses, create a membership, set up a newsletter, and book clients with plugins that add advanced functions to your website. WordPress is also an amazing platform for blogging. With plugins like Yoast SEO, coaches can have full control over their page and blog post optimization, making it easier to rank in searches and attract new clients.
If you are a small business or entrepreneur, the platform you choose will depend on your business plan. If you want an easy to manage, all-in-one platform website that is not complicated technically Squarespace is a great choice especially if you don’t see a need for a more complex website in the future. If you have a vision of your website growing with your business over time WordPress is a better option with limitless options to scale your website’s capabilities and functions. WordPress also gives you more options for a highly individualized designed website to fully represent your brand. WordPress also offers more robust options for blogging and ecommerce on your website.
Here are the main differences between Squarespace and WordPress again for you to easily see:
Squarespace Websites:
Pros:
- All-in-one platform included in monthly subscription plan making costs predictable.
- Ease of use in drag and drop interface with templates for web design.
- Less technical and easier to make updates.
- Hosting and maintenance including security, backups, and updates are done by Squarespace. Website is more secure within Squarespace platform.
- Includes scheduling, blogging, newsletter, online course creation, and ecommerce all within Squarespace.
- Includes 24/7 customer support.
Cons:
- Restricted in how much customization can be done to create very individualized website design with templates offered. Websites have similar design to many other Squarespace websites.
- Scalability is limited and not best for business’s needing a much more complex website or have a bigger vision of growth over time.
- Harder to transfer website content outside the Squarespace platform later on if you decide to scale your business and website on a different platform like WordPress.
Best for:
Professional Creatives needing visually impactful portfolio websites.
Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs who would like an easy to manage, all-in-one platform website.
WordPress.org Websites:
Pros:
- Full control and customization of website design with thousands of themes to choose from and also the ability to use custom code to make a website that stands out and uniquely represents your brand and business.
- Very large library of plugins allows you to customize your website’s functionality and capabilities including larger ecommerce options for more products, scheduling, creating a membership, and offering online courses.
- Limitless scalability over time. Your website can start simply and grow more complex as your business grows.
- Excellent for SEO with great plugins to track your website SEO for web pages and your blog posts.
- You fully own all your content and data on your WordPress website and can change and transfer to different hosting platforms anytime. You are not locked into one platform.
Cons:
- Steeper technical learning curve in web design and set up.
- Maintenance including security, updates, and backups are your responsibility along with choosing hosting and your domain name registration. Security can be more vulnerable.
- Cost varies based on hosting, domain name, theme and plugins needed.
- For maintenance support you may need to hire a WordPress website consultant.
Best for:
Pofessional Creatives looking for a more uniquely designed portfolio website and possibly bigger ecommerce options.
Small business and entrepreneurs who want a more custom designed website and also need a website that can grow with their business including more extensive course creation, membership, and larger ecommerce capabilities.
Professional bloggers and those who want to grow their blog on their website with excellent SEO.
I hope this post helps you better understand and choose between the Squarespace and WordPress.org platforms for your website with more ease and less overwhelm. I personally think both are excellent website platforms but serve different needs for different business needs and goals.
