Across the Internet, data shows that around 44% of all websites use some form of content management system (CMS). Within that figure, WordPress holds the top position, powering more than 60% of the CMS market. But WordPress isn’t for everyone, and sometimes users need something less complex in order to put their brand presence on the Internet with a website that is professional-looking and well-designed, without having to bother initially with the complications of more complex site management interfaces. That’s where website builders come into play. Depending on which rankings you look at, two of the fastest growing site building solutions on the market challenging WordPress supremacy are the Wix and Squarespace
Why Do You Need a Website Builder?
Businesses are more streamlined than ever, and in an effort to minimize having to bring on extremely technically skilled staff to build a website, the do-it-yourself approach has been adopted by many organizations, creating a strong demand for easy-to-use site builders with robust back-end support walking small business teams through the process of building and maintaining a web presence.
There has also been an increased demand for sites to be built with many businesses unwilling to take on the burden of doing so themselves. Site builders therefore become an avenue for freelancers and agencies to quickly and easily spin up optimized web solutions for multiple clients that can later be used as the foundations for more robust analytics and content-focused systems.
In this discussion, we’re going to provide our readers insight into two of the leading CMS platforms
- What is Wix?
- What is Squarespace?
- Wix vs. Squarespace Pricing Overview
- Ease of Use
- Extensions and Plugins
- Help and Support
- Security
- Wix vs. Squarespace Expert Reviews
- The Overall Winner
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Hear From Industry Experts
Read the latest tips, research, best practices, and insights from our community of expert B2B service providers.
What is Wix?
In 2006, Wix’s three founders—Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, and Giora Kaplanby—realized their vision of bringing to market a website builder for startups and small businesses that was simple and affordable. Their focus was on creating an interface that would result in websites that appeared professional and on par with those built by design teams with large budgets. Today, that sentiment has drawn in 10% of live websites on the Internet and is considered one of the top website creation tools.
A powerful drag-and-drop site builder, Wix provides clients with:
- Initial 1-year free domain, with domain name management available after 1-year.
- Web hosting services
- An extensive marketplace of plugins and extensions.
- The ADI, artificial design intelligence, which helps to create professional sites quickly and easily
What is Squarespace?
Squarespace is the perfect example of what a dedicated entrepreneur can accomplish with passion and dedication. Founded as a blog hosting service in 2004 by Anthony Casalena while he was attending the University of Maryland, he didn’t bring aboard any staff until he’d grown the business to $1 million in annual revenue. As with most website building tools, his intent was to create a platform for professionals to build professional sites without having to spend years learning complex coding languages. He gradually brought in service providers while expanding the scope of the company, and now the organization services approximately 4% of all live websites.
As a site builder, Squarespace is known for:
- All-in-one service including domain name management and hosting
- Easy to understand pricing models
- Offers eCommerce features at a basic level
- Professional and well-designed website templates
Wix vs. Squarespace Pricing Overview
Your pricing using either of these platforms as a solution for building your business site will depend on how much of the work you’re willing and able to take on in-house, and how much you will need to or decide to outsource. Keep in mind that monthly plan costs can be reduced when paid as an up-front annual fee in the case of both brands.
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Wix |
Squarespace |
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Average Hourly Rate of Designer/Developers |
$50-$200 per hour for web design and development support |
$75-$125 per hour for web designers and development support |
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Cost to Build a Website |
$2,500-$6,000, more if eCommerce is included |
$1,000-$5,000, more if eCommerce is included |
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Monthly Paid Plans |
Personal Plans across 4 tiers range from $14-$39 per month.
Business Plans across 3 tiers range from $23-$49 per month.
Enterprise-level plans start at $500 per month. |
Pricing plans range from Personal to Advanced Commerce across 4 tiers, ranging in price from $16-$54 per month. Premium plans provide access to advanced features.
Enterprise plans require a sales consultation. |
Wix developers tend to run a wider hourly rate if you outsource your projects, while Squarespace is slightly more affordable to bring in an outside expert. From a monthly account management point of view, initial costs for both include a free year of domain ownership, after which the user would have to pay the domain maintenance fees.
Which Option is Better?
Wix plans provide a more affordable and flexible experience for users, allowing a website creator to drill down to a more granular cost level, ensuring they are only paying for the access and features that they need. Squarespace plans aren’t as versatile and the eCommerce plans are more expensive.
Ease of Use
The entire point of business users seeking out tools like Wix and Squarespace is to find a platform that is easy and fast to use but still yields powerful results. In both cases, Wix and Squarespace have multiple avenues to allow users to create websites, each with a different strategic advantage built into the interface.
Wix Ease of Use
Even as a drag-and-drop interface designed for simplicity, Wix provides users with multiple avenues to achieve that goal, each designed to do significant heavy lifting behind the scenes. Users can leverage the artificial intelligence-driven Wix ADI interface, or they can tackle site design with the Wix editor or Velo interfaces if they have some advanced design or development skills.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Multiple interfaces allow users of different skill levels to create equally well-designed websites |
Editor’s “absolute positioning” approach to drag-and-drop can create poorly optimized navigation experiences and a lack of alignment across page elements in the hands of inexperienced designers |
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If a user’s website needs are very basic, the ADI design tool can quickly get your site online and available to customers. |
Absolute positioning can create issues in the mobile responsiveness of sites |
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Velo interface allows developers to quickly create multiple pages using templates and spreadsheets. |
Inconsistent performance between editor types when it comes to content management tasks |
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Can handle JavaScript and application program interfaces (API), both useful in custom page behaviors |
Squarespace Ease of Use
While Wix plays the fun, free-spirited design assistant, Squarespace has settled into a more structured approach to drag-and-drop design that actually helps make it more attractive to users. Squarespace’s builder interface embraces grid-based modular design aesthetics that remain mobile responsive regardless of the device upon which they are viewed.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Drag-and-drop editor uses a snap-to-grid approach, keeping user designs functional and in line with modern design aesthetics |
In providing a structured experience, users lose a degree of flexibility and design freedom |
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Responsive themes eliminate the need to create multiple versions of pages optimized for different devices |
Limited Squarespace templates and rigid design approach results in less creativity |
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Intuitive and easy to use interface; faster and more responsive versus other service providers |
Which Option is Better?
Contrary to what some other comparisons conclude about Ease of Use, we’re giving this one to Squarespace. Squarespace offers ease of use by remaining simple and focused on allowing users to build strong and optimized interfaces, versus the freedom allowed by Wix’s various design interfaces. While some might argue “freedom of design” is the point, and that it provides an easier, more beginner-friendly experience from a user interface point of view, it’s extremely important that a tool not allow design freedom for the user outweigh the importance of creating a strong, easily navigable interface.
Allowing users as much design flexibility as Wix does can result in difficult-to-navigate menus, poorly structured pages, and otherwise poor-performing websites relative to SEO and search performance. Offering a structured approach is truly a trait Squarespace should lean into by reassuring its users to trust the layout grids to provide the best final result.
Extensions and Plugins
The powerful self-designed websites built with either of these platforms can be made even more impactful with the right plugins and third-party extensions, a staple for website builders and CMS systems. Let’s see what sort of approach to flexibility and extensibility the communities for each of these tools have taken.
Wix Extensions and Plugins
Wix’s default sites include more features and functions out of the box than Squarespace. This keeps Wix websites appearing to be more cohesive and self-contained.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Flexible and feature-rich eCommerce interface |
Lack of variety and quality in the extensive library of available Wix templates |
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Widgets can be dropped onto the page directly to easily add functionality to a design |
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Extensive in-house Wix app market full of free add-ons; robust offering of third-party premium extensions |
Squarespace Extensions and Plugins
Squarespace’s platform is an example of a brand that understands the importance of maintaining strong integrations with well-known service providers. What it lacks in in-house features and functionality, it makes up for on the third-party marketplace, where users can find brands they know and trust to round out the eCommerce functionality of their custom websites.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Though fewer, templates are extremely high quality and professional in appearance and performance |
While the eCommerce platform does potentially include more features for online stores, it requires users to upgrade to the Advanced Commerce monthly plan to access |
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While offering fewer features as standard, Squarespace makes up for this by executing on standard features much more effectively, minimizing the need to install numerous third-party solutions to improve included features. |
Extensions require developers to install and maintain |
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Powerful integrations with well-known third-party apps and service providers are in some ways more attractive than some of Wix’s in-house functionality |
Not built for new users without experience setting up eCommerce sites |
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Recognized by bloggers as having some of the most extensive blogging tools and blogging features available versus other website builders |
Extensions require developers to install and maintain |
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Commerce plan includes abandoned cart recovery |
Extensions require developers to install and maintain |
Which Option is Better?
If we are judging by quality over quantity, Squarespace outshines Wix up and down the list of features and included extensions as well as relationships with third-party vendors to extend functionality. While Wix is touted as having more features included by default and being a more self-contained experience, this isn’t always a positive trait. Squarespace ends up surpassing the default functionality by having formed partnerships instead of reinventing the wheel on many standard functions out of the gate.
Help and Support Team
Taking a run at building and maintaining your own website in-house with little technical skill and even less experience can be daunting, no matter how simple the vendor makes the interface. Users are bound to need assistance at some point, and the scope and accessibility of support can be the deciding factor in a potential user choosing one site over the other.
Wix Help and Support
Wix touts its overall support infrastructure as 24/7, with VIP personal and business accounts receiving priority for phone support. The brand offers customer support across multiple online channels and via phone support in 9 languages, but not every language is available 24/7.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Offers phone support via callback |
Does not offer live chat |
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Provides support via email |
“Premium Support” model available for plans with a higher cost point |
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Support forum and knowledge base available |
Push for users to read the support material and consult FAQs before they will provide support to users |
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Leverage social media channels for support |
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Squarespace Help and Support
Excluding phone support from their service model, Squarespace takes the approach of providing service across online channels via its Help Center portal. Support documentation, learning videos, and topic guides all appear upfront and clearly marked on the Help Center page, and contact methods are clearly laid out once users log in. Support is limited to 6 languages and chat is available only in English, but the online method ensures users will gain access to the help they need quickly with as little workflow interruption as possible.
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Pros |
Cons |
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Offers email support |
No phone support offered |
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Offers live chat support |
Chat support only in English |
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Knowledge base and forum accessible for support concerns |
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Leverage Twitter as a support channel |
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Support channels are designed without phone support to eliminate the frustration and lack of efficient workflow caused by being on hold |
Which Option is Better?
Customer Support comes across as a tie, with each giving up a major channel of interaction with users. The win could easily be assigned by users to one or the other depending on an individual’s contact preferences, but overall each is fairly equally positioned to assist users, and the forums, tutorials, and resources available through each brand’s website are well respected by the respective user community.
Security
Even in the beginning, small businesses and startups might need a way to monetize the content on their website or to manage and maintain an eCommerce solution. They also could be using the platform for establishing and managing memberships and services. All of these activities require the platform to gather and secure extremely valuable and sensitive user data. With small businesses and startups representing a significant portion of cybersecurity attacks over the last few years, it’s important that even a simple DIY website builder has the best security possible.
Wix Security
Sites built with Wix’s drag and drop interface benefit from the fact that the builder platform is a closed system designed to generate the cleanest and most secure code possible to execute your vision on the page. All sites come default with an SSL Certificate. Unlike the massive playground that is WordPress’s open marketplace, Wix makes a point of vetting any and all apps available through its marketplace to ensure they are safe and do not introduce vulnerabilities into otherwise secure sites.
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Pros |
Cons |
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All websites by default come with SSL Certificates and material on how to properly configure |
The Velo interface could introduce security concerns with poorly constructed code created by non-Wix developers |
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Code generated through the page builder interface is designed to be as secure and clean as possible |
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Squarespace Security
Pages are built within Squarespace’s interfaces, keeping all of the code and widgets managed internally. The lack of flexibility in the design process is, in this case, protection. It minimizes how much code modification users can make and thus also minimizes the possibility of a user creating a site vulnerability. Customer support materials walk users through the ways they can protect against vectors of attack that are out of their purviews, such as phishing scams and proper password management.
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Pros |
Cons |
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All websites by default come with SSL Certificates and material on how to properly configure |
The Velo interface could introduce security concerns with poorly constructed code created by non-Wix developers |
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Code generated through the page builder interface is designed to be as secure and clean as possible |
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Which Option is Better?
In a general sense, both services are equal when it comes to Security. They can be considered equally safe, as both provide SSL Certificates by default, both are closed systems that overall control the code generated to execute the user’s vision, and both have extensive documentation helping users to secure their accounts and minimize exposure. Similarly, both platforms allow users customization options that in many ways expose both platforms equally to the chance that a vulnerability could be inadvertently introduced.
Wix vs. Squarespace Expert Reviews
To further compare Wix to Squarespace, we corresponded directly with the industry experts themselves. We asked them which is the best website builder they prefer to use and why. The community was fairly equally split on the matter, with each side having solid arguments for their preferred platform.
Users Who Prefer Wix
“I believe that Wix is a better web builder because it’s got a CRM management system in place, which facilitates the entrepreneur’s ability to manage each client and assign it tags that will make communications more seamless. The drag-and-drop technology makes a complete novice appear proficient in their industry.”
—Kojenwa Moitt, CEO, Zebra Public Relations
“Simply put, Wix outshines Squarespace within the creative space in general. While Squarespace is a great tool for people wanting to get their website done and out the door fast, it lacks greatly in offering a full creative process. Wix, by contrast, offers the user every capability to create a truly custom-built site that speaks to their brand and voice without limiting the user to predetermined “blocks” or fonts. Wix allows anyone to create a site that attains the level of customization and ease of use you want out of a DIY builder.”
—Kate Gainard, Owner, A Dying Art Company, Ltd.
“Wix’s design capabilities allow the user to make the perfect website while keeping it user-friendly. We also prefer to use Wix due to their abundant amount of app plugins and backend features such as Email Automations and CRM.”
—Amel Kilic, CEO, Gen Tech Marketing
“Wix is very flexible and has something for everyone; many templates, apps, and great technical support. On the other end, Squarespace is short on resolving any customization issues, requiring you to hire a developer to overwrite codes.”
—Halina Biernacki, Owner, Best Web Design & SEO
Users Who Prefer Squarespace
“I just feel that Squarespace does a better job of allowing you to create beautiful websites without first, being too intrusive with their branding on your site, and second, without giving users too much freedom. The times I’ve used Wix, I feel like I’ve more quickly fallen into creating a bad website. Squarespace gives you plenty of options but also keeps the guardrails comfortably close so you still end up with a good site. Their starting templates are also much closer to something that I would create within Adobe XD for one of our larger projects. I’ll use Squarespace for smaller projects that don’t have a large budget, allowing me to still deliver quality websites to clients, and for me, that’s my biggest objective.”
—Rob Moeller, Art Director, Symboliq Media
“Most people using these platforms want a website that looks great at an affordable price, and Squarespace delivers on that desire better than anyone else. This is because Squarespace uses a dynamic, structured editor that makes responsive web design much easier. They also have the most eye-catching templates in the industry. Squarespace makes it easy for the average person to create a beautiful website.”
—Jantzen Zenor, CEO, Phvntom Inc.
“Squarespace websites load much faster than those created with Wix and aren’t loaded in bloated code. You have more design options and you can update and change templates easily. Squarespace provides more storage space at a much more affordable price and its SEO features make it significantly better for search engine optimization.”
—Patty Malowney, Owner, Badass Web Goddess
“Squarespace keeps responsiveness in mind, whereas Wix requires a user to customize their mobile appearance separately. This is challenging for business owners who may lack an understanding of web design and UI/UX design. Squarespace has an active community of user experts, called the Circle community, and a corresponding forum designed to help members succeed. Also, Squarespace makes it easier for developers to work separately by utilizing the Git tool and pushing developer updates directly to the site, without affecting the front-end click-and-drag experience, allowing content, marketing, development, and design teams to work independently yet collaboratively at the same time.”
—Xiao Faria daCunha, Founder & CEO, Westerlund, Co
The Overall Winner
In the world of website builders, there are a few brands that stick out from the rest of the pack, and often Wix is found at the lead. In this comparison, we put Wix up against Squarespace, and while Wix showed very clearly why it’s a leading platform, we feel that Squarespace’s user interface and the way in which it handles and manages features and extensions edged out the often-time leader, and held its own in all categories except for pricing.
It was the feedback in the community that really pushed Squarespace to the forefront, in that developers truly believe in many cases that the flexibility and design freedom allowed by Wix can in fact hinder the end result for builders unfamiliar with common web design practices and SEO. Therefore, we find that Squarespace provides a better experience in the DIY web builder sphere, and should be the first tool a small business or startup turns to before later adding complexity and functionality to their website with other tools and platforms.
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Wix |
Squarespace |
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Pricing |
✅ |
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Ease of Use |
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✅ |
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Extensions and Plugins |
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✅ |
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Help and Support |
✅ |
✅ |
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Security |
✅ |
✅ |
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Expert Feedback |
✅ |
✅ |
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Overall Winner |
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✅ |
To learn more about ways to build your own website, or to find a B2B service provider specializing in website development, visit UpCity’s Marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In the course of researching this article, we saw a number of questions pop up often enough that we thought would be helpful to address for our audience here in order to guide or provide insight for any next steps you might be ready to take relative to building your own website with a site builder.