In this website builder comparison, I will discuss the pros and cons of the 3 most popular website builders; WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix.
All 3 have merits, advantages, and disadvantages.
Which Website Builder is the Easiest to Use?
Wix is lovely. Honestly, no sarcasm here. It’s a dinky little builder where you can drag things around and make a website in an hour or so.
Wix is simple and easy, and anyone can set up a site with very little knowledge of it.
Squarespace is the go-to for many people who want a contemporary design template. I have used Squarespace, too, but of these 2 hosted DIY platforms, I prefer Wix. That’s just personal preference. Both are easy AF to spin up a site in a few hours.
With the ease of use comes limitations
Squarespace and Wix are hosted platforms.
They are both controlled environments with limited options.
You can only host your site on their servers, for which you pay a monthly fee.
With your monthly fee, you don’t have to worry about technology updates or finding hosting. You can basically just pick a template, add words and photos, and hey presto—you can have a pretty website online in under an hour.
With Wix and Squarespace, you don’t need to know how to code or understand UX/UI. You can pick a template, and you’re good to go.
These platforms are made for small businesses that simply need an online presence. While they are easy AF, like all easy things, they are limited. It’s on their platform, so they own it, and they have a level of control that I am personally not a fan of.
I am not a fan of someone else owning my website.
Building a website on a hosted platform is like building a house on borrowed land.
The only way to move away from Wix is to rebuild the website. This can be a painful process that has undoubtedly stopped many business owners from leaving Wix, even if they should.
Squarespace has a very helpful but not perfect WordPress migration plugin. Therefore, migrating Squarespace to self-hosted WordPress still involves considerable work.
Why Do I Prefer WordPress?
Firstly because it’s not a hosted platform. I get to choose my hosting solution and if I decide to move my website, I can migrate it easily in a few minutes. No need to rebuild just migrate, point DNS, and presto, my website is on my new hosting solution.
For this blog, I am discussing WordPress.org, the open-source platform that most people refer to when they say ‘WordPress’. WordPress is a powerful content management system that’s the best solution for serious business owners who want to use their websites to scale their businesses.
WordPress is a Professional Tool. I am a professional so it’s my tool of choice.
WordPress is not a website builder like the others, but it is a website builder as it helps build websites :)
I am from the olden days when the internet was dial-up, and we created websites with code. I love WordPress as I can develop sites in a fraction of the time it used to take.
I can build a website in a day because of WordPress, which was never possible when I first started building sites in the 90’s
There is a platform called WordPress.com, which offers limited hosting options. It’s not great, and far better hosting options exist.
With self hosted WordPress.org there are no limitations to what an experienced web developer can create for you.
If you dream it, I can create it
WordPress powers over 40% of the internet for good reason
WordPress has a considerable learning curve, which is why many people struggle when trying to DIY or hear horror stories, so they go for a hosted platform such as Wix.
Whilst WordPress is more challenging for a beginner, the upside is that it gives you the ultimate level of customisation, and there is no real limit to what you can build into your website.
Functionality such as live chat, a private members area, paywalls, forums, courses, and anything else can be added to your WordPress site, allowing you to include additional revenue streams and marketing opportunities.
WordPress differs from Wix and Squarespace in that you have full website access and content.
The downside to WordPress is that if you want to DIY, you need to learn and decide how to build your site and handle your own ongoing site maintenance, which could end up being an incredible time drainer. That’s why professional and experienced WordPress developers are worth their weight in gold.
WordPress has limitless options, which means a lot of research and reading and possibly making many annoying mistakes if you decide to do the entire set-up yourself.
As a very experienced developer, I get overwhelmed on some days. There is so much WordPress stuff and so many moving parts with a WordPress site. I shed a few tears annually, which is always due to hosting. If you know, you know.
The Main Differences between these 3 website builder platforms
I am all about SEO. I would not work with Wix or Squarespace, as they don’t cut it in a competitive niche.
Google looks at the technical stuff, and Wix and Squarespace don’t provide what Google wants.
That’s my super technical explanation right there haha.
Which Website Builder is Best?
WordPress.org is far superior in all ways, including performance & SEO.
What you decide to use is up to you. Choose what is best for you, your business, and your brand.
If you aren’t planning on being in business for long or don’t want to grow your business, Wix or Squarespace are great, but WordPress wins hands down for long-term SEO and brand strategy.
Thanks to the developers who contribute themes and plugins to WordPress, you can achieve anything you desire with your website.
A self-hosted WordPress.org site is the way to go and the cheapest in the long term. You need to commit a bit of time and effort to learn the basics, but plenty of free tutorials are available online.
Alternatively, I develop WordPress websites in a day and would love to help your idea come to fruition.
It all comes down to which website builders are best for you, your skill level, and how much you care if you lose your site and need to rebuild it.
With WordPress, you can back up your website on your server and take off-site backups. If you are using Wix or Squarespace, I suggest you always keep a copy of your content in case your site disappears.
Comparing Wix & Squarespace to WordPress is like comparing a well-priced Toyota to a Porsche.
I hope you found this website builder comparison useful
I can assist you with my WordPress VIP Intensives if you want to migrate your website from Wix or Squarespace to WordPress.
Until Next Time
