Squarespace vs WordPress​: Which Platform is Better

The battle between Squarespace and WordPress has been going on for years, and if you are trying to choose between them, the decision can be overwhelming.

By mistake if you pick the wrong platform then you could be stuck with limited features, unexpected costs, or a steep learning curve. Both Squarespace and WordPress are familiar because of their functionality and features but which one actually works best for your needs?

In this article we have analyzed both platforms in-depth, comparing their strengths, weaknesses and ideal use cases. By the end of this guide, you will get a clear winner based on what matters most to you.

No more talkings. Let’s get started!

Squarespace vs WordPress:  An Overview

Squarespace and WordPress are two most well-known platforms for building websites. Both offer powerful features, but they cater to different types of users.

If we take a look at their market presence, WordPress dominates as the leading content management system (CMS), While Squarespace is a top choice among website builders. Let’s explore each platform in more detail:

Squarespace

Squarespace is a cloud-based website builder launched in 2003, designed to help users create stunning websites. It offers an all-in-one solution, providing hosting, security, and automatic updates. So you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects.

With Squarespace, you get a user-friendly drag and drop editor, professionally designed templates, and built in features for blogging, ecommerce, and SEO. As of now, Squarespace holds around 2.1% of the website market share.

WordPress

WordPress is an open source content management system (CMS) that was originally launched in 2003 as a blogging platform. Over the years, it has evolved into the most widely used website-building tool, powering 43% of all websites on the internet.

WordPress is self hosted, meaning you need to purchase web hosting and a domain separately. This setup offers unlimited customization with their unlimited themes and plugins. If you want to build a simple blog, business website, or a full-fledged ecommerce store. You will get full flexibility and scalability using WordPress.

Squarespace vs WordPress: Differences and Similarities

Differences	Similarities
Squarespace’s editor is beginner-friendly, while WordPress offers advanced customization.	Both platforms enable you to create a professional-looking website for personal, business, or ecommerce purposes
WordPress is free, but additional costs like hosting and plugins add up. Squarespace, on the other hand, includes hosting and security in its monthly subscription.	Squarespace and WordPress both provide blogging tools, including post scheduling, categories, tags, and SEO optimization to help you publish and manage content.
Squarespace is great for creatives with its polished templates, while WordPress offers design freedom.	You can sell products and services on both platforms. Squarespace has built-in ecommerce features, while WordPress supports online stores through plugins like EasyCommerce.
WordPress requires manual maintenance, while Squarespace handles updates for you.	Both WordPress and Squarespace provide SEO Optimization Tools.
WordPress has over 59,000 plugins, while Squarespace has a limited extension library.	Websites built with Squarespace and WordPress are automatically optimized for mobile devices.
Squarespace includes built-in ecommerce features, while WordPress requires EasyCommerce or plugins	You can connect a custom domain to make your website look more professional and brand-friendly.

Squarespace vs WordPress: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

This side-by-side comparison table highlights the key features, pros, and cons of each platform, making it easier to choose the best fit for your needs.

Criteria	Squarespace	WordPress	Winner
Pricing & Costs	Starts at $16/month, including hosting.	Free for basic version, costs for hosting & themes.	WordPress.
Features & Functionality	User-friendly drag-and-drop features, limited plugins.	Extremely flexible with thousands of plugins, themes, and integrations.	WordPress (more features and flexibility).
Design & Customization	Beautiful, modern templates; limited customization compared to WordPress.	Highly customizable with access to thousands of themes and custom code.	WordPress (greater customization).
Ease of Use	Very intuitive with drag-and-drop functionality.	Steeper learning curve; requires more time for setup.	Squarespace (easier for beginners).
SEO & Marketing	Good built-in SEO tools; basic marketing options.	Advanced SEO tools and plugins; more comprehensive marketing tools.	WordPress (more advanced SEO & marketing features).
Scalability	Can handle small to medium-sized websites.	Scalable to any size, from blogs to large businesses.	WordPress (better for scalability).
Customer Support	24/7 support, live chat, email support.	Support from third parties, forums, and self-help; paid plans have direct support.	Squarespace (more streamlined support).
Security	Built-in SSL, regular updates, secure hosting.	Users need to manage security with plugins and hosting.	Squarespace (built-in security features).
Flexibility	Less flexible; predefined templates and features.	Extremely flexible; full control over customization and integrations.	WordPress (more flexible).
Best For	Beginners, small businesses, creatives.	Businesses, blogs, developers.	WordPress (more versatile for various needs).

Squarespace vs WordPress: A Complete Overview

In this overview, we’ll break down every deatils you require for both platforms to help you make an informed decision based on your budget and needs.

1. Cost and Pricing: Which One is More Affordable?

If you are on a budget, understanding the true cost of building a website is essential. Squarespace uses a fixed pricing model and you can predict the costs easily. You can do the same for WordPress.  But it requires separate expenses for hosting, domains, themes, and plugins. Let’s get deeper into both platforms cost and pricing:

Squarespace

Squarespace offers four pricing plans, which include hosting, templates, and built-in features:

Personal: require $16/month.

Business: $23/month (ecommerce with 3% transaction fees)

Commerce Basic: $28/month.

Commerce Advanced: $52/month.

WordPress

WordPress itself is free, but you will need to budget for a better execution:

Themes: Offer free option but premium theme may cost around $25-$80.

Plugins: Free options available. If you want to add extra functionality it can cost $15-$50 per month or year.

Hosting: Hostinger starts at $2.99/month, much cheaper than Squarespace.

Domain name: Free domain.

Opinion

If you want convenience and high end templates, Squarespace is a great choice. But, if you prefer more control and lower potential costs, WordPress gives you more flexibility to build a site on your own page.

2. WordPress vs Squarespace Design and Features 

What makes both WordPress and Squarespace so popular is their shared goal of helping users create beautiful websites without requiring technical expertise. WordPress users can utilize page-builders like Divi, which offer polished, professional layouts ready to import. Squarespace mirrors this convenience with its sleek, pre-built templates. That said, each platform approaches these tools differently, creating unique experiences for users.

Squarespace

Squarespace and WordPress handle themes quite differently. WordPress themes are loaded with features and functionalities that enhance your site, while Squarespace templates/themes focus purely on aesthetics and that’s their strength. Squarespace themes are designed to be beautiful, easy-to-use, and perfect for non-designers. You can simply pick a template, add your content, and trust the design work is already handled.

While Squarespace offers fewer themes compared to WordPress, each one is crafted with care to suit specific types of websites, such as ecommerce stores, blogs, or portfolios.

When it comes to plugins and widgets, Squarespace takes a streamlined approach. You won’t have endless customization options like WordPress, but that’s intentional. Features like an ecommerce shop, analytics, and SEO tools are already integrated into Squarespace’s dashboard, so there’s no need to install or configure extra tools like EasyCommerce or analytics plugins.

Squarespace’s site builder feels similar to WordPress’s Gutenberg editor or page builders, allowing you to add sections and modules with ease. However, customization options are limited to basic settings like colors, captions, and titles. This simplicity appeals to many, though it does mean you’re locked into pre-designed templates without the flexibility for full customization.

WordPress

WordPress revolves around three key elements: themes, plugins, and widgets. Each has a specific role in shaping your site’s look and functionality, and combining them effectively is what makes WordPress unique compared to platforms like Squarespace.

Themes are the visual and functional base of WordPress. They dictate your site’s design and capabilities. Some themes, like Astra, Divi provide powerful built-in page builders for ultimate creative freedom. Others focus on pre-designed layouts tailored to specific needs, offering polished and functional designs right out of the gate.

Plugins are like little apps for your WordPress site, adding features regardless of the theme you’re using. From EasyCommerce for online stores to Yoast for improving SEO, the possibilities are nearly endless. However, managing plugins is your responsibility like downloading a pop-up plugin if needed. Squarespace simplifies this by building such features into its dashboard.

Widgets allow you to customize and display various site elements. Whether it’s showing recent posts in a sidebar or adjusting widgetized areas for specific features, they give you creative control over both the front-end and back-end of your site.

For drag-and-drop functionality similar to Squarespace’s tools, WordPress plugins like Divi Builder, Elementor, and Beaver Builder are excellent options. They make customizing your site a straightforward and enjoyable experience while staying true to WordPress’s adaptability

Opinion

The standout feature of WordPress is its vast array of plugins, themes, and widgets, offering unparalleled customization for your website. Squarespace, on the other hand, prioritizes simplicity, allowing users to effortlessly create visually stunning sites. However, it comes with limited options for personalization.

3. Learning Curve and Usability: Which is More User-Friendly?

Starting a new website comes with a learning curve, no matter which platform you choose. Both WordPress and Squarespace offer powerful tools, but they require different levels of technical knowledge.

In this section, we will discover how each platform handles customization and usability.

Squarespace

Squarespace takes a more guided approach. Right from the start, you are walked through the setup process which seems easier for the beginners.

What makes Squarespace user-friendly:

Pre-built templates – You can choose a template and customize it with easy drag-and-drop tools.

Step-by-step guidance – The platform directs you through design elements like fonts, colors, and layout.

Smooth Dashboard – Everything you need is in one place, and the interface stays consistent

WordPress

WordPress is all about flexibility. You can tweak every aspect of your site. Their unlimited themes and plugins  resources makes it easier for developers and designers to build a stunning website. However, if you are unfamiliar with PHP, JavaScript or HTML, CSS, it can initially feel overwhelming.

Here is what you can expect with WordPress:

Complete control – You can edit every detail of your website. For advanced customization you require some technical knowledge.

Plugins and Themes – You can simplify customization using vast resources of plugins and themes. But finding the right ones takes research.

Growing Dashboard – As you install plugins, your admin panel expands, which can make navigation tricky.

Dashboard Experience

Now let’s talk about both platforms’ dashboards. Squarespace’s dashboard is clean, intuitive, and stays the same over time. You can edit most of the things without additional steps.

WordPress dashboard eveloves as your site grows. This means more tools at your end, you have to adjust to new features constantly.

Opinion

If you want total control and have the spirit to learn new things, WordPress is the way to go. If you prefer a straightforward experience with minimal setup, then Squarespace is a better choice.

4. Data Transparency and Content Management

Data is one of the most valuable assets in the digital world. If you are running a personal blog, an online store or a business website, having full control over your data is important. You need to be sure that the platform you choose allows you to access, modify, and transfer your data freely without unnecessary restrictions.

Let’s take a closer look at how each platform handles content ownership, domain management, and data control.

Squarespace

Squarespace provides a controlled environment, meaning they manage hosting, security, and platform updates. While you own your content, there are some restrictions.

Content export options – You can move your content elsewhere, but some design elements, such as templates and page layouts, won’t transfer.

Domain registration – You can transfer a Squarespace-registered domain to another registrar, but renewal fees can be higher than average.

Template restrictions – Squarespace templates are proprietary, meaning you can’t take your website’s design with you if you migrate to another platform.

Simplified management – Since Squarespace takes care of hosting and security, you don’t need to worry about technical maintenance.

While Squarespace allows content exports, its design limitations and higher renewal costs can make migration more challenging compared to WordPress.

WordPress

With WordPress, you have full ownership and control over your content, domain, and data.

Complete content ownership – Everything you publish is yours, and you can export and move it freely.

Domain flexibility – If you register your domain separately (which is recommended), you can transfer it at any time without restrictions.

No platform lock-in – You’re not tied to WordPress and can switch hosting providers whenever you want.

Hosting dependency – Your data security depends on your chosen hosting provider, so picking a trustworthy host is essential.

Since WordPress is self-hosted, your data remains in your control, but you are responsible for managing backups, security, and hosting services. If you choose a reliable hosting provider, you can ensure your website remains secure and fully operational.

Opinion

If flexibility, data ownership, and portability are your priorities, WordPress is the clear winner. It gives you complete control over your website, allowing you to switch hosting providers, install custom themes, and manage data without restrictions. 

However, Squarespace offers a more hands-off approach, which can be beneficial for beginners or those who prefer a fully managed solution.

5. Ecommerce Capabilities: Squarespace vs WordPress

Online shopping is bigger than ever, and if you are planning to sell products or services, choosing the right platform is key. All you need is a website that not  only looks great but also provides a smooth and secure shopping experience for your customers.

Let’s take a look at how Squarespace and WordPress compare when it comes to ecommerce. 

Squarespace All-in-One Ecommerce Solution

Squarespace includes built-in ecommerce features, making it a great option for businesses looking for an easy-to-manage online store. In Squarespace, ecommerce functionality is available on Business, Commerce Basic, and Commerce Advanced plans.

Key Features

Sell Unlimited Products and Services: Whether it’s physical items, digital downloads, or subscriptions (Commerce Advanced only), there’s no limit to what you can sell.

Manage Inventory and Orders: Set stock levels, track orders, and get email alerts when items are running low.

Customizable Product Pages: Add cool features like zoom, hover effects, and detailed descriptions to showcase your products.

Easy Checkout and Secure Payments: Accept payments via PayPal, Stripe, Apple Pay, or AfterPay securely without any hassle. 

Flexible Shipping Options: Choose from flat-rate, weight-based, or real-time shipping rates with UPS, FedEx, or USPS ( available with the Commerce Advanced plan only).

Built-in Discounts and Promotions: Run special offers, coupon codes, and automatic price reductions.

PCI-Compliant Security: Your customers’ payment information is automatically protected with PCI-compliant.

Something to keep in mind: If you’re on the Business plan ($23/month), Squarespace charges a 3% transaction fee, and customers are redirected to a Squarespace checkout page (instead of staying on your site). If you want full control over your store and no extra transaction fees, Commerce Basic ($28/month) or Commerce Advanced ($52/month) is the better choice.

You can also get advanced features based on your plans. Squarespace higher plans include:

• Ecommerce analytics, which help you to track the best selling products and track customer behavior.

• You can send emails to remind customers to complete their purchase.

• Also, you can encourage more sales with product waitlisting and related items.

• And, options to tag products and sell directly through your instagram posts.

EasyCommerce on WordPress

WordPress doesn’t come with built-in ecommerce tools, but you can use free options available on WordPress. That’s where EasyCommerce comes in. 

This free WooCommerce alternative plugin turns your WordPress site into a powerful online store. You will get complete control over customization, payment options,  order management , Shipping and Tax.

Some of the best EasyCommerce features are:

Free to Use: Get access to all the essential ecommerce features without spending any money.

Quick  and Easy Setup: Easily install and launch your store in just a few clicks.

User-Friendly UI and UX:  A clean, intuitive design ensures smooth navigation for both you and your customers.

Complete Dashboard: Stay on top of your business with a streamlined dashboard that compiles key data, insights, and reports in one place.

Flexible Product Management: List physical and digital products effortlessly in just four simple steps.

Fully Customizable Storefront: Make your product pages, layouts, and overall design to match your brand’s unique identity. 

SEO and Performance Optimized: Built with lightweight code to boost site speed, enhance user experience, and improve search rankings.

Built-in Email and Coupon Management: Easily send promotional emails and offer discounts to engage customers and increase sales.

Full Data Control Over Your Data: Unlike other platforms, you own and manage all your store’s data without depending on third-party providers.

Simplified Order Management: Keep track of orders, manage fulfillment, and update customers with an automated, hassle-free system.

Opinion

Overall, WordPress beats Squarespace when it comes to ecommerce flexibility. Squarespace provides essential selling tools, many advanced features as well but all require higher tier plans.

On the other hand, WordPress offers limitless possibilities with a wide range of ecommerce plugins, including EasyCommerce, WooCommerce, SureCart where EasyCommerce is totally free. Using EasyCommerce users can enhance their store with various add-ons for full customization based on your business needs.

6. Squarespace vs WordPress: Blogging 

Blogs are not just an extension of your brand. They can also be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. When considering a blog for your website, it’s helpful to understand how Squarespace and WordPress cater to bloggers.

Squarespace

Squarespace keeps things simple yet effective for bloggers. With features like customizable templates, author permissions, and the ability to categorize and tag posts, the platform makes managing your blog easy. You can also link your social media accounts, track post performance, and schedule content in advance.

Their templates are sleek and responsive, automatically adapting to any screen size. Features like featured images, sticky navigation, and comment fields add a professional touch. SEO tools are built in, but if you’re looking to make manual changes to your XML file, you’re out of luck. Squarespace doesn’t allow it.

WordPress

WordPress has long been a favorite for bloggers, and it’s no surprise why. It offers a huge range of blog templates and even allows custom CSS edits. Its categorization and tagging system is robust, making it easy to organize content.

What really sets WordPress apart is its plugin ecosystem, which lets you add everything from SEO enhancements to social sharing buttons, appointment scheduling, and email sign-ups. Whatever your blogging niche, there’s likely a plugin to fit.

Opinion

Both platforms shine in their own way, but WordPress is the go-to for serious bloggers. Its advanced tools and customization options make it a standout choice for building a unique and functional blog

7. Squarespace vs WordPress: Website Security

Without any doubt cybersecurity is the most important part of any website. A well secured site not only enhances trust but also improves search engine rankings. Fortunately, both Squarespace and WordPress prioritize security.

Squarespace

When comparing Squarespace vs WordPress in terms of security, Squarespace offers a fully managed experience. Since it’s an all-in-one platform, users don’t need to take additional steps to secure their website.

With Squarespace, you get:

• Automatic security monitoring to detect vulnerabilities and malware.
• DDoS protection to safeguard against cyberattacks.
• Free SSL certificates, ensuring secure data transmission.
• GDPR compliance with built-in cookie management tools.

Squarespace takes care of security behind the scenes, making it an ideal option for users who don’t want to worry about manual updates or additional security measures.

WordPress

WordPress security is largely in the hands of the user, but that doesn’t mean it’s difficult to manage. WordPress core platform handles the security in a better way. Here you will get a better understanding of WordPress statistics. Also, the right web host can provide:

• SSL certificates for secure browsing.
• Regular backups to protect against data loss.
• DDoS protection to prevent cyberattacks.

However, WordPress users should take additional steps to enhance security, such as:

• Keeping plugins and themes updated to prevent vulnerabilities.
• Using trusted plugins with active support and reviews.
• Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for secure logins.

Opinion

Both platforms offer strong security features, but Squarespace is the easier choice since security is managed for you.

However, WordPress can be just as secure, provided you choose a reliable hosting provider and follow best security practices. While it requires more manual effort, it offers greater flexibility in customizing security settings to meet specific needs.

8. Squarespace vs WordPress: Search Engine Optimization

SEO plays an important role in how well your website ranks on search engines like Google. Lets break down how Squarespace vs WordPress compares in terms of SEO features and Flexibility.

Squarespace

Squarespace offers built-in SEO tools that are easy to use, making it a great choice for beginners who don’t want to deal with technical optimization.

Some key SEO features of Squarespace include:

Automatic sitemap generation: Ensures search engines can easily index your site.

Mobile-friendly design: All templates are fully responsive, which is essential for ranking well.

Structured data markup: Built-in schema markup helps search engines understand your content.

Basic URL customization: You can edit URLs, but they may include extra characters that aren’t ideal for SEO.

Limited plugin options: You’re restricted to the SEO tools Squarespace provides, with no access to third-party SEO plugins.

Logo maker: This simple and intuitive feature makes launching your business branding. With a variety of icons and fonts available, creating a unique and memorable logo has never been easier.

All subscriptions, including the affordable Personal plan, provide access to these tools for launching your business. However, as your brand grows, upgrading to a Business or Commerce plan might be essential. These plans offer additional features to help your business thrive, such as:

• A Google Workspace account for professional emails with custom domain names.

• $100 in Google Ads credits to boost your website visibility.

• Google My Business integration to enhance local SEO.

• Customer segmentation with the Profiles feature.

• Advanced analytics to track call-to-action conversions.

• Promotional pop-ups and announcement bars.

• Facebook Pixel integration to monitor post-ad engagement.

WordPress

WordPress is known for its unmatched SEO flexibility, allowing users to fully optimize their sites with plugins and manual tweaks.

Here’s why WordPress excels in SEO:

Full control over SEO settings: You can manually edit meta tags, URLs, alt text, and more.

Powerful SEO plugins: Popular plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math provide advanced 

optimization tools.

Customizable site speed: You can optimize site performance with caching plugins, lightweight themes, and CDN integration.

Advanced schema markup: WordPress allows deeper customization of structured data for better search visibility.

Superior blogging features: WordPress makes it easy to structure content properly for SEO with categories, tags, and custom post types.

Opinion

When it comes to SEO, WordPress is the clear winner due to its flexibility and access to powerful SEO plugins. If you’re serious about ranking high on search engines, WordPress gives you more control over every aspect of your site’s optimization.

However, if you’re looking for a simple, beginner-friendly option, Squarespace’s built-in SEO tools can still help your website rank well with minimal effort. It’s a good choice for those who don’t want to spend time fine-tuning SEO settings.

9. Squarespace vs WordPress: Customer Support

A smooth website-building experience isn’t just about features. It’s also about how easily you can find help when needed. Let’s compare Squarespace vs WordPress in terms of customer support to see which platform offers better assistance.

Squarespace

Squarespace provides multiple support channels, making it easy to get help when you need it. You can access all support options directly from the help center.

Squarespace’s customer support includes:

Knowledge base: A library of articles covering everything from design tools to billing and account management.

Video tutorials: Step-by-step guides in video format for users who prefer visual learning.

Live chat: Available Monday to Friday from 4 AM to 8 PM EST, offering real-time assistance.

Email support: A great alternative when live chat is unavailable, allowing you to attach screenshots for better issue resolution.

Community forum: A place to connect with other Squarespace users and get advice on managing your website.

Online webinars: Virtual events with Squarespace experts, designed to help users improve their sites.

Twitter support: Users can tweet @SquarespaceHelp for quick assistance via direct messages.

WordPress

WordPress support operates differently because it’s an open-source platform rather than a managed service. Instead of direct customer support, WordPress relies on:

Official documentation: Comprehensive guides covering installation, customization, troubleshooting, and advanced features.

Community forums: A vast network of WordPress users and moderators who provide solutions to common issues.

Since WordPress doesn’t offer live chat, email, or phone support, getting assistance takes a bit more effort. However, if you’re using a managed WordPress hosting service, providers like Hostinger or Bluehost often include dedicated WordPress support teams to assist with platform-related inquiries.

Opinion

Squarespace wins in terms of customer support, offering direct assistance through live chat and email, making it faster and easier to get help.

WordPress support is more self-driven, relying on documentation and community forums. If you prefer immediate help, choosing a WordPress hosting provider with dedicated support is your best option.

Squarespace vs WordPress: Concluding Words

When it comes to creating your dream website, WordPress and Squarespace each bring their strengths to the table. For unparalleled flexibility and customization, WordPress is the clear choice, though it demands a willingness to learn and maintain. 

Meanwhile, Squarespace is a fantastic pick for those seeking sleek design and simplicity, without diving into the technical complexities. The platform you choose should reflect your goals, technical comfort, and long-term aspirations. 

Remember, the best website is the one that grows with you and serves your unique needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Is WordPress better than Squarespace?

It depends on what you need. WordPress gives you more flexibility, customization, and control over your website, making it ideal for businesses, bloggers, and ecommerce stores. On the other hand, Squarespace is great for beginners who want a simple, all-in-one solution without worrying about hosting or coding. If you want full creative freedom and scalability, WordPress is the better choice.

Q. Why should you use WordPress?

WordPress powers over 43% of the web for a reason! It’s highly customizable, SEO-friendly, and supports thousands of themes and plugins to help you build any type of website. Plus, you own your site completely, unlike some platforms that limit customization or control.

Q. Is WordPress easier than Squarespace?

Squarespace is easier at first because it’s more beginner-friendly with drag-and-drop editing. However, WordPress becomes easier in the long run because it offers more flexibility and control. With the right theme (like Enfold!) and plugins, you can create and manage a WordPress site with ease.

Q. Should I switch from Squarespace to WordPress?

If you’re looking for more customization, better SEO, and long-term scalability, then yes switching to WordPress is a great move. While Squarespace is convenient, WordPress gives you unlimited design possibilities and the ability to grow your site without restrictions. The transition might take a little effort, but the results are totally worth it.