WordPress vs Squarespace: 2026 Comparison & Which is Best
As if business owners don’t have enough decisions to make, choosing a website platform is another big one. With so many options and opinions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So today, we’re breaking down WordPress vs Squarespace. These are both popular platforms, but which one will help you meet your goals without sending you into a tech spiral?
As a website designer who’s designed dozens of small business websites, I’ve seen what actually works and what leads to late-night Googling and endless stress. Below, I’ll break down how WordPress and Squarespace compare, so you can understand their features, pricing, and SEO opportunities.
Whether you’re moving and refreshing your website or creating a new one, this guide will help you decide what makes the most sense for your business and peace of mind in 2026.
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WordPress vs Squarespace: Best For
WordPress is best for businesses that want high-level customization with room to grow. It’s a great option if you need advanced functionality, custom workflows, or very specific integrations that go beyond standard small business needs. While many companies choose WordPress because it can evolve in almost any direction, it often works best when you have access to ongoing technical support or a developer.
Sqarespace is best for small business owners, service providers, and coaches who want a professional, strategic website without managing a complicated tech stack. If ease, clean design, and built-in tools speak to you more than endless customization, Squarespace is the way to go. Its simplicity is a dream for business owners who are more focused on content, offers, and conversions than a complex site.
Squarespace lets you have a professional website without a complicated tech stack.
WordPress vs Squarespace: Pricing
A WordPress subscription typically ranges from about $4 to $70 per month, with extra costs for plug-ins. There’s a free version of WordPress, but it’s extremely limited and not a realistic option for a professional business website. Essential features, like contact forms, SEO tools, backups, or security, often require paid plugins. Over time, these add-ons can increase both the cost and complexity of a WordPress site.
Squarespace pricing ranges from $16 to $139 per month, with plans designed for different business needs. Hosting, security, templates, and many essential tools are included in the monthly cost. You can sell products or services, book appointments, and manage content without adding third-party plugins. For many small businesses, Squarespace’s all-in-one pricing makes budgeting and long-term planning a breeze.
WordPress vs Squarespace: Design & Customization
WordPress offers thousands of free and paid themes, giving you a wide range of design options. This level of customization is one of the main reasons people choose WordPress. However, this flexibility can require more setup and maintenance. Many business owners end up needing ongoing support from a designer or developer to keep their site running smoothly.
Squarespace includes professionally designed templates that are conversion-friendly and easy to customize using a visual editor, without touching code. As a designer, I love working with Squarespace because it makes it easy to personalize a site without adding unnecessary complexity. And when I finish creating a website, I don’t just hand it over and run. I also make sure clients know exactly how to manage and update their site with ease after launch.
Take this free quiz to figure out your website game plan:
WordPress vs Squarespace: Plugins & Integrations
WordPress offers thousands of plugins that let you customize nearly every part of your website, from forms and memberships to advanced analytics, which is great for businesses with complex or highly specific needs. The tradeoff is that good functionality depends on plugins, which are also the most common source of security risks and site issues. Plugins require constant updates, are easily abandoned by developers, and depend entirely on developer expertise rather than platform-level oversight. More plugins also mean more decisions, maintenance, and ongoing management to keep everything running smoothly.
Squarespace offers fewer integrations, but they’re more than enough for most small business owners and service providers. You can connect tools like Acuity Scheduling, Google Search Console and Analytics, email marketing platforms, and online courses. Many integrations are built directly into the platform, keeping setup streamlined and reducing the risk of compatibility issues over time.
WordPress vs Squarespace: SEO
A common misconception is that WordPress is automatically better for SEO. In reality, most website platforms support SEO optimization when set up correctly. Both WordPress and Squarespace allow you to customize page titles, meta descriptions, URLs, image alt text, and site structure. They also support blogging, which is key for long-term SEO growth.
I use Squarespace almost daily for clients and my own site and love how simple it is to optimize for SEO without extra tools. WordPress offers paid SEO plugins with many features for optimization. Squarespace has built-in SEO tools like SEOSpace at no extra cost, with the option to upgrade if you want more advanced functionality.
WordPress vs Squarespace: Security
WordPress security depends heavily on how your site is set up and maintained. While WordPress itself can be secure, you’re responsible for updates, backups, and monitoring plugins. Security plugins are often required, and outdated themes or plugins can increase risk, so ongoing attention is needed to keep your site protected.
Squarespace includes built-in security across all plans, with no extra setup required. SSL certificates, hosting protection, and updates are handled automatically. Customer data and payments are also protected through Squarespace, which reduces risk and removes the need for third-party security tools. For many business owners, the hands-off security is a huge relief, because who has time for one more thing?
WordPress vs Squarespace: Overview
Here’s a quick snapshot of how the two platforms compare.
Best for - WordPress works well for businesses that need advanced customization. Squarespace is ideal for small business owners and service providers who want simplicity with a strategy that supports business goals.
Pricing - WordPress and Squarespace both offer various plans to fit your needs. While WordPress costs vary and often increase with plugins, Squarespace offers predictable, all-in-one pricing.
Plugins & integrations - WordPress provides tons of options and extensive flexibility. Squarespace offers curated tools that cover most business needs.
Design & customization - WordPress allows for in-depth customization but often requires help. Squarespace is the perfect balance of flexibility and ease of use.
Security - WordPress requires active management for ongoing security. Squarespace includes built-in protection.
WordPress vs Squarespace: FAQs
Is Squarespace better than WordPress?
Squarespace is better than WordPress if you want an easy-to-manage, professional website without ongoing technical maintenance. It’s especially well-suited for service providers and small businesses focused on simplicity and conversions. WordPress may be better if you need highly custom features or complex functionality.
Why are people moving away from WordPress?
Many people are moving away from WordPress because of security concerns, the number of plugins, and maintenance responsibilities that can become overwhelming. For business owners who don’t want to act as their own IT department, simpler platforms are often more appealing.
What are the disadvantages of Squarespace?
No website platform is perfect, including Squarespace. It’s best for streamlined businesses rather than complex e-commerce operations or massive inventories. Squarespace’s traffic capacity works well for most small businesses, but extremely high-traffic sites may need more advanced hosting control. Squarespace also has limits around in-depth customization, so it’s not ideal for highly specialized workflows.
Should I switch from Squarespace to WordPress?
You should switch from Squarespace to WordPress if your business has outgrown a streamlined structure and requires advanced customization, complex integrations, or specialized functionality. This often applies to larger teams or businesses with technical resources. For many service-based businesses, Squarespace continues to meet needs well into later growth stages.
If you’re wondering whether your Squarespace site is holding you back or just needs a better setup, reach out and we can figure it out together.
Do professionals use Squarespace?
Yes, many professionals use Squarespace. I’ve designed Squarespace websites for business owners and service providers across industries, including wellness brands, marketing experts, and coaches. When paired with strategy, Squarespace is an incredibly professional and scalable option.
WordPress vs Squarespace: Conclusion
Choosing between WordPress vs Squarespace isn’t about which platform is “better.” It’s about which one supports your capacity and goals. The right choice should make your business easier to run, not harder. Whether you need clarity on what platform fits your next phase or want a website that finally works with you, support can make all the difference.
If you need help figuring out what to do with your site, want a clear roadmap for moving forward, or are ready for a complete done-for-you transformation, Maypop Creative Studio can help you build a website that actually supports your business.
