Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress: choosing the right website platform

This guide will help you understand which platform best fits your business needs, with a particular focus on when WordPress makes sense for scaling businesses and when simpler alternatives might be the right choice.

Understanding the website platform landscape

WordPress powers 43.2% of all websites on the internet—including most business websites and almost all consultancies—a staggering market share. To put this in perspective, if you limit the data to only websites using a known content management system, WordPress holds 60.5% of the CMS market share. There’s a reason it’s the dominant platform: it offers capabilities that other platforms simply cannot match. That said, simpler platforms can be perfectly suited to small businesses, startups, and solo operators with straightforward needs. The key is understanding what you need now and where you’re headed in the future.

How does that compare to the competition? The numbers tell a clear story (all stats from Kinsta):

• Shopify holds 4.6% of all websites (6.6% of the CMS market)
• Wix has 3.2% (4.6% of CMS market)
• Squarespace sits at 2.2% (3.2% of CMS market).
• At 60.5% of the CMS market, WordPress isn’t just leading—it’s dominating by a factor of more than nine times its nearest competitor.

These numbers tell a story: WordPress remains the world’s most popular content management system, powering over two-fifths of the entire web. While simpler platforms like Wix and Squarespace serve a specific niche of users who prioritize ease of use and quick setup, businesses focused on content, growth, and scalability overwhelmingly choose WordPress. Now, popularity certainly isn’t everything, and many businesses will be better suited to a simpler platform. The right tech stack for you depends on your business’s specific needs.

WordPress: built for growth and efficiency

Who WordPress is perfect for

• Businesses planning to scale: if you’re growing and need a platform that can grow with you, WordPress offers unlimited scalability.
• Content-focused businesses: if you plan to publish at least one blog post per month or maintain a regular content schedule, WordPress’s powerful content management capabilities will save significant time.
• Teams that value efficiency: WordPress’s template systems and automation features mean your team spends less time fussing with design and more time creating value.
• Businesses with junior staff or growing teams: WordPress’s structured approach makes it easier to train new team members and maintain brand consistency across your site.
• Companies with complex integration needs: if you need your website to connect with multiple tools and systems, WordPress’s extensive ecosystem makes this possible.
• Professional firms and consultancies: almost all professional service businesses eventually move to WordPress for its power and flexibility. This doesn’t mean WordPress is the right answer for you, though. Read on to understand more.

Key advantages of WordPress

Ownership and control

Unlike platforms where you’re essentially renting space (you don’t actually own your Squarespace or Wix website), WordPress gives you true ownership. You have full access to your site code, which means you can optimize for SEO, performance, accessibility, and other web best practice standards in ways that closed platforms don’t allow. This ownership also means you’re not at the mercy of a platform’s policy changes or price increases.

Powerful systems and automation

WordPress offers functionality that simply can’t be matched by closed platforms. With WordPress, you can create templates and systems that update your content automatically across your entire site. This means when you publish a new blog post or update a service offering, those changes cascade throughout your website without you touching the design—saving countless hours of manual work.

Team capacity booster

WordPress is designed to make your team more productive. Faster content uploads, reduced design maintenance, and the ability to scale operations with junior staff mean your business can do more with the same resources. If you’re producing content regularly, these time savings quickly add up to significant cost savings.

Scalable through integrations

Need to connect your website to your CRM, email nurture systems, or sophisticated workflows? WordPress’s extensive ecosystem of plugins and professional-grade integrations means your WordPress ecosystem can grow with you to do whatever you need it to do. This is the big benefit that makes WordPress an easy choice for scaling businesses—as you grow, WordPress scales with you.

Australian hosting options

Unlike many platform builders that host exclusively on US-based servers (Squarespace, Wix, Webflow), WordPress allows you to choose Australian hosting. This can improve site speed for Australian visitors and, depending on your industry and audience, may be important for data sovereignty considerations. Here at Studio Clvr, we host our sites with Wordify and can select a server location in Australia, the US, the UK and Germany.

Optimization capabilities

With full access to your site code, WordPress makes it much easier to optimize for accessibility, performance, and SEO compared to closed platforms. This means better search engine rankings, faster load times, and a more accessible site for all users. This isn’t to say that you can’t get a Squarespace site (for example) to rank in search results. I’ve seen excellent SEO rankings from those sites when implemented well; there’s just far more limited control over things like site performance and accessibility due to a lack of access to the site code.

WordPress disadvantages

Higher investment required

WordPress typically has higher ongoing costs than simpler platforms, and it’s important to understand what you’re paying for. Your monthly investment includes several components:

• Hosting: Quality managed WordPress hosting to ensure your site stays fast and secure
• Theme: A professional theme that provides the foundation for your design
• Plugins: Essential plugins for functionality like SEO, security, backups, forms, and integrations
• Maintenance and updates: Regular plugin updates, security monitoring, and compatibility checks

You can manage these components separately, which gives you flexibility but requires technical knowledge and ongoing time investment. Alternatively, many agencies offer care plans that bundle hosting, essential plugins, and managed updates into a single monthly fee. This comprehensive approach ensures everything works together seamlessly and stays secure without you having to become a technical expert.

For businesses publishing at least one blog post per month, the time saved through WordPress’s automation and efficiency features typically outweighs the additional cost. The investment pays for itself through reduced staff time and increased productivity.

Maintenance and security required

WordPress requires regular maintenance to stay secure and perform optimally. This includes plugin updates, security monitoring, performance optimization, and compatibility checks between different components. While this can be time-consuming and complex to manage yourself, professional WordPress care plans handle all of these tasks for you, ensuring your site stays secure without you having to become a technical expert. It’s worth noting that neglecting WordPress maintenance can leave your site vulnerable—hacked sites requiring urgent repairs are more common than you might think, and I’m definitely called on to help repair more of these every year.

Steeper learning curve

WordPress’s backend is more sophisticated than drag-and-drop builders. However, with proper setup and training, most teams find it straightforward to use for day-to-day content updates. For complex changes to the site structure or functionality, you’ll want professional support—which can be efficiently handled through on-demand website support via day rates or hourly packages.

For many businesses, these disadvantages quickly fall into one of the following categories:

1. The cost of running a highly efficient business;
2. The learning curve is irrelevant, as website tech isn’t something the business owner wants to deal with anyway;
3. Outweighed by the time and cost savings gained through investing in more flexible and resilient tech.

Wix: the popular DIY option

Wix has become increasingly popular, particularly with DIYers and micro-businesses. It offers an accessible entry point for businesses just getting started.

Who Wix is perfect for

• DIYers and micro-businesses: if you’re just starting out and want to build something yourself without technical knowledge.
• Businesses in their first 2-3 years: Wix works well when you’re establishing your business and your needs are straightforward.
• Very tight budgets: when keeping costs down is your top priority in the early stages.
• Simple brochure sites: if you only need basic information online without complex functionality.

Key advantages of Wix

Extremely user-friendly

Wix’s drag-and-drop interface is very intuitive. You can literally see exactly what you’re building in real-time, making it accessible even for complete beginners.

Low entry cost

Wix offers some of the most affordable starting prices among website builders. The bundled pricing includes hosting, templates, and basic features in a single, predictable monthly fee.

Quick setup

You can have a basic Wix site up and running in a matter of hours. For businesses that need an online presence immediately, this speed is valuable.

Minimal technical maintenance

Like other closed platforms, Wix handles all technical updates automatically. You won’t need to manage hosting, security patches, or compatibility issues.

Wix limitations

Hard to optimize for professional standards

While Wix has improved over the years, it’s still difficult to optimize for accessibility, performance, and other web best practice standards compared to WordPress. This can impact your search rankings and user experience.

US-based servers only

Wix sites are hosted on US-based servers, which can result in slower load times for Australian visitors and doesn’t comply with data sovereignty requirements if your industry requires your website to be hosted in Australia (most commonly an issue for lawyers, financial planners, healthcare providers, and similar, where there are strict industry guidelines around how your business is set up online).

Limited scalability

Most professional firms outgrow Wix quickly—typically within 2–3 years. As soon as you’re ready to scale your business to include more services and a more sophisticated content or resource hub, you’ll find Wix’s limitations frustrating.

This can still work for you—I find that after 2–3 years in business, most startups I’ve helped are ready for a complete overhaul, having developed a far deeper understanding of who they are, who they serve, and what their purpose is. It may make sense to stick with a cheaper, simpler option in the early years and then move to WordPress when you’ve found your feet. This will depend largely on your business goals/team size and appetite for scale.

No true ownership

You’re renting space on Wix’s platform. You don’t own your website in the same way you do with WordPress, and you’re subject to their terms, policies, and pricing changes.

Weaker integration ecosystem

While Wix has expanded its integrations, it still can’t match WordPress’s extensive ecosystem. As your business grows and you need more sophisticated tools, you may find yourself limited.

Squarespace: the designer’s choice for simple sites

Squarespace is popular with DIYers and micro-businesses, offering an excellent option for easy maintenance when starting out. It’s known for beautiful templates and a cleaner aesthetic than some other builders. I actually love Squarespace and have been designing websites for small businesses on that platform for over a decade. I even won an international web design award last year for a Squarespace website!

Who Squarespace is perfect for

• Design-conscious micro-businesses: if aesthetics are important and your needs are simple.
• Businesses in their first 2–3 years: Like Wix, Squarespace works well when you’re establishing your business.
• Portfolio sites and creatives: The templates are particularly well-suited to visual businesses.
• Those who want less DIY than Wix: Squarespace’s templates are more structured, which can actually make design easier for some people.

Key advantages of Squarespace

Beautiful, professional templates

Squarespace is known for its aesthetically pleasing templates. The design quality is generally higher out-of-the-box than other simple builders.

Beginner-friendly interface

Squarespace offers intuitive tools with extensive resources to help you work independently. They have a great community, with loads of really helpful professionals out there who can give you a hand when you need help. Having professional design support can significantly elevate what you can achieve within the platform.

Predictable, bundled costs

Squarespace operates on a simple monthly subscription model that bundles everything together: hosting, templates, basic features, and automatic updates. This makes costs predictable and typically lower than WordPress, especially for businesses with straightforward needs. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying each month with no surprise expenses.

Minimal maintenance

As a closed system, Squarespace handles all updates internally. You won’t need to worry about plugin compatibility, security patches, or the technical maintenance that WordPress requires. Updates happen automatically in the background, with no action needed from you.

Squarespace limitations

Hard to optimize for professional standards

Like Wix, Squarespace is difficult to optimize for accessibility and performance. You don’t have access to the underlying code, which limits your ability to meet web best practice standards.

US-based servers only

Squarespace sites are hosted on US-based servers, which can impact load times for Australian visitors.

Limited scalability

You can expect a Squarespace site to last for your first 2-3 years in business. As soon as you’re ready to scale the business to include more services and a more sophisticated content or resource hub, it will make sense to graduate to WordPress so you can take advantage of better software integrations and technical power.

No template systems or automation

Squarespace doesn’t support dynamic content updates or automated systems. This increases the risk of design inconsistencies and requires more staff time to manually create and update content. If you’re publishing regularly, this manual work adds up quickly.

No true ownership

Like Wix, you’re renting space on Squarespace’s platform. You don’t own your website, and you’re subject to their terms and pricing changes.

CRM-bundled website builders

Many CRM platforms offer website builders as part of their package—including HubSpot, Salesforce, Keap, and various industry-specific CRMs, like Lofty. At first glance, this seems convenient: everything in one place, native integration between your website and contact management system. However, there are important trade-offs to consider.

Who CRM-bundled sites might work for

• Businesses where the website is purely a lead capture tool: if your site exists solely to funnel contacts into your CRM with minimal content.
• Those committed long-term to their CRM: If you’re certain you won’t switch CRM providers in the foreseeable future.
• Very small operations prioritizing simplicity: if you want everything under one roof and are willing to accept significant limitations.

Potential advantages

Simplified setup

Having your website and CRM in one system can reduce initial complexity. You’re working within a single ecosystem, which can feel more straightforward when you’re just getting started.

Native integration

Lead capture forms and contact management connect seamlessly without third-party plugins. Data flows directly from your website into your CRM with minimal configuration.

Single vendor and invoicing

One point of contact for support, one consolidated monthly bill that covers both your CRM and website, one login to remember. Everything—website hosting, CRM functionality, contact management, and email tools—is bundled into a single subscription. For businesses that value administrative simplicity, this consolidation has appeal. However, it’s important to note that while you’re paying one bill, you’re often paying premium pricing for CRM features that include website functionality you could get better and cheaper elsewhere.

Significant limitations

Severe vendor lock-in

This is the biggest concern: your website is completely tied to your CRM. If you decide to switch CRM providers—which many businesses do as they grow and their needs evolve—you’ll need to rebuild your entire website from scratch. This creates a costly barrier to choosing the best CRM for your business.

Limited customization and design options

These bundled website builders typically offer fewer design options and significantly less flexibility than dedicated website platforms. You’re working with templates designed for the CRM’s broad user base, not for your specific business or brand needs.

Weak content and SEO capabilities

Most CRM-bundled websites aren’t designed for robust content marketing or blogging. Their SEO capabilities are often limited compared to WordPress, which can impact your search engine visibility. If content marketing is part of your growth strategy, these platforms will hold you back.

Generic professional appearance

Template-based CRM websites often look similar to competitors using the same CRM. This can undermine your professional brand and make it harder to differentiate yourself in the marketplace.

Feature limitations

You’re limited to whatever features the CRM provider has built into their website builder. Unlike WordPress’s vast plugin ecosystem or even the broader capabilities of Squarespace/Wix, you can’t extend functionality beyond what the CRM offers.

Hidden cost premium

While it might seem like you’re getting a “free” website with your CRM, you’re often paying premium CRM pricing that includes website functionality bundled in. The convenience of having everything in one place comes at a cost—and you may be paying more overall than if you separated your website and CRM into best-of-breed solutions. Additionally, if your website needs are simple, you’re subsidizing website features you’re not fully utilizing through your CRM subscription.

Read the article, Cost-effective marketing automation: the real cost of HubSpot (and other CRMs), for an in-depth analysis of the pros and cons.

The integration alternative

While connecting a WordPress website to your CRM through plugins or API integrations requires an additional setup step, this approach offers significant advantages. You maintain complete flexibility to change CRM providers without rebuilding your website, you gain access to WordPress’s superior content and SEO capabilities, and you can create a distinctive, professional web presence that stands out from competitors using the same CRM’s templated websites. Most modern CRMs (including HubSpot, Keap and Lofty) integrate well with WordPress, making this separation of concerns increasingly practical. Yes, you’ll manage two separate bills instead of one, but you’ll have the freedom to choose the best tool for each job.

Web host builders (GoDaddy, etc.): proceed with extreme caution

Many web hosting companies offer their own website builders as an add-on service. These should generally be avoided, especially for professional businesses.

Why to avoid these platforms

Very basic, clunky builders

These builders produce clunky code and offer only the most basic functionality. It’s extremely difficult—often impossible—to build a professional website with a strong brand on these platforms.

Impossible to optimize

You can’t optimize these sites for accessibility, performance, or web best practice standards. This severely impacts your search rankings, user experience, and professional credibility.

Unethical business practices

Many of these companies (particularly GoDaddy) are known for unethical business practices: low-cost sign-up prices that mask massive price hikes upon renewal, lots of required add-ons that inflate costs, shady sales tactics, and terrible customer support.

Professional reputation impact

Using these builders signals to potential clients that you haven’t invested in your online presence. For any business beyond the most basic startup, this undermines your professional credibility.

Who might consider these (temporarily)

Honestly, very few businesses should use these platforms. Even if you’re on an extremely tight budget, you’d be better served by Wix or Squarespace, which at least offer professional-looking results. The only scenario where these might make sense is as a temporary placeholder while you’re getting proper hosting and website set up—and even then, a simple landing page on a better platform would be preferable.

The typical journey: from simple to sophisticated

Most successful businesses follow a similar progression:

Years 0-2: starting out

You might begin with Wix or Squarespace (avoid web host builders entirely). These platforms offer easy maintenance, low costs, and quick setup when you’re establishing your business and proving your concept.

Years 2-3: growing pains

As you start publishing more content, adding services, and maybe building a team, you’ll begin to feel the limitations of simple platforms. You’ll find yourself spending too much time on manual updates, frustrated by design constraints, or unable to implement the integrations you need.

Year 3+: graduating to WordPress

When you’re ready to scale to include more services and a more sophisticated content or resource hub, it makes sense to graduate to WordPress. You can take advantage of better software integrations, technical power, and automation that saves your team significant time.

This progression is natural and expected. The key is recognizing when you’re ready to make the transition—before the limitations of your current platform start costing you opportunities and staff time.

Making your decision: a framework

Choosing the right platform depends on your specific situation, goals, and resources. Here’s a framework to help you decide:

Choose WordPress if…	Choose Wix if…	Choose Squarespace if…	Avoid if you can
You publish content regularly (1+ posts/month)	You’re a DIYer just starting out	You’re design-conscious with simple needs	Web host builders (GoDaddy, etc.)
You’re planning to scale your business	You need something up quickly	You want beautiful templates	CRM-bundled sites if you plan to create content
You need automation and template systems	You’re in years 0–2 of business	You’re in years 0–2 of business
You want professional integrations and flexibility	Budget is extremely tight	You prefer structured templates over freeform
Content marketing is key to your growth strategy	You need the most beginner-friendly option	You’re willing to sacrifice scalability for ease
You need to optimize for SEO, accessibility, performance
You’re a professional firm or consultancy
You have (or plan to have) a team managing content
The time savings justify the higher monthly investment
You want non-US hosting options

What’s important to your business?

For businesses serious about content marketing, scaling operations, and building efficient systems, WordPress offers capabilities that other platforms simply cannot match. The time saved through automation, the flexibility to integrate with best-in-class tools, the ability to create consistent, template-driven content, and true ownership of your digital presence make it the professional choice for growing businesses. Yes, the monthly investment is higher when you factor in hosting, plugins, themes, and managed updates—but for businesses publishing regularly, that investment pays for itself through reduced staff time and increased efficiency.

For small businesses, startups, and solo operators in their first 2–3 years with simple needs, platforms like Wix and Squarespace are perfectly adequate—and often the smarter choice for getting started. If you’re not producing regular content, don’t need automation, and aren’t planning significant growth immediately, why pay for capabilities you won’t use yet? These simpler platforms offer excellent value for straightforward websites, with predictable bundled pricing that includes everything you need in one monthly fee. Just understand that as you grow, you’ll likely graduate to WordPress to take advantage of its superior capabilities.

For CRM-bundled websites, the convenience of a single system and consolidated billing comes with significant trade-offs. The vendor lock-in alone should give most businesses pause. While the integration might seem seamless and the single bill might feel simpler, you’re sacrificing flexibility, professional appearance, content capabilities, and future options. For most businesses, connecting a proper website platform to your CRM is the better long-term strategy—even if it means managing two separate subscriptions.

For web host builders like GoDaddy, there’s simply no good reason to use these platforms for a professional business. The limitations are severe, the business practices are questionable, and you’ll end up rebuilding anyway. Start with a better foundation from day one.

The question isn’t just about cost, it’s about matching your platform to your business goals and lifecycle stage. If you’re publishing at least one piece of content per month, planning for growth, or need sophisticated automation, WordPress’s additional investment pays for itself through time savings and scalability. If you’re just starting out with simple needs, Wix or Squarespace can serve you well for your first few years.

Your website is an investment in your business’s future. Choose a platform that matches where you are now and where you’re planning to go—not one you’ll outgrow in a year, and not one that over-serves your actual needs today.