WordPress vs Squarespace: Which Is Best for Your Business?

  • 5 min read
  • January 7, 2025
WordPress vs Squarespace: Which Is Best for Your Business?

When it comes to building your business website, several names dominate the conversation. None more so than WordPress vs Squarespace. Whilst both platforms offer robust website-building solutions, there are critical differences that can make all the difference to your business. 

In this article, we’ll compare the two platforms on key aspects like flexibility, scalability, pricing, and ease of use.

Related Read: Wix vs WordPress

WordPress vs Squarespace

Let’s get into it.

Flexibility and Customisation

WordPress: The Customisation Powerhouse

WordPress homepage

WordPress is an open-source platform, giving you complete control over your website. You can choose from thousands of themes and plugins, allowing for endless customisation. Whether you want an eCommerce site, a portfolio, or a business blog, WordPress has a solution for every need.

Squarespace: Limited Customisation

Squarespace homepage

Squarespace is a closed platform. Whilst its templates are visually appealing, customisation is limited to what the platform allows. Advanced features often require workarounds, which can restrict businesses that need specific functionality.

The Winner?  WordPress

Scalability and Growth

WordPress: Built for Expansion

WooCommerce homepage

WordPress is highly scalable. As your business grows, your website can expand without limitations. Need advanced features like multilingual support, customer portals, or complex eCommerce capabilities? WordPress can handle it all with plugins like WooCommerce, WPML, and more.

Squarespace: Suitable for Small Projects

Squarespace works well for small businesses and personal projects. However, it may struggle to accommodate large, complex websites due to its closed environment and limited third-party integrations.

The Winner?  WordPress

SEO and Marketing Capabilities

WordPress: Optimised for SEO

WordPress excels in SEO. With plugins like Yoast SEO, you can optimise your website for search engines with ease. The platform supports advanced SEO features, including custom meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, and Schema markup—essentials for UK businesses aiming for online, global visibility.

Related Read: A Quick Guide to Yoast

Squarespace: Present, but Basic SEO Tools

Squarespace provides built-in SEO tools, but, in our opinion, they lack the depth and customisation that WordPress offers. For serious digital marketing campaigns, Squarespace can be limiting.

The Winner?  WordPress

Pricing Overview

WordPress Pricing

WordPress itself is free, but the price of WordPress hosting varies across providers and depends on your website needs. This means anywhere between £3 a month and £40 a month is a reasonable expectation to pay for WordPress. For Enterprise hosting though, this would cost £150-£200 per month to start.

Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace pricing

Squarespace pricing starts at £12 a month. However, for business and eCommerce plans these start at £17 a month.

The Winner?  Squarespace

Ease of Use

WordPress: A Learning Curve with Rewards

WordPress has a steeper learning curve, but the flexibility it offers is well worth it. 43.6% of the world’s websites prefer WordPress because of its robust content management system (CMS) and integration with a variety of tools.

Squarespace: Simple but Limited

Squarespace is beginner-friendly, making it suitable for those without technical knowledge. However, the trade-off is reduced flexibility and control — something businesses seeking long-term growth should consider carefully.

The Winner?  Squarespace

Which Platform is Right for You?

When deciding between WordPress vs Squarespace it’s essential to consider your business goals, technical expertise, and long-term needs. Here’s a breakdown of who should choose each platform:

Who Should Choose Squarespace?

Squarespace is ideal for:

1. Micro Businesses and Freelancers

  • Local shops, cafes, and freelancers needing a simple online presence.
  • Limited technical knowledge or lack of web development team.

2. Creatives and Portfolio Owners

  • Photographers, artists, and designers who want visually stunning templates with minimal setup.

3. DIY Website Builders

  • Individuals comfortable with drag-and-drop design but not coding.

Squarespace is best for: Simple websites with low-maintenance needs, such as portfolios, small service businesses, and personal blogs.

Who Should Choose WordPress?

WordPress is better suited for:

1. Growing Businesses and Enterprises

Skyscape IT - a growing business - website homepage displayed on an iPad. KIJO built this website using WordPress.
  • Companies that need a scalable website to accommodate future business growth.

2. eCommerce Websites

Holyrood's - a whisky distillery business that needed eCommerce functionality on their website - website shop pages displayed across two iPad screens. KIJO built this website using WordPress.
  • Businesses looking to build a customised online store with WooCommerce, advanced payment options, and customer management systems.

3. Content-Driven Websites

The Chelsea Psychology Clinic's - a psychology clinic in London - website blog pages displayed across two iPad screens. KIJO built this website using WordPress.
  • Blogs, news websites, and educational platforms that require frequent updates and complex content management.

4. Digital Marketing-Driven Businesses

  • Companies focused on SEO, digital marketing, and integrations with CRM, marketing automation, and analytics tools.

5. Custom Projects

ESPA Life at Corinthia - a 5* hotel spa in London - website pages diagonally. KIJO built this unique website using WordPress.
  • Any business requiring custom functionality, unique web design, or integration with external software.

WordPress is best for: Businesses seeking full control, long-term scalability, and superior customisation options.

The Verdict: Why WordPress Wins For Us

When comparing WordPress vs Squarespace, WordPress emerges as the clear winner, particularly for businesses seeking a scalable, customisable, and SEO-friendly platform. Whilst Squarespace is suitable for very simple projects that have a limited need for customisation, WordPress offers unmatched flexibility, making it the ideal choice for serious business websites – that’s why we work with it at KIJO.

Ready to build your website? Choose WordPress and a team of WordPress experts (that’s us!) and unlock the potential of your business today!

Book a Complimentary Consultation with KIJO’s Head of Partnerships

Need expert guidance on your website design, working with WordPress? Book a complimentary, 30-minute consultation with our Head of Partnerships & Co-Founder, Kirk Thompson. During your call, we’ll review your website’s current performance, discuss your goals, analyse competitor insights, and explore the potential of a WordPress-powered website. Let’s bring your vision to life—book your free consultation via the link below:

Book Your Call Now

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