For years, WordPress has held the title of world’s most popular content management system. Even so, there are a number of upstart platforms threatening its dominance, claiming even easier ways to create and maintain a business website. One of the prime contenders is a platform called Squarespace.
But which platform is better, WordPress or Squarespace? Here at Woland Web, we get this question all the time. In this post, we’ll provide an overview of these platforms, breaking down some pros and cons to each, then offer our overall assessment.
Squarespace vs. WordPress: An Overview
These two platforms both offer an easy-to-use, intuitive option for managing your own business website. With that said, there are some important points of distinction. Some of these are more technical in nature; for example, WordPress boasts an open-source mentality, while Squarespace is closed source.
For most business owners, however, the crux of the matter is this: Squarespace is the more beginner-friendly of the two options, while WordPress offers a little bit more control over the final outcome.
Comparing Squarespace and WordPress
Now let’s see how the two platforms stack up in a few essential categories.
Ease of Use
If you want the absolute simplest way to design your own website, Squarespace is the way to go. You don’t even need to sign up for web hosting or a domain name; it’s all included in your Squarespace signup.
WordPress is slightly more involved, requiring you to get a domain name and hosting separately. You’ll also need to install WordPress software, which probably sounds harder than it is. A one-click installation process ensures that this is still a relatively beginner-friendly platform.
Control
Squarespace offers a single interface where you can make all kinds of changes to your site. This interface allows you to update your content, set up analytics, or tweak your design.
While Squarespace does afford ample control over your website, it does not offer third-party plugins, which is where WordPress shines. From managing ads to offering social media sharing functions, WordPress has countless drag-and-drop plugins that allow you to truly make your website your own.
E-Commerce
While Squarespace does offer some e-commerce options, those options are rather limited. For example, the platform only supports three payment vendors: PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay.
By contrast, WordPress offers a wealth of e-commerce options, including full integration with WooCommerce and countless print on demand fulfillment partners. For e-commerce flexibility, WordPress is the clear winner.
Maintenance
One of the selling points of Squarespace is that you don’t have to deal with updates or maintenance. Squarespace handles all of this automatically.
WordPress is a little bit more labor-intensive, requiring you to handle your own updates, file backups, and security.
Our Verdict
The bottom line? Both platforms have their perks, and deciding which one is best for your business really comes down to your priorities. For example, if you’re simply looking for something that’s easy to set up and doesn’t require a lot of ongoing upkeep, Squarespace is the way to go.
However, if you’re looking beyond ease of use to flexibility, control, and ownership, that’s where WordPress really excels.
As you consider your options for developing a robust business website, we’d love to help you navigate the options. Reach out to Woland Web today, and let’s chat about developing a website that helps you meet all your marketing goals.
