WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace: A Web Designer’s Honest Opinion

Updated June 25, 2025 – Improved breakdown of web platforms, DNS, bundled hosting add-ons and a mention of Chat GPT…

The Short Answer

“Be careful with the marketing of Wix and Squarespace. As someone who’s designed hundreds of WordPress sites, I can say — they’re not easier, just different. And if I’m being really honest, their advertising is… misleading.”
— Iain Cameron, Web Designer

Recently, a client approached me after struggling to build a Squarespace website for their business—something I have encountered before from clients, also with Wix. Despite Squarespace’s promise of an easy, all-in-one solution, they were left frustrated and overwhelmed. This led me to develop a professional WordPress solution that more effectively conveyed the client’s brand and business, creating a polished, professional online presence. It became clear to me that my client had, to some extent, been misled by the idea that a website could be created quickly and effortlessly.

A website breakdown

From our conversations, I’ve realized just how confusing it can be for non-web professionals to understand what companies like Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and One.com are actually selling. There are three separate parts involved in having a website: the domain name (like www.yourwebsite.com), the web hosting (where your website physically “lives”), and the platform (the tool you use to build and manage your site).

Let’s say your website was a house — it’s a helpful way to break this down. In that analogy, the domain name is the name on the house. The web hosting is where the house physically sits — its plot of land or street address. And the platform (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace) is the house builder — the tool you use to design, build, and decorate it.

Here’s where it gets trickier: the term web address usually refers to your domain name — but that word address can be misleading. In our house analogy, the domain name is just the label (the name on the house). Then there’s DNS — the Domain Name System — which acts like your house’s GPS coordinates. It quietly connects the domain name to the server where your website is hosted. You don’t usually need to touch it, but it’s there in your hosting settings — and becomes important when, for example, a new website replaces an old one. That GPS-style switch is handled through DNS.

In recent years, another complication has crept in: bundled add-ons. Hosting companies now offer a growing list of extras — email services, backups, malware scans, “SEO tools” — and while some are genuinely helpful, many are unnecessary or overpriced. From a web designer’s perspective, this bundling of fluff has made things murkier, not clearer. What should be a simple setup can quickly become an expensive subscription stack full of things you didn’t ask for — and probably don’t need.

WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace: Which is Best for Your Website?

If you’re new to building websites, the first thing to understand is that no matter whether you choose WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace, you’re signing up for a learning curve. While website builders like Wix and Squarespace promote their platforms as user-friendly, the reality is that all three platforms—WordPress included—are difficult to learn.

One big difference is that WordPress is free because it’s open-source software. This means that the code behind WordPress is publicly available for anyone to use, modify, and improve. In practical terms, you don’t pay for WordPress itself—just for hosting, your domain, and any premium themes or plugins you might choose to use. With Wix and Squarespace, you pay a monthly or annual subscription fee, which covers the cost of using their platform and their bundled hosting services.

Unless you have a huge amount of time to dedicate to learning and building your website, you’re likely to face frustration along the way. And if you’re starting a business, your time is often better spent on running your business, not learning the ins and outs of web design. From my perspective, WordPress remains the better option if you want long-term flexibility and control over your website.

What Happens If You Struggle?

If you start with WordPress and hit roadblocks, there’s always the option of finding a web designer to take over. Finding a WordPress web designer is easy since the platform is so widely used. And the benefit of trying it yourself first is that you’ll have a basic understanding of how WordPress works. This will come in handy later when you need to update your content or make minor changes, even if someone else built your site.

Unleashing Your Inner Coder

On the flip side, if you do enjoy the process of designing your website and find yourself diving into code or learning more advanced web design techniques, you might as well have started with WordPress in the first place. The reality is, there isn’t a huge difference in the initial learning curve between WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. All three platforms require time, patience, and effort to get your site up and running. So, if you’re going to invest that energy, why not go with the platform that gives you the most room to grow?

WordPress vs. Wix vs. Squarespace: The Technical Differences

WordPress is a full-fledged CMS (Content Management System), putting it in the same category as platforms like Joomla and Drupal. On the other hand, Wix and Squarespace are website builders, along with others like Weebly and Shopify.

For a non-technical person, what does this mean? A CMS like WordPress offers greater control and scalability, whereas website builders like Wix and Squarespace package everything—including hosting—into one solution. While that sounds like a bonus, the trade-off is that you’re locked into their ecosystem and can’t easily scale your website as your needs grow.

With WordPress, you get far more flexibility and the ability to choose your own hosting provider, plugins, and themes. But, of course, that means you’re responsible for more setup and maintenance.

How Difficult Is It to Start a WordPress Website from Scratch?

Starting a WordPress site might seem intimidating, but it’s not as complex as it first appears. You’ll need three things:

1. Web hosting: This is where your website “lives.” There are plenty of web hosts to choose from—GoDaddy, Bluehost, and SiteGround, to name a few. Personally, I use one.com, which I’ve been with since 2008. I’ve never had any issues, and their pricing is reasonable with 24/7 chat support. If you’re interested, I do have an affiliate link that gives both of us a small discount.
2. A domain name: You need a unique URL (e.g., www.yourcompanyname.com) for your website.
3. WordPress setup: Once you’ve got your hosting and domain, installing WordPress is a breeze—most hosts offer one-click WordPress installation. For example, with one.com, you simply log into your account and click “One click WordPress.” And you’re off! You now have your own professional WordPress website ready to customize.

Once WordPress is installed, you can find countless tutorials on YouTube to guide you through everything from creating pages and menus to changing themes and adding plugins.

How Does Squarespace Compare?

Squarespace is a polished alternative to Wix, with beautifully designed templates and a more cohesive editing experience. For those who prioritize aesthetics and simplicity over flexibility, Squarespace might seem appealing. However, it’s worth noting that while Squarespace’s drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, its limitations become apparent as your website’s needs evolve. For example, integrating third-party tools and scaling up the functionality can be difficult.

Squarespace is also a closed system, meaning that like Wix, you’re tied to their platform for hosting and features. If at some point you outgrow Squarespace, migrating your site to another platform is a significant challenge.

The Value of Professional Web Design

Ultimately, while platforms like Wix and Squarespace offer a quick way to get a site up, professional web designers consistently create better long-term solutions. A well-designed website communicates professionalism, reinforces your branding, delivers a great user experience (UX), and ensures that your content is optimized for search engines (SEO).

While finding the budget for professional web design can be a challenge for some businesses, it’s important to consider it as an investment that will pay off over time. A professionally designed website not only looks and functions better, but it also helps you convert visitors into customers, which is key to growing your business.

Is WordPress Still Worth Learning in 2024?

Absolutely. As of today, WordPress powers over 40% of the entire internet. It’s continually being updated, with a huge ecosystem of themes, plugins, and resources available to help you build a powerful, professional website. Plus, the launch of the Gutenberg editor in late 2018 made WordPress much more user-friendly—allowing even beginners to create dynamic pages with ease. In many ways, WordPress’s improvements can be attributed to the rise of website builders like Wix and Squarespace, which forced WordPress to evolve.

Why Are Wix and Squarespace So Popular?

The popularity of Wix and Squarespace comes down to their aggressive marketing and their appeal to those who are intimidated by the web design process. Wix, in particular, excels at making it seem like anyone can build a website in minutes. Squarespace, on the other hand, has carved out a niche with its sleek, design-focused branding.

But here’s the catch: These platforms might help you get a site up quickly, but that doesn’t mean it will serve your long-term needs. If you’re planning to scale your site or require advanced functionality (e-commerce, custom forms, SEO optimization), you’ll likely hit a ceiling with Wix and Squarespace.

WordPress, by contrast, is open-source, which means it’s free to use and endlessly customizable. While it might require more effort upfront, the long-term rewards are worth it. And that’s why you don’t see slick WordPress TV ads—it’s sustained by the vast community of developers and businesses that contribute to its ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the right platform depends on your needs and goals. If you’re looking for a quick, simple solution and don’t mind the limitations, Wix or Squarespace might be fine for you. However, if you want control, scalability, and access to a wealth of customization options, I recommend investing the time to learn WordPress.

Google, YouTube and Chat GPT are your friends. Dive in, learn as you go, and build something that will grow with your business.

Good luck!

Iain Cameron is a Copenhagen-based web and graphic designer specializing in WordPress websites.