Are you trying to build a website without hiring a developer? Then chances are you’ve heard of WordPress and Squarespace. They are two of the most popular site-building platforms on the market today.
Both WordPress and Squarespace launched in 2003. WordPress is an open-source Content Management System (CMS). People without a coding background can use it to build and manage a full-featured website. At the same time, it allows for an incredible amount of customization for those who wish to dive into the code.
Squarespace was designed to be a website builder and brand management, all-in-one. It helps you build and manage your online presence.
Major companies that use Squarespace:
- HBO
- Accenture
- Nike
- Pixar
- Avocode
Even celebrities like Winona Ryder, Idris Elba, and Tony Hawk use Squarespace.
Squarespace powers approximately 1.5% of all websites in the world.
Major companies that use WordPress:
- Tech Crunch
- Bloomberg
- MTV
- Mercedes Benz
- Sony Music
Squarespace isn’t the only platform with celebrity users. Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, and Katy Perry all use WordPress for their websites.
WordPress powers a whopping 40% of all websites in the world.
Pros
WordPress
WordPress is a fully-customizable CMS. It’s free to use, and there are plenty of inexpensive hosting options available. A large ecosystem of third-party plugins can extend your site’s functionality.
Squarespace
Squarespace is very user-friendly. You don’t need to know a lot to quickly make a beautiful site. Design is made easy so that you can focus on creating content. Also, Squarespace is a managed host, so you don’t have to worry about site administration tasks. That’s all taken care of for you.
Cons
WordPress
WordPress has a learning curve. Some beginners find the myriad of options overwhelming and confusing at times.
Security is also an issue. WordPress sites are more prone to cyber-attacks. For non-managed hosting options, you will need to manage your site security. Additionally, you are responsible for site administration on a non-managed host.
Squarespace
Squarespace is generally more expensive. Also, you don’t own your site design; you only own the data. If you decide to switch platforms you will need to have your site design rebuilt. You also don’t have much control over SEO, as the technical settings are managed by Squarespace.
Ease of use
WordPress has a learning curve. While you can do a lot out-of-the-box, some people may not find it intuitive to use at first. You’ll need to learn how to manage plug-in and theme updates. Unless you’re using a managed hosting plan… then you don’t have to worry about that stuff.
Squarespace is a managed host, so you don’t have to worry about learning administrative tasks. The template system is straightforward, making it easy to design your site just the way you like. The blogging system is also intuitive and easy to use. Tech novices will find Squarespace easy to use.
Tools & Features
Squarespace has a tiered pricing structure that determines which features are available. They also support integrations with certain third-party services. If you’re on the business tier or higher you can use custom code integrations. These let you embed code from other services into your site.
WordPress functionality can be extended by any number of third-party plugins. You can find plugins in the Marketplace or elsewhere online for just about any use case.
Blogging
Out-of-the-box, WordPress includes the Gutenberg editor for its blogging system. It is a new, feature-rich editor that allows for a lot of creative control. There are many plugins that can enhance it as well.
Squarespace also has a simple-to-use blog system out-of-the-box. It supports integration with Apple News to cross-publish your blog posts. You can manage your comments with Disqus instead of the default system. You can also enable Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) for your blog posts. It creates a light-weight version of your post that renders faster on mobile devices.
Marketing
Squarespace has a host of marketing features built-in, including email campaigns and analytics. They also let you use services like Facebook Pixel, Google Ads, and Mailchimp.
WordPress also has plugins that can integrate myriad marketing services to your site.
eCommerce
Both Squarespace and WordPress have options for eCommerce tools and plans. To use Squarespace eCommerce tools you will need to have an eCommerce plan. They also offer integrations with some third-party eCommerce tools.
You don’t need a separate plan to integrate eCommerce functionality with WordPress. The Marketplace is full of eCommerce plugins for your online store.
SEO
When it comes to SEO, WordPress is more flexible and customizable than Squarespace. This is because Squarespace manages the technical aspect of SEO themselves. They offer guidance on best practices to help you create SEO-friendly content. With WordPress, you can take full control of your site’s SEO.
Support
WordPress and Squarespace have large communities behind them. Both have extensive documentation and learning materials covering a lot of use cases. You’ll find no shortage of support from either community.
Conclusion
Both platforms help you create professional-looking websites without having to code. The choice between them comes down to your needs and goals for your site, and if you decide to hire a developer, check out Brisbane WordPress designers.
Choose WordPress if you need flexibility and need to customize everything. In this case, it’s the better choice.
But if you want a beautiful site that you can build easily, then Squarespace may be right for you.
