Choosing the right platform for your website can feel overwhelming. Every provider promises an easy, powerful solution for your small business. But your decision now will affect how easy your site is to manage, how well it ranks in search and how flexible it is as you grow.
In this guide, we’ll compare three of the most popular options for small business websites: WordPress, Wix and Squarespace.
Quick Overview
- WordPress – most flexible, best for SEO, most scalable
- Wix – easiest for beginners, all-in-one, less flexible long term
- Squarespace – beautiful templates, great for creatives, moderate flexibility
The best choice depends on where your business is now and where you want it to be in the future.
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source content management system which powers a huge portion of the internet. There are two flavours:
- WordPress.com – a hosted, subscription-based service
- WordPress.org – self-hosted software that you install on your own hosting
Most professional sites use the self-hosted version, WordPress.org, because it offers full control and flexibility.
With WordPress, you can build everything from simple brochure sites to complex ecommerce stores and membership platforms.
What Is Wix?
Wix is an all-in-one website builder. It provides templates, hosting, a visual drag-and-drop editor and built-in features under a single monthly subscription.
Wix is popular with:
- startups
- very small businesses
- people who want to DIY their website
What Is Squarespace?
Squarespace is another all-in-one website builder known for its sleek, modern templates.
It’s especially popular among:
- photographers
- designers
- artists
- small lifestyle brands
Squarespace helps you launch visually polished sites quickly, with less emphasis on deep customisation.
Cost Comparison
WordPress Costs
WordPress itself is free, but you pay for:
- website hosting
- domain name
- possibly a premium theme or plugins
- professional setup and design if you hire a web designer
Typical ongoing running costs are roughly £80–£300+ per year, depending on your hosting and tools.
Wix Costs
Wix plans are subscription-based, usually between £10 and £35 per month depending on features and ecommerce needs. Domain names may be included in the first year.
Squarespace Costs
Squarespace plans are similar, generally in the range of £12–£36+ per month.
Over several years, monthly subscription costs add up. With WordPress, long-term costs may be lower for the same level of flexibility.
Ease of Use
Wix
Wix is widely considered one of the easiest platforms for beginners. The drag-and-drop editor lets you move elements around visually, and you don’t need to know anything about code.
Squarespace
Squarespace is also beginner-friendly but a little more structured. This stops people from creating messy layouts and helps maintain the design quality of its templates.
WordPress
WordPress has a steeper learning curve, especially if you’re setting it up alone. However, modern page builders and the block editor have made it more user-friendly. When a professional sets up the structure for you, editing content can be straightforward.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
SEO is a critical consideration because it determines how easily customers can find you on Google.
WordPress & SEO
- Excellent control over page titles, URLs and meta descriptions
- Powerful SEO plugins like Yoast, Rank Math and others
- Fast, SEO-friendly themes available
- Good for both simple and advanced SEO strategies
Because of its flexibility, WordPress is generally considered the strongest platform for SEO when configured correctly.
Wix & SEO
- Has improved significantly in recent years
- Provides basic SEO tools and guidance
- Code and templates can still be heavier than necessary
Wix can rank, especially in less competitive niches, but it’s not as flexible as WordPress if you want to push SEO hard.
Squarespace & SEO
- Reasonable SEO features built in
- Good structure for simple sites
- Less control for more advanced SEO
For straightforward brochure sites, Squarespace can be fine. For more serious SEO campaigns, WordPress usually wins.
Design Flexibility
WordPress
WordPress offers virtually unlimited design options, from off-the-shelf themes to completely custom designs. If you can imagine it, a developer can usually build it.
Wix
Wix has many templates and a lot of freedom to move elements around. However, this flexibility can lead to inconsistent, messy layouts if not used carefully.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s strength lies in its professionally designed templates. It keeps layouts clean and attractive but allows less deep customisation than WordPress.
Scalability and Growth
Think about where your business might be in a few years. Will you need:
- more pages and sections?
- a blog or resource centre?
- online bookings or ecommerce?
- integrations with CRMs, email tools or other systems?
WordPress is designed to handle growth and more complex requirements. Wix and Squarespace are best suited to smaller, simpler sites and may feel limiting as your needs expand.
Ownership and Control
With Wix and Squarespace:
- You’re renting your website on their platform
- If you leave, you can’t simply download your site and move it elsewhere
- Changing platforms often means rebuilding from scratch
With self-hosted WordPress:
- You own your website files
- You can move to another hosting provider whenever you like
- You have more say over how your site works and what it can do
Ownership and flexibility are major reasons many businesses choose WordPress as a long-term solution.
Ecommerce Considerations
All three options can handle ecommerce in some capacity:
- Wix offers ecommerce features on higher-tier plans
- Squarespace supports online stores with integrated tools
- WordPress uses plugins like WooCommerce for powerful ecommerce functionality
For small shops, any of the three could work. For more complex ecommerce needs, WordPress with WooCommerce or a dedicated platform like Shopify is usually better.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Choose Wix if:
- you’re just starting out
- you have a very limited budget
- you want the quickest DIY option
- you’re comfortable doing the work yourself
Choose Squarespace if:
- you’re a creative professional and visuals are everything
- you love the look of Squarespace templates
- you want a stylish site without deep customisation
Choose WordPress if:
- you want the strongest SEO foundation
- you want full ownership and flexibility
- you may need more advanced features later
- you see your website as a long-term business asset
Final Thoughts
There is no single “best” platform for everyone. But for most established small businesses that want to grow, appear in search and maintain control, WordPress often provides the best long-term value.
Not sure which platform is right for you?
We’re happy to talk through your goals and recommend the most suitable option — even if that means sticking with your current platform for now.
Contact Icerocket Design for friendly, honest website advice.
