Wix vs Squarespace: 5 Important Differences To Know

If you're building a website for your business or simply want to create an online presence for yourself, chances are you've come across the names Wix and Squarespace. These two giants dominate the world of website builders, powering most websites out there. According to a recent graph, Wix and Squarespace together hold 55% of the market share, claiming the top 2 spots among the top 20 website builders.

But when it comes to choosing the best platform for your needs, it's crucial to understand the differences between these top solutions. Think of it as comparing a Mac vs a PC – both have their advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the right platform for you largely depends on your preferences, requirements, and budget.

Here at Live Learning, we're all about helping you build design businesses and furthering your career through our Monthly NoCode Design Challenges and mentoring in our community. So, let's dive deep into the five most important differences between Wix and Squarespace as we compare their features, ease of use, and more.

1. Page Editor Flexibility: Wix's Unstructured Editor vs Squarespace's Curated Approach

When it comes to building and editing pages, Wix and Squarespace employ entirely different approaches. Wix offers an unstructured editor, allowing you to drag and drop elements anywhere on your page with pixel-by-pixel precision. This freedom can be appealing for users who want complete control over their layouts and styles.

Squarespace, on the other hand, takes a more curated and intuitive approach, using a structured editor with defined sections and blocks for various elements. This simplifies the design process and helps maintain a consistent, polished look across your website.

But while Wix's unstructured editor offers more freedom, it can also create challenges, especially when considering mobile layouts. For example, if you move an element from the top to the bottom of your page on a desktop view, you may have to manually adjust the mobile view as well, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.

2. Templates and Design: Squarespace's Style vs Wix's Variety

Squarespace is widely known for its beautiful, professionally-designed templates; their style tends to lean towards contemporary, minimalist aesthetics. Users can choose from a range of visually pleasing designs and then customize them to fit their brand or preferences.

Wix, however, offers a much larger variety of templates. While that may sound like an advantage at first, some templates may lack the polished look that Squarespace delivers. However, Wix's variety as a result of its unstructured editor does offer the opportunity for users to create unique, custom designs.

3. E-commerce Features: Wix for Small Shops, Squarespace for Growing Businesses

If you're looking to sell products or services online, both Wix and Squarespace offer e-commerce functionality. However, the extent of e-commerce features varies between the two platforms.

Wix is better suited for small, simple online stores with a limited range of products, primarily due to its straightforward e-commerce tools and features. It also offers a free plan, though it is worth mentioning that to remove Wix ads and use your custom domain, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Squarespace, on the other hand, caters more towards larger and growing businesses that require advanced e-commerce features such as powerful inventory management, integration with shipping carriers, and flexible discounts and promotions. Keep in mind, though, that Squarespace does not offer a free plan – only a 14-day trial.

4. App Market: Wix's Abundance vs Squarespace's Limited Selection

When it comes to extending the functionality of your website, Wix's App Market is unrivaled. With hundreds of apps available – both free and paid – you can easily find tools to help with everything from SEO and analytics to event calendars and social media integration.

Squarespace's options are more limited when it comes to third-party integration. You'll find some extensions available for Squarespace, especially in the e-commerce realm, but the overall selection is not as vast or varied as Wix's offering.

5. Pricing: Wix's Free Plan vs Squarespace's Premium Approach

As mentioned earlier, Wix offers users a free plan, which can be an appealing option for those looking to create a simple website on a limited budget. However, to remove Wix ads, use a custom domain, and unlock more advanced features, you'll need to upgrade to one of Wix's paid plans.

Squarespace, on the other hand, does not offer a free plan at all – only a 14-day free trial. After that, users must choose from one of their four paid plans to continue using the platform. While this may be a bit off-putting for some, Squarespace's premium offering does ensure a higher level of quality and features for its users.

Conclusion

Both Wix and Squarespace are powerful, popular website builders that cater to different needs and preferences. With Wix's unstructured editor and app market, users can build unique, feature-rich websites. Squarespace, on the other hand, focuses on refined, curated aesthetics and advanced features suited for growing businesses.

Ultimately, the choice boils down to your specific requirements, budget, and personal preferences. To make the most informed decision, we recommend trying out both platforms using Wix's free plan and Squarespace's 14-day trial before committing to one.

As you explore, consider joining the Live Learning community, where you can participate in our Monthly NoCode Design Challenges, receive expert guidance, and learn from fellow users as you build your design business and take your career to new heights! Happy designing!