When you think about creating a website without technology experience, which sites pop into your head first? – Of course, Wix and Squarespace! Being the most popular website builders present in the market, it’s hard to decide which to go for. Before you make your decision, go through our fair comparison, stating the useful features of both websites. Keep reading till the end and you’ll make the right decision.
Ease of Use
Of course, when you’re looking for a website builder, you need to make sure it’s easy to understand and use. Both Wix and Squarespace are easy to use, with the drag and drop functionality. However, Wix has an advantage over Squarespace with this functionality, making it a little bit friendly. Just choose the Editor, click the element you want to add or change, and it’s done in a few minutes. The drag and drop functionality can do magic, with no coding experience at all. Add images, text boxes, and maps using creative tools that suit both beginners and tech pros. If you’re not into this functionality, use Wix ADI, answer a few questions, and establish your website in minutes. Also, Wix has a great Site History that keeps backups of your content in case of any possible loss.
On the other hand, Squarespace isn’t that flexible, yet more technical. You must understand the procedure and take some time to get used to it. You need to sort the Spacer elements; a challenging process that may require digging into Squarespace‘s knowledge base. It can be a little tiring but once you’ve mastered it, you can create a powerful site in no time. One drawback; Squarespace doesn’t have a restore function, which can be very annoying. You need to copy your content and save it on Google docs in case of any future disaster. Squarespace isn’t so hard to understand as you think. Be patient because it is really worth the time and effort.
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Simply put, both website builders are intuitive, easy to understand, and beginner-friendly. But, Wix is much easier than Squarespace, whether you choose the drag and drop functionality or Wix ADI. So, Wix is the winner in this comparison, regarding ease of use.
Design Flexibility
Without question, both Wix and Squarespace offer professional and modern templates. Using the drag and drop Wix Editor, you can add, replace, and delete any element with ease. Also, Squarespace offers powerful features, taking control of the entire template. Access Squarespace’s CSS Editor and craft an impressive template, totally free to choose the colors, fonts, and background.
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Both site builders offer high flexibility, magnificent templates, and customization options. With the flexibility to switch from one template to another, Squarespace is getting ahead of Wix. Besides, Squarespace has stunning pre-designed templates, making it the winner in this comparison.
Templates
When you choose a website builder, you must focus on the templates and themes. The website builder must have a wide diversity of professional templates that suit every business and brand. So, you know what you’re looking for! How many templates does the site builder have? And, what is the possibility of switching to another one in the future? – Let’s find out more!
Wix Templates
- Wix offers more than 500 professionally-designed templates that cover many industries, including business, travel blogs, and restaurants.
- All Wix templates are mobile responsive, with two versions; desktop and mobile versions.
- You can choose different colors, themes, and fonts. You can also use the stock images and videos to optimize your content.
- Wix offers black canvas templates if you want to build your website from scratch.
- If you need e-commerce templates, you will have to upgrade to a premium business plan.
- One drawback; once you’ve chosen your template, you can’t switch to another one.
Squarespace Templates
- Squarespace offers more than 100 powerful templates, arranged in 14 categories, which cover multiple industries.
- All Squarespace templates are mobile responsive; great on both desktop and mobiles.
- Squarespace doesn’t offer black canvas templates; however, you can access the HTML code of the site.
- You can easily switch from one template to another, with no loss of content.
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
We can’t deny that Wix has an impressive collection of templates; however, it couldn’t beat Squarespace‘s stunning designs and themes. So, it depends on whether you prefer quality or quantity. Wix has a wide range of templates and they are really good-looking ones. But, in this case, Squarespace wins if you want a more professional website. Fewer options, yet great designs!
E-commerce Features
If you’re starting your online store, you’re probably looking for a website builder, with the best e-commerce features. Let’s go through the different e-commerce tools for both site builders before we decide. Shall we?
Wix e-commerce plans offer:
- Three e-commerce plans
- 0% commission fees
- Up to 50GB storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- No Wix adverts
- Google Analytics
- Integration with Wix Apps
- Selling services through Wix Booking App
- Payment gateways
- Conversion tracking
- Offline payments with cash or pay on delivery
- Automatic tax calculation
- Customer accounts
Squarespace e-commerce plans offer:
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited storage
- Gift card creation
- Add to cart options
- 3% transaction fee on the lowest e-commerce plan
- Selling services
- Payment gateways
- Conversion tracking
- No offline payments
- No automatic tax calculation
- Customer accounts in the minimum basic plan
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Regarding e-commerce options, Wix is the better option, with perfect e-commerce tools and a wide collection of useful apps. Of course, Squarespace has great e-commerce functionality, excluding the App store.
SEO Features
What is your aim behind building a website? – Maybe exposure, increasing reach, boosting sales, or raising brand awareness? – Yes, exactly! To establish a powerful online presence, you need to rank high in the different search engines.
So, what is your main focus now? – You need to look for a website builder with powerful SEO features. Choose a site builder and optimize your website using keywords and Meta titles. If you’re not an SEO expert, the website builder will do the hard work. You must know that Wix offers striking SEO features, but it doesn’t completely crush Squarespace. Let’s see!
Wix SEO Features
- Mobile responsive pages
- Optimized headings
- Alt-text for photos
- Meta descriptions
- SEO guides to boost your website’s ranking
- Great introductions for beginners
- Wix SEO Wiz that offers a powerful plan, where you add your site’s information and some relevant keywords.
- SSL encryption
- 301 Redirects
- Custom domain
- SEO-friendly URLs
- Integrated blogging
- H1 Heading tag
- Blog categories and tags
- XML sitemap
- Blog post comments
- Doesn’t have custom CSS
- Video support
Squarespace SEO Features
- Mobile responsive pages
- Optimized headings
- Alt-text for photos but it’s difficult to find the correct space to add them. A bit annoying!
- SEO checklist
- Meta descriptions
- SSL encryption
- 301 Redirects
- Custom domain
- SEO-friendly URLs
- Integrated blogging
- XML sitemap
- Blog post comments
- H1 Heading tag
- Blog categories and tags
- Custom CSS
- Video support
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Surprisingly, both Wix and Squarespace are great with the SEO features equally. They are just as strong, with powerful tools and helpful features. But, Squarespace isn’t as friendly for beginners as Wix. We may consider that both of them are winners, with an only extra advantage for Wix.
Blogging Features
Blogging is an effective way to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and engage your audience with informative content. With no doubt, it is a valuable marketing tactic that creates a great user experience. So, you must choose a website builder, with useful blogging features.
Wix Blogging Tools
- Decent blog editor
- Blog posts
- Feeds
- Galleries
- Email campaigns
- Multiple writers
- Wix blog app (free)
- Scheduled posts
- Post tags
- Categories
- Drafts
Squarespace Blogging Tools
- Multiple authors contributions
- Scheduled sharing
- Post tagging
- Categories
- Drafts
- Comments and moderation
- Customizable URLs
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Squarespace has all the powerful blogging tools that WordPress has, making it the perfect fit. Although the blog editor isn’t that intuitive, Squarespace wins this round, with its professional blogging tools.
Customer Support
First of all, you need a site builder that has a dedicated support team to help with any problem you may face, right?
Wix Customer Support
- Editor Help Center
- Step-by-step guides
- Support forums
- Tutorials
- Social media support
- Articles
- Video tutorials
- Phone support
- No Live Chat available
- FAQs
- SEO pop up, where you watch a video or read a guide to enhance your website SEO
Squarespace Customer Support
- Step-by-step guides
- Support forums
- Tutorials
- Video tutorials
- Chat support
- 90-minutes workshop for website owners monthly
- E-mail support
- Powerful community forum
- No phone support
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Squarespace offers high-quality support services, especially its help center, workshops, and Live Chat. But, we will go with Wix as it achieves an edge with its help page, email, social media, and phone support.
Apps and Integrations
Both Wix and Squarespace offer an effective collection of integrations, making it difficult to decide. Let’s find out more!
Wix Integrations
- Google Analytics in premium plans
- Social media profiles and share buttons
- Mailbox
- Own email marketing
- Third-party chat applications, with some available only in premium plans
- CRM applications
- No tracking tools
- YouTube and Vimeo
- SoundCloud and Spotify
- Paypal Buy and Paypal Donate
- No integration with ShoutOut
Squarespace Integrations
- Google Analytics beside Squarespace’s own analytics
- Built-in social media icons
- Twitter feed integration
- Social media share buttons
- Mailbox
- Integration with Newsletter Block, Checkout Page, and Form block
- No third-party chat applications
- No tracking tools
- YouTube and Vimeo
- PayPal integration
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Both Wix and Squarespace have useful integration, but Wix has taken it further with its App Market. You can find tons of useful add-ons and features that will enhance your site drastically. Grow your business with an impressive mix of over 200 free and paid applications. On the other hand, Squarespace has incredible in-house features, with creative features to escape the market’s hassle. With so many great features and integrations, Wix and Squarespace are equally creative. Maybe, we should consider it a tie!
Marketing Features
Email marketing has proven its efficiency over the years, providing high exposure, reach, and brand awareness. So, it is essential to check each site builder’s marketing tools before you decide.
Wix Email Marketing
- Customizable styles, fonts, and backgrounds
- Contact integration, where you add your contacts’ details easily
- Stats tracker to measure your performance, showing the number of views and clicks
- Social media tools to share campaigns across your social media platforms
Squarespace Email Marketing
The plans range from $5 to $48 per month, if billed annually. Take a look at its important features:
- Send automated emails to your subscribers
- Choose from about 30 starter layouts
- Import content from your website to emails
- Manage your marketing directly from your mobile phone
- Track your marketing performance using analytics
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
After comparing the different marketing tools that both Wix and Squarespace offer, Wix will be the winner of this round. Make use of its free email marketing tool and if you’re to a more professional plan, go for Wix Ascend.
Pricing & Plans
Pricing plans are an important thing to consider before choosing your ideal website builder. Consider the different features, along with your budget, and then, make up your mind. So, which site builder strikes the best deal?
Wix Pricing Plans
- Free plan
- The Combo plan ($13 per month)
- Unlimited plan ($17 per month)
- Pro plan ($22 per month)
- VIP plan ($39 per month)
- Business basic plan ($23 per month)
- Business unlimited plan ($27 per month)
- Business VIP plan ($500 per month)
Wix’s most famous plan is the Unlimited Package and it offers:
10GB storage
Unlimited bandwidth
Free hosting
Customized Favicon
$75 ad vouchers
Google Analytics integrations
Premium support
Squarespace Pricing Plans
- Personal plan ($16 per month)
- Business plan ($26 per month)
- Basic commerce ($30 per month and no transaction fees)
- Advanced commerce plan ($46 per month)
Squarespace’s most famous plan is the Business Package and it offers:
- Free domain for one year with SSL Security
- Free hosting
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- 24/7 customer support
- Unlimited pages, blogs, and galleries
- E-commerce integrations
Is it Wix or Squarespace?
Wix’s free plan offers:
- Access to most of Wix’s powerful features
- Limited bandwidth
- Limited storage space
- No e-commerce features
- Branded domain, having the structure: username.wixsite.com/sitename, which isn’t the best option for SEO.
- Wix ads
In Wix, if you want to stop paying for your premium plan, just switch to the free one and you’re good to go. However, this can be a problem with Squarespace as it has no free plan. So, we will go with Wix as it is better value for the money, adding the free plan as an extra feature.
Is it Wix or Squarespace? – The Final Verdict
Going through the ins and outs of both Wix and Squarespace, you should’ve come with a decision by now. You have to decide which is better for your business according to the different features, tools, and pricing plans. So, is there a winner? – Wix is more easy, flexible, and more beginner-friendly. On the other hand, Squarespace is a gold mine, if you’re looking for blogging features and professional templates. Now, can you decide?!