WordPress and Squarespace are two very popular website builders you can use to build a website without any programming skills. In this post, we compare WordPress and Squarespace outlining the pros and cons of each platform.
By the end of this post, you will be able to make an informed decision.
Ease of Use
WordPress is the go-to choice of small businesses and bloggers looking to build a website on their own. Although WordPress is easy to use and quite intuitive, there’s a small learning curve involved as well. However, most users can adapt to WordPress in no time.
Squarespace doesn’t offer a lot of options, which makes it very easy to use. Even those who are new to using computers can easily write and publish content. Adding audio, video and other media is easier than WordPress and there is a range of layout control options.
Cost
Being open-source, WordPress is free to download, use and build upon. All you need are a web hosting service, a domain name and a quality template to start building your website. Better yet, you can hire a web designer to build a professional website affordably.
A prime reason why WordPress is so popular is that you can build your website whilst staying on budget.
Squarespace is proprietary software, which means, you will pay a monthly fee for as long as you are using the service. Plans start from $12 per month and increase depending on what features you add to your basic plan. The starter plan offers very limited features and you may have to upgrade in order to use more advanced functionalities.
Templates and Design
Thousands of free and premium website templates are available on WordPress. These templates are extremely customisable, allowing you to tailor the design to your requirements.
Many WordPress themes are available with multiple layout designs, sliders, drag and drop builders and various other features. No matter the type of website you want to build, there are hundreds of options to choose from.
Squarespace offers ready to use templates for a range of categories and industries. However, the number of templates on offer is limited and the design options are also limited to the features offered by Squarespace.
Features
WordPress boasts a huge ecosystem of plugins. You name a feature and chances are high that a plugin is already available for you to use. With more than 54,000 free plugins and thousands more of premium plugins, you will be spoilt for choice.
When it comes to features and functionality, Squarespace has limited options. Squarespace provides an easy to use platform to create and build websites. However, many business owners soon realize that it is limited in terms of what you can do on your own website. You can certainly add third-party customisations and integrations. However, Squarespace does not have as powerful APIs as WordPress.
Conclusion
Squarespace offers a polished user experience, is easy to use and offers a hassle-free setup experience. However, the cost is higher, the features and design options are limited.
WordPress is easy to use, offers an extensive array of features, plugins and design options, and makes it possible to build a low-cost website. However, you will have to regularly carry out backups and updates and manage your website security. Torquay Web Design offers affordable Maintenance Program for WordPress websites.
Contact Torquay Web Design to discuss your project or call for a quote.
