Wix vs Squarespace: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Wix is built for small business, while Squarespace suits creatives. For most users Squarespace is the stronger default, but Wix can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Wix has the lower entry price.
Wix and Squarespace look similar on the surface; the differences show up in practice. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Wix | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Website builder | Website builder |
| What it's known for | Drag-and-drop website builder with templates, AI site generation, and integrated hosting; broad use cases. | Design-led all-in-one website builder favored for portfolios, creatives, and clean commerce sites. |
| Pricing | Premium plans from ~$17/mo; e-commerce tiers higher. | Plans from ~$16/mo (Personal) to Commerce tiers. |
| Best audience | Small businesses, beginners and portfolio sites wanting maximum flexibility from one builder. | Creatives, portfolios and design-focused businesses wanting beautiful sites with minimal effort. |
| Best for | Small business, Beginners, Portfolio sites | Creatives, Portfolios, Design-focused sites |
| Entry price | $0/mo | $16/mo (annual) |
| Biggest strength | Huge template library and broad all-in-one feature set in one dashboard. | Genuinely polished, professional templates that are mobile-responsive out of the box. |
| Main caveat | Template lock-in: you cannot switch templates after publishing without rebuilding. | Cost creep: 2% (physical) / 7% (digital) transaction fees on the Basic commerce plan push users to pricier tiers. |
Features compared
Beyond the spec sheet, these are the capabilities that define each tool:
Wix key features
- Drag-and-drop builder with 2,700+ templates
- AI website builder (Wix Harmony) using the Aria conversational agent, replacing the deprecated Wix ADI
- 20+ AI features: text creator, section creator, product descriptions, site chat, image enhancement
- Velo developer platform for custom code, APIs, databases and backend logic
Squarespace key features
- Squarespace 7.1 with the Fluid Engine grid-based drag-and-drop editor
- ~194 designer-grade templates across portfolio, photography, commerce and more
- Blueprint AI suite for site and content generation
- AIO (AI Optimization) Scanner tracking brand mentions in ChatGPT/Perplexity answers
Pricing tiers side by side
Wix plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | Wix branding/ads |
| Light | $17/mo | custom domain |
| Core | $29/mo | basic e-commerce |
| Business / Business Elite | $36-$159/mo | advanced features, premium support |
Squarespace plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (commerce) | $16/mo (annual) | renews ~$25/mo; 2%/7% transaction fees |
| Core | $23/mo | 0% transaction fees, free domain 1st year |
| Plus | $39/mo | for sellers avoiding fees |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Wix wins
The broadest all-in-one builder, pairing 2,700+ templates and deep AI with the Velo developer platform.
- Huge template library and broad all-in-one feature set in one dashboard.
- Flexible: no-code for beginners plus Velo for developers.
That makes it the stronger pick for small businesses, beginners and portfolio sites wanting maximum flexibility from one builder.
Where Squarespace wins
Design-led builder whose templates and new AIO Scanner (AI-search visibility tracking) set it apart for creatives.
- Genuinely polished, professional templates that are mobile-responsive out of the box.
- All-in-one hosting, SSL, domain and CDN with zero server management.
That makes it the stronger pick for creatives, portfolios and design-focused businesses wanting beautiful sites with minimal effort.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Wix if you fit its core audience — small businesses, beginners and portfolio sites wanting maximum flexibility from one builder.
- Choose Squarespace if you fit its core audience — creatives, portfolios and design-focused businesses wanting beautiful sites with minimal effort.
FAQ
Is Wix better than Squarespace?
Squarespace is the stronger default for most users, but Wix can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Wix and Squarespace?
Wix is the broadest all-in-one builder, pairing 2,700+ templates and deep AI with the Velo developer platform. Squarespace is design-led builder whose templates and new AIO Scanner (AI-search visibility tracking) set it apart for creatives.
Which is cheaper, Wix or Squarespace?
Entry pricing differs: Wix starts at $0/mo, while Squarespace starts at $16/mo (annual). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Wix and Squarespace: