Squarespace is a fully managed, all-in-one platform ideal for beginners and small businesses wanting zero maintenance, while WordPress (self-hosted) is a free, highly customizable platform best for developers, content creators, and businesses needing complete control and SEO dominance.
Squarespace vs WordPress — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
All-in-one SaaS platform with hosting, design templates, and built-in e-commerce tools.
Open-source, free CMS platform offering unlimited customization and complete content ownership.
Setup & Maintenance. Year 1 Total Cost. Customization Depth. SEO Performance. Learning Curve. Content Ownership. Scalability for Complex Sites
Choose Squarespace if you value simplicity, zero maintenance, and want a polished site live in hours without technical skills—perfect for solopreneurs, creatives, and small service businesses. Choose WordPress (self-hosted) if you need SEO dominance, deep customization, own your content completely, or plan to scale significantly—essential for bloggers, content-driven businesses, and complex applications.
Squarespace: 200 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $16/month | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $16/month (included) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Not available | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Basic | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited integrations | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Lower fees | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: More attractive & polished aesthetics | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Extensive, section-based editor | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 4.8/5 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 3.5/5 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 4.5/5 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $15/month (Commerce Basic) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Advanced, highly customizable | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: SSL certificate, daily backups, security updates | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2/10 (minimal) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $99 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 150+ | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Email & Chat | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: No | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $192 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2% | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Plan-dependent | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $144–$720 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): $200–$500+
Squarespace: Included | WordPress (Self-Hosted): $60–$1,800
Squarespace: 50+ professional designs | WordPress (Self-Hosted): Unlimited (via theme marketplace)
Squarespace: 15–30 minutes | WordPress (Self-Hosted): 2–8 hours (with technical knowledge)
Squarespace: ~2–3% | WordPress (Self-Hosted): 43%
Squarespace: 4.5/5 (3,394 reviews) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): 4.6/5 (5,200+ reviews)
Squarespace: Automatic (all templates mobile-optimized) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): Depends on theme/plugins (requires selection)
Squarespace: $23-33/month | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2-3 hours | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 3,394 reviews (Capterra) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Basic collections only | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Block animations, limited transitions | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Proprietary global CDN included | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Yes, with inventory and payments | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $15/month (Starter plan) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $33/month (Core plan) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 40% - template parameter-based | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 1-3 days | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 4.4/5 stars (3,394 reviews) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Basic content management; third-party integrations needed | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Yes, integrated with advanced product filters (April 2026) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 14 days | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 3,396 reviews | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: No native B2B support | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited integrations (primarily Squarespace native) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Basic API, limited headless support | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2-4 hours | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Basic coupon and discount tools | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $23 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 100+ | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: All paid plans included | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 14-day trial only | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2003 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2-24 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $12-33 (Creator/Business) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 3-4% per transaction | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Unlimited (with per-transaction fees) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 70+ professionally designed templates | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Requires integration (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited; requires apps or custom integration | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Advanced on-page SEO, image optimization, blogging | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 14 days free; no credit card required | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2.9%-3% | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2.9% + $0.30 or 3% + $0.20 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $15 (Business plan starts here) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: ~200 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): 58,000+
Squarespace: 85 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 1-2 hours (drag-and-drop) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 1+ million stores | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 24/7 phone and chat support | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $180-276 (included) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Unlimited (Commerce plan) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited/Not published | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Basic (single-location, limited variants) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited; mainly Facebook and Instagram | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Full drag-and-drop with no coding needed | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $16/month (Personal) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 3% + $0.30 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 500+ built-in integrations | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Yes (all plans) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 4.5/5 stars | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $33/month | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $23-529 first month | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $23-529 (all-inclusive) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: ~1,000 (performance degrades beyond) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 100+ pre-built templates | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 24/7 live chat, email, phone | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $2,784-6,348 (subscription + fees) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $11/month | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Unlimited | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Phone, Chat, Email (24/7) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $180.00 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $23 (Business plan with e-commerce) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2-4 (drag-and-drop template) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: ~200 pre-built apps | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Yes, managed hosting | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: $0 (included in plan) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 5 (template + drag-drop limits) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 5-6 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Instagram Shop only (1) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited API with restricted code | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 2-4 hours (drag-and-drop) | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 1.9 seconds | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Limited/No direct API | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 500 free/month built-in | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 3% on third-party payments | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Premium, cohesive design system | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: ~200 integrated apps | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Included in all plans | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: 95/100 | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
Squarespace: Up to 20% off | WordPress (Self-Hosted): N/A
How to choose between Squarespace and WordPress (Self-Hosted)
Compare Squarespace vs WordPress (Self-Hosted)
Squarespace vs WordPress — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Squarespace vs WordPress. Contains 129 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Squarespace vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Squarespace vs WordPress.
Can I export my content from Squarespace to WordPress?
Squarespace does not provide a native export tool to WordPress. You can manually export some content (blog posts, images), but metadata, design, and advanced features are lost. This is a significant limitation for users considering migration. WordPress allows full database export, making it far more portable.
Do I need a developer to build a WordPress site?
Not necessarily. Beginners can use WordPress.com (managed hosting) or hire an affordable managed WordPress host (like Kinsta or WP Engine). However, self-hosted WordPress requires either basic technical skills or hiring a developer ($500–$2,500+ setup). Squarespace eliminates this entirely with its visual builder.
WordPress has native SEO advantages: clean URL structure, plugin ecosystem (Yoast, Rank Math), and extensive customization for rankings. As of 2026, Squarespace has improved SEO capabilities, but WordPress remains superior for content-driven sites. WordPress powers 43% of websites globally, including major publishers, which suggests proven SEO performance at scale.
What happens if Squarespace shuts down or raises prices significantly?
If Squarespace raises prices or discontinues service, you risk losing your site or facing expensive migration. WordPress.org mitigates this: you own your data, host independently, and can move to any hosting provider at any time. This is critical for long-term business continuity.
How much will my WordPress site actually cost in Year 1?
Realistic Year 1 costs: hosting ($60–$200), domain ($12), premium theme ($50–$100), essential plugins ($0–$200), and SSL certificate (often free). Total: $200–$500. Squarespace costs $144–$720 all-in. WordPress can be cheaper or similarly priced, but requires active management and technical oversight.
How to Choose Between Squarespace and WordPress (Self-Hosted)
Setup & Maintenance: Squarespace has Fully managed (automatic updates, backups, security), while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has Self-managed (requires manual updates for core, themes, plugins).
Year 1 Total Cost: Squarespace has $144–$720 (platform only), while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has $200–$500+ (hosting + themes + plugins).
Customization Depth: Squarespace has Moderate (drag-and-drop, limited code access), while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has Unlimited (full code control, 58,000+ plugins).
SEO Performance: Squarespace has Good (improved in 2026, but not native advantage), while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has Excellent (native SEO-friendly architecture, plugin ecosystem).
Learning Curve: Squarespace has Beginner-friendly (intuitive UI, no coding required), while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has Moderate to steep (requires technical knowledge or developer).
Content Ownership: Squarespace has Platform owns data; limited export options, while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has You own 100% of content and database.
Scalability for Complex Sites: Squarespace has Limited (designed for small-to-mid businesses), while WordPress (Self-Hosted) has Unlimited (powers 43% of all websites globally).