Every day my inbox is flooded with questions surrounding the perfect platform to create a website on and primarily that tends to centre around – What platform shall I use?
Many of my clients are looking for a quick answer – they know they want a site that is flexible and adaptable to their changing needs, but they’re also looking for a site that is user friendly (even for beginners).
The chances are if you’re looking to build a website in 2021, you may well have these same questions in mind, plus there’s a good chance you’ve spent countless hours on blogs and forums as well as manoeuvring your way around the web, trying to get the answers.
The problem is, you keep hitting on conflicting answers, am I right?
Some people will tell you to use WordPress whilst another group will advocate that you definitely need to be using Squarespace. which is why I’ve compiled this review of both sites.
I want to make sure you get the right advice from someone who has been building websites for over 8 years, and by the end of this post, I am hoping you’ll have a better understanding of what platform is best suited for you and your business needs (and if not, definitely book a free discovery call with me and I’ll be happy to answer any other questions you have).
Let’s start with WordPress –
What is WordPress?
WordPress powers almost a third of the world’s websites, whether that be a personal blog or a multifaceted fully-fledged online store. It is one of the only sites and content management systems that users can download and install for free. Founded in 2003 it offers users a range of distinctive and unique features and continues to be one of the top content management systems in use today.
There are two different versions of WordPress available:-
Self Hosted Version
The Self Hosted version can be downloaded directly from WordPress.org and you will need to install this on your own web server. As an open source, the design themes are readily accessible, beautifully presented and easily modified enabling you to effortlessly put together a site and customise its content.
WordPress can be installed on your server for free and with no upfront licensing costs, however, there will be outlays involved for hosting, securing a domain name and any registration fees.
Hosted WordPress
The Hosted WordPress version is available directly from WordPress.com and as a Software as a service website builder (SaaS) it is essentially a software licensing and delivery version in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted. You’ll need to pay a monthly fee for hosting and will have access to a wide range of features to build and customise your website.
For those using third party tools such as Stripe, Spotify, and Woo-Commerce and for those wishing to install their own themes or embed premium plugins there will be additional costs to consider. The beauty of WordPress is that you have access to thousands of plugins with the flexibility to cater for a range for different levels of expertise.
How much is it going to cost me?
Yes, I did mention above that WordPress is FREE to install, however, it’s not quite as simple as installing a free software package and away you go. In theory you can get by using a free WordPress theme, plugins and some straightforward additions but you may quickly notice that if you’re looking for a site that will feature a higher level of excellence in its quality that you may well need to invest.
It’s also worth noting – that typically for those that are setting up their own WordPress site many will opt for the Self Hosted version. which can be downloaded directly from WordPress.org and you will need to install this on your own web server.
Your first point of call is going to be securing a domain name which is super easy to do and with hundreds of company’s on the web offering domain names; you’ll have no trouble securing one. On average a domain name can cost around £10.00, although you can secure a domain name from as little as £0.99. You will then need to source a web hosting site, and Website Hosting in the UK costs from £3.00-£10.00 / month.
Subscriptions start at the basic level
- Personal Subscription at only £3.00 per month / billed yearly is best for personal use such as blogging and for beginners.
- Premium Subscription – Starting at £7.00 per month and billed yearly will enable you to add personality to your site, custom your domain and gain access to email support.
- Business Subscription – Starting at £20.00 per month and billed yearly is ideal if you’re looking to build a unique site with advanced design tools, custom CSS, and Google Analytics, extend functionality for your site, access more than 50,000 WordPress plugins, have access to advanced Search Engine Optimisation tools and security in automated site backups.
How user friendly is it?
WordPress is super user friendly, even for a beginner and a site can be installed and up and running in less than an hour. Even for those that don’t have a huge amount of technical expertise when it comes to website development. All a user requires is a domain name and a web hosting account. It can be installed free through your WordPress hosting provider or uploaded directly from WordPress.org. You’ll then find access to an easy to manage uncomplicated Admin Dashboard where you can customise your site and layout and create your pages or blog posts straight away.
I need something that can offer flexibility
Whilst WordPress was initially set up to support the blogging community, its evolution has been immense and now hosts a vast number of sites with other purposes including small businesses and large businesses serving internationally. Whatever your criteria is – WordPress presents a huge assortment of packages from basic and premium plugins to a choice of free and paid themes. It offers infinite potential and flexibility making it a perfect choice for a user’s ever changing needs.
Can I make it mobile responsive?
Yes – It is now more important than ever to ensure your website is mobile friendly and a site that is mobile responsive is a must. Your site needs to look good on any device and WordPress offers a variety of mobile responsive themes.
I need a custom built-in blogging platform and a place to showcase my services
As a content management system WordPress offers up a custom in built blog feature which can be accessed from any device at any time. Whether you’re an avid blogger or a company that wants to update its client base regularly with announcements, an integrated blogging platform is an ideal outlet.
WordPress also offers many templates which are the perfect platform to showcase your services portfolio. Whether you’re showcasing products that you sell or services and free downloads, you’ll be able to easily market your products and skills to attract new clients and grow your business
Will I have access to multiple theme options?
WordPress contains almost 60,000 different Plugin installations and a theme directory containing hundreds of themes with thousands more available for purchase independently and available to upload and install. Themes can be previewed prior to publishing giving you the chance to view and change the look of the layout before going live.
Now let’s take a look at Squarespace
Squarespace is a software as a service website builder and everything that you need to create and support your website is contained within the monthly fee. Principally this includes themes, all hosting, full support and a domain name. Squarespace also recently added a built in email marketing tool establishing it as a fully inclusive all in one way in which to build a website.
Founded in 2004, the goal was to create and develop a site that allowed users to build their own site without the need for any CSS Coding which makes it an ideal platform for those users that do not have a great deal of web development experience.
How much is it going to cost me?
Squarespace allows you to set up your site and select a plan later. The subscription levels work in a similar way to WordPress with all plans offering 24/7 customer support and are inclusive of free custom domain, SSL Security Certificate, unlimited bandwidth storage, SEO Features for Site Visibility, templates to suit your needs, mobile responsive, basic website metrics and extensions.
- Personal Subscription: £ 10.00 per month
- Business Subscription £ 15.00 per month
- Basic Commerce Subscription £ 20.00 per month
- Advanced Commerce Subscription £ 30.00 per month
How user friendly is it?
Whilst Squarespace is simple to use in its all inclusive approach; its usability however, definitely needs some tweaking and the lack of autosave can pose a huge problem, especially if you’ve multiple tabs open and you experience a server crash.
In comparison to WordPress it may take you longer to manoeuvre your way around the system.
I need something that can offer flexibility
Squarespace may just top WordPress when it comes to their templates and imagery. Their designs are flawless in their beauty and simplicity. Although unlike WordPress it is harder to switch between themes and templates to view how they look before publishing or making the decision to switch. Whilst their plugins or add-on’s are not as easy to install as WordPress and they don’t have as many, once they are installed they’re simple to use and can provide your site with an exceptional base in which to showcase your website.
Can I make it mobile responsive?
Squarespace offers numerous built-in mobile responsive designs which enable your content and images to seamlessly correspond with different devices and screen widths. With responsive designs; those viewing your website will be able to routinely look at your website on multiple devices.
I need a custom built-in blogging platform and somewhere to showcase my services.
If you’re looking to make blogging and announcement outlets one of the key features of your site, Squarespace does offer custom in built blogging platforms. However, as your blog is so often the centre of your USP and your identity Squarespace may not be your best option due to its limitations and functionality around blogging.
If you can get your head around the functions; you’ll find that you can easily style your designs, transform videos and photos and create a storyboard to share with your clients. It may just take you a little longer to easily find your way around. The beauty of WordPress is the accessibility to your media library meaning you can access your previous images with the click of a button.
However if you don’t have time to create your own images, or source them from third party stock outlets – Squarespace allows you access to select images free from their UnSplash collection.
Will I have access to multiple theme options?
Squarespace gives you access to around 130 templates, which may seem like a generous selection; but in comparison to WordPress it does fall short. Squarespace templates may be slightly easier to customise but their lack of templates inclusive of sidebars may be problematic for those wanting to draw attention to their trending posts, newsletter and subscription / sign up forms, offers and freebies and for those wanting to embed ads on their site.
Pros and cons for each
Ease of Use
Squarespace
Pros – You don’t need any coding skills or experience and a simple drag and drop editing tool makes it easy to update changes and preview as you go along.
Cons – It can be more difficult to use than other sites and may take longer to familiarise yourself with the workings behind the website.
WordPress
Pros – WordPress really gives you the option to personalise and create a truly bespoke site. For those with coding and web development experience, there is nothing you can’t achieve in WordPress.
Cons – When updating content on the site you need to constantly preview your updates in a separate window which can be time consuming.
Design
Squarespace
Pros – You can switch your templates at any time, ideal for photographers, artists and those wanting to showcase their imagery in a stunning portfolio layout with superb access to customisation.
Cons – SquareSpace has less functionality and tends to be slightly more restrictive than WordPress.
WordPress
Pros – You have literally thousands of themes to choose from and total control over your creativity.
Cons – You may need more experience to customise your site and many themes will require the addition of plugins to enable your site to reach its true potential.
Features
Squarespace
Pros – Incredible quality features and imagery all built in ready to use.
Cons – Reduced choice of plugins, themes and apps
WordPress
Pros – Many features are already built in depending on level of subscription.
Cons – Again depending on the level of subscription you may have to heavily rely on installing plugins and addons.
Apps & Plugins
Squarespace
Pros – Most of Squarespace’s apps are already built-in
Cons – There is a definite lack of additional apps available to purchase outside of Squarespace.
WordPress
Pros – Access to thousands of plugins that you can install yourself.
Cons – Some plugins may not be compatible with your version of WordPress so be certain that any plugins you install is compatible. Each plugin will let you know if it is compatible.
Summary
Squarespace is an all in one package, incorporating everything you need, it is user friendly and most aspects of site management are taken care of behind the scenes. However, despite WordPress not being an all in one system, it really is massively flexible in its potential, and easily customisable thereby enable you to really create something truly unique.
As you can see from the above; both WordPress and Squarespace are very similar with some distinct differences, but ultimately their suitability is largely down to personal preference. If you’re looking for a platform that is simple to use with a powerful content management system, that will scale with you as your business grows, then WordPress is your best option. However, if you’re a small business and looking for a low maintenance design and don’t mind that it may not be as flexible without needing custom coding and development, then Squarespace may well be your better choice.
At last, you finally know the TRUTH about which platform is better suited for you and your business and that means that you can now start putting your ideas into fruition and create a beautiful website more confidently, armed with the knowledge you need to build your business and take it to the next level.
We’ll admit: we’re a bit biased and WordPress is our platform of choice. If you need any more convincing that WordPress is the platform for you, why not have a look at our Portfolio to see some of our recent projects.
Would you like to chat about our different WordPress website packages? Book a free discovery call with me and let’s get you a business website that helps you meet your revenue goals.
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