Pros and cons of WIX and Squarespace in one paragraph
Squarespace generally excels for creatives, portfolios, and businesses prioritizing sophisticated design aesthetics—its templates are more polished out-of-the-box and it offers superior built-in blogging and content management. However, Wix typically wins for flexibility and functionality, offering 500+ apps versus Squarespace's 30+ extensions, making it better for businesses needing diverse integrations like advanced booking systems, membership sites, or complex e-commerce features. Wix's drag-and-drop editor is also more intuitive for beginners who want granular control, while Squarespace's section-based editor is more rigid but produces consistently elegant results. Price-wise, they're comparable at entry levels, but Wix Studio's $19/month Basic plan beats Squarespace's $23/month Core plan for similar features. Choose Squarespace if you're a photographer, artist, or consultant who values design elegance and built-in blogging; choose Wix if you need extensive third-party integrations, want maximum customization flexibility, or plan to scale with complex features like forums, detailed analytics dashboards, or specialized industry apps.
WIX
✓ 800+ professional templates: Mobile-responsive designs for every industry from restaurants to consultants.
✓ All-in-one pricing: SSL certificate, reliable hosting, and automatic backups included in one monthly fee.
✓ Wix Owner mobile app: Manage your website, appointments, and sales from your phone anywhere.
✓ Built-in marketing tools: Email marketing, SEO tools, and social media integration included with your plan.
✓ App marketplace: Over 500 apps for bookings, reviews, live chat, and more to grow as you need.
✓ Seamless collaboration: Developers can build and hand off sites to clients who can easily manage content updates themselves.
✓ Fast setup: Users report launching complete websites in under an hour with Wix ADI.
✓ Regular 50% off sales: Making professional websites accessible for small business budgets.
All WIX costs will be in addition to my web design and development fees. You will pay WIX directly for your website plan and any additional apps or services you choose to add. You are responsible for setting up and managing your WIX account, including billing and subscriptions. I will be happy to walk you through the process to ensure the appropriate plan is selected. My role is to design and develop your website on the WIX platform, ensuring it meets your needs and preferences. Payment for your WIX plan can be made after I have completed the design and development of your website, prior to it going live.
WIX Studio Plans
Compared to WIX Editor Plans
✓ Best for: Clients who want a completely hands-off, professionally managed website
✓ Advanced design: More sophisticated layouts and custom animations for unique branding
✓ Developer-friendly: I have full control to create exactly what you envision
✓ Complex sites: Better for sites with advanced features, multiple pages, or custom functionality
✓ No learning curve: You don't need to learn anything—I handle all updates and changes
✓ Responsive design: More precise control over how your site looks on every device
Studio Plan Prices
Basic: $19/month – Best for establishing an online presence with essential features.
Standard: $27/month – For websites needing to accept online payments.
Plus: $34/month – Best for teams looking to capture leads and boost sales (recommended).
Elite: $159/month – For teams looking to scale with advanced features and priority support.
Enterprise: Custom pricing – For large-scale businesses with custom requirements.
WIX Editor Plans
Compared to WIX Studio Plans
✓ Best for: Clients who want to make their own updates and changes after launch
✓ User-friendly: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface that's easy to learn
✓ Quick edits: Update text, images, and content yourself without contacting me
✓ Simple sites: Perfect for straightforward websites, blogs, and basic online stores
✓ I'll teach you: I can show you how to manage your own content and make updates
✓ Cost-effective: Lower monthly plans available, and you save on maintenance fees
Editor Plan Prices
Light: $17/month – Great for simple sites, includes free domain for 1 year, SSL, and basic features.
Core: $29/month – Adds more storage, advanced analytics, and basic eCommerce.
Business: $36/month – For growing businesses, includes full eCommerce, subscriptions, and more.
Business Elite: $159/month – For large stores or advanced needs, with priority support.
SQUARESPACE
✓ 190+ award-winning templates: Designer-quality, mobile-optimized templates for every industry from portfolios to online stores.
✓ Squarespace mobile app: Manage your website, orders, appointments, and analytics from anywhere on iOS or Android.
✓ Built-in SEO & marketing: Integrated email campaigns, social media tools, and advanced SEO features to help you get discovered.
✓ Extensions marketplace: 30+ professional extensions for bookings, reviews, payments, and more to scale your business.
✓ Professional design tools: Advanced customization including animations, transforms, custom fonts, and professional-grade editing capabilities.
✓ Beacon AI assistant: AI-powered guidance for SEO optimization, content creation, and business growth recommendations.
✓ Regular promotional offers: Frequent 10-20% discounts making professional websites accessible for small business budgets.
All Squarespace costs will be in addition to my web design and development fees. You will pay Squarespace directly for your website plan and any additional extensions or services you choose to add. You are responsible for setting up and managing your Squarespace account, including billing and subscriptions. I will be happy to walk you through the process to ensure the appropriate plan is selected. My role is to design and develop your website on the Squarespace platform, ensuring it meets your needs and preferences. Payment for your Squarespace plan can be made after I have completed the design and development of your website, prior to it going live. Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial to explore the platform before committing to a paid plan.
All Plans Include
✓ Free custom domain: One year included with annual plans (valued at $20-$70)
✓ Unlimited bandwidth & storage: No limits on traffic or file storage for your site
✓ SSL security certificate: Free and automatically installed for secure transactions
✓ Mobile-optimized templates: All 190+ templates work beautifully on every device
✓ 24/7 customer support: Email support available on all plans
✓ SEO features: Built-in tools to help you rank in search engines
Plan Pricing & Features
Basic Plan
$16/month (annual) or $25/month (monthly)
Best for simple websites, portfolios, and blogs
Unlimited products (with 2% transaction fee on sales)
If you want a fast, professional website with zero headaches, WIX is the way to go. Contact me at lyndseysmith.io@outlook.com or use the contact form to get started!