Squarespace vs WordPress – Which One is Better for Building a Blog [Pros and Cons]
Squarespace vs WordPress – Which One is Better for Building a Blog [Pros and Cons]
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo code, at no cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure here. Thanks!
So you're ready to start a blog, but your options have come down to Squarespace vs WordPress. You aren't sure whether to go with Squarespace or to use a hosting service and create a self-hosted WordPress blog.
In the end, both are great options, but they're great options for different people: on one end you have people who want a quick and easy site that tends to focus on a few valuable features. On the other end, you have people who want to be able to exercise control over the many options available to them to make a truly unique blog that makes them money and helps them achieve their goals.
In this Squarespace vs WordPress comparison, we'll compare the two services side-by-side and see which works best for you.
Yes, I run Blog With Ben on WordPress.org. However, I also have experience with building and managing Squarespace sites as well. Both have pros and cons, but I want you to know up front that this isn't a one-sided post.
In the end, you'll need to decide what's best for you and your blog. I hope this helps!
Self-Hosting Versus All-in-One
One of the biggest differences between Squarespace and WordPress is that Squarespace incorporates all of the website creation work, as well as your hosting, into a single price. The cheapest Squarespace plan starts at $96 per year (or $16 per month) and the most expensive eCommerce plan costs $480 per year (or $46 per month). However, there is often a more affordable way with WordPress.
WordPress itself is free to run, though premium features are available, but it is easier than ever to get inexpensive, highly-supported web hosting at places like BlueHost (affiliate link) – while it is typically affordable at $3.95, Blog With Ben readears can get access to Bluehost web hosting for only $2.95 per month.
The freedom that comes with self-hosting is that you get to know exactly who and how your site is being hosted; you get access to the back end of the site in addition to the easy-to-use WordPress front-end manager. That being said, Squarespace gets points for being an all-in-one solution if you want a single package.
Flexibility and Options
Self-hosting leads to a lot of flexibility and options; most of this is done through the thousands of pre-loaded and downloadable templates available for WordPress users. When comparing Squarespace vs WordPress, you'll see that both sites have incredibly beautiful options, but given that WordPress powers almost 1/3 of all the websites that exist, they simply have a wider selection. Also, a greater variety of designers actually create custom WordPress themes and templates.
For the many other functionalities, you may want in your WordPress site, you can turn to plugins and widgets. You add these as you want them, rather than having to use everything that is offered. Squarespace, on the other hand, is slightly less flexible and offers you a more limited array of options: this can be appealing when the goal is to have the site look good, work well, and be up and running extremely quickly. However, the benefit of flexible options comes in as you get to know your site better.
Especially for those who wish to monetize their blogs, the flexibility of a variety of advertising options, e-commerce solutions, and other forms of monetization may work better with WordPress.
Built-In E-Commerce Capacity
Squarespace has a useful and easy to implement e-commerce element, though it, unfortunately, charges a transaction fee over and above the fees that credit cards already charge to vendors. This e-commerce option is available for Stripe and Paypal and can be used only in certain tiers of Squarespace plans. This may be a good option if you want to be able to quickly make your site monetized with products, but there are a few other options you may want to consider in the WordPress world.
WordPress offers a wide variety of e-commerce platforms in the form of plug-ins such as WooCommerce. WooCommerce has grown to become a very robust e-Commerce platform and it allows you to accept almost any form of electronic payment, and other options exist if you need a particular other e-commerce platform. In addition, the options for advertising on the WordPress platform are wide, including a variety of ad programs. While not technically e-commerce, these options are worth considering in your choice of website hosting and design software.
Exporting Data
Be aware that when you use Squarespace, there are many items, like pages and galleries, that will export, but other items, like video and product pages, that may not export in the typical .xml file.
With WordPress, exporting your site files is easier, and if you choose to make major changes to your site or move to new domains, getting your information off the site and available to you for a future website re-launch is fairly easy with the export feature. This may not be the most important feature to you right now, but it is worth considering when deciding Squarespace vs WordPress.
Security and Updates
Squarespace keeps things simple for you: their updates are automatic on their end, and security is done for you as part of your hosting-and-design-software package all rolled into one.
With WordPress, you get more control but also more responsibility: you need to make sure you understand the benefit of updating to new versions of the WordPress security software, as well as making other site updates and ensuring that all of your plug-ins are updated as well so the site functions automatically.
Luckily, starting a WordPress blog isn't difficult, and setting up your BlueHost settings so that the WordPress updates are automated or alert you is fairly easy as well. Both Squarespace and WordPress keep your data secure and protect your site on the Internet.
For Flexibility, Control, and Pricing, the Answer is Clear
There are certainly reasons to like Squarespace: they've made their name in the industry for gorgeous right-out-of-the-box websites that work well and are secure. However, as far as blogging features and flexibility go, most people looking to monetize a blog long-term tend to appreciate the elements that WordPress can offer in the form of a self-hosted site on BlueHost. The price is great, the features are endless, helping you to achieve whatever you dream of doing with your blog.
Still have questions about Squarespace vs WordPress or launching your blog and making money from wherever you are? Contact me anytime!
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo code, at no cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure here. Thanks!
So you're ready to start a blog, but your options have come down to Squarespace vs WordPress. You aren't sure whether to go with Squarespace or to use a hosting service and create a self-hosted WordPress blog.
In the end, both are great options, but they're great options for different people: on one end you have people who want a quick and easy site that tends to focus on a few valuable features. On the other end, you have people who want to be able to exercise control over the many options available to them to make a truly unique blog that makes them money and helps them achieve their goals.
In this Squarespace vs WordPress comparison, we'll compare the two services side-by-side and see which works best for you.
Yes, I run Blog With Ben on WordPress.org. However, I also have experience with building and managing Squarespace sites as well. Both have pros and cons, but I want you to know up front that this isn't a one-sided post.
In the end, you'll need to decide what's best for you and your blog. I hope this helps!
Self-Hosting Versus All-in-One
One of the biggest differences between Squarespace and WordPress is that Squarespace incorporates all of the website creation work, as well as your hosting, into a single price. The cheapest Squarespace plan starts at $96 per year (or $16 per month) and the most expensive eCommerce plan costs $480 per year (or $46 per month). However, there is often a more affordable way with WordPress.
WordPress itself is free to run, though premium features are available, but it is easier than ever to get inexpensive, highly-supported web hosting at places like BlueHost (affiliate link) – while it is typically affordable at $3.95, Blog With Ben readears can get access to Bluehost web hosting for only $2.95 per month.
The freedom that comes with self-hosting is that you get to know exactly who and how your site is being hosted; you get access to the back end of the site in addition to the easy-to-use WordPress front-end manager. That being said, Squarespace gets points for being an all-in-one solution if you want a single package.
Flexibility and Options
Self-hosting leads to a lot of flexibility and options; most of this is done through the thousands of pre-loaded and downloadable templates available for WordPress users. When comparing Squarespace vs WordPress, you'll see that both sites have incredibly beautiful options, but given that WordPress powers almost 1/3 of all the websites that exist, they simply have a wider selection. Also, a greater variety of designers actually create custom WordPress themes and templates.
For the many other functionalities, you may want in your WordPress site, you can turn to plugins and widgets. You add these as you want them, rather than having to use everything that is offered. Squarespace, on the other hand, is slightly less flexible and offers you a more limited array of options: this can be appealing when the goal is to have the site look good, work well, and be up and running extremely quickly. However, the benefit of flexible options comes in as you get to know your site better.
Especially for those who wish to monetize their blogs, the flexibility of a variety of advertising options, e-commerce solutions, and other forms of monetization may work better with WordPress.
Built-In E-Commerce Capacity
Squarespace has a useful and easy to implement e-commerce element, though it, unfortunately, charges a transaction fee over and above the fees that credit cards already charge to vendors. This e-commerce option is available for Stripe and Paypal and can be used only in certain tiers of Squarespace plans. This may be a good option if you want to be able to quickly make your site monetized with products, but there are a few other options you may want to consider in the WordPress world.
WordPress offers a wide variety of e-commerce platforms in the form of plug-ins such as WooCommerce. WooCommerce has grown to become a very robust e-Commerce platform and it allows you to accept almost any form of electronic payment, and other options exist if you need a particular other e-commerce platform. In addition, the options for advertising on the WordPress platform are wide, including a variety of ad programs. While not technically e-commerce, these options are worth considering in your choice of website hosting and design software.
Exporting Data
Be aware that when you use Squarespace, there are many items, like pages and galleries, that will export, but other items, like video and product pages, that may not export in the typical .xml file.
With WordPress, exporting your site files is easier, and if you choose to make major changes to your site or move to new domains, getting your information off the site and available to you for a future website re-launch is fairly easy with the export feature. This may not be the most important feature to you right now, but it is worth considering when deciding Squarespace vs WordPress.
Security and Updates
Squarespace keeps things simple for you: their updates are automatic on their end, and security is done for you as part of your hosting-and-design-software package all rolled into one.
With WordPress, you get more control but also more responsibility: you need to make sure you understand the benefit of updating to new versions of the WordPress security software, as well as making other site updates and ensuring that all of your plug-ins are updated as well so the site functions automatically.
Luckily, starting a WordPress blog isn't difficult, and setting up your BlueHost settings so that the WordPress updates are automated or alert you is fairly easy as well. Both Squarespace and WordPress keep your data secure and protect your site on the Internet.
For Flexibility, Control, and Pricing, the Answer is Clear
There are certainly reasons to like Squarespace: they've made their name in the industry for gorgeous right-out-of-the-box websites that work well and are secure. However, as far as blogging features and flexibility go, most people looking to monetize a blog long-term tend to appreciate the elements that WordPress can offer in the form of a self-hosted site on BlueHost. The price is great, the features are endless, helping you to achieve whatever you dream of doing with your blog.
Still have questions about Squarespace vs WordPress or launching your blog and making money from wherever you are? Contact me anytime!
Written by Ben Cummings
Founder of blogwithben.com
Ben is the Marketing Website Manager for Zovio Inc. who holds an MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship. He enjoys teaching, blogging, startups, a hoppy IPA, and college basketball. Whenever he's not blogging, you can find him cruising around sunny San Diego with his amazing family.
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