WordPress vs Wix vs Squarespace for a first website
All three get a beginner online. WordPress.com is the cheapest, Wix gives the most design control, and Squarespace gets a professional look with the least experience.
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Read this first. This page compares WordPress.com's hosted plans. WordPress is also free software you can install on your own hosting (WordPress.org), which is a different setup with more control and more to manage.
The short answer
WordPress.com for the lowest price, Wix for design freedom, Squarespace for polished sites with little effort.
- WordPress.com. Pick it for the lowest starting price and a free knowledge base.
- Wix. Pick it for the most design freedom and 24/7 phone and ticket support.
- Squarespace. Pick it for a professional-looking site with little experience.
Side by side
| WordPress.com | Wix | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Beginner-friendly, though the block editor is described as dated | Drag-and-drop editor, but the number of tools can confuse at first | Professional-looking results with little experience |
| Design freedom | Limited at first. Higher plans unlock the wider theme library and custom themes | The most: over 500 templates, pixel-level control and optional code access | A smaller template library with high-quality, regularly updated designs |
| Free option | A free plan | A free plan | A 14-day free trial |
| Paid plans | About $4 to $45 a month | About $14 to $39 a month for website plans | About $12 to $40 a month |
| Support | Free knowledge base. Email and live chat need paid plans | 24/7 phone and ticket support, though live chat can be slow | Strong knowledge base and responsive email support, with limited weekday live chat |
Prices come from one undated Tom's Guide article. Confirm current prices on each vendor's site.
Who should pick which
- You want the cheapest way to get onlineLook at WordPress.com's paid plans first.
- You want full control over how every page looksLook at Wix.
- You want a polished portfolio or small business site fastLook at Squarespace.
- You expect to grow into a larger content siteConsider self-hosted WordPress.org, and budget for hosting and upkeep.
Common questions
Which is best for SEO or owning my site?
The article we checked does not cover either. Check how each platform handles URLs, page speed and exporting your content before you commit.
Is WordPress.com the same as WordPress.org?
No. WordPress.com is a hosted service with plans. WordPress.org is free software you install on your own hosting.
Sources
We have not hands-on tested every tool on this page. Details come from the sources above. See how we review.