Choosing the right website platform is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your business. With so many options available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. As a web designer who's built sites on all three platforms, here's my honest comparison.
Quick Overview
| Feature | Wix | Squarespace | WordPress |
|---------|-----|-------------|-----------|
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Design Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SEO | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Cost (Total) | ££ | ££ | £-£££ |
| Maintenance | Low | Low | High |
Wix: Best for Most Small Businesses
Wix has evolved dramatically. With Wix Studio, designers like me can create truly custom websites without the limitations people associate with website builders.
Choose Wix if you:
- Want to update your site yourself without technical knowledge
- Need built-in booking, forms, or member areas
- Don't want to worry about hosting, security, or updates
- Want a beautiful site without the ongoing maintenance costs
Wix costs: Platform plans from £13/month + one-time design fee
Squarespace: Best for Visual Brands
Squarespace offers beautiful templates and is particularly popular with photographers, artists, and lifestyle brands.
Choose Squarespace if you:
- Have a visually-led brand (photography, art, fashion)
- Want stunning templates with minimal customisation
- Don't need complex functionality
- Are happy with a more template-based approach
Squarespace costs: From £13/month + one-time design fee
WordPress: Best for Complex Sites
WordPress powers 43% of the internet, but it's not always the right choice for small businesses.
Choose WordPress if you:
- Need a blog-heavy site with hundreds of posts
- Require complex e-commerce with WooCommerce
- Have a developer on retainer for updates
- Need very specific functionality through plugins
WordPress costs: Hosting from £5-30/month + plugins (£50-500/year) + maintenance
My Recommendation for UK Small Businesses
For most service-based businesses, coaches, and creatives in the UK, I recommend Wix. Here's why:
1. Lower total cost of ownership — No plugin fees, no security updates, no hosting to manage
2. You stay in control — Easy to update text, images, and blog posts yourself
3. Built-in tools — Booking, forms, CRM, email marketing all included
4. Great SEO — Wix SEO has improved dramatically and now rivals WordPress for most use cases
Still Not Sure?
Book a free discovery call and I'll give you honest advice on which platform is right for your specific business. No pressure, no sales pitch — just genuine guidance from someone who's built on all three.
