WordPress and Squarespace are two leading website building platforms all across the globe. Each one is famous for its own set of qualities. In such a case, deciding whether to hire a WordPress developer or the Squarespace one is quite tough! To let you have a better understanding of this, we have compared the two based on certain parameters. By the end of the write-up, you would be able to have a clearer perspective
regarding which platform suits your goals more. But before hopping on to that, let’s go through some basics about WordPress vs Squarespace.
Overview: WordPress vs. Squarespace
WordPress
WordPress is a very famous CMS (Content Management System) platform. It is one of the easiest and user-friendly platforms contributing to the development of full-fledged and top-
notch modern and dynamic websites having a sturdy interface.
WordPress already powers over 36% of the websites globally. It offers a wide range of features from limitless design possibilities with hundreds of themes & plugins to SEO
management and so much more for a pleasant user experience.
Squarespace
Squarespace can be referred to as SaaS (Software as a Service) platform where you get access to almost everything you need to build your website ranging from templates, hosting, eCommerce features, etc.
The intent behind the development of Squarespace is to offer a ‘code-free’ solution allowing them to develop and edit a website without touching the CSS or HTML part.
Comparison: WordPress vs. Squarespace
The Learning Curve
WordPress is a fairly intuitive and easy to use platform leads to a smooth learning curve. You just have to learn a few terminologies and concepts such as posts, pages, categories, tags, themes, plugins, etc.
Adapting to the use of WordPress is a lot easier.
Squarespace doesn’t let you enjoy a lot of choices as compared to WordPress, which in turn makes it easy and simpler to learn and use. Writing content, adding images, videos, and audio files, and then publishing the same is more convenient than WordPress. It even lets you customize your templates or pages, but the options available are still limited.
The Costs
WordPress is a free and open-source platform that you are free to download and build your site upon any time with all the control in your hands. The cost of bringing your site to reality with WordPress is quite low.
You just need to register a domain along with signing up for a web hosting account to start with WordPress. Also, as per your needs, you can opt for any hosting, be it the shared hosting plan, VPS hosting, or the managed WordPress hosting. You can even change this plan if your requirement changes, thus paying for only the resources you are actually making use of. Just hire dedicated WordPress developers and get started!
The Squarespace provides you various plans to start with the use. While some have got many features, some are limited to just a few basic ones.
Design And Templates
With WordPress, you can avail thousands of free or third-party website templates that are highly customizable to be used to build your own images, logo, and more.
The WordPress themes, too, possess several traits, including numerous layout choices, sliders, drag and drop page builders, photo galleries, and many more.
Doesn’t matter what niche your site belongs to; you get to use hundreds of professionally designed templates to work over the same.
Squarespace lets you equip some ready-made website templates that are organized into different categories to your own use. These categories contain themes for all popular website types with professional designs.
However, the availability of pre-made templates, design options along with layout choices with each template is limited. Basic things like colors, fonts, logos can still be done.
eCommerce
WordPress has its own most popular eCommerce platform as a plugin called WooCommerce. It has the features and necessary options you may need to get your online store going. You can accept any online payment method, including Stripe, PayPal, Google Checkout, 2Checkout, Payoneer, Skrill, Bitcoin, etc.
With multiple add-ons, thousands of ready-made themes, and much more, there are no
limits to adding functionalities to your website.eCommerce is limited to Squarespace. There are limited options for payment processing as per the country. This certainly restricts you from a wider range of global audiences to grow your business.
The third-party services, too, are very less in the amount to be integrated with your Squarespace website. This doesn’t let you promote your website to the maximum.
Data Portability
Squarespace lets you equip some ready-made website templates that are organized into different categories to your own use. These categories contain themes for all popular website types with professional designs. However, the availability of pre-made templates, design options along with layout choices with each template is limited. Basic things like colors, fonts, logos can still be done.
Once done with exporting, you can move this data to any other CMS (Content Management System) if you wish to. You can even store this data somewhere else, along with changing the web host any time of your choice.
Exporting the data over Squarespace is available but not in a very good sense. Rather than all, you are allowed to export only a few particular parts of your data such as your pages, galleries, one blog page with all its posts, etc. in the form of an XML file. What can not be exported include the product pages, album pages, text, audio, and video blocks.
The Bottom Line
In the end, the conclusion of whether to hire WordPress experts or the Squarespace one depends a lot on the requirements of your website or blog projects. If you wish for easy use with a simple learning curve, incredible flexibility to develop a website, a comprehensive collection of themes and plugins, a robust eCommerce platform at a reasonable cost, then WordPress is your best partner. However, if you have a smaller website, polished experience at the end of the user, and hassle-free website setup, then Squarespace is what you should go with.
Considering all the points associated with WordPress and Squarespace usage, we can conclude that WordPress can prove to be a better alternative to start your website. Don’t trade your website for anything less. Consider all your needs and then make the best choice for your business or website.
