Squarespace is, without doubt, one of the most popular website builders out there. Its ease of use means that even complete beginners can get a website up and running in very little time – no coding skills or knowledge of HTML required. However, not everyone is convinced that Squarespace is the best option for them; many people are more inclined towards self-hosted websites with WordPress as their CMS of choice.
Well, If you are also contemplating between these two Content Management Systems, then you have come to the right place! In this article, we will be going through all the pros and cons of both platforms to help you make an informed decision about which one suits your needs better.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites and blogs. It is a free and open-source software that has been around for more than 15 years and is used by millions of people across the globe. The CMS itself is licensed under GNU General Public License v2 (GPLv2), which means that you are free to use, modify and share it as long as you mention its license and provide attribution to WordPress when doing so.
Since WordPress’s launch in 2003, it has evolved into much more than a simple CMS. Today, it’s a fully-fledged platform with a host of features and add-ons that make it suitable for a plethora of different website types, including business sites, portfolio sites, eCommerce stores, etc.
The platform has also developed into a trusted hosting service with a significant number of companies around the world offering WordPress hosting as one of their services. These companies use the same technology and infrastructure as WordPress itself so that their users can enjoy the same level of service and experience as if they were self-hosting their websites.
What is Squarespace?
Squarespace is a website builder that lets you create, manage and host a website. You can use it to sell your products and services, create a portfolio of your work or build a blog with ease. The platform is fully hosted, so you don’t have to worry about hosting, maintaining and securing your website. If you pick their basic package, Squarespace will take care of all that for you. Squarespace is a fully-hosted service, so you don’t have to worry about technical aspects such as hosting and security. It’s also easy to use, and you don’t need any coding knowledge to create a website.
So, Squarespace is a great choice for non-technical people who want to build a website. Squarespace is a great choice if you’re planning on building a simple website such as a portfolio website, a blog, or a simple eCommerce store. However, if you want more control over your website, then Squarespace may not be the best option. Unlike using a self-hosted website builder like WordPress, you have very little control over Squarespace’s code. This means you can’t make any changes or customize your website as you see fit.
Pros of using WordPress
WordPress’s biggest advantage is its flexibility. With WordPress, you can choose from thousands of different themes and create any type of website you want. You also have infinite freedom when it comes to designing and customizing your website as you can edit the templates as well as the CSS to your heart’s content.
While WordPress can seem daunting to beginners due to its wide range of features, the platform also has a massive selection of plug-and-play themes and templates to choose from that make the initial setup process much easier. You can either choose a theme designed for your specific purpose or work with a designer to create a customized theme.
Pros of using Squarespace
Squarespace allows you to build a beautiful website with very little effort. You don’t have to worry about hosting, security, or technical aspects such as hosting. You also get access to a wide range of branding assets, so you can create a consistent and professional look for your website with little effort.
Squarespace offers a wide range of features that you can easily use to create a professional website that looks great, is easy to navigate, and offers all the functionality you need to promote your products and services. You can create everything from a simple portfolio website to an eCommerce site, and Squarespace has everything you need to do so.
Cons of using WordPress
Due to its flexibility, WordPress is a slightly more complicated platform to use than Squarespace. While this can be an advantage for some people, it can be a disadvantage for others who just want to build and manage a website without having to worry about coding. Unlike Squarespace,
WordPress is a self-hosted platform that you have to host on your own server. This means you have to worry about hosting and managing your website, which can be a bit of a pain even if you have the technical skills to do so. However with the support of a company like WebPower, it takes all this stress away and makes setting up a WordPress website seamless.
Cons of using Squarespace
While Squarespace offers a wide range of features, you don’t have complete control over your website. This means that you cannot make changes to the code or design of your site, which is not ideal for everyone. You also have very little freedom when it comes to designing and customising your website. Squarespace has a very distinct and consistent look, so you may not be able to create the type of website you want with their platform.
Final Words
While these two platforms have many differences, they both have their uses. Which one you use really just depends on what you need the platform for, and what your experience level is when it comes to managing websites.
If you are looking to create a simple website like a portfolio, a small personal blog, or an brochure site, Squarespace is a good option that is easy to use and quick to set up.
If you are looking to create a more complex website that is designed to grow as your business or personal brand grows, WordPress is the better option. Either way, as your business grows it is likely you will end up moving to WordPress anyway, so why not start there now?
