I’ve worked with a variety of website platforms like Squarespace, Wix, Showit, and Webflow—both for personal and client websites. Yet, time and again, I keep coming back to WordPress. It remains my #1 choice for building websites, especially for agencies like mine. In this blog post, I’ll break down why I prefer WordPress over Squarespace, specifically.
My Current Setup
Just to give you some context, here’s my current website setup:
- WordPress for the CMS
- Bricks Builder as my web builder
- Digital Ocean for hosting
- Namecheap for domain registration
This setup gives me total control, flexibility, and, most importantly, the ability to scale without breaking the bank.
If any of the terminology is new to you, check out this blog post → Building a Website: Domain, Hosting, and Essentials Explained for Beginners
1. Pricing
Let’s start with the most straightforward comparison—cost.
✹ Squarespace Pricing:
For the features I need, Squarespace costs around $23 USD per month.
✹ WordPress Setup:
With WordPress, I use Digital Ocean for hosting at around $6 USD per month. Additionally, I’ve paid for lifetime access to Bricks Builder, which I consider “free” at this point since I use it for all client websites. But even if I hadn’t, the annual cost of Bricks Builder is $79 USD per year, which breaks down to about $6.50 USD per month. Altogether, my WordPress setup costs me $12 USD per month—less than half the cost of Squarespace.
2. Unlimited Customizability
One of the biggest drawbacks with Squarespace—and similar platforms—is that they have to simplify the system to make it user-friendly for beginners. This means you’re working with limitations, which can be frustrating as an agency owner. You end up paying more for a platform that doesn’t allow you to fully unleash your creativity.
With WordPress and Bricks Builder, I can create virtually any type of website I want—no limits, no workarounds. Whether it’s a highly stylized portfolio or a dynamic e-commerce site, I can achieve the exact look and feel I’m aiming for.
On Squarespace (whether you’re using version 7 or 7.1), you quickly hit a wall. Often, to get the functionality you need, you have to use CSS or JavaScript workarounds, which makes the site harder to maintain down the road.
3. Custom Post Types
This is a game-changer for me.
On Squarespace, you’re pretty limited when it comes to post types like blogs or products for an online store. You get the basics, but you can’t really customize it further—like adding unique fields for blog posts or service listings.
With WordPress, the sky’s the limit. I can create as many custom post types as I need. As an agency owner, I often manage different resource types, each requiring different layouts and content structures. For example, my services list looks very different from my blog posts or my WordPress resources page. With custom post types, I can set up the infrastructure once and reuse it for bulk content creation in the future. It’s a huge time-saver and makes scaling the site much easier.
4. Dynamic Content
On Squarespace, dynamically loading content is mostly limited to blog posts and e-commerce. That’s pretty much it.
With WordPress, I can dynamically load any content type, anywhere on the site. For example, if I want testimonials to automatically load in a specific section, I can easily set it up once on the frontend and never have to touch the design again. When I add a new testimonial in the backend, it dynamically appears in the right spot without additional work. This kind of automation is invaluable for efficiency.
5. Never Locked In
One of the major drawbacks of Squarespace is how difficult it is to leave the platform. If, at any point, you want to switch to WordPress, you’ll face a lengthy process. You don’t retain much beyond basic blog posts, and you lose all of your frontend and backend settings.
On the other hand, WordPress gives you the freedom to switch hosting providers, themes, or even web builders without major disruptions. You’re never locked into one service. If Digital Ocean suddenly increases prices or doesn’t meet my needs anymore, I can easily switch hosts while keeping my entire site intact.
6. Plugins for Everything
WordPress offers a vast library of plugins that allow me to extend the functionality of my website without needing to code from scratch. Whether it’s creating a membership site, adding a custom course platform, or building out custom dashboards for my clients, there’s a plugin for it. This versatility just isn’t available on Squarespace.
When Other Builders Might Be the Better Choice
While I’m a WordPress enthusiast, I recognize that there are specific cases where Squarespace or other builders could be a better fit for some clients:
✹ For Clients Who Never Want to Touch Their Website
WordPress requires occasional maintenance, such as plugin updates. While this can be automated, some clients might prefer a static, hands-off approach. In these rare cases, Squarespace might be a good option. However, I usually recommend a static Next.js site over Squarespace for even more cost savings and flexibility.
✹ For Clients Who Prioritize Aesthetic Over Functionality
Squarespace has a beautifully designed interface, while WordPress is a bit more utilitarian. If a client cares deeply about the backend experience and prefers a sleek, aesthetically pleasing dashboard, Squarespace might be appealing.
✹ For DIY Website Builders
If someone wants to build their website without any professional help (which I don’t recommend due to time and complexity), Squarespace can be a good option for its drag-and-drop simplicity. However, it still lacks the long-term flexibility that WordPress offers.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, while Squarespace has its advantages for a particular type of client, WordPress is the clear winner for me and my agency. The pricing is unbeatable, the customizability is endless, and the dynamic content capabilities make it ideal for building client websites that scale. Plus, the freedom to move between hosts and platforms means I’m never locked into a solution that doesn’t serve me.
If you’re looking to build a website that can grow with your business—whether you’re an agency owner or a service-based business—WordPress offers unmatched flexibility and power.