Wordpress vs. Squarespace — Why I Work Exclusively with Squarespace
POST UPDATED NOV 7, 2020Wordpress versus Squarespace—the debate is almost as fierce as the one over how to say “GIF.” (For the record, I’m a firm believer in the hard G, not the peanut butter pronunciation.)
But really, it’s like comparing apples to oranges—it’s not a one-to-one comparison.
Wordpress is an open source platform, which means you have complete access to their code and can modify it to your heart’s content. Squarespace is closed-source, meaning they limit access to their code.
That may make it sound like Wordpress is a better option, but each platform has its benefits.
Wordpress and other open source platforms, like Joomla and Drupal, are best if you want total control, unlimited flexibility, and if you have the technical know-how or team to manage it.
Squarespace and other closed source platforms including Weebly and Wix, don’t offer as many options for customization, but are much more user-friendly, faster to set-up + edit, and typically better for small businesses who don’t have the ability or desire to deal with the tech.
I used Wordpress for both my website and clients’ sites for years, but made the switch to Squarespace in 2015 and have been a devotee ever since.
Here’s why…
Squarespace is not only beautifully designed on the frontend, but on the backend too.
Have you heard of the Flexibility-Usability Trade-off? It’s a design principle that states: “as the flexibility of a system increases, the usability of the system decreases.” (Source) In other words, what you gain in flexibility, you lose in usability (and vice versa).
A good example of this is a remote control. How many times have you struggled with trying to turn on a TV with a universal remote? Compare that to an Apple TV remote that doesn’t offer as many options but is much easier to use.
Wordpress is like the universal remote—endlessly customizable but with a steeper learning curve. And not to mention, frustrating to use at times!
Squarespace is faster to set-up and edit.
With Squarespace, their user interface (UI) is simple and intuitive. You edit directly on the page itself, so you can see the changes as you make them, as opposed to making an edit, saving, and refreshing as you would on Wordpress.
Getting started with Wordpress requires setting up a domain, hosting plan, and database, and then connecting them all to Wordpress. This process can take up to several hours (or more) if you’re less technical. Then you have to select, purchase, and install a theme—and you can’t “try before you buy.” (Yes, Wordpress offers free themes, but they will result in a generic looking website.)
Squarespace is ready to go right out-of-the-box. Add your content and branding, style and go. Suddenly, you have a beautiful, easy to use website. Plus, its design features ensure that your brand looks consistently great on every page.
As a designer, this is especially important to me because I know that I can hand over a client’s site with little to no training, and they’ll be able to get up and running with it quickly. What’s more, they’re less likely to “break” the design when making edits, as would often happen in Wordpress.
Less tech = less stress
Every time Wordpress releases an update (which is often), you have to install it or risk jeopardizing your site’s security, and that often means updating your theme and plugins as well. Plus, there’s always the chance that an update might break something, so you also need to back-up your site before updating and then troubleshoot if any errors occur.
With Squarespace, any updates they make happen seamlessly in the background.
Also, because Wordpress is open source and used by millions of people all over the world, it’s an easy target for hackers. I’ve had my Wordpress website hacked one too many times and am relieved to never deal with that again!
Closed source platforms, like Squarespace, are harder to hack, so there is less risk to you.
In a nutshell…
Closed platforms like Squarespace are generally best for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The ease of use, quick turnaround, and low maintenance are a welcome respite when you have a small team, or are the only one running the show.
Wordpress is best for developers and larger businesses who need a more robust tool and have the know-how and/or the resources to build and manage a custom website.
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Which platform do you use for your website? Squarespace, Wordpress, Wix, or something else?
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