About 11; min
Wix starts at $17/month. Squarespace starts at $16/month. Both build websites without code. One gives you 900+ templates and AI site generation. The other gives you fewer templates that all look stunning. We compared both on design, e-commerce, pricing, and which one leaves you with a website you’re actually proud of.
All pricing verified March 2026 from wix.com and squarespace.com.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Light: $17/mo | Basic: $16/mo |
| Mid | Core: $29/mo | Core: $23/mo |
| E-commerce | Business: $36/mo | Plus: $35/mo |
| Advanced | Business Elite: $159/mo | Advanced: $52/mo |
| Free plan | Yes (Wix branding + ads) | No (14-day trial) |
Squarespace is cheaper at mid-tier ($23 vs $29) and dramatically cheaper at the top ($52 vs $159). Wix has a free plan; Squarespace doesn’t.
Design: The Real Differentiator
Squarespace templates are objectively more beautiful. Every template looks like it was designed by a professional agency. Clean typography, intentional spacing, modern layouts. This is Squarespace’s core identity.
Wix has more templates (900+) but quality varies. Some look great. Some look like 2015 clip-art. The AI site builder generates a custom site from a text description — impressive but results need refinement.
If your brand depends on visual impression — photography, fashion, restaurant, architecture — Squarespace wins on design every time.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Templates | 900+ | 180+ (all premium quality) |
| AI site builder | Yes | No |
| Drag-and-drop | True free-form drag | Section-based |
| Blogging | Good | Excellent |
| E-commerce | Good | Good |
| Booking/scheduling | Built-in | Built-in |
| Memberships | Via apps | Built-in (Plus+) |
| SEO | Good | Good |
| App marketplace | 300+ apps | 44 extensions |
| Template switching | Can’t switch after building | Can switch anytime |
| Mobile editing | Full mobile editor | Limited |
| Custom code | Yes (Velo) | Yes (code injection) |
Where Wix Wins
- Free plan exists — build a full website at $0 with Wix branding. Squarespace has no free option.
- AI site generator — describe your business, get a custom website in minutes. Squarespace requires manual template selection and customization.
- True drag-and-drop — move any element anywhere on the page. Squarespace uses section-based editing with less positional freedom.
- App marketplace (300+) — booking, events, restaurants, forums, membership — extend your site with specialized apps. Squarespace has 44 extensions.
- Mobile editor — edit your site from your phone. Squarespace’s mobile editing is limited.
Where Squarespace Wins
- Design quality — every template is magazine-quality. No bad options. Wix has great templates buried among mediocre ones.
- Template switching — change your entire site design anytime without rebuilding. Wix locks you into your template choice. Made a bad pick? Start over.
- Cheaper at scale — Advanced at $52 vs Wix Business Elite at $159. For growing businesses, Squarespace’s pricing scales more gently.
- Built-in features vs apps — memberships, scheduling, courses, and digital products included. Wix requires third-party apps ($5-30/month each).
- Blogging — the best blogging platform among website builders. Clean layout, categories, multiple authors, scheduling. Wix’s blog works but feels like an add-on.
- Consistency — your Squarespace site will look professional regardless of your design skills. Wix’s freedom means you can also make ugly sites.
Who Should Pick What
Design-conscious brand: Squarespace. Templates are stunning. Your site will look professional without a designer. Fashion, photography, restaurants, portfolios — Squarespace is the obvious choice.
Want maximum flexibility: Wix. True drag-and-drop, AI builder, 300+ apps. If you want to build exactly what you imagine, Wix gives you more freedom.
$0 budget: Wix Free. Build a functional site with Wix branding at zero cost. Squarespace has no free option.
Blogger: Squarespace. Best blogging engine among website builders.
Small e-commerce (under 100 products): Either works. Squarespace Core ($23) is cheaper than Wix Core ($29) for basic e-commerce.
Service business (salon, gym, consultant): Wix or Squarespace — both have built-in booking. Wix’s app ecosystem adds more service-specific features.
Can’t decide: Squarespace. Harder to make an ugly site. Easier to switch templates later. More predictable outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Wix to Squarespace?
Not easily. No migration tool exists between them. You rebuild the site on the new platform. Content (text, images) transfers manually. This is why picking right the first time matters.
Which is better for SEO?
Nearly identical. Both handle meta tags, alt text, sitemaps, and clean URLs. Neither gives a meaningful SEO advantage over the other. Content quality matters more than platform choice.
Wix AI builder — is it good?
Impressive for a first draft. It generates a functional site in minutes from a text description. But you’ll spend 2-4 hours refining it. Think of it as a starting point, not a finished product.
All pricing verified March 2026 from wix.com and squarespace.com.
