Squarespace vs Wix
Squarespace and Wix are two of the website builders tools people compare most — but they're built for different users. Squarespace starts at $16 USD/mo (no free plan) and is best for creatives and small businesses wanting beautiful design out of the box, while Wix has a free plan (paid from $17 USD/mo (free plan)) and suits beginners and small businesses wanting an easy all-in-one builder.
The main trade-offs: Wix covers more of the features we track (10 of 10 vs 9), Squarespace is cheaper to start, Wix is easier to learn. Weighing it all up, Wix is the better fit for most people — with Squarespace pulling ahead for creatives and small businesses wanting beautiful design out of the box.
Squarespace
★★★★★★★★★★4.41,125+ reviews · G2Polished, designer-quality templates that make building a professional site effortless.
USD/mo (no free plan)
Wix
★★★★★★★★★★4.21,887+ reviews · G2An all-in-one website builder with drag-and-drop ease and AI-powered site creation.
USD/mo (free plan)
For most people, Wix is the better choice — but Squarespace wins for specific needs.
Key differences
- Squarespace is cheaper to start ($16 USD/mo (no free plan) vs $17 USD/mo (free plan)).
- Wix is notably stronger on ease of use (8.5 vs 8.0).
- Wix covers more of the tracked features (10 vs 9).
Full comparison
The winning option in each row is highlighted in green.
| Criteria | Squarespace | Wix |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★★★★★★★4.4 | ★★★★★★★★★★4.2 |
| Starting price | $16 USD/mo (no free plan) | $17 USD/mo (free plan) |
| Free trial | Free trial | Free plan |
| Integrations | Squarespace Extensions, Google, Meta, Stripe, Acuity | Wix App Market, Google, Meta, payment gateways |
| Affiliate commission | $100–$200/sale | $100/sale (flat, one-time) |
| Best for | Creatives and small businesses wanting beautiful design out of the box | Beginners and small businesses wanting an easy all-in-one builder |
| Ease of use | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Value for money | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| Features | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Support | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Drag-and-drop editor | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Templates | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Custom code | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| CMS / blog | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| E-commerce | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| SEO tools | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Custom domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Hosting included | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Free plan | — No | ✓ Yes |
| AI site builder | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Pricing plans
The main paid tiers for each tool (billed annually where applicable).
Squarespace
Pricing as reported · checked June 2026. View official pricing →
Wix
Pricing as reported · checked June 2026. View official pricing →
Pros & cons
Squarespace
- Best-in-class designer templates
- Clean, cohesive all-in-one editor
- Strong built-in blogging and commerce tools
- No free plan, only a 14-day trial
- Less design flexibility than code-first builders
Wix
- Very easy drag-and-drop editor
- Huge template library and app market
- Capable AI site builder (ADI)
- Cannot change template once live
- Site is locked into the Wix platform
Which one should you pick?
Choose Squarespace if…
Best for creatives and small businesses wanting beautiful design out of the box. Squarespace delivers the most polished templates and a smooth editor, but it has no free plan and offers less granular design control than Webflow.
Choose Wix if…
Best for beginners and small businesses wanting an easy all-in-one builder. Wix is one of the most beginner-friendly builders with huge template and app variety, but you can't switch templates after publishing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Squarespace or Wix better?
Overall we lean toward Wix for most users, but Squarespace is the better fit for creatives and small businesses wanting beautiful design out of the box.
Which is cheaper, Squarespace or Wix?
Squarespace is cheaper to start at $16 USD/mo (no free plan), compared with $17 USD/mo (free plan) for Wix.
Which is easier to use for beginners?
Wix scores higher on ease of use (8.5/10), making it the friendlier choice if you're just getting started.
Can I try Squarespace and Wix before paying?
Squarespace: Free trial. Wix: Free plan. We recommend trialling your top pick before committing.
Does Squarespace or Wix have a free plan?
Wix has a free plan, making it the lower-risk way to start. The other relies on a time-limited free trial rather than a permanent free tier.
Which is better value for money, Squarespace or Wix?
Wix scores higher on value in our review (8.0/10) — it gives you more for what you pay. Weigh that against the features you'll actually use.
Does Squarespace have a free plan?
No. Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial, with paid plans starting at $16/mo billed annually.
Does Wix offer a free affiliate program?
Yes, Wix pays a flat $100 one-time commission per qualifying premium plan sale, with a 30-day cookie and $300 payout threshold.
The bottom line
For most people weighing up Squarespace vs Wix, Wix is the stronger all-round pick — best for beginners and small businesses wanting an easy all-in-one builder, and backed by a 4.2/5 rating. Go with Squarespace instead for creatives and small businesses wanting beautiful design out of the box. Best of all you can start free with Wix and see if it fits before paying a cent.
→ See Squarespace alternatives→ Read the full Squarespace review