WordPress vs Squarespace: which is better for UK businesses?
An honest, detailed comparison to help you choose the right platform. We build WordPress websites, but we'll give you the facts to make your own decision.
Quick Answer: WordPress is Better for Most UK Businesses
Our recommendation based on flexibility, cost, and long-term value
For UK small businesses, WordPress is the better choice in most cases. Here's why:
- Lower long-term cost: £150-£550 over 3 years vs £432-£1,260 for Squarespace
- Better SEO: Advanced plugins and technical control help you rank higher in Google
- Complete ownership: You own your site and can move it anywhere - no platform lock-in
- Unlimited growth: Powers 43% of all websites, from blogs to enterprise sites
The exception: If you need a very simple site, have no budget for professional help, and don't plan to grow online, Squarespace's simplicity may suit you better. Read on for the full comparison.
WordPress vs Squarespace: An honest analysis
Choosing between WordPress and Squarespace is one of the most common decisions UK businesses face when building a website. Both platforms have their place, and the right choice depends on your specific needs.
Full disclosure: We're a WordPress development agency. We build professional WordPress websites for UK businesses. But we're not here to sell you WordPress at any cost - we want you to make the right decision for your business, even if that means using Squarespace.
This comparison is based on real-world experience building hundreds of websites, feedback from clients who've used both platforms, and current UK pricing as of 2025. We'll cover everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that powers over 43% of all websites worldwide. It's free to use, but you'll need to arrange your own hosting. WordPress offers unlimited customisation through themes and plugins, and you have complete ownership of your website.
What is Squarespace?
Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that provides hosting, design templates, and tools in a single package. It's known for its beautiful templates and ease of use. You pay a monthly subscription and build your site using their drag-and-drop editor.
Detailed comparison table
How WordPress and Squarespace compare across the factors that matter most to UK businesses.
Ratings reflect overall value for UK small businesses. Higher ratings indicate better value in that category.
Real costs over 3 years
Breaking down the actual costs for UK businesses.
WordPress Costs (3 years)
Professional development: Add £500-£3,000 one-time for a professionally built WordPress site. This is a one-time cost, not recurring.
Squarespace Costs (3 years)
Note: Domain free first year only. Commerce Basic has 3% transaction fees. These are recurring costs that continue indefinitely.
The bottom line: WordPress costs less over time, especially if you invest in professional development upfront. A £2,000 WordPress site with £150/year hosting costs less than 4 years of Squarespace Business plan.
What each platform does best
Both platforms have genuine strengths. Here's where each one shines.
WordPress Strengths
- Complete ownership of your website and content
- No ongoing platform fees - just hosting costs
- Unlimited customisation with 60,000+ plugins
- Superior SEO capabilities for ranking in Google
- Powerful e-commerce with WooCommerce
- Massive community and developer ecosystem
- Scales from small site to enterprise
- Can switch hosts anytime without rebuilding
Squarespace Strengths
- Easiest platform for beginners
- Beautiful, professional templates
- All-in-one platform - no decisions about hosting
- Maintenance-free - updates happen automatically
- Good for simple websites and portfolios
- Reliable uptime and performance
- Built-in analytics and basic marketing tools
- 24/7 customer support included
Which is better for ranking in Google?
For UK businesses trying to rank locally or nationally, WordPress has a significant SEO advantage. Here's why:
WordPress SEO Advantages
- Advanced SEO plugins: Yoast SEO and RankMath offer comprehensive SEO tools including keyword optimisation, readability analysis, schema markup, XML sitemaps, and more.
- Technical SEO control: Full access to robots.txt, .htaccess, page speed optimisation, and server-level configurations.
- Schema markup flexibility: Add any type of structured data for rich snippets in Google search results.
- Speed optimisation: More options to optimise loading speed through caching, CDN integration, and image optimisation.
- URL structure: Complete control over URL structure and redirects.
Squarespace SEO Limitations
- Basic SEO features: Page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text - but no advanced tools.
- No SEO plugins: You're limited to built-in features only.
- Limited technical control: Can't access server settings or make advanced configurations.
- Fixed URL structure: Less flexibility with URL formats.
- Speed limitations: Less control over performance optimisation.
What This Means for Your Business
If ranking in Google is important to your business - and for most UK businesses, it is - WordPress gives you more tools to compete. This is especially important for local SEO, where ranking for "[service] near me" or "[service] in [city]" can drive significant business.
Squarespace sites can rank, but you'll have fewer options to optimise and improve your rankings over time.
Which should you choose?
Based on our experience with hundreds of UK businesses.
Choose WordPress if you...
- Want full control over your website
- Plan to grow your business online
- Need advanced SEO to rank locally
- Want to sell products online seriously
- Have a budget for professional development
- Want to avoid ongoing platform fees
- Need custom functionality
- Value long-term flexibility over short-term ease
Choose Squarespace if you...
- Need a simple portfolio or brochure site
- Have very limited time to learn
- Don't want any technical responsibility
- Have a small, fixed budget (no developer cost)
- Don't need advanced SEO or e-commerce
- Are happy with template limitations
- Prefer a single monthly bill
- Won't need to migrate or scale significantly
Our Honest Assessment
For most UK small businesses serious about their online presence, WordPress is the better investment. Yes, it requires more learning or professional help upfront, but the long-term benefits - lower costs, better SEO, complete ownership, unlimited flexibility - make it worthwhile.
Squarespace is a good choice for very simple sites where you want zero technical responsibility and aren't concerned about long-term growth or SEO competitiveness. It's also good for quickly testing a business idea before investing more.
Want a WordPress website that's built properly?
We build fast, secure WordPress websites for UK businesses. Custom design, SEO optimisation, and ongoing support - all handled by our Cardiff-based team.
Frequently asked questions
Detailed answers to common questions about WordPress vs Squarespace.
Is WordPress or Squarespace better for UK small businesses?
For most UK small businesses, WordPress is the better choice. It offers greater flexibility, better SEO capabilities, lower long-term costs, and you own your website completely. Squarespace is simpler to use but locks you into their platform with ongoing monthly fees. WordPress powers over 40% of all websites worldwide, giving you access to thousands of plugins, themes, and developers.
Which is cheaper, WordPress or Squarespace UK?
WordPress is typically cheaper long-term. Squarespace costs £12-£35/month (£144-£420/year). WordPress hosting costs £50-£150/year, plus a one-time theme cost of £0-£100. Over 3 years, Squarespace costs £432-£1,260 while WordPress costs £150-£550. However, if you need professional help building a WordPress site, factor in development costs of £500-£3,000.
Is Squarespace easier to use than WordPress?
Yes, Squarespace is easier for complete beginners. Its drag-and-drop editor requires no technical knowledge, and everything is managed in one place. WordPress has a steeper learning curve but offers far more flexibility. Modern WordPress page builders like Elementor and Gutenberg have closed the ease-of-use gap significantly.
Which is better for SEO, WordPress or Squarespace?
WordPress is better for SEO. It offers advanced SEO plugins like Yoast and RankMath, complete control over technical SEO, faster loading speeds with proper optimisation, and more flexibility for schema markup. Squarespace provides basic SEO features but limits what you can customise. For UK businesses competing locally, WordPress gives you more tools to rank.
Can I move my website from Squarespace to WordPress?
Yes, but it requires effort. You can export your content from Squarespace and import it into WordPress, but your design won't transfer. You'll need to rebuild the visual design, redirect URLs, and potentially lose some functionality. This is why starting on the right platform matters - migration costs time and money.
Which is better for e-commerce, WordPress or Squarespace?
WordPress with WooCommerce is better for serious e-commerce. WooCommerce powers over 25% of all online shops and offers unlimited products, more payment options, no transaction fees (unlike Squarespace's 3% on their cheapest plan), and thousands of extensions. Squarespace Commerce is simpler but charges transaction fees and has limited features.
Do I need a developer for WordPress or can I do it myself?
You can build a WordPress site yourself using page builders and pre-made themes. However, for a professional result that converts visitors into customers, most UK businesses benefit from professional development. A good developer ensures proper SEO setup, fast loading times, security, and a design that matches your brand.
Which platform is more secure, WordPress or Squarespace?
Squarespace handles security automatically as a hosted platform. WordPress requires you to manage updates and security, but with proper hosting and maintenance, it's equally secure. WordPress powers major websites including government sites. The key is keeping WordPress updated and using quality hosting.
Can I use my own domain with WordPress and Squarespace?
Yes, both platforms support custom domains. Squarespace includes a free domain for the first year with annual plans. WordPress works with any domain registrar. Domain costs are similar for both - typically £10-£15/year for a .co.uk domain.
Which is better for blogging, WordPress or Squarespace?
WordPress was originally built for blogging and remains the best platform for serious content creators. It offers more flexibility for categories, tags, archives, author pages, and content organisation. Squarespace has good blogging features but can't match WordPress's content management capabilities.
WordPress vs Squarespace: Key takeaways
Choose WordPress if:
- +You want lower long-term costs
- +SEO and ranking matters to you
- +You want complete ownership
- +You plan to grow your business
- +You need e-commerce without fees
Choose Squarespace if:
- +You want maximum simplicity
- +You have a very limited budget
- +You need a simple portfolio site
- +You want zero maintenance
- +Growth and SEO aren't priorities
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