The debate between WordPress vs Squarespace is never-ending. Both platforms have their merits, but in this article, we’ll make a persuasive case for why WordPress is the best choice for your website. From ease of use to flexibility and customisation, WordPress offers a range of features that make it the superior option.

So, buckle up and read on to discover why WordPress is the ultimate choice for your next website design project.

1. Open-source vs. proprietary: the freedom of WordPress

Open-source ecosystem

One of the most significant advantages of WordPress over Squarespace is that it is an open-source platform. It means that the WordPress software is free to use, modify and distribute, giving you complete control over your website. The open-source nature of WordPress has fostered a vast community of developers and designers who contribute to its growth and development. This collaborative environment has resulted in a wealth of plugins, themes and resources that you can use to enhance your website.

Proprietary limitations

On the other hand, Squarespace is a proprietary platform, which means that it is owned and controlled by a single company. This closed-off approach limits the customisation options and restricts your ability to modify the underlying code of your website. You are also limited to the features and functionalities that Squarespace provides, which can be a significant drawback if your website requires specific features or customisations.

2. Flexibility and customisation: the power of WordPress

WordPress themes

When it comes to customisation, WordPress is the clear winner. With thousands of free and premium themes available, you can create a website that perfectly matches your vision. Moreover, most WordPress themes come with extensive customisation options, allowing you to tweak every aspect of your site’s design and layout. With a little bit of CSS and HTML knowledge, you can even create a completely custom design from scratch.

WordPress plugins

In addition to its vast array of themes, WordPress also boasts an extensive library of plugins. These plugins enable you to add functionality to your website, such as contact forms, image galleries, and eCommerce features. With over 50,000 free plugins available in the WordPress repository, you can find a solution for virtually any need. And if you need something more specialised, premium plugins offer even more advanced features and functionality.

Squarespace limitations

While Squarespace offers a selection of beautiful templates, these designs are more limited in terms of customisation. You can make some adjustments, such as changing colours and fonts, but you won’t have the same level of control as you would with WordPress. Additionally, Squarespace only offers a small selection of built-in features and integrations, which can make it difficult to add advanced functionality to your website.

3. eCommerce capabilities: WordPress brings more to the table

WooCommerce for WordPress

If you plan on selling products or services through your website, WordPress offers more flexibility and control with its eCommerce capabilities. The WooCommerce plugin is the most popular eCommerce solution for WordPress and allows you to create a fully-featured online store. With WooCommerce, you can sell physical and digital products, manage inventory, and track sales. Plus, there are hundreds of additional plugins and extensions available to enhance your eCommerce experience further.

Squarespace eCommerce

Squarespace does offer eCommerce capabilities, but they are more limited when compared to WordPress. While you can sell products and manage inventory, Squarespace only supports a few payment gateways and lacks the extensive plugin ecosystem that WordPress provides. Additionally, Squarespace charges transaction fees on lower-tier plans, which can eat into your profits.

4. SEO and content marketing: WordPress offers the edge

WordPress SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic to your website. WordPress is known for its SEO-friendly features and offers several powerful tools to help you optimise your content. The Yoast SEO plugin, for example, provides real-time analysis and recommendations to improve your on-page SEO. Additionally, WordPress makes it easy to create and manage a blog, which is a key component of any content marketing strategy.

Squarespace SEO

While Squarespace does offer some basic SEO features, such as customisable title tags and meta descriptions, it lacks the advanced tools and plugins available for WordPress. Furthermore, Squarespace’s content-heavy templates can result in slower page load times, which can negatively impact search rankings.

5. Scalability and growth: WordPress grows with you

WordPress scalability

As your website grows, you need a platform that can grow with you. WordPress is incredibly scalable, allowing you to add new features and functionality as your needs evolve. With its extensive plugin ecosystem and customisation options, you can continuously improve and expand your website without any limitations. Additionally, WordPress can handle a large number of pages and posts, making it suitable for websites of all sizes.

Squarespace scalability

Squarespace, on the other hand, may struggle to keep up with your growth. As a proprietary platform, it imposes certain limitations on the number of pages and features you can have on your website. Plus, its closed-off nature means that you don’t have the same level of control and flexibility that you do with WordPress.

6. Community and support: WordPress has your back

WordPress community

Another significant advantage of WordPress is its robust community of users, developers, and designers. This community has created a wealth of resources, including documentation, tutorials, and forums, to help you get the most out of the platform. If you encounter a problem or need assistance, you’ll likely find a solution within the WordPress community.

WordPress support

Introducing Potato Care, our comprehensive WordPress hosting and maintenance service that goes beyond simply keeping your website online, secure, and backed up. With Potato Care, you not only receive top-notch technical support at no additional cost, but we also become your go-to partner for all your website hosting and support requirements. Rest easy knowing that we’re here to address all your needs promptly and efficiently.

Additionally, if you purchase a premium theme or plugin, the developers often provide dedicated support to assist with any problems or questions.

Squarespace support

Squarespace does offer dedicated support, including email and live chat, but its resources are more limited compared to the vast WordPress community. While Squarespace’s support can help with basic issues, you may struggle to find assistance for more advanced or custom features.

7. Ownership and control: WordPress gives you the keys

WordPress ownership

With WordPress, you have complete ownership of your website, including all of your files and data. This ownership means that you can move your website to a different hosting provider or platform if necessary. Furthermore, since WordPress is open-source, you have full control over your website’s code and can modify it as needed.

Squarespace ownership

Squarespace, as a proprietary platform, does not offer the same level of ownership and control. While you can export some of your content, there is a long list of items that cannot be exported, including product pages, folders, and custom CSS. This lack of ownership can be a significant disadvantage if you ever need to migrate your website to a new platform.

8. Pricing: WordPress can be more cost-effective

WordPress pricing

With WordPress, you have more control over your website’s costs. The only mandatory expenses are hosting and a domain name, which can be as low as $4 per month for cheap shared hosting. There are also numerous free and premium themes and plugins available, allowing you to tailor your costs based on your needs.

Squarespace pricing

Squarespace offers clear pricing plans, but they can be more expensive than WordPress, especially when factoring in additional costs for email marketing, member areas, and appointment scheduling. With Squarespace, you’ll pay a minimum of 23 per month for a business website.

9. Ease of migration: WordPress makes it easier to switch

Migrating from Squarespace to WordPress

If you decide to switch from Squarespace to WordPress, the migration process is relatively straightforward. You can export your content from Squarespace and import it into WordPress using the WordPress Importer plugin. While this process won’t transfer everything perfectly, it’s easier than migrating from WordPress to Squarespace.

Migrating from WordPress to Squarespace

Migrating from WordPress to Squarespace is more challenging, as Squarespace does not offer native WordPress import functionality. You’ll need to use a third-party migration service or manually transfer your content, which can be time-consuming and complicated.

10. Mobile app: WordPress offers better on-the-go management

WordPress mobile app

The WordPress mobile app, available for both iOS and Android, allows you to manage your website on the go. Edit and create posts, upload media, and manage comments all from your mobile device. With the right hosting provider and plugins, you can even access your website’s analytics and receive notifications on your device.

Squarespace mobile app

Squarespace’s mobile app also offers some on-the-go management capabilities, but it lacks the extensive functionality of the WordPress app. While you can edit pages, blogs, and SEO settings, you won’t be able to access the full range of features available on the desktop version of Squarespace.

Conclusion: WordPress is the best choice for your website

In conclusion, while both WordPress and Squarespace offer valuable features for creating a website, WordPress stands out as the best choice for most users. Its open-source nature, flexibility, customisation options, and extensive community make it a superior platform for building and managing a website.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to create a simple blog or a seasoned professional seeking a scalable platform for your growing business, WordPress offers the features and support you need to succeed. Don’t settle for less – choose WordPress for your next website project and experience the difference for yourself.

Supercharge your online presence with Metal Potato. We specialise in WordPress website design that captivate, convert, and drive results. Let’s create your dream website together.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and the ways in which we can empower your online success.