Wix vs. Squarespace vs. WordPress: Which Website Builder Is Best for Small Businesses?
By ERIN LARISON
COO, Larison Media
If you own a small business, you already wear a lot of hats. Sales rep. Customer service rep. Bookkeeper. Chief coffee maker. And at some point, “website manager” gets added to that list, whether you like it or not.
That’s when the real question pops up: Do I build my site on Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress?
At Larison Media, we use Squarespace for our client websites. We like its balance of ease and professional design. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only choice worth considering. Here’s how the three most popular platforms compare.
Wix: The Flexible Option
Price: $16–$27/month for business plans.
Ease of Use: Extremely beginner-friendly with drag-and-drop editing.
Best For: Newer businesses that want something quick, affordable and decent-looking.
Wix makes it easy to get started. If you’ve never built a website before, you can still make a nice one with little effort. It comes with plenty of templates, built-in tools, and add-ons.
That said, sometimes “flexibility” means clutter. If you’re the kind of person who agonizes over fonts, Wix may have you tinkering for hours. And if your business grows quickly, you may find the platform has limits compared with others.
Squarespace: The Polished Professional
Price: $23–$36/month for business/commerce.
Ease of Use: Very straightforward with structured drag-and-drop tools.
Best For: Small businesses that want a professional online presence without the headaches.
Squarespace is all about clean design. Sites look sharp, mobile-friendly, and modern right out of the box. It also integrates with scheduling tools, payment systems, and email marketing — making it a strong all-in-one option for small business owners who don’t want to juggle a dozen different services.
The tradeoff? It’s a little less customizable than WordPress. But for most small businesses, the benefits of simplicity outweigh the need for endless tinkering. That’s why we rely on it at Larison Media.
WordPress: The Heavyweight
Price: Free software, with hosting around $10-$25/month. Premium themes/plugins can add extra costs.
Ease of Use: Steeper learning curve, more technical to set up and maintain.
Best For: Businesses planning for rapid growth or requiring complex features.
WordPress is the most powerful and flexible of the three. With thousands of plugins, it can handle just about anything — from SEO to booking systems to full-scale e-commerce. If you want your website to be endlessly customizable, this is the way to go.
The downside: it takes more work. WordPress sites require ongoing updates, troubleshooting, and sometimes professional help. It’s powerful, but it’s not exactly beginner-friendly.
So, which one is best?
Wix is great for small businesses that want something quick and budget-friendly.
Squarespace is ideal for business owners who want a sleek, professional site that’s easy to manage.
WordPress is best for companies with long-term growth plans and super complex needs.
