At Leeds Web Designer, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a diverse range of clients, from small businesses just starting out to large enterprises looking to revamp their digital presence. One of the most common questions we encounter is, “Which platform should I use for my website?” Two of the most popular choices are WordPress and Squarespace. While both platforms have their merits, we’re here to make a case for why WordPress is, hands down, the superior choice for anyone serious about their online presence.
1. Flexibility and Customisation
When it comes to building a website, flexibility is key. You want a platform that grows with you, not one that boxes you into a corner. WordPress, being an open-source platform, offers unparalleled flexibility.
- Limitless Customisation: With WordPress, you have complete control over every aspect of your site. From the layout to the functionality, WordPress allows you to customize your website down to the smallest detail. There are thousands of themes and plugins available, many of which are free, and even more premium options for those looking for something specific. Squarespace, on the other hand, offers a limited selection of templates and customisation options, which can be quite restrictive.
- Plugins Galore: The WordPress plugin repository is home to over 55,000 plugins. Whether you need SEO tools, advanced analytics, e-commerce functionalities, or social media integrations, there’s a plugin for that. This modular approach means you can build a website that does exactly what you need it to do, without any unnecessary bloat. Squarespace, while having a more limited selection of extensions, doesn’t come close to matching this level of functionality.
2. Scalability
As your business grows, your website needs to grow with it. This is where WordPress really shines.
- From Small to Enterprise: WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, including major sites like The New Yorker, BBC America, and even The Walt Disney Company. The platform is designed to handle websites of all sizes, from small blogs to massive, high-traffic sites. Squarespace, while great for small to medium-sized sites, doesn’t have the same capacity for scalability.
- Multisite Functionality: For businesses or agencies that manage multiple websites, WordPress offers multisite capabilities. This allows you to run multiple sites from a single WordPress installation. Squarespace does not offer this functionality, which means managing multiple sites can become cumbersome and expensive.
3. Ownership and Control
When you build a website, you want to own it. With WordPress, you have full control and ownership over your site and its data.
- Self-Hosted Freedom: WordPress is a self-hosted platform, meaning you can choose where your site is hosted, and you have full control over the files and database. This autonomy is crucial for businesses that want complete control over their website. Squarespace, being a hosted platform, doesn’t offer this level of control. You’re essentially renting space on their servers, and if you ever decide to leave, migrating your site can be a headache.
- Data Portability: With WordPress, you own your data. If you ever decide to move to a different hosting provider, you can easily export your entire site. With Squarespace, you’re locked into their ecosystem, and while they do offer some data export options, it’s far more limited and often requires significant manual effort to recreate your site elsewhere.
4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Every business wants to be found online, and SEO is key to making that happen. WordPress is renowned for being SEO-friendly right out of the box, and it’s easy to see why.
- SEO Plugins and Tools: WordPress offers a range of SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack, which provide comprehensive tools for optimising your site’s content, meta tags, and more. These plugins guide you through the process of optimising each page and post, ensuring you’re adhering to best practices.
- Clean Code and Fast Loading: WordPress themes and plugins are built with clean, lightweight code, which contributes to faster loading times — a crucial factor in search engine rankings. Squarespace, while decent for SEO, doesn’t offer the same level of control or optimisation tools. The platform is more of a “one-size-fits-all” solution, which can limit your ability to fine-tune your site’s SEO.
5. Community and Support
One of the biggest advantages of WordPress is its massive community.
- Vast Community Resources: WordPress has been around for over 20 years, and in that time, it has built a large, active community. This means there are countless forums, tutorials, and resources available to help you learn, troubleshoot, and grow your website. Squarespace has a much smaller community, and while their support is good, it doesn’t compare to the wealth of knowledge available for WordPress.
- Continuous Improvement: Being open-source, WordPress is constantly evolving. Developers from around the world contribute to its core, ensuring it stays up-to-date with the latest web standards and technologies. Squarespace, while also improving over time, doesn’t have the same level of rapid innovation or community-driven enhancements.
6. E-Commerce Capabilities
If you’re looking to sell products or services online, WordPress is, without a doubt, the better choice.
- WooCommerce Integration: WordPress is the foundation for WooCommerce, the world’s most popular e-commerce platform. WooCommerce is incredibly powerful and highly customisable, offering a wide range of extensions and integrations to suit any business need. Squarespace does offer e-commerce functionality, but it’s relatively basic compared to the robust features of WooCommerce.
- Payment Gateway Options: With WordPress and WooCommerce, you have access to virtually every payment gateway available. Whether you want to use Stripe, PayPal, Square, or even cryptocurrency, there’s an integration for it. Squarespace, in contrast, has limited payment options, which can be a dealbreaker for some businesses.
7. Cost-Effectiveness
When comparing the costs of WordPress and Squarespace, WordPress often comes out on top in terms of value for money.
- Flexible Hosting Options: With WordPress, you’re free to choose your hosting provider, which means you can shop around for the best deal that suits your needs and budget. Squarespace includes hosting in its pricing, which, while convenient, can be more expensive in the long run, especially as your site grows.
- Free and Premium Options: WordPress itself is free, and many themes and plugins are also available for free. For those who want premium features, there are countless premium themes and plugins available at a wide range of prices. Squarespace, on the other hand, is a paid service with a monthly or annual fee. While this fee includes hosting and some other features, it can add up over time, especially if you need to upgrade to a higher plan for more functionality.
8. Security
Security is a top priority for any website owner, and WordPress takes it seriously.
- Regular Updates and Patches: WordPress is regularly updated to address security vulnerabilities and to stay ahead of potential threats. There are also numerous security plugins available that provide additional layers of protection. Squarespace handles security on the server level, which is fine for basic sites but doesn’t offer the same level of control or customisation that WordPress does.
- Secure Hosting Choices: With WordPress, you have the ability to choose a hosting provider that meets your security needs, whether that’s a standard shared hosting provider or a specialised, high-security provider. Squarespace’s one-size-fits-all approach means you’re relying on their security measures, which may not be adequate for all businesses.
9. Content Management
WordPress started as a blogging platform, and it still excels as a content management system (CMS).
- Advanced Content Features: WordPress offers advanced content management features that allow you to schedule posts, manage multiple authors, and organise content in a way that makes sense for your site. Squarespace’s CMS capabilities are more limited and can be cumbersome for sites with a large amount of content.
- Gutenberg Editor and Classic Editor: WordPress provides both the modern Gutenberg block editor and the classic editor, giving users flexibility in how they create and manage content. This dual approach means users can choose the editing experience that works best for them. Squarespace’s editor, while user-friendly, doesn’t offer the same level of flexibility or control.
10. Multilingual Capabilities
For businesses that operate in multiple countries or target audiences speaking different languages, WordPress is the clear winner.
- Multilingual Plugins: WordPress offers several multilingual plugins, such as WPML and Polylang, which make it easy to create a multilingual site. These plugins offer automatic translation, manual translation, and even professional translation services. Squarespace doesn’t offer the same level of multilingual support, which can be a significant limitation for international businesses.
Conclusion: WordPress Takes the Crown
At Leeds Web Designer, we believe in building websites that not only meet our clients’ needs today but are also poised for growth and success tomorrow. While Squarespace is a good option for those looking for an easy, out-of-the-box solution for a basic website, WordPress is the better choice for anyone serious about their online presence.
The flexibility, scalability, control, and powerful features of WordPress make it the superior platform for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small business looking to grow, a blogger with a vision, or an enterprise with complex needs, WordPress offers the tools and freedom to create a website that’s truly your own.
Ready to take your website to the next level? Contact Leeds Web Designer today, and let’s build something amazing together with WordPress!
