Squarespace vs. Other Platforms: Pros and Cons for Web Designers

Why This Matters

Choosing the right platform for a client project shouldn’t feel like choosing the right tool in a dimly lit shed. As a web designer, you’re expected to deliver sleek, functional sites that work well and stand the test of time while avoiding hours lost to minor tweaks. Pick the wrong platform, and you’ll end up wrestling design quirks, custom code that turns into spaghetti, or constant phone calls from clients frustrated by a clunky editor. In short, the wrong decision doesn’t just cost you time, it chips away at your reputation and the smooth flow of your project pipeline.

I’ve been there: running an agency, building sites from scratch, then discovering drag-and-drop and ready-made templates among site builders. You get tempted by flash, flexibility, or the hope of finishing a week’s work in a day. But if you make the wrong call, it’s a bit like using a bread knife to chop firewood. Sure, you might muddle through somehow, but you’ll regret it with every cut.

Web designers are caught between speed, customisation, budget, and scalability. If you waste time fighting your platform or fixing messes your client creates, your evenings and profit margins disappear. Getting this choice right is crucial at the start of a project.

Common Pitfalls

A few classic mistakes show up time and again:

• Falling for Templates
  It’s easy to get lured by a pretty homepage layout. One click, it looks great, you hand it to your client… then you try to shift the navigation or add something a bit different, and it’s all concrete underneath the carpet.
• Overestimating “Ease of Use”
  Platforms promise drag-and-drop bliss. But too many widgets (especially in Wix) and suddenly you’ve got a digital kitchen sink, not a website.
• Ignoring Future Growth
  A site that starts off as a simple portfolio suddenly needs e-commerce, bookings, language versions, the lot. Some platforms will let you stretch. Others will dig their heels in or charge a fortune.
• Underestimating Setup Time
  WordPress looks “free”. Then you tack on hosting, a premium theme, page builder, must-have plugins, anti-spam tools, backup, and half your afternoon vanishes before the site’s even live.
• Leaving Clients in the Deep End
  If your platform requires a code editor for a basic update, expect your phone to ring. Platforms that are easy for YOU, but confusing for clients, always come back to bite later.

The main thing is simple: picking a platform based on the first shiny thing you see usually means hacking workarounds for months.

Step-by-Step Fix

Here’s how I break down my platform choice these days, so you can do the same with far less faff.

Step 1: Match the Platform to the Client’s Goals

Before you touch a template or compare pricing, stop and ask:
What will this site actually do, today and next year?

Ask yourself:

• Is this a showcase (like a designer’s or photographer’s portfolio)?
• Will it handle bookings, sales, memberships?
• Does the client have ambitious dreams (think: scaling up, international traffic, complex integrations)?
• Who’ll be changing content later—just you, or the client too (and how handy are they with tech)?
• Are custom features a must, or is “it just needs to work” enough?

Examples:

• Portfolio for an illustrator who never wants to touch code: Squarespace is ideal.
• Small retailer who wants appointments, vouchers, and newsletters: Wix has the tools, as long as you keep the design tidy.
• Startup planning to grow to thousands of products or users: WordPress is the go-to, with strong hosting.

Step 2: Weigh Up Ease of Use for You and the Client

Don’t just judge editors on your own patience. Clients want to log in, make a text tweak, and finish before their coffee goes cold.

Quick rundown:

• Squarespace:
  Clean editor, foolproof for basic changes. Most clients understand it after a quick Zoom call. Going much beyond the built-in options (layout, fonts, colours) gets trickier, but these limitations can keep things tidy.
• Wix:
  Drag and drop anything you like, anywhere you like. This suits more adventurous clients (and those who get bored with restraint). The downside is that sites can become “patchworked” if you or your client lack discipline.
• WordPress:
  This isn’t as immediately intuitive. The dashboard takes some getting used to. Training your client is essential. If you build it with a page builder (like Elementor or Divi), you can make it client-friendly, but expect a longer learning curve.

Step 3: Get Serious About Design Flexibility

The idea that “total freedom” is always best can be misleading. In reality, a lot of beautiful sites are built inside firm boundaries, just like any architect works within constraints.

Platform notes:

• Squarespace:
  Offers stunning, well-built templates. Tweak fonts, colours, and images as much as you like, but changing core structure is tough. Custom CSS is allowed, though best in moderation.
  Think of it as painting by numbers, not complete creative liberty.
• Wix:
  It is a sandbox environment; you can build anything, anywhere, any way. Great for creatives who want to break conventions, but risky for those who need guidance.
  With freedom comes the risk of a messy design.
• WordPress:
  This platform gives you a full workshop. Between themes, page builders, and plugins, almost anything is possible, given time and skill. When you want something that looks unlike anyone else’s site, you can achieve it if you have enough time and patience.

Step 4: Run the Numbers—Pricing and Value

Keep the calculator handy, and don’t forget sneaky extras like support calls, plugin renewals, or restoration from backups.

Breakdown:

• Squarespace:
  Starts at roughly £12/month for the basics. While this adds up, it’s reliable, and clients have clarity on cost.
  E-commerce or membership sites start higher, so budget for these if they are on the horizon.
• Wix:
  Basic plans start from £8/month, but feature creep can quickly add to the cost. The free plan displays obvious Wix branding.
• WordPress:
  The core software is free, but you’ll pay for hosting (£3–£10/month), domains (£10/year), email, security, and any advanced themes or plugins. Some costs are one-off, many are annual.

Add up real costs for a two-year project, including subscriptions, support, and backups, so your client isn’t shocked by the true bill.

Step 5: Check Support, Reliability, and Integrations

You want to spend your time designing, not waiting in a support queue or sorting out connection errors with third-party tools.

Platform comparison:

• Squarespace:
  Offers email and live chat support, and a help centre that’s actually useful. Since the Google Domains takeover, support speed has dipped, so it’s often quicker to check an online designer’s forum (or the Pixelhaze community).
• Wix:
  24/7 live chat, plenty of tutorials, but most answers are in help docs rather than real conversation.
• WordPress:
  No official support line. Most answers come from the community, YouTube, or your hosting company’s support staff. Hosting is crucial, so pay for competent service and regular backups.

For integrations, Squarespace connects with major tools (Mailchimp, Google Analytics, etc.). Wix has a giant app store and everything from live chat to bookings. WordPress can connect with almost anything, but you are responsible for all updates, versions, and plugin conflicts.

Step 6: Think Long-Term—Scalability and Future-Proofing

A portfolio site for an artist today could become a full-blown online shop next year. Starting on a platform that grows with you or at least makes moving easier is a practical approach.

The facts:

• Squarespace:
  Great for small to medium sites. If you suddenly need advanced features, complex e-commerce, or custom user logins, there are limits.
• Wix:
  Provides more flexibility for growing businesses. Its top-tier plans offer expanded features, resources, and support, making it a decent choice for sites with moderate ambitions.
• WordPress:
  Built for growth. Whether you’re adding hundreds of products, blogs, languages, or users, this platform can scale as long as your hosting does its part. The trade-off is extra management work. Updates and security become your responsibility.

What Most People Miss

In the rush to get things launched, many forget something crucial: You’re building a foundation your client (and possibly you) will live with for years, not just for today.

The subtle art is in matching the client’s dream with actual tools that will support it, while providing clear insight into each platform’s advantages and limitations. Most designers worry about picking “the best” platform. The better move is picking the right platform for this specific project, at this moment, for these real-life people.

It takes honesty to say, “I know Wix lets you drop in fifty features, but you’ll spend more time managing widgets than serving your customers.” Or, “You can save money with ‘free’ WordPress, but those savings disappear when a plugin update breaks your homepage.”

The best designers ask the tough questions at the start, then rely on a platform they truly understand.

The Bigger Picture

When you find the right fit, everything else becomes simpler. Your projects run smoother, with fewer interruptions. Clients trust your recommendations (and keep coming back). You spend less time on platform headaches and more time focusing on design, developing your skills, or landing new clients.

Looking at the wider impact, choosing the right platform saves you time, money, and reduces hassle when the business grows, you tackle larger projects, or you just want to get to Friday afternoon with your sanity intact.

Clients remember how easy you made things for them, not just how nice their site looked. That’s what puts you at the top of their list, project after project, and helps you enjoy your work rather than constantly solving avoidable problems.

Wrap-Up

No website platform is perfect for every client. Squarespace stands out for smart templates, user-friendliness, and stability for most small and medium jobs. Wix provides creative freedom and a huge app selection, useful for unique or experimental projects when you manage the process well. WordPress is extremely flexible and scalable, making it the choice for serious growth, but be ready for more behind-the-scenes management.

The real key is to know what you and your client need, plan ahead, and choose based on research and fit instead of a quick demo or the smallest price tag. Each site you launch on the right platform builds goodwill and frees you up for future projects.

Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.

Quick Takeaway Notes

• Squarespace: High-quality templates, easy for clients, fits portfolios, blogs, and straightforward shops. Limited in-depth customisation.
• Wix: Huge creative freedom, vast app selection, but keep designs disciplined. Works best for unique client needs with careful planning.
• WordPress: Offers maximum flexibility and scaling potential—from blog to enterprise. More setup and consistent care are required.

Whatever your platform, resist distractions from shiny features. Build on something you and your client can develop together and you'll spend more time doing the work you enjoy, with fewer headaches from preventable mistakes.

Cheers,
Elwyn