Squarespace vs Wix
A source-aware comparison of pricing, documented capabilities and workflow fit.
Short answer
- Price: both start at $16/user/mo.
- How to start: both are from $16/user/mo.
- Where they differ: on what we checked they match — both offer public api and mobile app.
These lines are generated from the pricing we track, not from a paid placement. How we score tools.
What Squarespace is
Squarespace focuses on the 'power of design,' making it the choice for creative professionals and luxury brands. It uses design constraints to ensure your site always looks polished and high-end. Its templates are world-class. With strong e-commerce and scheduling tools built-in, it lets a brand manage its entire digital presence with a premium aesthetic.
What Wix is
Wix is a pioneer in 'drag-and-drop' website creation with over 200 million users. It lets anyone build a professional, mobile-responsive site with zero technical knowledge. Its AI-driven ADI can even design a site for you based on a few questions. Its App Market adds features like bookings or e-commerce easily. It's the most popular 'all-in-one' choice for both simple portfolios and complex business sites.
Side by side
| Squarespace | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Design | Design |
| How to start | $16/user/moverified | $16/user/moverified |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Open source / self-hostable | No | No |
| SSO (SAML) | No | No |
| Visit | Squarespace ↗ | Wix ↗ |
What Squarespace is built to do
- Fluid Engine
- A powerful and flexible next-gen editor for professional-level designers.
- Commerce Analytics
- Track your sales and customer behavior through detailed, stylish charts.
- Scheduling
- Embed a professional appointment system directly into your site via Acuity.
- Bio Sites
- Create stylish 'Link in Bio' pages for your social media accounts for free.
What Wix is built to do
- Wix Editor
- The world's most popular visual editor with total pixel-level control.
- Wix Bookings
- A system allowing your customers to book appointments and pay online.
- Ascend by Wix
- A suite including email marketing, live chat, and CRM for business management.
- Editor X
- A specialized version for designers with advanced responsive design capabilities.
Choose Squarespace if
- Photographers, Artists, and Boutique Brands.
Choose Wix if
- Small Business Owners, Artists, and Personal Brands.
Evidence and freshness
Where a claim on this page comes from a vendor page, it is linked here.
Squarespace: pros & cons
- Premium Templates: The cleanest and most 'expensive-looking' designs on the web.
- Ease of Use: The new Fluid Engine makes drag-and-drop much more intuitive.
- All-in-One: Every essential tool is built-in without needing extra plugins.
- Mobile Ready: Designs look consistently flawless on mobile devices automatically.
- Flexibility Limits: Does not allow the same total freedom as Wix to place items anywhere.
- Price: Monthly fees can be higher than those of most major competitors.
- App Market: Its ecosystem for third-party apps is smaller than Shopify or WordPress.
Wix: pros & cons
- Max Design Freedom: Place any element exactly where you want it with pixel precision.
- All-in-One: Hosting, domain, and design are all bundled into a single bill.
- Huge Library: Over 800 modern, ready-made templates for every possible sector.
- Velo by Wix: Allows developers to add custom JavaScript functions to their sites.
- Template Lock: Once you build a site, you cannot easily move its content to a new template.
- Site Speed: Sites can become slow if overloaded with too many animations or widgets.
- No Transfer: You cannot move your Wix site to another hosting provider.
Our verdict on Squarespace
The best tool for building an elegant, minimalist, and high-end website.
Our verdict on Wix
The standard choice for those wanting to build the fastest and most visual site with zero tech skills.