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A professional website is necessary for success, regardless of the type of business or brand. Hence, selecting the right website builder comes down to choosing between Wix vs Squarespace. Both of these platforms offer similar features. However, there are some key differences that you need to consider.
Both Squarespace and Wix are feature-rich. Wix offers an easy drag-and-drop editor, along with powerful features to boost your online presence. On the other hand, Squarespace offers a reliable platform with easy access to scheduling tools and stylish templates.
However, it is essential to consider aspects such as pricing, as your website will be up and running for years to come. You also need to understand your business needs to help you select the right platform.
In this Wix vs. Squarespace comparison, we will test and compare both website builders based on several factors, including usability, website builder, pricing, and eCommerce features. We will also look at a very affordable alternative to Wix and Squarespace that offers business management tools as well as website builder software.
Wix vs Squarespace: Ease of Use
They are well-liked by beginners as well as professionals because both Wix and Squarespace are very user-friendly web builders. Let's take a closer look at what Wix and Squarespace can offer in terms of ease of use.
Wix is fairly simple to use and intuitive. You will therefore be able to create your website quickly and easily regardless of your level of experience. Wix offers two platforms to build your website: the traditional Wix Editor or the newer Wix ADI. Wix ADI allows you to leverage AI and build a website with just a few simple questions. While Wix Editor is the traditional drag-and-drop website builder, similar to other platforms.
Here are a few easy steps to set up a website with Wix ADI.
- Begin by deciding on the type of website you want to create and the features you'll need.
- After that, select a design template and modify it to suit your requirements. Though it is limited, the editor is incredibly simple to use. Therefore, your ability to make changes will be severely limited.
The regular editor, on the other hand, provides far more flexibility:
- You begin by selecting one of the more than 800 templates available.
- Next, you proceed to the editing section. Since this is a traditional drag-and-drop editor, changing the appearance will be easy. On your Wix website, you can add, mix, match, and combine hundreds of different elements.
Overall, Wix Editor offers a more satisfying building experience, with access to ready-made templates and easy drag-and-drop website builder.
Contrary to Wix, Squarespace only employs one website editor, which helps to ease the setup procedure:
- First, choose a template that complements your website concept. You can select as many websites and templates as you'd like, even during a free trial.
- Once you've selected your template, customize your website by responding to a few questions. You are required to share the required pages and the name of the website.
- You can alter the appearance of your website in the editor. Unlike Wix, Squarespace does not have a drag-and-drop builder. Everything fits into this one easy grid.
- The Squarespace editing system is comprised of successive sections that build upon each other. The sections are then filled in with content using blocks.
- You can select from several pre-made sections. Their styles, fonts, and colors are all customized to match the template you select.
Because of this system, Squarespace is far less configurable than Wix, which makes Wix ideal for beginners and small projects.
Wix vs. Squarespace: Website Builder
Most beginners as well as non-technical users aim to create a captivating website display with minimal effort. Thus, choosing the right website builder becomes crucial. Let's continue our comparison of Wix vs. Squarespace website builder and understand the features offered by each.
1. Templates & Themes
A visually appealing storefront is essential for a new online store. Store owners that take this approach are likely to increase the visibility of their products and, as a result, increase sales from potential customers.
With over 700 templates available, Wix has become a popular choice. Up to 70 categories with a variety of features unique to each industry are covered by visually appealing templates. Furthermore, Wix users can customize to their preferences because they have complete control over all elements and sections. On the other hand, once you select a Wix theme, you cannot change it. So, it’s important to think carefully before making a choice.
Store owners are impressed by Squarespace's selection of attractive themes, which is available in a different corner. Most significantly, over 100 Squarespace templates have been effectively created to guarantee performance, usability, and mobile responsiveness. Like Wix, you can preview the template beforehand and alter the storefront yourself to make sales.
2. Extensions and Apps
Online merchants always prioritize feature enrichment to boost store performance. Therefore, integrating apps and extensions in addition to core functionalities is a good way to realize this dream.
You can access over 300 apps on Wix's App Market after creating a seller account. However, the majority of them are development apps that facilitate website creation. As a result, third-party apps are required for anyone looking to start an online store on Wix.
In December 2009, Squarespace presented its Extension gallery. Unfortunately, just 23 extensions are entirely supported. Though there isn't a wide range, the majority of Squarespace extensions are designed to improve eCommerce integrations.
3. Search Engine Optimization
SEO is the process of optimizing your website's rank so that it appears at the top of the Google search results. Consequently, comparing Wix's and Squarespace's SEO features will help your online store stand out from the competition.
Wix and Squarespace both provide SEO tools to help your online store rank higher in search results, so you can select the one that you prefer. Store owners can modify various elements such as heading tags, alt text, anchor links, meta tags, URLs, and more. This will help you rank your website or online store on search engines.
4. Blogging
Both Squarespace and Wix have an integrated blogging engine in addition to SEO features.
Wix includes several basic blogging features directly on your newly created store. If you wish to customize a more appealing blog page, you will need to add the free Wix Blog from the App Market. However, Wix is limited to supporting categories for blog posts.
Instead of focusing on a single feature, Squarespace supports categories and tags for blog posts, giving it an advantage over Wix.
Wix vs. Squarespace: Pricing and Plans
The features and costs of Wix and Squarespace are comparable. One of them does, however, have a free version and lower entry-level plans. Four paid plans, ranging from personal to business and commerce, are available from Wix and Squarespace.
The resources offered by both providers are the same, though Squarespace offers unlimited storage across all plans. Wix provides a basic free version in contrast to Squarespace, and its two entry plans are less expensive than Squarespace's. Check out the price breakdown below.
Additionally, Squarespace offers plans better suited for eCommerce, whereas Wix is more focused on personal and business websites. Wix provides developer platforms, eCommerce features, site analytics, and marketing suites with business plans. A marketing toolkit and eCommerce tools are the features included in Squarespace's most expensive plans.
Wix vs. Squarespace: eCommerce Features
While we are discussing Wix vs Squarespace, it is essential to compare the tool in terms of eCommerce functionality. Both of the tools offer an array of eCommerce features to its users in addition to being a paradise for creating standard websites. Let’s understand how they differ:
1. Payment Gateways
Due to its significant reduction in the risk associated with cash-on-delivery (COD), online payment is gradually becoming increasingly common in the community. Additionally, store owners can monitor checkouts by offering secure payment options.
Wix provides its users with a total of 41 payment gateway options. Some of them support all currencies and countries around the world. The others are limited to a few particular nations. This platform will automatically match your location and region with the best available payment options. Indeed, you can ask Wix to add a different payment provider if it suits your needs.
Unlike Wix, Squarespace only accepts Stripe, Paypal, and Square, which restricts the number of payment processors. Store owners can accept various payment methods with each. For more information, check the official Squarespace guide.
2. Sales Channels
With Wix, you can expand your product line to include popular sales channels like eBay, Instagram, and Facebook. You can control and make changes to your business from the Sales channel section of your Wix store dashboard, saving you the trouble of moving between these marketplaces. Installing the Multiorders app from the Wix Apps Market gives you an additional option for managing sales channels.
By allowing store owners to create multiple sites from a single admin panel, Squarespace allows them to diversify their product categories. Squarespace does not, however, provide multi-site plans. It is therefore necessary to set up different billing for each site.
3. Email Marketing
An essential strategy for eCommerce businesses looking to engage customers and increase traffic is email marketing.
Store owners can either create intuitive emails from scratch or customize pre-made templates with the help of Wix Ascend's user-friendly editor. Incorporating advanced data analysis will also assist you in tracking your email marketing efforts. Based on the outcome, you can evaluate the best content for subsequent campaigns.
Squarespace certainly provides excellent email campaigns. This enables users to manage their mailing list and website from the same admin panel. However, to use this functionality, you must purchase a premium plan starting from $5 - $7 per month.
4. Product Types and Other Features
With Wix, you can sell digital and physical goods (books, decorations, etc.) as well as downloadable goods (audio, ebooks, etc.). However, before bringing your Wix shop online, it is essential to ensure that the product type you plan to showcase is appropriate.
You can sell four different kinds of products with Squarespace: digital, physical, gift cards, and services. You can directly sell physical goods and services as one-time purchases or subscriptions, which will generate consistent, steady income for your shop.
Wix vs. Squarespace: Quick Comparison
Wix vs. Squarespace Affordable Alternative: Neo
A one-page website provides a simple but impactful overview of your offerings, combining elegance and efficiency in the ideal ratio. Neo's platform offers an extensive range of integrated business solutions to improve efficiency and client engagement and assist you in creating a stylish single-page website.
You may communicate with clients using a consistent and reliable brand image if you have a business email service that is connected to your domain. Your scheduling is made easier by the integrated calendar feature, and Neo Bookings makes it simple for customers to make appointments straight through your website, saving time and increasing productivity.
Neo makes it extremely simple to set up your online presence. Follow the given steps for creating a one-page website:
Step 1. Sign Up for Neo
Start by creating an account on Neo. You can start creating your website right now by entering your details in a straightforward process.
Step 2. Using the Neo Site Editor
After completing the registration process, start building your website by navigating around the Neo Site Editor. Remember that only administrators have the power to publish the site and access site editors.
To get started, go to the "Neo Site" option in the menu on the left and choose "Setup now!"
Step 3. Picking a Theme
Neo provides a range of themes to showcase the personality of your business. Select one that aligns with your vision and begin tailoring it to your story.
Step 4. Customizing Your Website Details
At this stage, personalize your website by adding details. Consider that you’re having a bakery shop. You may upload the shop’s logo, creating an instantly recognizable brand image. Then, spell out the bakery’s name and craft a description that encapsulates the aroma of fresh bread wafting through his doors.
Step 5. Adding and Editing Content
Content is crucial for your website. You may highlight the story and your dedication to traditional bread-making techniques, along with an exclusive selection of organic ingredients. Uploading images and adding descriptions becomes very easy with Neo's Site Editor.
Step 6. Customizing with Social Media and External Links
You can effortlessly link your Instagram and Facebook pages to your one-page site. Neo's platform simplifies this process, enabling a seamless integration of social media that bridges the gap between various platforms and the website.
Additionally, you can use the custom link feature to point customers toward his complete menu or press features without overwhelming the one-page site's streamlined aesthetic.
Step 7. Enhancing Communication with Chat and Forms
With Neo’s Site Editor, you can easily add a WhatsApp chat feature. Your website becomes an interactive hub where customers can inquire about special orders or the day’s specials.
A contact form on a website is equally important. You can integrate a business email within a contact form so customers can easily request quotes or sign up for the newsletter, directly channeling all inquiries and interactions to your Neo email.
The grand unveiling of your website is as simple as hitting the 'Publish' button. Neo empowers you to update the site in real time, a valuable feature needed for most businesses.
Conclusion
When choosing between Wix and Squarespace, it's very important to know exactly what you're looking for. Wix offers more than 800 templates, tons of apps, and great business tools, which is why it’s the winner in my book.
Conversely, Squarespace excels at simplifying and making things easily comprehensible. Almost anyone can do anything, from managing and constructing a website to creating a stellar online presence.
So, which one's the right fit for you? The right choice between Squarespace and Wix depends entirely on your project and goals. While both of these website builders can help you build personal and small business websites, Wix offers more customization and better customer support.
For small businesses that want an easy-to-use platform without a higher cost, Neo is an exciting option. It also offers business email management tools to streamline your business. Get started with Neo today!
Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs)
1. Do professionals use Squarespace?
Yes, both novice and professional users utilize Squarespace. While Squarespace makes it possible to create a professional website without the need for web design or coding knowledge, experts who wish to expedite the website creation process can choose from a wide range of customization options.
2. Which is better: Squarespace vs Wix vs WordPress?
Wix is the best of the three if you are looking for an affordable website builder. On the other hand, Squarespace’s entry plan is unbeatable due to unlimited bandwidth and storage. Of course, if you are building an eCommerce website, WordPress is worth the consideration too.
3. Can I switch from Squarespace to Wix?
No, you cannot automatically switch from Squarespace to Wix. However, if you decide to switch to Wix, you can start from scratch and create a website that looks comparable by selecting one of hundreds of templates.