The debate on this topic is fierce.

Wordpressers argue for control and flexibility, while Squarespacians value simplicity and ease of use. But what’s the difference??

Ultimately, it comes down to an open vs closed source platform. But what does that even mean?

Both Wordpress and Squarespace are the leaders of each space, respectively. Other “open” platforms include Wix, Joomla, and Drupal. Other “closed” platforms include Jimdo, Shopify and Weebly. Each has its benefits and what may be best for one person may not be for someone else.

I’d used Wordpress for my very first blog yonks ago but while re-evaluating (more like blowing the dust off) it three years ago when starting my web design business, I decided to make the switch to Squarespace. Here’s why...

1) IT’S SIMPLY, SIMPLE

Have you ever heard of the Flexibility-Usability Trade-off? It’s a design principle that states what you gain in flexibility, you lose in usability (and vice versa).

A good example is a remote control. How many times have you been frustrated trying to turn on a TV with a universal remote? Compare that to an Apple TV remote that doesn’t offer as many options but is much easier to use.

Wordpress is like a universal remote. It’s almost endlessly customisable but there’s a steep learning curve. Squarespace doesn’t have as many options for customisation but it’s much more user-friendly.

2) IT’S BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED — ON THE FRONT & BACKEND

I dabble in a little HTML and CSS to customise templates but I’m certainly no developer. With Squarespace, no coding is needed because their slick user interface (UI) is completely intuitive.

You can easily drag and drop page elements, click to insert new sections and see all the changes in real-time meaning what you see on screen, is what you get. Plus, every template they offer is so well-designed, you’d be very hard-pressed to create an ugly Squarespace site.

 3) YOU DON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TECHNICAL STUFF

Getting started with Wordpress requires that you set up a domain, hosting plan, security and database. The process can take up to several hours for the less tech-savvy among us.

I’m sure some people like the ability to select their hosting provider and access their FTP, but i’d prefer to never have to think about those things, personally. Squarespace: fewer decisions = less stress.

 4) SET UP YOUR WEBSITE IN A JIFFY

Squarespace is ready to go right off the peg. Pick a template, add your content, and — boom — you have a professional website that’s optimised for SEO + mobile responsive.

And as the old adage goes, time is money. The faster your site is up and running, the sooner you can start building your business and get new leads.

5) CLOSED SOURCE = BETTER SECURITY

Because Wordpress is open source and used by millions of people all over the world, it’s an easy target for hackers. With Squarespace, I never have to worry about security! (the Windows vs Mac analogy springs to mind but that’s a whole other blog post…)

6) YOU CAN BUILD IT & “FORGET IT”

Note that I do not recommend building-and-forgetting your website anywhere! But if you did on Squarespace then it wouldn’t rank very well but provided you keep your paid subscription then your site will stay secure.

On the contrary, every time Wordpress releases an update you have to install it (or risk jeopardising your site’s security) and that often means updating your theme and plugins as well. Plus, there’s always the worry that an update might break something 😫

7) PRICING IS BANG-ON

At £10/month, Squarespace’s pricing is amazing value for what you get. You don’t have to buy themes (some of the better Wordpress themes go for £40+), hosting and domain name because Squarespace includes all of that, all in one place. AND if you hire a Squarespace Circle Member (aka me) to build your website you’ll get exclusive discounts 😉

HERE’S THE GIST

Closed platforms like Squarespace are generally best for small or solo business owners and creatives. The ease of use, quick set-up and low maintenance is a necessity when you’re the only one running the show.

Wordpress is best for developers and larger businesses with bigger budgets who need a more robust tool and have the know-how and/or the resources to build and manage a custom website from scratch.

I’d love to hear about your experience with website platforms. What do you use and why? Do you even HAVE a website?