Wix vs Squarespace
The classic website builder duel pits maximum freedom and features against curated design and calm. Both got AI setups in 2026. The personalities did not change.
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Wix
The everything-builder that meets you at your level.
SquarespaceSquarespace
The builder that makes everything look like a design studio made it.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Price | From $17/mo | From $16/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Most people, most sites | Creatives and brand-conscious businesses |
| Category | All-round builders | All-round builders |
| Provider | Wix.com Ltd. | Squarespace Inc. |
| Visit Wix | Visit Squarespace |
Our verdict
Wix wins on capability, with more layout freedom, a bigger app market, stronger e-commerce at comparable tiers, and the better AI generation flow. Squarespace wins on outcome quality for design-led sites.
Its templates are harder to make ugly, the editor protects you from your own worst instincts, and a portfolio or restaurant site looks expensive faster. Tinkerers and feature-needers should take Wix. People who want beautiful with guardrails should take Squarespace.
Both lock you in (no real site export), so let the free trial decide which editor you can stand for years.
“The best all-rounder for most people. You get the easiest serious editor, an app market for everything, and AI generation that actually produces a usable first draft. Sites can get heavy and the upsells are constant, but no builder covers more ground this well.”Editorial team, on Wix
“The design pick. Best-looking templates in the business, a calm editor, and Blueprint AI that collaborates instead of deciding for you. Less flexible than Wix and pricier than the budget crowd, but nothing makes a portfolio or small business look expensive faster.”Editorial team, on Squarespace
Frequently asked questions
Is Wix better than Squarespace?
Wix wins on capability, with more layout freedom, a bigger app market, stronger e-commerce at comparable tiers and the better AI setup flow. Squarespace wins on outcome quality for design-led sites, because its templates are hard to make ugly and a portfolio or restaurant site looks expensive faster. Tinkerers and feature hunters take Wix. People who want beautiful with guardrails take Squarespace.
Which is cheaper, Wix or Squarespace?
Squarespace, at the entry level. Basic is $16 a month on annual billing against $17 a month for Wix Light. Both in US dollars, last checked August 2026. The gap flips once you sell, since Wix Core costs $29 a month while Squarespace Core is $23 but carries transaction fees on the lower commerce tiers. Wix also keeps a free tier with Wix branding.
Can I move my site from Wix to Squarespace later?
Not as a site. Neither platform lets you take a working site with you. Wix has no export at all, and Squarespace exports content only, so a switch means rebuilding the design by hand. That is why we suggest letting the free trial decide which editor you can stand for years, rather than the feature list.
Which one is better for a small online shop?
Wix, at these tiers. Its Core plan at $29 a month accepts payments and includes basic e-commerce, and the app market fills gaps that Squarespace covers with fewer integrations. Squarespace sells fine too, with Core at $23 a month, but the lower commerce tiers carry transaction fees. If the shop is the whole business, look at Shopify instead.