Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace

Have you ever wanted to build your own website online? If you have, then you probably have heard of Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace. These three sites have simplified the website design process, while keeping it mostly affordable and user-friendly. The battle between Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace is one where all three can potentially be winners.

Now, you may be asking yourself which one to choose, since all three have good reputations. This is where we come in. Not only can you find out the phases of website development on our site, but you can find out the pros and cons of each website builder right here in this article.

Deciding between one and the other should be a decision you make with good information present. At the end, you should have ample information in order to make a decision and decide between Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace. 

Wix: Pros and Cons

As we analyze Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace, it is only fair that we give each one a fair review of its pros and cons. First up, we will discuss Wix.

Wix has a free version with ads, as well as multiple paid versions, ranging from $5 to a $39 VIP package. The free version is limiting for the user, but it is free, and someone starting out may benefit from not having that cost. The $39 version removes the ads, gives you unlimited bandwidth, 20GB storage, and your own domain name. It is important to have a domain name, as that is how users will find your site.

Also, Wix is easy to use. It has over 100 million users worldwide and its drag and drop technique contributes to that success.

Wix also covers hundreds of industries’ worth of designs, so they will likely provide you with the templates you desire. One con within this is that changing the template once you select it is not easy; only changing the design within the template is possible. When you choose your template, you should be sure that it is the one you want.

Other than that, when comparing Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace, you will notice a trend in all three. All three will tend to offer much better features when you pay for the premium versions, and those versions can lead to more success for your site. 

Weebly: Pros and Cons

Next in our comparison of Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace is Weebly. Weebly, like Wix, also has a free version. The free version of Weebly offers no custom domain. Its paid versions do however, and they range between $6 and $26 a month. The $26 version includes integrated ecommerce tools such as abandoned cart emails, insights and more. Because of the analysis Weebly offers, you won’t need to ask yourself when to add new content to your site.

Weebly allows custom domains only if you are using a paid version of the site. Also, the tools that Weebly offers are limited if you are looking to blog. I would assume they can put more effort into their blogging tools, since a free user could be doing something other than e-commerce. Therefore, Weebly seems to have some pros, but the cons weigh it down a bit more than they do with Wix. Its focus on e-commerce is good, but the lack of blogging tools compared to Wix is a downside of Weebly. When doing a Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace comparison, Wix has a clear lead over Weebly. Next up, we will take a look at Squarespace. 

Squarespace and its Market Share

As we continue to compare Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace, we will discuss Squarespace next, and its market share as well. While WordPress’s market share is in front by a lot, Squarespace leads Wix and Weebly. Squarespace has also grown 114% from 2018 to 2019, and is expected to grow as many more people find themselves migrating online for their professions. Like the other two website builders, Squarespace also has a growing number of apps you can choose from. There are also templates.

The biggest difference between Squarespace web design  and the other two is that Squarespace only has a 14 day free trial. The pricing ranges from $16 to $46 a month, although the $36 and $46 plans are recommended for commerce websites. Squarespace’s personal plan does not let you sell any products. Squarespace is one of the leaders in website development, and their personalization is one of the best. Squarespace market share may be lower than WordPress, but it is higher than Wix and Weebly’s, standing at 1.5%. Its market share may be higher than the other two, but the pricing as well as there not being a free version may put some users to the side. Squarespace’s e-commerce abilities make it more comparable to Shopify at times.

Also, it is comparable to Weebly as when you choose a template, it is harder to change up everything afterwards. Like we mentioned with Weebly, Squarespace has a good amount of e-commerce tools, but unlike Weebly, blogging is simpler to do with more tools on Squarespace for it. While Squarespace market share may be higher, the lack of a free version may be the reason it is also not competing with WordPress for even more market share.  

Ranking Wix vs Squarespace vs Weebly

After discussing the pros and cons of Wix vs Squarespace vs Weebly, it may be safe to say that we can rank them based on features, design, and pricing. At first, I thought Wix vs Squarespace vs Weebly would be difficult to rank, since they all have great features, some of which are very similar to each other. After comparing the three, clear differences can be seen in pricing and limitations of each one.

In first place, I would put Wix. Wix has a free and a paid version. The free version is very limiting, but users can upgrade to a paid version if their site sees success. Also, there are many features a paid Wix version offers to users.

In second place, I would recommend Squarespace. While Squarespace market share is the highest of all three, the lack of a free version is what sets it behind Wix for me. It still has plenty of tools, and the paid versions offer commerce as well as regular website tools.

In third place is Weebly, While Weebly offers the free version that Squarespace lacks, it has limiting blogging tools. The paid $26 version of Weebly offers abundant e-commerce tools, but not every user will be looking to do e-commerce on their site. Some casual bloggers will be put off by this fact.

Although we put Weebly last, it does not mean you should immediately choose one of the other two. If your needs are met by Weebly, you should still use it, regardless of where we ranked it. So, ranking Wix vs Squarespace vs Weebly can put into perspective which website builder is right for you. In first comes Wix, followed by Squarespace, and finally Weebly. 

Other Factors Important to Choosing a Website Builder

Choosing a website builder is not always just about putting the options next to each other and comparing them. Sometimes, considering back end web development services may actually be a better choice for your business. A website builder, regardless of how many features it offers, will never be as open as developing the code on your own or using a service. This also ties in to the SEO of your site. Coding the site yourself can provide better search engine optimization, and make your site easier to rank on a search engine ranking page. Remember, if you want the best website possible, hiring a service to do the development for you may be more costly than a website builder, but may very well pay off in the future. 

Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace

Overall, comparing Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace opened the door for some interesting insights for us. When we put the three side to side, we noticed a trend that a paid version of a site will always include specific features that you can’t get anywhere for free. These features can make a big difference for the success of your site.

Also, Squarespace does not even have a free version, which can be a deal breaker for more casual users. This put it below Wix in our ranking. Other trends we noticed included that Squarespace and Weebly offered more e-commerce tools than Wix, yet Wix still outperformed them in features and usability, as well as pricing. Even though Squarespace has a higher market share than Wix does, it does not prove to be better in every category, apart from having a paid version specifically for commerce websites.

Overall, ranking website builders may give you an insight on which one to choose, but ultimately you should decide which one to use, or if hiring out a web development service is better for your business. If you need help designing your own website, contact SEO Design Chicago today!

Frequently Asked Questions About Wix vs Weebly vs Squarespace

1. Which website builder is best for complete beginners?

Wix is generally the best choice for complete beginners due to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and free version that allows you to experiment without commitment. With over 100 million users worldwide, Wix has proven its user-friendliness. The free version lets you learn the platform before deciding whether to upgrade, making it less intimidating for those new to website building.

2. Can I switch templates after I’ve started building my website?

This depends on the platform. With Wix, changing templates after you’ve started is difficult – you can only modify the design within your chosen template. Squarespace has similar limitations once you’ve committed to a template. This is why it’s crucial to carefully select your template from the beginning. If template flexibility is important to you, consider this limitation when making your choice.

3. Which platform is better for e-commerce: Weebly or Squarespace?

Both platforms offer strong e-commerce features, but they serve different needs. Weebly’s $26/month plan includes comprehensive e-commerce tools like abandoned cart emails and detailed insights, making it cost-effective for small online stores. Squarespace’s $36-$46 commerce plans offer more sophisticated e-commerce capabilities and better design options, making it comparable to Shopify for more serious online businesses.

4. Do I really need to pay for a premium plan, or can I succeed with free versions?

While free versions allow you to start, they come with significant limitations that can hinder your success. Free plans typically include platform ads, lack custom domains, have limited storage, and miss essential features like SEO tools and analytics. For serious business use, a paid plan is almost always necessary to remove these restrictions and provide the professional appearance customers expect.

5. How do these website builders compare to custom web development?

Website builders offer convenience and affordability but have limitations in customization and SEO optimization compared to custom development. While builders are perfect for small businesses and personal projects, custom development provides unlimited flexibility, better search engine optimization potential, and unique functionality. Consider custom development if you have specific requirements that builders can’t meet or if long-term SEO performance is critical.

6. Which platform is best for blogging and content creation?

Wix and Squarespace both offer robust blogging tools, while Weebly’s blogging capabilities are more limited. Squarespace particularly excels in this area with sophisticated blogging features and beautiful content presentation options. If content creation and blogging are primary goals for your website, avoid Weebly and choose between Wix (for ease of use) or Squarespace (for advanced blogging features).

7. What should I consider beyond just features when choosing between these platforms?

Consider your long-term goals, technical comfort level, budget constraints, and growth plans. Think about whether you’ll need e-commerce, how important design flexibility is, if you plan to blog regularly, and whether you’re comfortable with ongoing monthly costs. Also consider the learning curve – while all three are user-friendly, some may align better with your working style. Finally, factor in potential migration difficulties if you decide to switch platforms later.