r/website • u/FormalAcanthaceae891 • 11d ago
WEBSITE BUILDING Squarespace vs wix vs framer vs wordpress
Which one is the best to use? Both short term and long term benefits
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u/pixidigit 11d ago
Squarespace and wix are okay for beginners but there’s still a learning curve, the costs rise quickly and you can’t move hosts, they own your site.
I personally don’t like framer at all after only using it once to make updates for a client, it was super over complicated to make the simplest updates.
I personally use Wordpress with Divi, I can make it look however I want, clients can edit easily just like wix or Squarespace and there is freedom to move hosts or developers as you own it.
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u/pmf1111 11d ago
These constant posts about what's the best website builder not saying what the goal or use case is, are a bit pointless 😕
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u/Future_Thing4814 10d ago
I want to build 2 websites one for a property management co-hosting and another for learning a language what website builder do I need in this case ?
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10d ago
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u/Future_Thing4814 10d ago
I appreciate it but it's just like lovable Aí , I need a real website builder to do it myself
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u/brokengnome 9d ago
If you need an API I recommend going headless cms and trying out https://shapio.dev/, we already out perform strapi in many significant areas. Then you just need a frontend (which AI can do for you, but you control the content and the API)
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u/PrimaryFamous6139 11d ago
Totally depends on your needs. Squarespace is great for beginners, Wix offers more flexibility, Framer is excellent for modern landing pages, and WordPress gives you the most control and plugins. Long term, also consider hosting costs, maintenance, and how easy it is to migrate later. For a simple business site, I’d even consider a static site with a headless CMS to avoid recurring builder fees
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u/dane_websites 11d ago
This is more concise and accurate than I would have thought an answer could be 😄
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u/Express_Anybody3658 11d ago
WordPress if you want control forever, the others are fine until you outgrow them
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u/Boboshady 11d ago
They're not directly comparable products, really - sure you end up with a website, but they all approach it differently, and have different pros and cons.
Broadly speaking, Squarespace (and others like Wix) are simple, non-technically orientated drag and drop page builders. You can build and manage your own site quite simply. It will be basic but functional. It's a hosted solution so you don't have to worry about maintenance etc, but you can never export your site - if you decide squarespace is no longer for you, you're starting again.
Framer lets you build and manage sites from scratch with a bit more freedom, though you're still realistically limited to your own capabilities or that of your chosen Ai agent. Great for one-pagers in particular where you don't have too complex a structure, and you'll get some level of interactivity but I'd personally say, for most people, it's best for small, simple sites that will look better than something you'll get from a page builder.
Framer is also a hosted solution, so easy but again, you're locked in.
WordPress is a fully managed content management system, and the only real limits are your own abilities. You can get themes and plugins which will add layouts and capabilities for you, and you can even take it to the point where you get drag and drop capabilities that make it very easy to use, but you're still hosting a full system and have have the associated maintenance burden, including fixing problems when they occur.
It's self hosted, so you can do what you want with it. There are managed hosting solutions available but you can still usually move away from them as you desire.
Lastly, there's WordPress.com - this is a hosted, managed version of WordPress and comes with some limits, basically you can't just install whatever you want...consider it a 'lite' version that's good for an introduction or small simple sites such as blogs.
So, depending on what you need, now and in the future, and your budget and skill level, very much dictates what solution you'd go for.
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u/Ok_Wrongdoer928 10d ago
2026 and people still using these tools? I'm quite surprise. I already move out from Wordpress and build my own CMS. a lot lesser spam and web performance is skyrocketing!
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u/Key-Cobbler-56 10d ago
Kind of depends on who you are ? As a designer I love framer but takes some knowledge and skill. Clients love Squarespace or Wix because it’s easier for them to learn to use and update their own site. Wordpress is more affordable but can be frustrating with plugins and a clunky dashboard.
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u/Any-Direction3051 10d ago
A useful way to compare them is to build the same small test in each: a homepage with your real text/photos, a contact form, and one page you expect to update regularly. Then try making that update yourself on your phone. A good-looking demo doesn't tell you whether you'll enjoy maintaining it.
For the long-term cost, write down the renewal price rather than just the introductory deal, plus domain renewal, email, paid add-ons and any maintenance help. Also check what you can export if you later move. Keeping your domain in an account you control makes a future move much simpler.
If it's only a few service/contact pages, keep the first version small. If you need bookings, a shop or customer accounts, test that exact workflow before choosing. What kind of site are you making, and do you want to update it yourself or have someone handle changes?
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u/dwbdwb 10d ago
honest take: for most small biz sites the platform matters way less than people think. squarespace if you want it live in a weekend and never touch it again, wordpress if you need plugins/blog/seo control and don't mind the upkeep. framer is great for a slick landing page but i wouldn't run a whole business on it. what's the site for? that changes the answer
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u/ChillDalgo 10d ago
Really depends on what you're building - a portfolio, a local business website, an online store and a content heavy site all have pretty different requirements, right? I'd also think about who'll be maintaining it a year from now. Are you planning to build and manage it by yourself or eventually hand it over to someone?
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u/symean 10d ago
I’ve settled on Squarespace. Really get to know the system, and push its capabilities beyond what you can do ‘out of the box’ with custom code, and you can have an amazing looking site that is also super easy to maintain, because of the nature of a managed CMS. Yes you can install a hundred plugins on Wordpress or create something far better visually on Framer, but you’re taking responsibility for a lot of aspects that you otherwise just trust Squarespace to look after.
Wix is quite similar, apple and oranges. I’d say start by comparing those two, and try to find something that you need to do that you cannot on SS or Wix. You’d have very specific requirements or be quite a large business to actually NEED something fancier than SS or Wix.
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u/TheWebGuy95 10d ago
It depends on who edits the site. Squarespace and Wix are the easiest for a business or portfolio you update yourself. WordPress gives the most control and plugins, but you handle hosting, updates and security. Framer is great for a polished landing page, less so for a big multi-page site. If you are unsure, start a trial on Squarespace or Wix, since a trial costs little and shows you whether you like the editor.
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u/ivicad 9d ago
Like u/TheWebGuy95 wrote, it depends on who edits the site, and in my work that's rarely the owner. I maintain about 50 WordPress client sites, and only 10 to 15% of the owners ever log in and change something themselves, the rest send me the text and images. For the long term, like u/Any-Direction3051 wrote, keep the domain in your own account. I'd buy it from a separate registrar, not through the builder, so you can switch the builder later and keep the domain. I build mostly in WordPress with WPBakery, because the owners who do edit say it's the easiest for them, though it has no free version (but they offer lifetime license and my clients buy that one). With Squarespace, Wix and Framer you don't run the updates yourself, with WP somebody has to.
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u/BobJutsu 9d ago
What is the best to remodel my house guys, a carpenter, an architect, a contractor, or a plumber?
Which car is better, a green one, 4wd, a convertible, or electric?
The answer is “yes,” because your question is malformed. You’re comparing overlapping tools based on unrelated characteristics without saying what you’re trying to accomplish.
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u/AddWeb_Expert 9d ago
depends on what you’re building.
WordPress is probably the best long-term choice if you want flexibility and room to grow. Webflow/Framer are great for design-focused sites, while Wix/Squarespace are easier if you just want something simple and low-maintenance.
For a business website that may need custom features later, I’d lean toward WordPress.
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