87 Squarespace Vs. Wordpress: Both Sides of the Story
Choosing a blog or other website publishing platform is a decision taken too lightly by far too many people. Your blog platform, or content management system (CMS), can greatly influence the size of your audience, the effort it takes to publish new content, and - if applicable - the amount of money you make online. This week, I invited Wordpress expert and Internet marketing entrepreneur Andy Brudtkuhl to engage in a conversation that compares Squarespace.com and Wordpress.org as blogging platforms/web publishing softwares.
I'll concede that the choice of blogging software is not an easy one. Wordpress is the perennial favorite. Squarespace.com
Big Picture Web Marketing is a Squarespace website (See my updated Squarespace review here). Andy Brudtkhul, again, is a Wordpress consultant/pro/ninja. We both agree that there is no single best option and that the right blog or website publishing platform comes down to the one that best meets your goals, abilities, time lines, budgets, etc. We've put together this brief comparison based on Andy's experience with Wordpress and my experience as a Squarespace developer to help you make an informed decision on what's best for you:
Price
- Squarespace - Squarespace services include both web design tools and hosting. Basic packages start at $8/month. To host your site on your own domain, accounts start at $14/month. Coupon codes can save you around 10%. Squarespace provides an excellent value for their slightly higher monthly price tag.
- Wordpress - Free-ish - WordPress is completely 100% GPL open source however you still need to pay for hosting and domain name. The price ranges from ~$3/mo (GoDaddy) to $100/mo (Rackspace)
Search Engine Friendliness
- Squarespace - Squarespace is largely SEO-friendly. It's built on valid XHTML code. You have control of your page titles, alt tags, article links, etc. And while most of the important elements are covered, I'll admit Squarespace's proprietary system does fumble with SEO in a few minor areas. For example, you can't create custom page titles for some of the system-generated content (i.e., tags and categories). But overall, Squarespace will suit all but the most hardcore SEOs.
- Wordpress - Designed with SEO in mind. Everything from semantic XHTML markup to optimized URL's to on page elements and meta information is optimized for search. There are also themes and plugins that can help you along the way. There are even some plugins with built in keyword research tools that help you write better for SEO. It's easily the most optimized solution I have ever used out of the box.
Security
- Squarespace - Being a completely hosted system means Squarespace is not prone to the same security holes as open source systems like Wordpress and Drupal. I'll never have to pay someone to cleanse my hacked blog because I bought my domain on GoDaddy. My site is just plain safe. And with revenues estimates on the rise for Squarespace, the platform is likely to invest even more into its already solid architecture
- Wordpress - You need to maintain your own updates and be careful with plugins. Also - a good host helps. Remember in hosting - you get what you pay for. We prefer to host at Rackspace - but you can still have problems if you don't keep your site updated to the latest version and security fixes.
Adding Features
- Squarespace - Squarespace may not have all the bells and whistles of Wordpress plugins, but they aim to be the best at what they do with the plugins they have. For example, the new Squarespace Twitter widgets download and store your tweets on their servers, so your site will never slow to a crawl when loading because Twitter is down. (And website load time is important.) Plus, Squarespace is compatible with all widgets on the web. The combined effect provides nearly all the extra features one could want in a blog.
- Wordpress - The reason WordPress has grown so popular is it's ability to scale functionality through custom themes and plugins. Themes and plugins can provide unlimited functionality through a "Actions & Filters" API that WordPress provides. This is huge because it allows you to extend WordPress without changing any core WordPress code - allowing for new functionality while maintaining easy management and upgrades. Because of this API and the open source code platform - the WordPress development environment has grown and now there are hundreds of thousands of plugins and themes available.
Visual Customization
- Squarespace - Squarespace starts off with a selection over 60 professionally designed templates. Then, you can customize nearly every element of the interface using their WYSIWYG editor - no knowledge of CSS is needed. It's ridiculously easy to have a completely custom and unique look. And for hardcore designers, Squarespace does allow for full CSS control. I picked Squarespace in part because I didn't want "just another Wordpress Thesis blog."
- Wordpress - The common misconception (alluded to by Josh) with WordPress is all sites look like blogs. While this is true in many cases - it doesn't have to be since you have full control over your design. The theme market place is growing and dozens of free and premium WordPress themes are released on a daily basis. Themes like Thesis allow tons of design control from a WYSIWYG editor and if you really want it to look unique you can customize it to do so.
Ease-of-Use
- Squarespace - The usability of the Squarespace editor is outstanding. Creating stunning galleries, exceptional blogs and web pages that convert is easy. Getting used to their primary controls,including the Content, Structure and Visual "editing layers," requires minimal ramp-up. Squarespace also provides an extensive collection of how-to's, videos and forums available on their site. Building a site with Squarespace takes a shockingly short amount of time. You can even post to your blog from your iPhone, iPad and (soon) Android device (Perhaps the Windows mobile platform in the future, too).
- Wordpress - Another reason for WordPress' rise in popularity is the ease of use factor. It's easy to setup, customize, and start producing content. Any average web user could setup a new site and be blogging within 10 minutes. There is a thriving online community with blogs, videos, pictures, howtos, podcasts and more on how to use, manage, customize, and publish in WordPress.
Hosting
- Squarespace - You get the web publishing software and hosting with Squarespace. And not just any hosting. Squarespace uses grid hosting, which distributes your website traffic evenly across an entire networks. If you get on Digg, your site won't go down. If you get on CNN, your site won't go down. It's some heavy duty hosting. Plus, you can quickly transfer blog archives from other platforms with Squarespace's blog importer.
- Wordpress - In hosting, you get what you pay for. If you choose to host your site for $3/mo at GoDaddy don't expect to get great support or the fastest server out there. However you can scale at your own needs. Four years ago we were hosting WordPress at GoDaddy and by now we are hosting on the super duper fast Rackspace Cloud. It's not cheap - but it's fast, secure, and reliable.
Support and Maintenance
- Squarespace - Squarespace boasts a 99.98% uptime. And because there is no Squarespace free plan (i.e, no forced advertising), they only have to support paying customers. It's their jobs to make you happy. End of discussion. Their email ticketing system is amazingly fast. Their service level is 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. Submit a ticket, get a coffee, come back and get your response. And you'll never have to worry about upgrading your blog with the endless patches and upgrades of an open source platform. Squarespace takes care of all of that.
- Wordpress - WordPress support and maintenance is DIY... If you are uncomfortable with technology than you should have a WordPress guru (or me... wink, wink) in your contacts for those times when you need them. However WordPress does make upgrades and maintenance EXTREMELY easy through it's administration interface. It is imperative that you keep it updated (I mean c'mon it takes 1 click of a button) to avoid any security issues that may be fixed.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, both Squarespace and Wordpress are great web publishing tools and can most likely meet the needs of most businesses' blogs' or websites' marketing strategies. Andy and I hope this post has given you the perspective you need to make your choice based on your own personal goals, skills and resources.
Are you in the process of starting a blog? What questions do you have about Squarespace or Wordpress? If you've already selected your platform, what has your experience been like so far? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and we'll be sure to reply.
Did you like this blog post?
Let's Connect:
Subscribe:
Reader Comments (87)
Thanks for collaborating on this one! Also loved using Google Wave for it!
Squarespace is Apple. Closed system but everything is taken care of for you. It's simple, easy, and reliable.
WordPress is Android. It's open source and you can do anything with it - but ultimately you are responsible for it ... from updating it to keeping it secure.
I think that analogy works, Andy. Thanks again for lending your expertise and time!
Hey guys - as Andy knows, I'm a SquareSpace guy.
I started blogging on Blogger and planned to migrate to Wordpress. However, I hesitated due to the frequent reports of security issues (whether just or not) and the fact that hosting a Wordpress implementation was above my comfort level. I wanted the easy customization and feel of a "grown up blog" and felt that SquareSpace - at ~$14/mo was the better option (for me).
I do 99% of my work on a netbook and the combination of SquareSpace and hosted tools like Picnik allowed me to create a site that I was proud of and could administer on the go.
Check it out: http://www.geoffreyhwood.com
Geoff,
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I switched to Squarespace from Drupal because of the same hosting/security issues you feared during your transition. It's a key part of the decision and I thank you for highlighting it with your comment. Also, great looking blog!
Thanks for the great summary- I am in the very early stages of starting an online business with a blog and lots of good content. I will supplement the site with a few relevant products. Is it possible to sell directly from squarespace platform? Seems like I read that they do not have any "shopping cart" plug ins currently.
I have no experience in website development- so ease if use is really important! Oh, and I am on a shoestring budget!
Dawn,
Squarespace doesn't have an ecommerce widget of their own yet, but does integrate with many ecommerce solutions. Foxycart seems popular with many folks. Ecwid is newer product that appears to be very easy to use. At the very minimum, you can always integrate with Paypal or a Google Checkout. Try reading this article from the Squarespace User Manual for more information.
I was a Blogger blog for over 2 years, sampled Wordpress, not a good fit for me. Sampled SquareSpace - LOVE IT! Just wish I could have kept all my subscribers and fans with the move!!(hee hee)
That's the hard thing about platforms like Blogger where you don't end up with your own domain. It's like building a house on rented land. I'm like you, T & T. I made the move (from Drupal) to Squarespace and haven't looked back.
Josh & Andy,
Thanks so much for putting this together.
I've designed a few sites for clients in Squarespace and they are delighted. It is so easy to teach and for them to understand and adopt.
I had a wordpress.com blog back in the day so I'm also somewhat familiar with Wordpress.
I'm closing in on the launch of a new blog and have been vacillating between these two platforms. Most blogs I read are Wordpress blogs and in a recent blogging workshop I attended the instructor was adamant about using Wordpress. So I was kind of feeling like I *should* use Wordpress because, well, everyone else does, and for good reason.
Yet I've had so much fun and success with Squarespace, was looking for every excuse not to leave the platform. In your comparison, I think I found it.
I'll move forward using Squarespace with greater confidence.
Andy, the Apple/Android comparison was exactly what I was thinking when I got to the end of the post.
Nice job, fellas!
There are definitely plus/minus with any platfom like this - and it's always good to experiment and find the best fit for you. Honestly - WordPress is not for everyone... which is why there's a market for technology like Squarespace, Posterous, and others.
I am a Squarespace gal, no questions asked. I started out on Wordpress (because that's what you do) and quickly realized that someone without HTML or CSS experience (like myself) had to contact a pro every time I wanted to update my header or any visual aspect of my site (I hired a pro in the beginning because I didn't want that "Wordpress-y" feel). With Squarespace's WYSIWYG editor, "BAM!" it's done.
I still have A LOT to learn, but I think my site looks pretty darn tootin for someone with limited experience and limited time available.
And their tech support! One word: AMAZING!!!
One things I miss, though... The Wordpress tag cloud (the one that floats) I used to have. Can't find one that will work with my Squarespace site. Any suggestions?
Here's my Squarespace site: http://ilovecda.com
Thanks, Maryellen! You have a great looking site. I'm not sure I've seen a floating tag cloud but it looks like you've managed to implement the Squarespace tag cloud without issue. I still have to implement it but I have to clean up my taxonomy first!
This is a great and fair comparison! I was on Blogger for YEARS. Then I just stopped blogging due to spam issues, boredom, etc. Until I met Squarespace and fell in love with blogging again. There's only one issue that I find that was not discussed in this article and that's the issue of storage space for photos. Although I did create a blog very fast on Squarespace - I haven't made it "live" yet because I have a feeling if I use their gallery feature to host my travel phots, etc. - I'm going to run out of space. For $14/month all I get is 2GB of storage. Does this mean I have to count on hosting my images elsewhere AND paying an additional monthly fee? Even at $50.00 a month (which I won't pay as just an average everyday blogger) the most Squarespace offers is 5GB of space over the life of your site.
Thoughts on this?
Thanks again for a great article.
Fellow square space user. Love it...learning to enhance it"s ability....great choice!
Jin - Storage can be a potentially confusing subject but I think you'll be happy to hear that you have some options here. You don't need to upgrade your entire package. Just pick the one that gives you the features you need, then pay an additional $1/GB per month, up to 20 GB. Storage can be purchased a la carte within your Account Center.
Michael - Couldn't agree with you more!
Great article - I'm trying to do something with squarespace that I think should already be a feature as I really hate the idea of having to learn and maintain Wordpress to do it. But, as your article mentioned - it's not possible and can pose a problem with SEO.
For example, you can't create custom page titles for some of the system-generated content (i.e., tags and categories)
I need my category pages to have a page title to them or at least have the category name in the title first for SEO. I'm basically make squarespace work as a wedding directory, but was hoping I can have the category name show up in the title since google does not like the same title used over and over. Wondering if something with jquery can make this happen? Anybody know?
I was ready to turn my html site into wordpress... But now I am hesitant! Thanks for the info. I will further investigate Squarespace, from which until today I was completely unaware off. (I wonder if it will be as membership friendly as Wordpress is).
@Valentin - No I don't think it will be as membership friendly as WordPress... WordPress is easy to build into a community / membership site however I think Squarespace is more for a standard website...
Josh - correct me if I'm wrong!
Also for membership sites - check out WildApricot... You can skin that as well
Actually, with Squarespace you can create community/membership sites. You'll need to go a bit further than the Pro package though. The extra features do cost a bit more but they are there.
Hi Josh,
I just started an ecommerce site, built from Dreamweaver, that sells up to 50 products. A lot of people have told me to convert my site to Wordpress since it will help with my page rank and SEO. But I love Squarespace and intend to incorporate my Squarespace blog to my website as a subdirectory. I'm new to the SEO world, so your post on the comparisons has deepened my considerations, but then I am still fluctuating between the two. Do you think the SEO strengths of Wordpress over Squarespace would be compelling enough to skip Squarespace and go with WP? There are WP ecommerce themes out there that look nice, and the plug ins that go with them, but I am so not ready to go through laborious conversion process to WP.
Any advice you can give would be very helpful. Thanks!!
Hi Squarele - I've never built an ecommerce offering with Squarespace but have seen some folks pull it off. Some ecommerce solutions will just require a simple link on your product page (e.g., PayPal) while others host your product catalog some place else and serve it up on your site through Javascript (e.g., Ecwid). In order to get all of the SEO benefits from ecommerce, your product content has to be on your site - every product deserves its own URL, optimized with keywords and links to drive traffic.
I really hope Squarespace comes out with a more robust ecommerce offering in the future, but for now our tools are a bit more limited. If you can use PayPal or a similar technology and be ok with that, you'll probably be just fine sticking with Squarespace. Also, check out the Squarespace Manual for more info on the topic.
Thank you, Josh! You've cleared some confusion I have had. Really appreciate your blog and the great information!
Articles like this used to be between Blogger and Wordpress. But who would have thought a new name would enter the scene this soon? Squarespace does look very promising and if they're quick it could become the most popular platform in the Web in the coming years.
Jane Darwin
You're right, Jane. I'm not sure why but Squarespace has remained somewhat under the radar despite its incredible platform. I have two theories, personally: 1) They don't offer a "free" version like Wordpress or Blogger (save for a two-week trial) and 2) I believe Squarespace is a better software company than marketing company. But this too is changing. They've made great strides in communication with the hiring of their community manager (hey @markb!). Their new board members will probably aid in guiding the marketing efforts a tad as well.
That said, watch out for Squarespace. This platform is going places... I bet it will be one of, if not the fastest growing platform in the next five years.
I have had used both wordpress and squarespace. I found that both have their pros and cons. I found that wordpress had more options but some of them were difficult to figure out how to use. I love squarespace. I can usually figure out how to do most everything myself. I love their support. Lately I have wanted to improve my stats and SEO. I am starting to understand the lingo. I was contacted by Hubspot. They claim they can improve my SEO. I hate to change the whole platform just to get better SEO. Does anyone know anything about hubspot? Is there a way to improve the SEO on squarespace?
Julia - I've never used Hubspot but I wouldn't leave Squarespace if you're concerned about SEO. I do it for a living (Online Marketing Manager at Rasmussen College) and I love Squarespace. I've been meaning to do a post about Squarspace and SEO. Looks like sooner will be better than later.
Hi Josh,
This is all very helpful information. Just one question (and pardon my web ignorance): if I decide to use Squarespace (as my business is just in early stages) but later on decide I need more capabilities (flash and things I can't do on my own) will I be able to take my site "off" squarespace or will I have to build another from scratch if I leave them?
Thanks!
Lottos - You can definitely export your site from Squarespace if you need to. They export quite nicely into a Movable Type format, as well as XML. Check out their manual entry on the topic.
Josh, I've been searching the Squarespace site for info on this, but I can't seem to find a straight answer, so maybe you could help me?
I've just set up a Squarespace site, and I'd like to allow people to comment on my blog without becoming members. Is that possible?
Marla - All you have to do is enable comments by default within the configuration options of your blog. Opening a Squarespace support ticket or tweeting to @squarespace is a really effective way to get answers to these one-off questions too. You know, if I'm not around or something :)
Tweeting, of course! Thanks, Josh! I decided to go with Squarespace based primarily on your articles.
Marla - I'm thrilled that I could help you find the right tool for your site. Glad to hear Squarespace was right for you!
Thank you all so much, I've been in a dilemma about starting my website with WP or squarespace. I really like what I see about SS, even though I haven't done a demo yet. My envision is a blog w/forum and later membership. It'll be spiritual, occult, astronomically related...probably very opinionated too...lol..anyway, I'm not that tech savvy in the behind the scenes look, so I found squarespace and now after reading this post am sold on it. I've used WP and have had lessons on "tweaking" as far as SEO goes and a "little" of changing code (like I said, I'm a baby in that dept) it's not my forte...the only thing I will miss about WP are there plugins... - I'm hoping (please, please) that SS has compatible ones that can rival WP.... cause I'm going on board as of tomorrow, I'm tired now...from endless searching.... thank you Josh for this story, you are a Godsend! ♥♥♥
Hey thanks Kim. Glad I could help. I like Squarespace because there aren't any plug-ins required for great SEO. You may want to check out the post I just did on Squarespace SEO as well.
Thanks for this article.
I've been a WordPress guy for a few years, but recently had to dive into SQSP for a client. From the perspective of a developer, I must say that SQSP makes things difficult. Without control over 90% of the markup, I can't really create the "best" website possible. From a bloggers perspective, I can see why SQSP is appealing. It's super easy to use, hard to break, and fairly intuitive.
Jacob- It sounds like you have the skill, time and need to really get under the hood of your clients' sites. I can see why you're partial to Wordpress. Thanks for your thoughts.
Not trying to bump this but I find the biggest problem for me is getting stuck on editing the design in SS or for that even wordpress.... I know that SS makes it very easy to edit the site instantly and wordpress has million site to buy templates and upload them.... But I guess for me just graduating college and being graphic design/web developer the ability to find ways to edit the themes or really design has limited me and frustrates me......I've seen both awesome WP and SS sites done and I just get in a flow and stop.....I did a site in SS and the client loved it, but to my standards wasn't good at all, but they liked it and the ability to log in and update on the fly...... Just some thoughts on what others do or how they edit WP themes or SS themes.....Anything would help lot
Mike - Two things come to mind regarding your comment:
1) Do you know CSS? If so, it sounds like you may want to start creating your own Wordpress themes. Knowing CSS also means you can bypass Squarespace's visual controls to tweak the site styles exactly the way you want. It's one thing to be able to come up with a compelling visual. It's another (yet very valuable) skillset altogether that allows you to translate the visual to HTML/CSS. As a somewhat new designer fresh into your career, you'll probably master CSS in no time and then have no limits at all.
2) Remember that quality is always a bit subjective. You're striving to create a design masterpiece. The business owner for whom you're creating a website wants something that looks professional AND results in sales and/or leads for them. At the end of the day (i.e., when the invoice is in the mail), quality is measured by the client in terms of business metrics. It's your role as an web designer to make something that both meets their business objectives and makes you proud as an artist.
Josh,
Thanks for the quick reply much appreciated.....I graduated from La Salle Unvi. in Philly and I guess it was a fast paced way of learning CSS...explaining what it means and how the divs work and elements then it was right into using CSS in HTML....i have a firm grasp on CSS, but I guess ill admit my biggest fear/problem is that I don't know where to start looking on how to edit a theme in WP or how look pass the basic of SS css..Like is MAMP the way to redesign a WP theme or do I link MAMP and dreamweaver together......or in SS can I create my own header and buttons in Photoshop and export them into my current developing SS website....I guess its a cry help lol..
And I guess my other deciding factor is....How easy it is to set up WP through several different hosting companies and uploading is easy.....And that I still haven't read or seen anything if I already pay to use SS for one client...Do I need to pay another 14 a month to set up another website for another client and get started with that or I am missing something and can make multiple sites with one account
Mike - I wish I could answer your Wordpress questions, but alas, I only work in Squarespace at the moment. And while my CSS skills are very limited, the process seems very straight forward:
1) Here's the Squarespace XHTMLelements. These are basically your default elements.
2) Create a UI in Dreamweaver, being mindful of the core Squarespace elements
3) Once you have your design, you can upload all the raw files to Squarespace. Then use their Advanced CSS editor to map your stylings to the appropriate XHTML element and create any other necessary classes/elements.
Again, I'm a marketer and SEO by trade, so I may have missed a detail or two. But this is the process that bonafide designers explained to me. The real key is to be able to translate your design to Squarespace's structure. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info on this site guys.
I'm a News Designer with NO ability to read instructions/code/manuals - I've taught myself design software over the years by trial and error.
I've purposely stayed away from the web because of this "fear"...but I am being tempted by SquareSpace tho...very tempted. I dipped my toe into WordPress...not for me. Too hard...I just want to blog and design. Square Space is the closest to a graphics package that I've seen...
Your blog has been real helpful. I'll be keeping an eye on it. Thanks
Glad it's been a help, Tony. I like Squarespace a ton because I don't need to know PHP or .NET at all. I really don't need to know HTML/CSS at all, but the little I've picked up has made me extremely dangerous. I notice you have a .co.nz email address. Go Black Caps!
Thanks for writing this important comparison.
As someone who designs custom work, do you have a preference when using your own css code? What I mean to say is, I have been recommending we use Wordpress with the custom designs, but should I start suggesting Squarespace, or it doesn't matter?
Thanks, Susan
Also, if a client is to take over after the blog is launched, and it's a custom design, which will be easier to maintain for them, if they don't know anything and have only the basic minimum from my tutorial?
Susan
Hi Susan,
Good questions and I'm afraid I don't have a super answer for you. I don't do a lot of design. In fact, I'm working with a "real designer" right now to re-do the CSS for my site. I focus more on the strategy and marketing of a blog.
I don't think you can choose Wordpress or Squarespace just based on design options alone. You can do a gorgeous custom Squarespace design and still hand off easily to a client for future maintenance.
Susan,
I was in the same dilemma as you and that the client wanted to be able to do lot and I just felt like for the extra $20 dollars that Squarespace was the best for it. WP is just as easy, but SQ is just lot easier I think and when doing custom design nothing interferes with it at all and such. I had ponder for days to use WP or SQ and after just sitting down one night really getting SQ I would use it..... The support ticket is too much to pass... and can be easily used by clients.....The options you have are right at your finger tips and it just too hard to pass up
Excellent !!
This article helped me a lot!!!
I am a new user willing to start a web-site/blog
Since I am new... and want to avoid codes and etc... the best for me should be squarespace...
If in the future I choose to change... It's too difficult to do that???
Mike,
since I last Posted to this story, I've had a bit of a play with SquareSpace...and I gota say it's very easy. No code, just common sense...I've been waiting a long time for this to happen...and it's happened. Yay!
My prediction is that a whole lot of similar product will soon appear. Check out Flash Catalyst CS5 for making Flash animations without code...
The hardest thing is figuring out terminology - its hard to figure out how to make something happen without knowing what it's called - but a bit of fossicking around the FAQs and tutorial videos soon let's you know.
In NZ we'd describe SquareSpace as a Piece of P*ss...which is actually a compliment.