WordPress vs Squarespace for Service-Based Businesses: Insights and Canadian Price Comparisons from 519Web

By Deborah Clarke, 519Web, Kincardine, Ontario

As the owner of 519Web and an experienced web designer, I've thoroughly explored both Squarespace and WordPress to determine the best platform for service-based businesses.

While many of these businesses may integrate a blog for content marketing and SEO, the primary focus is on creating a robust, custom site that effectively represents their services.

Here's a detailed comparison, with Canadian prices, highlighting the strengths of Squarespace with their own hosting and WordPress with separate hosting options, like our premium PinPoint Local Hosting.

Why Consider WordPress with Separate Hosting?

WordPress with Separate Hosting: This approach allows for unparalleled control and customization. And quality hosting matters. Hosting platforms like PinPoint Local Premium Hosting provide superior speed, security, and support, essential for service-oriented websites that demand reliability and performance. As a partner with PinPoint Local Hosting, our clients have access to a dedicated server with protected access - it’s like living in a friendly neighbourhood. More specifically the server is protected from hosting any pharma, adult, gambling or illegal types of sites. So from a hosting perspective I have 100% confidence.

Quick Comparison: Squarespace vs WordPress

• Squarespace: Known for its ease of use and elegant templates, making it suitable for quick setups and easy handover to client.

• WordPress with Separate Hosting: Offers unmatched customization and scalability, ideal for businesses seeking a unique, tailored online presence, with customized or automated features that require custom coding.

Key Points:

• Squarespace’s simplicity is attractive for those who want a quick start and a user-friendly interface. WordPress provides deeper customization and functionality, crucial for service-based businesses that require specific features and integrations. (Eg. Like portals for members or directors or staff; or automated features to help minimize daily tasks).

Comparison Overview | Pros and Cons

PROS

Squarespace

• Hosting and site are all in one, managed by Squarespace.

• Learning curve is much less with Squarespace.

• Some templates available to make set up faster.

• Easier for client to use and make changes after custom website is build.

• Squarespace handles all of the updates. No additional maintenance fees required.

WordPress (with 519Web)

• We have senior development team who can build almost anything for you inside a WordPress website.

• Thousands of templates available.

• Reliable hosting with PinPoint Local Hosting. I have direct access to hosting team.

• My team maintains your website (for a fee) including updates, can fix issues.

• I personally check into site every month and send monthly report with our updates.

CONS

Squarespace

• Customization is somewhat limited, but it has got much better over the years.

WordPress (with 519Web)

• Is more complex for clients to manage (is my #1 complaint from clients). Clients typically reach out to me to make changes vs trying to make changes on their own).

• Annual Fee to maintain website is higher, because plugins associated with website need to be updated monthly. If plugins and themes aren’t updated the site can break.

Key Takeaways

• Squarespace: Simplifies the design process with its intuitive editor and integrated features. Majority of service-based businesses will do well with this simplified website solution.

• WordPress with Separate Hosting: Provides extensive customization and scalability, ideal for businesses that need tailored solutions.

Pricing and Hosting

WordPress with Separate Hosting: This setup allows you to choose hosting services like PinPoint Local Premium Hosting, which offers enhanced performance, security, and support. Although WordPress itself is free, additional costs for premium themes and plugins should be considered.

Squarespace: Offers an all-in-one pricing model, which may be more predictable but limits customization and scalability compared to a self-hosted WordPress setup.

BASE FEES

Squarespace

• at time of printing Personal Subscription (no extras) $260 CDN / year; OR

• at time of printing Business Subscription (with 0% cc fees) $432 CDN / year

• worth noting, no email addresses included

• CURRENT PRICING LINK:      https://www.squarespace.com/pricing

WordPress (with 519Web)

• Hosting with 519Web, PinPoint Local Hosting $300 CDN /year

  • Includes email addresses with company domain, no extra charge

• Web Care (maintenance monthly) $750 CDN /year

Keep in mind when comparing pricing, there may be additional fees for email addresses with Squarespace. Examples:

• Using Google Workspace can be about $110 CAD/year per email.

• Using GoDaddy for Email can be $132 CAD / year per email using Microsoft365

Customization and Features

WordPress with Separate Hosting: With countless themes and plugins, WordPress offers unparalleled customization. Service-based businesses can benefit from features such as booking systems, client portals, and CRM integrations that can be seamlessly incorporated into their websites.

Squarespace: While offering a range of built-in features, its customization capabilities are limited compared to WordPress. It is more suitable for straightforward websites without complex requirements.

SEO and Content Integration

WordPress with Separate Hosting: Known for its superior SEO capabilities, WordPress allows for detailed optimization through plugins like Yoast SEO. Integrating a blog is straightforward, however, I do have clients complaining it is too complex for them to maintain a blog themselves inside the WordPress Platform. Plus, if you want to integrate a group email system, you need to add another service like Mail Chimp, Brevo or other similar services. Which means you are curating your email list away from your website. Still, overall, WordPress does provide a powerful tool for content marketing and SEO.

Squarespace: Offers basic SEO tools built-in but lacks the depth and flexibility that WordPress provides with variety of additional SEO plugins available. Having said this, Squarespace has come a long way with SEO tools built in - one in particular I like is the ability to have AI write the Alt Text for all images, a real time saver! (so cool). Many of my service-based clients are preferring Squarespace simply for it’s ease of use. From a content perspective, blogs are super easy to set up and add new blogs. And, the simplicity of being able to send a group email any time a new blog article is added, right from the same platform makes it an easy decision for content writers.

Conclusion

For service-based businesses seeking a custom, scalable website, WordPress with Separate Hosting is the superior choice. It offers the flexibility, performance, and control necessary to create a professional online presence that can grow with your business needs.

While Squarespace provides a simpler setup, and rates higher for ease of use. My personal opinion is for service-based businesses (majority of my clients) Squarespace offers exactly what is needed, all from one platform, with no ongoing maintenance requirements. One of the biggest selling features for me is having everything in one place. Write your blog article, add all of the SEO Meta Titles, Descriptions and Social Media display easily, then send a group email introducing the article to your email list - all in one place! To me, that’s the difference, actually making use of your email list and staying in touch easily.

Ultimately, the decision should align with your business goals, technical requirements, and long-term growth plans. That’s why at 519Web, we start with the BRANDfocus METHOD to determine the best tools you should be using for your specific situation and business goals.