The learning curve for some Content Management Systems (CMS) can be steep, frustrating, and overwhelming to a business owner. I recommend either Squarespace or Wix. Both are all-in-one CMS’ of choice because their systems are streamlined and straightforward for the tasks you could take on once we build the website. In addition, these flexible and feature-rich platforms are one of the most powerful, cost-effective solutions out there to get your business on the track toward success.

Squarespace and Wix have eCommerce plans available. This is great because you can sell your goods online right out of the gate or scale up once you’re ready to sell online. Not only can you sell products and services, but gift cards too. Nonprofits benefit as well, as they have the chance to take donations or integrate third-party plugins like DonorPerfect.

Need a members-only area? You can build a Membership site to sell exclusive content or courses too!

Knowing that all the templates are compatible with these features is great for any business that wants to scale up when they're ready. Fear not if you're moving products from Big Cartel, Etsy, or Shopify; Squarespace and Wix can accommodate that too.

There are significant differences between the platforms, like Mac or PC style differences. They are both very robust in their offerings, with the main difference being how they operate. Squarespace seems "cleaner" and more streamlined with a less steep learning curve. On the other hand, Wix can be a little confusing and may overwhelm some users, but some will be comforted by all the options with Wix because it feels like you're getting a lot. Both give you almost everything you would need. I've drawn some comparisons below, but there's a host of information and comparison articles to further your research. Important: When researching, ensure the article includes Squarespaces new editor, Fluid Engine.

For a full breakdown and comparison view: Squarespace Pricing or Wix Pricing

- Squarespace and Wix are widely used and broadly supported. Their combined market share is over 50%, with Wix in the lead.

- Both provide hosting, a domain, a content management system (CMS)

- There's a large selection of templates on both platforms, but Squarespace edges out Wix for beautifully designed templates. Having said that, everything is customizable and able to sit in its own lane.

- Squarespace has a structured editor, while Wix is unstructured. What does this mean? Squarespace's drag-and-drop Fluid Engine editor snaps blocks like text, buttons, images, etc., to a grid system. This newly released editor gives more flexibility than their Layout Editor and is an upgrade for the platform. This heats up the competition with Wix, whose unstructured editor allows you to drag and drop anywhere on the page.

- Who's Editor is better? I still give the edge to Squarespace. Why? Squarespace lets me add CSS code to fine-tune a website's design. I can better accommodate any page to the different sizes of a device's viewport, or for creativity's sake, I can add fun tricks I know that don't exist through the platform interface. Wix does not allow for this, and the freedom to do anything can lead to frustrating problems.

- Both are feature-rich, allowing you to add just about anything you need, but Wix has more variety of options within each core feature. However, Squarespace is gaining ground on this, and generally, they've figured out that balance where they don't leave you longing for more or overwhelmed with options. Generally, Squarespace has thought more about the psychology of their user interface and the end user interfacing with a built website. Therefore, the core feature options will be manageable for the website owner and the person interfacing with the website.

- Along with the core building blocks of websites, both offer eCommerce, email marketing, booking systems, member areas, blogs, and more.

- Squarespace offers Award-winning 24/7 customer support with email replies within an hour. Live chat is available from 4am to 8pm EST, Monday through Friday. Wix also has 24/7 customer support. You have several options with them: use their chatbot, submit a ticket, or request a callback. The ability to speak to a living, breathing human depends on your plan. Of course, you always have the option to delegate any issues to me, also a living, breathing human.

- Both are actively maintained for functionality and security, which makes you feel like you have your own IT department.

- Squarespace Commerce and Wix Stores' cart systems have no limit on the total number of products you wish to sell on your site. However, that's where the similarities end. On Squarespace, there are limits to the number of products you can have on each store page. Version 7.1 can have up to 10,000 products, and version 7.0 is limited to 200. In addition, each product can have up to 250 variants, like size, color, and the like. Wix allows for 1,000 variants per product. Wix also provides 6 product options per product, and each option can have up to 100 choices.

- Squarespace and Wix also allow you to offer gift certificates, receive donations, sell digital products, collect info with forms, process payments, charge tax, calculate shipping, and more.

- SEO is built into the system for users to initiate and maintain through their system. In that vein, you can see how well your efforts are going with access to analytics on both platforms and the ability to connect Google Analytics.

Some very important points to consider when choosing the right platform:

• Scalability: Wix offers more flexibility and scalability, particularly with features like ticket and event management, which are accessible via apps from the Wix App Market. This allows Wix users to manage events and bookings directly within the platform, whereas Squarespace often requires third-party integrations or custom code for similar features.

• Specialized Tools: Wix provides industry-specific tools, such as Wix Fit, designed for fitness professionals to manage bookings, classes, and memberships. Squarespace lacks these specialized, out-of-the-box solutions, making Wix a better choice for businesses needing more customized functionalities like fitness management.​

• Booking and Reservation Features: Wix excels in handling more complex booking needs, like hotel reservations, through its app ecosystem. While Squarespace also supports bookings, its options are less robust compared to Wix, which has deeper integrations for managing reservations.

Building a website doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I’ll guide you through every step—from setup and design to architecture and implementation—ensuring you get the most out of your website’s features. Once your site is live, maintaining it becomes simple. You’ll only need to focus on updates like blogs or your shop, drastically cutting the learning curve. Whether you want to manage the site yourself as you get comfortable with the admin interface or prefer ongoing support, I’m here to help—offering flexible maintenance services tailored to your needs.