Wix vs Squarespace: Honest Comparison for Small Businesses
Updated October 20, 2026 · Website builders
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
| Feature | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan at $0, no credit card required (Wix Free) | Free for 14 days (trial); a permanent free plan isn't mentioned on the page |
| Entry paid plan (annual billing) | Light: $17.77/mo, price includes GST | Basic: appears to be $19/mo billed annually ($25/mo billed monthly); check current pricing |
| Mid-tier plan | Core: $29.77/mo; Business (Recommended): $39.77/mo | Core (Recommended): appears to be $29/mo annual or $39/mo monthly; check current pricing |
| Top tier | Business Elite, listed at $159.77/mo in the page text; the extract is garbled, so check current pricing | Higher tiers aren't in the source; check current pricing |
| Number of plans listed | Five: Free, Light, Core, Business, Business Elite | Basic and Core are visible in the source; check current pricing for others |
| Free domain | 1 year free on Light, Core, Business and Business Elite | 1 year free on annual plans, on available domains. Renews at the standard rate after year one |
| Storage | Light 2 GB, Core 50 GB, Business 100 GB, Business Elite unlimited | Unlimited bandwidth on all plans; storage limits not stated in the source, so check current pricing |
| Collaborators / contributors | Light 2, Core 5, Business 10, Business Elite 100 | Basic: 2 contributors; check current pricing for other plans |
| Selling online | Payment acceptance and basic eCommerce from Core; standard eCommerce on Business; advanced on Business Elite | Selling functionality on all plans. Basic shows card rates from 2.9% + $0.30 and a 2% online store transaction fee |
| Scheduling / bookings | Scheduling and services from Core upward; also a scheduling system and bookings platform | Scheduling and invoicing are listed as business services; plan-level details not in the source |
| AI tools | AI creation tools on all plans; AI website builder creates a site from a prompt | Built-in AI tools on all plans; Basic shows 10 one-time AI credits |
| Templates | 2000+ templates plus a drag-and-drop editor | Website templates and a design-focused pitch; template count not in the source |
| Support | 24/7 customer care on all plans; 14-day money-back guarantee | 24/7 support, Help Center, forum, webinars, and Hire an Expert |
| Freelancer / agency programs | Hire a professional option; Wix Studio is listed in the navigation (details not in the source) | Squarespace for Pros and the Circle partner program for freelancers and agencies |
Pricing: what the pages actually tell us
Wix publishes the clearer ladder: a free plan, then Light at $17.77/mo, Core at $29.77/mo, Business at $39.77/mo and Business Elite listed at $159.77/mo. Its prices include GST, vary by location, and the page says USD prices are for reference only. Yearly plans are paid in full at purchase. The page text also repeats a confusing $159 struck-through figure on several plans, so confirm what you will pay at checkout. Squarespace shows Basic at $25 or $19 per month and Core at $39 or $29 per month, depending on whether you pay monthly or annually. It says annual billing saves up to 36%. The currency and tax treatment aren't stated, so don't treat the two companies' numbers as a like-for-like comparison. Check current pricing on both sites for your country.
Free plan vs free trial
Wix lets you build on a free plan with no credit card required, and every plan carries a 14-day money-back guarantee. That makes it easy to experiment with the editor and AI builder before paying. Squarespace offers 14 days free. After that you need a paid plan. If you only want to test an idea slowly over weeks, Wix's free tier fits better. If you are ready to launch, the difference matters less.
Selling products and taking payments
On Wix, payment acceptance and basic eCommerce start at Core, with standard and advanced eCommerce on higher tiers. If you want to sell, plan to start at Core or above. Squarespace says selling functionality is included on all plans. The Basic plan shows card rates from 2.9% + $0.30 and a 2% online store transaction fee. Whether that fee drops on higher plans isn't in the source, so check current pricing before modelling your costs.
Services, bookings and niche business tools
Wix has the longer list of specialised add-ons in the source: bookings, online programs (courses), ticketing and events, restaurant management, hotel management, Wix Fit, donations and rentals. Scheduling and services are included from Core up. Squarespace covers scheduling, invoicing, memberships, donations, email and SMS campaigns, and has industry pages for coaches, consultants, trainers, salons and more. The source doesn't say how deep each tool goes on each plan, so test the specific feature you rely on.
Domains, storage and hosting
Both include a free domain for the first year on eligible paid plans, with renewal at standard rates afterwards. Squarespace's offer applies to annual terms on available domains, and the domain must be registered within a year of starting the subscription. Wix scales storage by plan, from 2 GB on Light to unlimited on Business Elite, and advertises 99.99% uptime. Squarespace lists unlimited bandwidth and secure hosting on all plans. Storage caps for Squarespace aren't in the source.
For freelancers building sites for clients
Squarespace has a dedicated Squarespace for Pros offer and a Circle partner program for freelancers and agencies. Wix lists a Hire a professional service and a Wix Studio product, but the source gives no details on either. If client work is your main use, read both programs' terms and check current pricing.
Pick Wix if…
- You want a free plan with no credit card to build and test before committing.
- You expect to need extra tools such as bookings, events, online courses, restaurant or fitness features.
- You want a pricing ladder that scales storage and collaborators, from 2 up to 100 collaborators.
- You want a large template library (2000+) and a drag-and-drop editor with an AI website builder.
Pick Squarespace if…
FAQ
Prices and features change — always confirm on each vendor's site.