Introduction
Did you know there are millions of freelancers worldwide who specialize in WordPress development? And I’m one of them—because there are unlimited advantages to using it. If you use Squarespace, you’re probably wondering, “Should I switch from Squarespace to WordPress?”
By analyzing both CMSs, we’ll figure out which one is perfect for your needs.
Initially, I also used Squarespace but later moved to WordPress because of more opportunities. And I think it’s the most crucial move of my entire life.
So in this article, I’ll explain how I moved from Squarespace to WordPress, what my journey was like, and whether you should make the switch or not.
Overview: Squarespace vs. WordPress
Squarespace:
Unlike WordPress, which throws everything at you at once, Squarespace takes you step-by-step—like setting up the homepage, picking designs, etc. It’s a hosted, drag-and-drop website builder.
You don’t need to pay while building your site. But when you want to publish it, that’s when they charge you—and I think the pricing is very overrated.
It comes with hundreds of templates, which are modern and not bad overall.
But when it comes to scalability, Squarespace might be a problem. It doesn’t have thousands of gateways like WordPress.
WordPress:
WordPress is an open-source CMS, and it’s honestly the most popular CMS ever. You just need a domain and hosting to use WordPress, but there are also tricks to use WordPress without domain and hosting. (Here’s an article for that.)
There are many benefits to using WordPress—it’s highly flexible, ideal for growth, and great for scalability.
In-depth Comparison
1. Ease of Use
Squarespace is ideal for beginners because of how easy it is to use. It’s very simple and minimalist, which is great for those who don’t have much technical expertise.
WordPress is kind of the opposite, but when you have the right guide, it becomes easy—like choosing a template, the right theme, plugins, etc.
2. Customization and Flexibility
Customization in Squarespace is very simple and beginner-friendly. But it has limited customization options.
WordPress offers thousands of templates, while Squarespace has only hundreds. WordPress plugins also come with various templates. The one I use is Templately.
One problem, though, is WordPress doesn’t come with a good built-in page builder. I use Elementor, which is a high-quality page builder plugin for WordPress.
3. SEO and Marketing
Squarespace has a basic built-in SEO tool, which is ideal if you’re not that technical.
WordPress has everything you need for SEO—like Yoast SEO and Rank Math SEO. Yes, for extra functionality, you might need the pro version.
4. Performance and Speed
Hosting providers like Hostinger are very efficient, and their AI website builders are highly optimized.
Squarespace sites often take 4 to 5 seconds to load, and the scores were very low in Google PageSpeed Insights.
WordPress websites can also be slow if not optimized, but with the right plugins, they usually load in 3 to 4 seconds, which is actually pretty good.
5. E-commerce Capability
Squarespace is good for medium-sized businesses, not for highly scalable ones, because it can’t handle complex features or heavy traffic.
WordPress itself doesn’t have eCommerce features, but WooCommerce can enable it. It’s scalable and supports thousands of payment gateways.
6. Pricing
Squarespace charges between $24 and $72 per month, which includes a domain.
WordPress is open-source and free. You only pay for domain and hosting, which typically costs around $30 annually.
7. Support and Community
Squarespace has dedicated support, but limited community help.
WordPress has a huge community. If you ever get stuck, there are thousands of tutorials, forums, and developers ready to help. You’ll never feel alone.
My Personal Transition Journey
1. Starting with Squarespace
At first, I saw people creating websites using Squarespace, so without thinking much, I went with it too. It seemed simple and easy—perfect for getting started.
2. Problems and Discovery
After about a month of paid use, I started running into a lot of problems. Things felt limited, and I couldn’t customize my site the way I wanted. That’s when I came across WordPress.
3. The Switch
I started looking into it, and honestly, I was shocked—WordPress isn’t just a CMS; it’s on a different level. It offers way more flexibility and control, and I knew I needed that. So I quickly switched.
4. No Looking Back
Since switching, I’ve had no regrets. WordPress gave me the freedom to build what I really wanted. And I think it’s the best decision of my life.
How to move Squarespace to WordPress step by step
Switching from Squarespace to WordPress might sound a little scary at first, but trust me—it’s not as hard as it seems. I’ve been there, and I’m going to walk you through the whole thing like a friend helping out. Here’s how you can do it without losing your hair or your content.
1. Get Your Domain and Hosting Ready
First, you’ll need a place to put your new WordPress site. If you don’t already have a domain and hosting, you’ll want to grab those. I like Hostinger because it’s affordable and beginner-friendly. Think of hosting as the home for your website—it needs to be reliable!
2. Install WordPress on Your Hosting
Most hosts make this super easy with a “one-click install.” Just log into your hosting dashboard, find the WordPress installer, and hit a few buttons. In no time, you’ll have WordPress up and running.
3. Export Your Content from Squarespace
Squarespace lets you export some of your stuff like blog posts. Head over to your Squarespace settings and look for the export option. It’ll give you a file that you can use on WordPress. Keep in mind, it won’t bring everything perfectly—some pages might need to be rebuilt manually.
4. Import Your Content into WordPress
Now, go to your WordPress dashboard, find Tools → Import → WordPress, and upload that file. Your blog posts should show up, but you’ll probably have to recreate some of your pages and other parts by hand.
5. Pick a Theme and Page Builder
Here’s where things get fun. WordPress has thousands of themes, so pick one that fits your style, I like the Elementor Hello theme. Because WordPress doesn’t have a built-in drag-and-drop builder like Squarespace, I recommend Elementor. It’s super user-friendly and lets you design your pages visually—no coding needed.
6. Add Plugins for Extra Features
To get all the bells and whistles you had on Squarespace (and more), install some plugins. For SEO, go for Yoast or Rank Math. For contact forms, WPForms is great. And if you want to sell stuff, WooCommerce is the way to go.
7. Double-Check Everything
Before going live, click through your site, check your links, images, and forms. Preview it on your phone and other devices to make sure it looks good everywhere.
8. Point Your Domain to Your New WordPress Site
If your domain was with Squarespace or somewhere else, you’ll need to update the DNS settings so your domain points to your new WordPress hosting. Don’t worry, your hosting provider usually has step-by-step guides for this, or you can ask their support team.
9. Launch and Enjoy!
Once everything looks right and your domain is connected, it’s time to hit publish and celebrate! You just moved your site from Squarespace to WordPress—nice job!
Should You Switch from Squarespace to WordPress?
It depends on your needs.
Stay with Squarespace if:
- You want a minimalist website and admin panel.
- You don’t plan to scale your business.
Switch to WordPress if:
- You want to be a freelancer.
- You need deep customization.
- You aim for higher scalability and growth.
- Advanced SEO and e-commerce features are important for you.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Squarespace | WordPress | My Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Very beginner-friendly, drag-and-drop builder | Needs some learning, flexible with guides | Squarespace is easy at first but becomes limiting; WordPress feels harder but is worth it. |
| Customization | Limited customization, fixed templates | Highly customizable, thousands of themes/plugins | Squarespace templates are enough for basic use, but WordPress gives full freedom to create anything. |
| SEO Capability | Basic built-in SEO tools | Advanced SEO plugins like Yoast, Rank Math | Squarespace SEO is okay for beginners, but WordPress SEO tools are far better for growth. |
| Performance & Speed | Slower (4-5s load time), low Google PageSpeed scores | Optimized sites load in 3-4s with proper setup | Squarespace sites I tested were slow; WordPress can be faster if optimized right. |
| E-commerce Support | Good for small to medium businesses | WooCommerce offers robust, scalable e-commerce | Squarespace is fine for medium business, but WordPress with WooCommerce is better for scaling. |
| Pricing | $24–$72/month (includes domain) | Free CMS, ~$30/year for domain & hosting | WordPress is way cheaper in the long run; Squarespace feels overpriced for what it offers. |
| Support & Community | Dedicated support, limited community resources | Massive community support, tons of resources | I like having a community; WordPress feels alive, Squarespace feels alone. |
| Scalability | Not ideal for high traffic or complex features | Highly scalable for any type of website | If you want to grow big, WordPress is the way. Squarespace can’t handle high traffic well. |
FAQs
Not really. It takes some time and steps, like moving content and setting up hosting, but with a good guide, it’s totally doable—even for beginners.
Yes, but not in a bad way if you do it right. Make sure to redirect your URLs properly and set up SEO plugins on WordPress. I actually saw an improvement in SEO after switching.
Yes, 100%. You don’t need coding if you use the right tools and page builders like Elementor. Coding is optional, not required.
No. WordPress is way cheaper. It’s free, and you just pay for domain and hosting, which can be as low as $30/year. Squarespace charges $24 to $72/month.
WordPress was made for blogging. It has better tools, more customization, and stronger SEO. If you’re serious about blogging, WordPress gives you more power.
Conclusion – Should You Switch from Squarespace to WordPress?
So, should you switch from Squarespace to WordPress? Honestly, it depends on what you want. If you’re looking for something quick and simple, Squarespace does the job. But if you want more freedom to grow, customize, and really make your site your own, WordPress is where it’s at.
From my own experience, moving to WordPress was a total game-changer. It gave me way more control and opened up a bunch of new opportunities. Sure, there’s a little bit of learning involved, but trust me—it’s not as scary as it sounds. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you’ll be just fine.
If you’re ready to level up your website and have more control over it, don’t hesitate to make the switch. It might just be the best move you ever make for your online presence.
Here’s What I Recommend:
Stay with Squarespace if:
You just want a simple, minimalist website, and you’re not planning to scale or add advanced features.
Switch to WordPress if:
You want to be a freelancer, need deep customization, or plan to grow your site over time. If SEO and e-commerce matter, WordPress is 100% the better choice.
In short, if you’re serious about your website and want long-term flexibility, then yes—you should switch to WordPress.
