WordPress vs. Squarespace: Which Should You Choose for Your Blog?
After a decade of building blogs on everything from Blogger to custom-coded sites, here’s how WordPress and Squarespace stack up—and how to choose the one that fits your goals and budget.
When I started VegOut over 10 years ago, I didn’t expect I’d spend so much time learning the ins and outs of different blogging platforms—mostly by trying things, making mistakes, and figuring out what actually works.
Back then, I started on Blogger.com (remember that?). It was basic but free and easy to navigate. A few years later, I moved to Squarespace. I didn’t need any technical coding experience, but the site looked professional, polished, and the support was top-notch. Squarespace made everything feel simple and user-friendly, which was perfect for getting started.
Then a web developer convinced me I should get a fully custom-coded website. At the time, it seemed like a good idea—it looked professional and I thought I’d have total control. In reality, it was a nightmare to manage. Every update, even small ones, had to go through the developer, and he wasn’t always reliable or aligned with what I wanted. For a small company or blogger, that kind of dependency. For a small company or blogger, that kind of dependency ends up being more trouble than it’s worth.
Eventually, I rebuilt VegOut’s site on WordPress.org (which, by the way, is different from WordPress.com—more on that later). WordPress.org gave me the flexibility I wanted without having to rely on a single developer for every little update. It’s still where VegOut’s site lives today.
And now? My latest project, Planetly, is hosted on WordPress.com—and honestly, it’s my new favorite. It feels like the best of both worlds: the flexibility of WordPress.org but with Squarespace’s all-in-one simplicity.
As you can see, I’ve jumped around quite a bit. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately, the right choice comes down to your goals, company size, budget, design preferences, and how much tech you’re willing to deal with on a regular basis.
So let’s break down WordPress vs. Squarespace, so you can figure out what will work best for your blog.
The Big Picture
WordPress.org is an open-source content management system. It’s incredibly flexible, endlessly customizable, and powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It’s the DIY route—like building your own home with a near-infinite catalog of upgrades. You pick your hosting, choose a theme, add plugins, and customize to your heart’s content.
Squarespace, on the other hand, is an all-in-one website builder. It includes hosting, templates, design tools, and e-commerce features built right in. It’s like moving into a modern, fully furnished apartment where everything “just works” out of the box. You don’t have to think about where the water pipes go—you just turn on the faucet.
Then there’s WordPress.com, which is a bit of a middle ground between WordPress.org and Squarespace. It handles hosting and technical setup for you, so you don’t have to worry about updates, backups, or security. At the same time, it still gives you more flexibility and customization options than Squarespace, especially if you upgrade to a paid plan. It’s a good option for bloggers or small business owners who want some control without needing a full-time developer or getting lost in technical details.
Pros of WordPress.org
1. Total Flexibility
From your site’s design to the features you add, WordPress.org lets you create exactly what you want—whether that’s a minimalist blog, a robust e-commerce store, or an online course hub. You can change almost anything about your site, down to the smallest detail.
2. You Own Everything
Your content, your data, your design—it’s all yours. You’re not tied to one company’s ecosystem, and you can change hosts, redesign, or add new features anytime without restrictions.
3. SEO Power
With the right setup, WordPress.org is an SEO powerhouse. Plugins like Yoast make it easy to optimize every element of your site—from your URLs to your meta descriptions—so you can improve your Google rankings and attract organic traffic for years to come. In the world of blogging, traffic = revenue.
4. Massive Plugin Library
Want to add a newsletter sign-up form, a membership area, advanced analytics, or even a recipe card builder? There’s a plugin for pretty much everything. And if it doesn’t exist, a developer can create it.
Pros of Squarespace
1. Simplicity & Speed
Squarespace is ideal if you want to launch quickly without dealing with the technical side of running a website. No hunting for hosting, no theme installation, no plugin updates. You sign up, choose a template, customize it, and you’re live—sometimes in just a few hours.
2. Beautiful, Polished Templates
Squarespace is famous for its modern, professional, and mobile-friendly designs. Even if you’re not a designer, your site will look like you hired one.
3. Built-In Everything
Blogging, e-commerce, email marketing, analytics—they’re all part of the package. You don’t have to piece together different tools or pay for multiple services.
4. Reliable Support
Squarespace offers 24/7 customer service via chat and email, which is a lifesaver if you’re not tech-savvy.
Pros of WordPress.com
1. Managed Hosting & Technical Setup
WordPress.com takes care of hosting, security, backups, and updates for you. You can focus on creating content instead of worrying about the technical side of running a website.
2. Balance of Flexibility and Ease
While it doesn’t offer quite the full customization of WordPress.org, it gives you more control than Squarespace. You can choose themes, add plugins (depending on your plan), and adjust your site’s design without needing a developer for every change.
3. Built-In Features
WordPress.com includes essential features like analytics, basic SEO tools, and social sharing options out of the box. Paid plans unlock more advanced features, so you can scale as your blog grows.
4. Easy Upgrades
If your needs expand, you can upgrade your plan to unlock more storage, monetization options, or advanced customization—without having to migrate to a new platform.
Where Each Falls Short
WordPress.org Cons:
Steeper learning curve for beginners.
Requires ongoing maintenance (updates, backups, security).
You’ll need to manage your own hosting and may have to troubleshoot issues yourself—or pay someone who can.
Squarespace Cons:
Limited flexibility—what you see is mostly what you get.
Less control over SEO and advanced site optimization.
Fewer customization options for complex features compared to WordPress.
Wordpress.com Cons:
Less flexibility than WordPress.org, with fewer advanced customization options.
Limited control over hosting and backend access.
Some features, like custom themes and plugins, require paid plans.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose WordPress.org if… you want complete control, plan to heavily customize your site, or see your blog as part of a larger brand with room to grow into courses, products, or complex features.
Choose Squarespace if… you want a beautiful, functional blog online fast—and don’t want to deal with technical details or ongoing site maintenance.
Choose WordPress.com if… you want a balance between ease and flexibility, with hosting and technical setup taken care of, while still keeping some control over design, plugins, and growth options.
The Bottom Line
If you’re brand new to blogging and want a low-maintenance, design-forward site, Squarespace will make your life easier. You’ll be up and running quickly, and you won’t need to hire a developer to make updates.
But if you have big plans for your blog—or want maximum control over design, features, and SEO—WordPress.org is worth the extra effort to learn.
And here’s my current favorite middle ground: WordPress.com. That’s what I’m using for Planetly, and it’s truly the sweet spot between Squarespace’s simplicity and WordPress.org’s flexibility. It gives you professional-level control without the “I need a tech background” headaches.
There’s no wrong answer here—only the one that fits where you are right now. The best platform is the one you’ll actually use to publish consistently, because consistency—not just the platform—is what will grow your blog.