Most teams don’t compare WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace for fun. It usually starts with a friction point.
Maybe updating the site takes longer than it should. Maybe SEO work keeps getting stuck behind “we’ll need a dev for that.” Or maybe you’re staring down a redesign and realizing the platform choice is going to decide how smooth (or painful) the next year of marketing feels.
That’s the real issue. The platform isn’t a background detail once it starts slowing down publishing, limiting landing page tests, or making technical fixes feel harder than they need to be.
So this comparison isn’t about picking the “best” builder in general. It’s about figuring out which one fits how your team works, what you need to ship, and how fast you want to move.
In this post, we’ll break down how WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace compare in the areas that matter most for marketing teams. Here’s how to choose the platform that fits your goals, your workflows, and your growth plans.
High-Level Snapshot: How Each Platform Is Typically Used
At a glance, WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace can all support a marketing website. The difference is in what they’re built to optimize for. Each platform makes tradeoffs between control, speed, and structure, which is why they tend to attract different types of teams.
This high-level view helps set expectations before getting into the deeper comparisons.
WordPress
WordPress is built for flexibility and scale. Marketing teams usually choose WordPress when SEO, content growth, and long-term customization are priorities.
It works well for sites that need to support large blogs, resource libraries, custom landing pages, and ongoing optimization. With the right setup, it gives teams full control over site structure and performance, though that control often requires more experience to manage.
Wix
Wix is built for speed and ease of use. Teams that value quick launches and minimal technical overhead often lean toward Wix.
It allows marketing to publish pages and make updates without much setup, which can be appealing when speed matters more than deep customization. The tradeoff is less flexibility as the site grows or SEO needs become more advanced.
Squarespace
Squarespace is built for structure and visual consistency. It’s commonly used by teams that prioritize design and brand presentation over frequent experimentation.
Squarespace works well for sites with a defined structure and lighter content needs, but it can feel restrictive when marketing wants to push beyond the platform’s built-in patterns.
WordPress: Best for Long-Term SEO and Scalability
WordPress is often the default choice for teams planning for growth. It’s not the simplest platform to manage, but it offers the most control over how a site is built, optimized, and expanded over time.
SEO Flexibility That Scales With You
From an SEO perspective, WordPress stands out because it allows full control over metadata, URLs, internal linking, and site structure. Teams can create content hubs, scale blog production, and adapt their architecture as strategies evolve.
This flexibility makes it easier to support long-term organic growth rather than working around platform limits.
More Freedom for Landing Pages and Campaigns
That control also extends to landing pages and campaigns. Marketing teams can build custom layouts, test new page structures, and integrate tools without being locked into a rigid framework. For organizations running multiple initiatives at once, this flexibility is often worth the extra effort.
The Maintenance Tradeoff
WordPress requires ongoing updates, plugin management, and performance monitoring. Many teams also need developer support for setup or more advanced changes. For marketers who want full ownership and scalability, those costs are often an acceptable part of the equation.
Wix: Best for Speed and DIY Builds
Wix is often appealing to marketing teams that want to move quickly without relying on developers for everyday updates. It’s designed to make publishing and editing as simple as possible, which can remove a lot of friction from day-to-day work.
Fast Page Creation and Updates
Wix makes it easy to build and publish pages quickly. Marketing teams can spin up landing pages, update copy, and make design changes without much setup.
This speed is especially useful for short-term campaigns, quick tests, or situations where timing matters more than deep customization.
Minimal Technical Overhead
There’s very little to manage behind the scenes. Hosting, updates, and security are handled for you, which reduces maintenance work and keeps the site running without much intervention. For teams without dedicated technical resources, this simplicity can be a major advantage.
Where Wix Starts to Feel Limiting
As sites grow, Wix’s constraints become more noticeable. SEO customization is more limited (which can impact search visibility), site structure is harder to adapt, and scaling content can feel restrictive.
For teams that rely heavily on organic search or plan to expand content significantly, these limitations often prompt a move to a more flexible platform.
Squarespace: Best for Polished Sites With Minimal Setup
Squarespace works well for teams that want a clean, professional site without dealing with code or technical setup. It’s built to help you create a visually appealing website live fast, even if — one would argue especially if — web design isn’t your day job.
Strong Design Out of the Box
Squarespace’s templates are its biggest draw. They’re well-designed and consistent, serving as a safeguard against many common web design mistakes. You can swap in your content, adjust layouts, and tweak styles without touching code.
For small teams or solo marketers, this makes it easier to launch a site that looks credible and intentional from day one.
Simple Editing With a Low Learning Curve
The editor is typically straightforward and predictable. Pages are easy to update, sections are easy to rearrange, and most changes don’t require technical knowledge.
This makes Squarespace a good fit for teams that want control over content updates without spending time learning a complex system.
Where Squarespace Can Hold You Back
That simplicity comes with tradeoffs. Design changes are mostly limited to what templates allow, so deeper customization can be frustrating. Advanced features, especially around e-commerce or custom functionality, can also get expensive quickly.
On top of that, integrations are more limited, larger site structures are harder to manage, and features like autosave or version history aren’t built in. For complex sites, multilingual content, or teams that expect to grow significantly, those gaps tend to surface over time.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Team
There’s not necessarily a “best” platform; simply choosing one of these options does not guarantee a successful site. A “good” website comes down to how it’s planned, built, and maintained, not the platform alone.
The right choice between WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace depends on what your team needs to prioritize now and what you expect to need as your marketing grows. The goal is to pick a platform that supports your strategy instead of forcing you to work around it.
If SEO and Content Growth Are the Priority
Choose the platform that gives you the most control over structure and optimization — that’s WordPress. Teams that rely on organic search, publish content regularly, or plan to build out resource hubs need flexibility around URLs, internal linking, metadata, and site architecture. A platform that supports growth without friction makes it easier to keep improving rankings over time.
If Speed and Marketing Autonomy Matter Most
Wix is the choice here if your team needs to move quickly. It makes it easier to launch pages, update content, and try new ideas without depending on developer support. If speed, flexibility, and hands-on control are priorities, this setup tends to fit those needs well.
If Design and Simplicity Come First
Squarespace is the choice here. It keeps design clean and consistent, which can be a real plus if your site structure is pretty set and brand presentation is the priority. If you want an easy-to-manage site that still looks polished, and you don’t need a ton of custom functionality, Squarespace tends to fit that lane well.
Build a Website That Supports Real Growth
Choosing a platform is about fit, not features. When the CMS aligns with how your team works and where your strategy is headed, it becomes a tool that supports growth instead of slowing it down.
At Astute Communications, we help marketing teams choose, build, and manage websites that actually support their goals. From website design and ongoing maintenance to SEO and digital marketing strategy, our services focus on performance, not quick fixes.
If you’re planning a rebuild, migration, or want to get more out of your current platform, we can help you make smart decisions and execute them effectively. Contact us to create a website and marketing strategy that supports long-term growth and measurable results.