This isn’t really a three-way contest. It’s a choice between two models of running a website: hosted builders and self-hosted software.
The core difference
Wix and Squarespace are hosted website builders. You pay a subscription, and the company provides the editor, hosting, security updates and templates in one package. You rent a well-maintained space.
WordPress (from WordPress.org) is open-source software. You install it on hosting you choose and extend it with themes and plugins. You own the house — including the maintenance.
Note: WordPress.com is a separate, hosted service built on WordPress. This comparison is about self-hosted WordPress.org.
Trade-offs at a glance
| Factor | Hosted builders (Wix, Squarespace) | Self-hosted WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Sign up and start editing | Choose hosting, install, configure |
| Maintenance | Handled by the platform | Your responsibility: updates, backups, security |
| Flexibility | Within the platform’s features and apps | Almost unlimited via plugins and custom code |
| Ownership and portability | Tied to the platform | Full control of files and database |
| Costs | One subscription (plus domain and paid apps) | Hosting + domain + optional premium themes/plugins + help |
| Who can help | Platform support | A large global (and South African) community of developers |
When a hosted builder makes sense
- You want a professional site quickly with little technical work.
- You prefer one predictable bill and no maintenance.
- Your site is a classic small-business site: services, about, contact, gallery, perhaps simple bookings or a small shop.
Between Wix and Squarespace, the decision often comes down to editing style and templates. Both offer free trials or free plans in some form — check their official pages — so build your home page on both and keep the one that feels natural.
When WordPress makes sense
- You want full ownership and the freedom to move hosts.
- You need specific functionality, such as membership areas, complex content structures or a store built with WooCommerce.
- You have, or will pay for, technical help.
- You plan to publish a lot of content and want fine control over structure.
South African considerations
- Local hosting: many South African hosts offer WordPress hosting, which can mean rand billing and local support.
- Payments: if you’ll sell online, confirm the platform supports a local payment gateway such as Payfast or Yoco.
- Data costs: visitors on mobile data appreciate lighter pages. Whatever you choose, compress images with our image compressor.
Selling products?
If ecommerce is the main job, also look at dedicated platforms like Shopify. See all ecommerce tools.
Next steps
- Write down the five pages your site needs.
- Try a hosted builder’s trial and a WordPress demo or a host’s starter plan.
- Total the 12-month cost using our guide to reading pricing pages.
- Before launch, write titles and descriptions with the search snippet preview.