Wix vs Squarespace for small business
Wix is the better pick if you want to build and publish for free, then fine-tune every detail with drag and drop, with paid plans from US$17.77 a month billed yearly. Squarespace suits owners who want polished templates and includes an online store and free invoicing on every paid plan, from US$19 a month billed yearly.
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Side by side
| Wix | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, with Wix branding | No free plan listed |
| Paid from | US$17.77/mo yearly | US$19/mo yearly |
| Monthly billing | Not shown | US$25/mo (Basic) |
| AI site builder | Yes, from a prompt | Yes |
| Free domain | 1 year on most yearly plans | 1 year on annual plans |
| Refund or trial | 14-day money-back | Not shown |
| Checked on | Oct 20, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
Prices are each maker’s regular list price in US dollars, read on the date shown. We never convert currencies. Wix shows prices by location, and these are its US prices.
Where Wix wins
- Free to build and publish. You can create and publish a site for free, then upgrade to connect your own domain and remove Wix branding.
- AI and drag and drop together. Wix’s AI builder creates a site from a single prompt, and you can switch to the drag-and-drop editor to refine any detail. Every plan includes AI creation tools.
- Lower entry price. Light is US$17.77 a month billed yearly, and Core (US$29.77) adds payments, basic ecommerce, and scheduling.
- Money-back guarantee. Your first upgrade comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Where Squarespace wins
- Business tools on every plan. Every plan can send branded invoices, and every plan can sell online (Basic charges a 2% store fee).
- Monthly billing shown. Basic is US$25 a month, or US$19 billed yearly. Core is US$39 a month, or US$29 billed yearly.
- Free domain. Annual plans include one year of free domain registration.
The verdict
Pick Wix if you want to start free and control every detail of your design.
Pick Squarespace if you want polished templates and built-in invoicing and selling, and you’re happy to pay from the start.
Watch the fees either way: Squarespace’s Basic plan charges a 2% fee on online store sales, and both charge card processing fees.
Questions people ask
Is Wix or Squarespace cheaper?
Billed yearly, Wix Light is US$17.77 a month and Squarespace Basic is US$19 a month. Wix also lets you build and publish for free (checked October 2026).
Does Squarespace have a free plan?
Squarespace’s pricing page doesn’t list a free plan. Wix has one.
Which has a better AI website builder?
Both have one. Wix creates a site from a single prompt and lets you refine it with drag and drop. Squarespace’s Basic plan includes 10 AI credits, one time, and higher plans include more each month.
Do Wix and Squarespace include a domain?
Both include a free domain for the first year on most yearly or annual plans. After that, it renews at the standard rate.
Related pages
- Websites & SEO tools for small business
- Best AI website builder for small business
- How we pick
- Visit Wix → · Visit Squarespace →
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