The two ways to build a website
Almost every website decision comes down to two routes:
- Self-hosted WordPress — open-source software you install on hosting you control
- A website builder (Wix, Squarespace) — an all-in-one platform where the builder is the hosting
WordPress.com sits in between as a hosted version of WordPress — we compare that in WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. This guide is about builders versus real WordPress hosting.
Cost: builders are subscription-priced
| | WordPress + hosting | Wix | Squarespace | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Entry cost | $2.99/mo hosting + ~$10/yr domain | $17/mo (annual) | $16/mo (annual) | | What you own | Everything, exportable | Nothing exportable cleanly | Nothing exportable cleanly | | Renewals | Host $3–6/mo, domain $10–15/yr | $27/mo+ after year 1 | $23–27/mo after year 1 |
Over three years, self-hosted WordPress typically costs $150–250 total; Wix or Squarespace cost $600–1,000+. Builders aren't free — they're priced like software subscriptions, and the cheapest "with ads" tiers still cost more than hosting.
Control and lock-in
WordPress + hosting:
- Every plugin, theme, and code change is yours
- Full access to files, database, and server settings (cPanel/hPanel)
- You can migrate to any host anytime
- Your site is portable; you own the data
Builders:
- You work inside the platform's editor and widget set
- Export options are limited (a static HTML copy at best, no plugins)
- Your content is effectively trapped in the platform
- Pricing changes are the platform's call
For anything you may want to grow or move later, portability is the difference between owning a website and renting one.
SEO and performance
- WordPress: full SEO control — your host's TTFB, caching, and CDN are yours to tune. The best WordPress hosting plans hit sub-200ms TTFB with LiteSpeed and NVMe.
- Wix: decent built-in SEO, but you can't control server-level performance; TTFB is often 400–700ms.
- Squarespace: clean code and decent SEO defaults, but again no server control and slower average load times.
Long-tail SEO — schema, redirects, custom taxonomies, page speed fixes — is dramatically easier on WordPress.
Ease of use
Builders win the first hour: drag-and-drop, no setup, nothing to install. WordPress takes a few hours to feel comfortable — but you install it in minutes with one-click installers (see how to install WordPress) and every host in our rankings does the hard parts for you.
For most non-technical users, WordPress + a page builder (Elementor, Gutenberg) closes most of the convenience gap while keeping the control.
The verdict
- Choose WordPress hosting if you want to own your site, control cost, scale without lock-in, or plan to earn money from it (SEO, ecommerce, ads).
- Choose a builder if you need a site live this afternoon and will never want to move, extend, or optimize it beyond the platform.
Builders are a fine rental. WordPress is ownership. For anything with business ambitions — small business, blog, or store — self-hosted WordPress on budget hosting is the long-term cheaper, better answer.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress cheaper than Wix and Squarespace? Yes — significantly over 2–3 years. WordPress hosting starts at $2.99/mo versus $16–17/mo, and you keep everything you build.
Is WordPress harder than Wix? The first session is harder (a few more steps), but one-click installs and page builders close the gap fast. Ongoing maintenance is roughly an hour a month — see WordPress maintenance.
Can I move from Wix to WordPress? You can migrate content (posts/pages/images) and rebuild the design. Plugins, apps, and the exact layout don't transfer. Our migration guide covers importing content.
Which is better for SEO, WordPress or Wix? WordPress, especially for long-tail and technical SEO — full control over speed (host), schema, redirects, and structure. Builders are fine for basics.
What about WordPress.com? WordPress.com is the hosted middle ground — easier than self-hosted, but with plan limits (plugins only at $25/mo). Full breakdown: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.