The quick answer
- Pick Squarespace if you want a good-looking site you can run yourself with nothing to maintain, and you don't need niche features.
- Pick WordPress if you want full ownership, specific plugins, Canadian hosting or room to grow, and someone will keep it updated.
| Squarespace | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid option | $21/mo annual ($252/yr) | .com: $5/mo yearly ($60/yr). Self-hosted: about $72/yr |
| Cheapest plan, paid monthly | $30/mo | .com: $12/mo |
| Free plan | No (14-day trial) | .com: yes, with ads. Software: free |
| Billing currency in Canada | CAD | .com: CAD. Hosts vary; many add-ons in USD |
| Selling online | Every plan; 2% store fee on Basic, 0% from Core ($32) | .com Premium: payment buttons. Commerce or self-hosted: WooCommerce |
| Card processing (Canada) | 2.9% + $0.30 (2.5% on Advanced) | Depends on the payment plugin you choose |
| Who handles updates and security | Squarespace | .com: WordPress.com. Self-hosted: you or someone you pay |
| Add-ons | Built-in blocks and extensions; code injection from Core | 60,000+ plugins |
| Changing the design later | Restyle any time with site styles (no template switching on version 7.1) | Change themes any time |
| Leaving the platform | Partial XML export (one blog, basic pages); products as CSV | Full content export to any WordPress site |
Cost over a year
For a 5-page service site: Squarespace Basic is $252 a year on an annual plan. WordPress.com Personal is $60 and self-hosted WordPress about $72 for Canadian hosting and a .ca domain, or about $238 with a premium theme and form plugin. WordPress wins on price as long as you don't count upkeep. Squarespace's price includes it. Details: Squarespace pricing and WordPress pricing.
Selling online
Squarespace sells on every plan and drops its own store fee from Core ($32/month annual), with card processing at 2.9% + $0.30. WordPress sells through WooCommerce, on WordPress.com's Commerce plan ($59/month yearly) or self-hosted with the payment provider you choose. Squarespace is quicker to set up; WooCommerce goes further (wholesale pricing, complex shipping, custom checkouts) at the cost of more moving parts.
Maintenance and security
Squarespace patches its own platform; you never update anything. Self-hosted WordPress needs core, theme and plugin updates every few weeks and regular backups. WordPress.com's plans handle that for you, which is why it's a sensible middle ground for owners who want WordPress without the chores.
Leaving
Squarespace's export covers layout pages, one blog, text and images, in a format WordPress imports; store, portfolio and index pages and your design stay behind (help centre). WordPress exports all posts, pages, comments, custom fields and users (docs), and a self-hosted site can move hosts whole. If you think you'll outgrow your first platform, start on the one that's easier to leave. Moving off Squarespace covers the steps.
Our take
Squarespace is the better choice for an owner who wants to build it, look good and forget about the plumbing. WordPress is the better long-term home for a business whose site will grow, or that wants a developer involved. We build on WordPress, so weigh that; the Squarespace review and WordPress review give each a fair hearing.
Questions people ask
Is Squarespace easier than WordPress?
Yes, for most first-time owners. Squarespace handles hosting, security and updates, and its editor keeps layouts tidy. WordPress takes more setup and maintenance, unless you use WordPress.com, which handles the hosting side.
Can I move from Squarespace to WordPress?
Partly. Squarespace exports layout pages, one blog, text and images in a file WordPress can import. Store, portfolio and index pages, extra blogs and your design don't export, so those are rebuilt. Set up redirects so your Google rankings follow.
Which is cheaper, Squarespace or WordPress?
WordPress, before upkeep: $60 a year on WordPress.com Personal or about $72 a year self-hosted, against $252 for Squarespace Basic. Self-hosted WordPress needs regular updates and backups, which cost time or a maintenance fee.
Sources
Each checked October 22, 2026. Platforms change prices often; their own page is the final word.