Wix vs Squarespace for Freelancers (2026): Which to Pick
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For most freelancers, Squarespace ($16/mo) is the better pick — the most polished portfolio-and-blog with the least effort. Choose Wix if you want to start on a real free plan and need maximum layout flexibility; both land around $16–17/mo once you add a custom domain.
The short version
Both are mature, hosted website builders that a non-developer can run. The real difference is philosophy: Squarespace constrains you toward a polished result; Wix gives you freedom and a free starting point. Pick based on whether you value design-with-less-effort or flexibility-and-a-free-start.
Comparison at a glance
| Squarespace | Wix | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $16/mo (annual) | Free; paid from ~$17/mo |
| Free plan | No (14-day trial) | Yes (Wix branding + subdomain) |
| Custom domain | Paid plans | Paid plans |
| Design approach | Polished, constrained templates | Maximum flexibility |
| Blog | Strong, built in | Capable |
| App market | Smaller, curated | Large |
| Best for | Portfolio + blog, least effort | Free start, layout control |
Where Squarespace wins
Polished results with the least effort. Squarespace’s templates look designed, not assembled, and its constraints make it hard to produce something amateurish — ideal if you’re a freelancer, not a web designer. The built-in blog is genuinely good (useful if you’ll do content/SEO), and scheduling/commerce are clean if you sell services. There’s no free plan, and entry pricing is $16/mo annually.
Pros: best-looking templates with least effort; strong blog; clean scheduling/commerce Cons: no free plan; less layout freedom; template structure is constrained
Where Wix wins
A real free plan and maximum flexibility. Wix is the only one of the two you can start for free (with Wix branding and a Wix subdomain), so you can build before you pay; a custom domain comes with paid plans from ~$17/mo. Its large app market adds booking, forms, and marketing tools. The flexibility cuts both ways — more freedom means more ways to make a page look busy.
Pros: free plan to start; most layout flexibility; large app market Cons: custom domain needs a paid plan; easy to over-design; platform lock-in
Which should you choose?
Want a professional portfolio-plus-blog that looks expensive without design skills? Squarespace. Want to start free, keep full layout control, and tap a big app market? Wix. If a polished result with minimal fuss matters most — which it does for most freelancers — Squarespace is the safer default.
Related guides
- Best website builder for freelancers
- The freelance finance stack
- Best invoicing apps for freelancers
- How we review
Frequently asked questions
Is Wix or Squarespace cheaper for a freelancer?
They're close. Squarespace starts at $16/mo (billed annually) with no free plan. Wix has a genuine free plan (with Wix branding and a Wix subdomain), and its paid plans start around $17/mo — which is when you get a custom domain. If you need a professional custom-domain site, the real-world cost is similar; Wix only wins on price if the free plan is enough for you.
Which is easier to keep looking professional?
Squarespace. Its templates are more constrained, which means it's harder to make an ugly page — a real advantage if you're not a designer. Wix gives you more freedom to move anything anywhere, which is powerful but makes it easier to end up with a cluttered layout.
Can I move my site off Wix or Squarespace later?
Only partially. Both are closed platforms — you can export blog content and your domain, but not the design or full site structure. Treat the choice as somewhat sticky, which is another reason to pick the one whose design approach fits how you work.