Choosing a website platform is about as fun as trying to decide what to watch on Netflix when your partner insists on “just one more episode” of that show you hate. But here’s the thing: unlike your Netflix choices, your website platform actually matters for your business. (Sorry, Netflix. You know I love you.)
So, grab your popcorn (or your kale chips, no judgment here), and let’s dive into the epic battle of WordPress (.org not .com!) vs Showit vs Squarespace vs Wix. We’re talking features, ease of use, flexibility, and yes, even the dreaded pricing. By the end of this, you’ll be so well-informed, you’ll be the go-to guru at your next dietitian happy hour. (That’s a thing, right? If not, it should be.)
Round 1: Ease of Use
Let’s start with the question on everyone’s mind: “Can I build this website without wanting to throw my computer out the window?”
WordPress
Learning Curve: Steeper than that hill you swore you’d start running up every morning
User-Friendliness: Depends on the theme and plugins you choose
Time Investment: Significant, especially if you’re starting from scratch
WordPress is like that friend who’s super smart but sometimes speaks in riddles. It’s incredibly powerful, but it can be overwhelming if you’re new to web design. Think of it as the “choose your own adventure” of website builders.
Showit
Learning Curve: Gentler than WordPress, but still a bit of a hike
Time Investment: Moderate, especially if you start with a template
Showit is like the cool art teacher of website builders. It gives you a blank canvas and says, “Go wild, kid!” Great for creative types who want control over design without needing to code.
Squarespace
Learning Curve: Pretty smooth, but if you want any customization in design you better know some CSS.
User-Friendliness: Very intuitive, especially for beginners
Time Investment: Relatively quick, especially with their templates
Squarespace can be sleek and stylish if you’re looking for a super simple site (assuming you don’t know how to code).
Wix
Learning Curve: About as challenging as making avocado toast
User-Friendliness: Drag-and-drop interface that’s super easy to use
Time Investment: Can be quick, especially if you use their AI builder
Wix is like the “easy” button of website builders. It holds your hand through the whole process and even offers to do most of the work for you with its AI.
Round 1 Winner: Squarespace Squarespace offers the entry point for beginners. But remember, ease of use isn’t everything!
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Round 2: Design Flexibility
Now, let’s talk about making your site look as good as that perfectly styled plate of food you posted on Instagram.
WordPress
Customization: Sky’s the limit (if you know how to code or use the right plugins)
Templates: Thousands available, both free and paid
Unique Designs: Absolutely possible, especially with custom development
WordPress is like a fully stocked kitchen. You can make pretty much anything, but you need to know your way around the tools.
Showit
Customization: Extremely flexible, especially for design-heavy sites
Templates: Plenty available, mostly paid
Unique Designs: Definitely possible, great for brand-specific looks
Showit is like having a personal chef who lets you into the kitchen. You have a lot of control, and it’s hard to mess up too badly.
Squarespace
Customization: Somewhat limited, but improving
Templates: Beautiful options, but fewer than WordPress
Unique Designs: Possible, but can be challenging to break out of the Squarespace “look”
Squarespace is like a fancy restaurant with a set menu. Everything looks great, but you might struggle if you want something that’s not on the menu.
Wix
Customization: Quite flexible within their system
Templates: Lots of options for various industries
Unique Designs: Possible, but can look “Wix-y” if you’re not careful
Wix is like a buffet. There’s a lot to choose from, and you can mix and match, but it might not be as refined as a plated meal.
Round 2 Winner: WordPress (with Showit as a close second) WordPress offers the most flexibility, especially if you’re willing to learn or hire help. Showit is great for those who want design control without the coding.
Round 3: Features and Functionality
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Can these platforms do what you need them to do?
WordPress
Blogging: Excellent, it started as a blogging platform after all
E-commerce: Great with WooCommerce or other plugins
Scheduling: Plenty of plugin options
Courses/Membership: Numerous plugins available
Email Marketing Integration: Works with pretty much everything
WordPress is like a Swiss Army knife. It can do almost anything with the right plugins.
Showit
Blogging: Good, uses WordPress for the blog portion
E-commerce: Limited, better for service-based businesses
Scheduling: Integrates with third-party tools
Courses/Membership: Possible with integrations, but not its strong suit
Email Marketing Integration: Works with major providers
Showit is like a really nice fountain pen. It’s great at what it does (design), but you might need other tools for some tasks.
Squarespace
Blogging: Good native blogging features
E-commerce: Solid built-in features, great for smaller stores
Scheduling: Built-in features and third-party integrations
Courses/Membership: Basic features available, may need additional tools
Email Marketing Integration: Works with major providers, has its own email marketing tool
Squarespace is like a high-end all-in-one appliance. It does a lot out of the box, and it does it well.
Wix
Blogging: Decent native blogging features
E-commerce: Good built-in features, suitable for smaller stores
Scheduling: Built-in app and third-party integrations
Courses/Membership: Possible with Wix apps or integrations
Email Marketing Integration: Works with major providers, has its own tool
Wix is like a well-equipped starter home. It has most of what you need.
Round 3 Winner: WordPress WordPress takes this round due to its unmatched flexibility and the sheer number of plugins and integrations available.
Round 4: SEO Capabilities
Because what’s the point of a beautiful website if no one can find it, right?
WordPress
SEO Control: Complete control with the right plugins (I like Rankmath and SEO Press Pro)
Customization: Can tweak every aspect of your SEO
Page Speed: Depends on your hosting and how you build your site, but can be very fast
WordPress is like having a personal SEO coach. It gives you all the tools, but you need to know how to use them.
Showit
SEO Control: Good, but not as comprehensive as WordPress
Customization: Decent options for on-page SEO
Page Speed: Generally good, but can vary
Showit is like having a helpful SEO assistant. It covers the basics and does a good job, but might not go as deep as some need.
Squarespace
SEO Control: Good built-in SEO features
Customization: Covers most SEO bases, but not as flexible as WordPress
Page Speed: Generally good out of the box
Squarespace is like an SEO checklist. It helps you hit all the important points without overwhelming you.
Wix
SEO Control: Improved significantly in recent years
Customization: Good options for on-page SEO
Page Speed: Has improved, but can still be a weak point
Wix is like an SEO workshop for beginners. It teaches you as you go and helps you cover the basics.
Round 4 Winner: WordPress WordPress wins again due to its unparalleled control and customization options for SEO.
Round 5: Pricing
Alright, let’s talk money. Because as much as we’d all love to pretend otherwise, budget matters.
WordPress
Cost: Free (but you’ll need to pay for hosting, domain, and possibly themes/plugins)
Hosting: Varies, but can start around $15/month for basic good hosting
Hidden Costs: Premium themes and plugins can add up
WordPress is like cooking at home. The ingredients (hosting, domain) are cheap, but you might splurge on fancy kitchen gadgets (premium themes/plugins).
Showit
Cost: Starts at $24/month (billed annually)
Hosting: Included
Hidden Costs: You might want to buy templates or hire a designer
Showit is like a meal kit delivery service. It’s more expensive than cooking from scratch, but everything you need is included. And their lower tiers don’t include blogging.
Squarespace
Cost: Starts at $16/month (billed annually)
Hosting: Included
Hidden Costs: Generally all-inclusive, but you might pay for premium templates or third-party integrations
Squarespace is like a prix fixe menu. You know exactly what you’re getting and how much it’ll cost upfront.
Wix
Cost: Has a free plan, paid plans start at $16/month (billed annually)
Hosting: Included
Hidden Costs: Some features or apps might require additional fees
Wix is like a restaurant with an extensive menu. There’s a price point for everyone, but you might end up paying for extras.
Round 5 Winner: It depends on your needs WordPress can be the cheapest option if you’re tech-savvy, but Squarespace might be more cost-effective if you factor in the time you’ll save.
The Verdict: Which Platform Reigns Supreme?
Plot twist: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. (I know, I know, after all that, how dare I not crown a winner? But hear me out.)
Choose WordPress if:
You want maximum flexibility and control
You’re comfortable with a steeper learning curve or can hire help
You need specific functionality that only plugins can provide
You’re planning a larger, more complex site
Choose Showit if:
Design is your top priority
You want a highly customized look without coding
You’re okay with using other tools for advanced features
Choose Squarespace if:
You want a sleek, professional-looking site quickly
You’re a beginner who wants an all-in-one solution
You have a smaller online store
Choose Wix if:
You’re a complete beginner and want the easiest option
You want to get a basic site up quickly
You’re on a tight budget and the free plan meets your needs
The Bottom Line
Look, I’ll be honest with you. I’m a WordPress fan. It’s my go-to platform for most projects because I love its flexibility and the control it gives me. But you know what? I’m not a WordPress snob.
The truth is, the best platform is the one that works for YOU.
The one that lets you get your message out there, connect with your clients, and doesn’t make you want to throw your computer out the window every time you need to update your services page.
Remember, your website is a tool, not a destination. It’s there to help you reach your goals, not to become another full-time job.
So choose the platform that aligns with your skills, your time, and your business needs.
And hey, if you start with one platform and outgrow it? That’s okay too. You can always switch later. (Yes, it’s a pain, but it’s not the end of the world. Trust me, I’ve been there.)
At the end of the day, what matters most is that you have a website that you’re proud of, that represents your brand well, and that helps your clients find and connect with you. Whether that’s on WordPress, Showit, Squarespace, Wix, or some new platform that’ll probably pop up next week (because let’s face it, tech moves fast), the important thing is that you’re out there, doing your thing.
Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD is a marketing and wellness strategist with 15+ years of experience in WordPress web design, workflow optimization, and client experience strategy.
She has served in leadership roles as a Director of Corporate Health Services, Group Fitness Program Manager, and Lead Wellness Dietitian, and built her own private practice, Vickery Wellness.
Courtney also has an extensive academic background. At the University of Georgia, she taught undergraduate nutrition courses, served as Interim Director of the Dietetic Internship, and continues to teach as needed.
She is a proud UGA alum, holding:
MS/DI in Foods & Nutrition
BS in Dietetics
BA in Political Science
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
With her unique blend of academic expertise, leadership experience, and design-driven strategy, Courtney helps professionals and organizations improve their systems, websites, and client experiences with clarity and confidence.
Declet Designs is a brand and web design studio for weight-inclusive private practices and organizations. Founded by Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD, a dietitian turned designer, we provide strategic branding, websites, and local SEO.
Located in Athens, GA, and serving businesses nationally.
Declet Designs is a welcoming space built on the belief that every body deserves dignified, affirming care. We're committed to weight inclusivity, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, neurodivergent-affirming practices, and anti-racism. If those values don't align with yours, we're probably not the right fit, and that's okay.