The short answer
- Pick WixAd if you want to build for free first, need bookings or want to place elements anywhere on the page.
- Pick SquarespaceAd if you want polished, consistent design with little effort and a clear 14-day trial.
- If you mainly sell products, compare Shopify as well in our website builder comparison.
For the full side-by-side table and plan prices, see our main Wix vs Squarespace guide. This post is the quick decision route.
1. Do you want to try it for free first?
Wix says you can create a site for free and choose a plan when you are ready. Premium plans remove Wix branding and let you connect your own domain, and Wix offers a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of your first upgrade. Squarespace has no free plan, but every site starts with a 14-day free trial that does not need a card. If you are unsure you will stick with a builder, Wix gives you longer to decide. If you already know you want to build, a 14-day trial is plenty.
2. What will it really cost, including VAT?
Squarespace showed UK prices on 1 November 2026: Basic at £14.40 a month paid annually, including estimated VAT, which is £12 excluding VAT. When we reopened the page on 9 November our checker was shown dollar prices, so confirm the pound figure on the page before you buy.
Wix states that prices and currency vary by location, that the prices shown are for yearly subscriptions paid in full, and that tax is added at checkout according to your billing address. We have therefore not quoted a Wix price in pounds. Open the plans page from the UK and read the checkout total. If you are VAT-registered, work out the cost excluding VAT, because you can usually reclaim it (see GOV.UK on VAT for businesses).
Tip: compare the first-year total and the second-year total. A free domain for year one is useful, but the renewal is a cost from year two.
3. Will you take bookings or sell products?
Wix lists scheduling and services from its Core plan, along with payments and basic ecommerce. That suits trades, tutors, therapists and coaches who want customers to book a slot. Squarespace says you can sell products and services, with its online store transaction fee set at 2% on Basic and lower on higher plans, so regular sellers should look at the next plan up rather than Basic.
| Question | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Try before paying | Free plan with Wix branding | 14-day free trial, no card |
| Bookings | Scheduling and services from Core | Services can be sold on paid plans |
| Store fee on Basic or entry plan | Check the plan details | 2% on Basic |
| Free domain | One-year voucher on most yearly plans | One year on annual plans |
| Collaborators | 2 on Light, 5 on Core | 2 contributors on Basic |
4. How much do you care about design freedom?
Wix describes a drag-and-drop editor and a library of thousands of templates, so you have a lot of freedom. Squarespace is known for tidy templates that hold together with little effort. Freedom is helpful, but it also makes it easier to end up with a busy page. If you are not confident with layout, a more guided builder can save time. Whichever you pick, a clear page for each service and a visible contact route matter more to customers than the editor.
5. How will you handle your domain and email?
Both include a free custom domain for the first year on annual plans, with conditions. Wix says its voucher is for a new domain bought from Wix, and Squarespace says the free domain must be registered within a year of starting the subscription. Neither covers renewals. Business email on your own domain is usually an extra, such as Google Workspace, so add that to your budget. For the wider picture, read how much a small business website costs in the UK.
6. How easily can you move later?
A site built in either builder lives in that builder's system. Moving usually means rebuilding the design, although you keep your words, images and domain. If you want the freedom to change host at any time, WordPress on your own hosting is the alternative, which we cover in best web hosting UK. Keep the domain registered in your own name so you can always point it elsewhere.
Our quick verdict
Choose Wix for a free start, bookings and flexibility. Choose Squarespace for polished design and a short, simple trial. Either is a sensible choice for a brochure site, and the right one is usually the editor you find easiest to keep updated.
Sources checked on 9 November 2026
- Wix plans and pricing page (UK visitors, 9 November 2026), reached through the Ad-labelled links above
- Squarespace pricing page (1 and 9 November 2026), reached through the Ad-labelled links above
- GOV.UK: VAT for businesses
This comparison is based on the providers' published pricing pages. Prices, fees and features change, so check the official page before you buy.