Wix vs. Squarespace: Which Website Builder Fits a Small Business?
Wix has a free plan and four paid tiers; Squarespace has no free plan but a 14-day trial and lower fees on higher tiers.
Wix and Squarespace both let you build and host a business site without writing code, and both include AI tools on every plan. The big differences are how you start (Wix has a free plan, Squarespace a 14-day trial) and what you pay as you sell more (Squarespace spells out store and card fees by plan).
| At a glance | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card needed | No, 14-day free trial instead |
| Entry paid price | $17.77 a month (Light, yearly) | $19 a month billed annually, $25 monthly (Basic) |
| Mid-tier price | $39.77 a month (Business) | $29 a month billed annually, $39 monthly (Core) |
| Top tier price | $159.77 a month (Business Elite) | $99 a month billed annually, $139 monthly (Advanced) |
| Online store fee | Not listed on the pricing page | 2% on Basic, 0% on Core and above |
| AI tools | Included on every plan | Included on every plan; 10 one-time AI credits on Basic, 20 a month on Core |
| Refund or trial | 14-day refund after first upgrade | 14-day free trial, no card |
Wix
Wix lists Light at $17.77 a month, Core at $29.77, Business at $39.77 and Business Elite at $159.77, on yearly subscriptions. Core adds basic ecommerce and accepting payments; Business adds standard ecommerce and 10 collaborators.
- A free plan with hosting and the drag-and-drop editor
- Four paid tiers, with ecommerce starting on Core
- AI creation tools included on every plan, including free
- 14-day money-back window after your first upgrade
- The free plan has no custom domain
- No free trial of paid plans (refund window instead)
- Wix says prices vary by location and shows yearly pricing
Squarespace
Squarespace lists Basic at $19 a month billed annually ($25 monthly), Core at $29 ($39), Plus at $49 ($65) and Advanced at $99 ($139). Standard card rates are 2.9% + $0.30 on Basic and Core, 2.7% on Plus and 2.5% on Advanced.
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required
- 0% online store fee on Core and above
- Unlimited contributors on Core and above
- AI tools on every plan, with monthly AI credits on paid tiers
- No free plan after the trial
- Basic charges a 2% online store fee
- Basic allows only 30 minutes of video hosting
Pick Wix if you want to start for free and only pay once the site earns its keep. Pick Squarespace if you plan to sell online and want fees laid out plan by plan, since the 0% store fee starts on Core. Either way, check the price at checkout: Wix says its prices vary by location.
Prices and features checked October 24, 2026 from each company's own site. They change often, so confirm before you buy. We are not paid by either company.
- Wix plans and pricing (Wix)
- Squarespace pricing (Squarespace)
Is AI recommending your business?
Our AI visibility audit checks what ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI say about you, and includes a 1:1 review of the results.
See the audits