Wix and Squarespace promise a website in an afternoon. WordPress powers a huge share of the web and can grow with almost any business. Each is the right choice for someone. Here is how to decide.
Ownership and lock-in
With hosted builders, your site lives on the builder’s platform. You can export some content, but you generally cannot move the design and functionality to another host. With self-hosted WordPress, you own the files and database outright and can move them to any host or developer you like. For a business asset you plan to keep for years, that matters.
Flexibility and growth
Builders are excellent within their boundaries. When you need something they do not support, such as a specific booking integration, a custom quote calculator or a member area, you hit a wall. WordPress has a vast plugin ecosystem and, when plugins fall short, a developer can build exactly what you need.
SEO
All three can rank well when used properly. WordPress gives you the most control over URL structure, structured data, page speed and technical SEO, and mature tools such as Yoast SEO. That control is most valuable for businesses that rely on search traffic, especially local search.
Accessibility
Accessibility depends mostly on how a site is designed and built, not just the platform. Builders give you less control over the underlying code, which can make specific accessibility fixes difficult. On WordPress, a developer can fix any issue at the source, which is important if you need to meet AODA or ADA expectations.
Cost over time
Builders have predictable monthly fees and very low setup costs. WordPress usually costs more to set up properly, plus hosting and maintenance. Over several years the totals are often closer than people expect, and with WordPress you are paying for an asset you own.
Who should choose what
- A website builder suits a very small business that needs a simple online presence quickly, has no plans for custom features, and is comfortable doing its own updates.
- WordPress suits businesses that depend on their website for leads or sales, rely on search traffic, need integrations or custom features, have accessibility obligations, or want full ownership.
Already on a builder?
Moving to WordPress is common. The key is protecting your search rankings with a URL audit and 301 redirects. Read our website redesign approach, or ask us whether a move makes sense for you.
Need a hand?
TheWebsiteMakers.ca is a Toronto-based team with 19+ years of experience building websites for businesses across Canada and the US. We design accessible websites, host them on servers we manage ourselves, and look after them every month. Get a free, no-obligation quote.