Choosing the Right Website Builder: WP, Wix, Squarespace, Duda

The Problem: Most Businesses Choose the Wrong Website Platform

If you’re building a website for your business, you’ve probably asked: “Which website builder should I use?”

The internet is full of comparisons, but most of them miss the most important question:

What does your business actually need?

Too many businesses jump into website building without first considering:

How much time and money do you want to spend on maintenance?
Who will be managing the website?

How flexible does your site need to be as your business grows?

Here’s what happens:

Business owners choose WordPress because it’s “what everyone uses”—and end up drowning in maintenance issues.

They go for Wix because it’s “easy”—only to realize later that they need features Wix doesn’t support.

They pick Squarespace for its sleek design—but hit limitations as soon as they want custom features.

The right website platform depends on your specific business needs. In this article, we break down the pros and cons of WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Duda so you can avoid the common pitfalls and choose the best tool for your business.

WordPress: Powerful but High-Maintenance

Who It’s Best For:

Businesses with dedicated IT support or a budget for ongoing maintenance.
Companies that need highly custom functionality.
Large, content-heavy websites with advanced SEO needs.

Where WordPress Falls Short:

It requires constant maintenance. If you’re not updating your WordPress core, themes, and plugins regularly, your site can break—or worse, get hacked.

Costs add up fast. Yes, WordPress itself is free, but once you factor in hosting, security, paid themes, premium plugins, and developer support, it’s often more expensive than expected.

Not beginner-friendly. If you don’t have technical skills, making updates or troubleshooting errors can be overwhelming.

When WordPress Makes Sense

WordPress is great for highly customized websites—like membership platforms, complex eCommerce stores, or major publishing sites. But for most small and medium-sized businesses, it’s overkill and will likely create more frustration than value.

Wix: Simple but Limited

Who It’s Best For:

Business owners who want to build their website themselves with minimal effort.
Very small businesses that just need a basic online presence.
Portfolios or personal websites with simple content.

Where Wix Falls Short:

Limited flexibility. Wix’s drag-and-drop builder is easy to use, but once you need custom functionality, you’re stuck. You can’t just install a plugin like on WordPress.

Pricing gets expensive fast. The free plan includes Wix ads and a Wix-branded domain, which isn’t professional for a business. To remove them and add key features, you’ll have to pay more—and pricing increases quickly.

Not ideal for long-term SEO. Wix’s SEO capabilities have improved, but it still lacks advanced control compared to WordPress or Duda.

When Wix Makes Sense

If you’re a solo entrepreneur or freelancer who needs a simple, no-fuss website, Wix can work. But for most businesses looking to grow, you’ll eventually outgrow Wix and have to rebuild elsewhere.

Squarespace: Beautiful but Not as Flexible as It Seems

Who It’s Best For:

Creative professionals (photographers, designers, artists) who want a visually polished site.
Small business owners who prioritize aesthetic design over advanced functionality.
Those who don’t mind paying a bit more for a hands-off experience.

Where Squarespace Falls Short:

You’re limited to what Squarespace allows. Customization options are much more restrictive than WordPress or Duda.

Costs add up quickly. Plans start at $16/month, but if you need eCommerce, analytics, or third-party integrations, you’ll be paying $30–$50/month or more.

Not the best for business scalability. If your business grows beyond the basics, you might need more flexibility than Squarespace can provide.

When Squarespace Makes Sense

If design is your top priority and you want an all-in-one package, Squarespace can be a good fit. But if you need a more flexible platform that can scale with your business, it may not be the best long-term choice.

Duda: The Best Alternative for Small & Medium Businesses

After 10 years of building websites, I recommend Duda for 90% of small businesses.

Why Duda?

No maintenance headaches. Unlike WordPress, Duda handles hosting, security, and updates for you—so your site never breaks.

Drag-and-drop simplicity, but with more flexibility than Wix/Squarespace. It’s easy to use but also powerful enough to scale as your business grows.

Faster load times & built-in SEO tools. Websites built on Duda are lightning fast and optimized for Google rankings right out of the box.

More affordable than WordPress in the long run. With hosting, security, and key features included, Duda is often cheaper than WordPress + all its add-ons.

Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses. Whether you need an informational website, a few online forms, or a small eCommerce store, Duda is the most practical solution for long-term use.

How to Choose the Right Website Platform for YOUR Business

If you’re still deciding, ask yourself:

Do I want a website that requires constant maintenance? (If not, avoid WordPress.)

Do I need full customization, or do I just need a simple, functional site? (If you need full customization, WordPress might be necessary. Otherwise, Duda is a great option.)