Everyone has a website these days. From bloggers to hairdressers, global companies to corner cafes.

And the day has arrived.

You need to get your business online. You’ve been researching web design, and you’re ready to choose a platform to build on…

Either that, or you realise your old website looks like it was made in the dawn of time.

You need to update. 

The next thing is this: You find yourself scratching your head trying to figure out which platform to use for your shiny new website? 

Well, you're not alone.

Let’s have a look at two of the most popular options out there: WordPress and Squarespace. 

We'll break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is the perfect fit for your online adventure. So, grab a cup of tea, and let's get started.

Ease of Use - Simple or Sophisticated?

Let's start with the big question:

How easy is it to use these platforms?

WordPress - The Multitool of Website Builders

WordPress is like that fancy multitool my DIYer stepdad always carries around. 

Here’s an overview: 

• It’s open-source, which means the software is free. You can use it, play around with it, and install it for free.

• But you do have to pay separately for hosting, domain names, and email provision.

• It’s a content management system or CMS. This just means it’s a software application that lets you build and manage your website without having to do it from the ground up with code.

Wordpress is great.

I started off building sites with it for many years. It was a crazy ride and I’ll always be fond of it for the lessons I learned.

It’s a whole emporium of delights, packed with features. 

You can do just about anything with it design-wise - if you know what you’re doing and how to do it. 

But it might take you a little while to figure out.

Complexity: 

WordPress is complex. Labyrinthine.

And because of that, it has a lot to offer in terms of customisation with themes and plugins. 

If you’re at all teccie, you can go ‘under the hood’ to make big changes - but only if you know a bit of CSS and HTML.

In essence, Wordpress has a huge toolbox is at your disposal. 

It’s exciting.

And potentially overwhelming.

Learning Curve

If you're new to building a Wordpress website or any website, it might feel like you're learning a whole new language. 

So, you need a lot of patience. 

Be ready to experiment. To fail. To start again…

Watch plenty of how-to videos.

Practice. A lot. Take it slow. 

Squarespace - Your Friendly Next Door Neighbour 

Squarespace, on the other hand, is like that super friendly neighbour who's always ready to lend you their lawnmower, laugh about stuff, and feed the cat. 

That’s why I like it so much. It’s straightforward and doesn't try to complicate things.

Here’s the overview:

• It’s an all-in-one CMS, which means you can host your website, build it, get your domain name, and email - all in one place. Easy.

• You can find step by step instructions on the main Squarespace website on how to set up your website for analytics too. This makes it simple for you to track your visitors and see what is working and what isn’t.

• There aren’t as many themes as Wordpress - but the available ones are all well designed. And with a bit of research, you can tweak the design and customise it as much as you like.

Complexity

Squarespace takes this all-in-one approach which is seamless.

Website building with this builder just feels much smoother.

Everything is tidy, and that helps a lot. What you need is neatly organised and easy to find. You can find step-by-step instructions on how to do most things on the main website, which is truly a timesaver.

But there are restrictions.

You won’t be able to control the look and feel of the site without knowing a sprinkling of CSS and having a lot of practice with the building framework. 

Because it’s harder to customise, be prepared to spend time working out how to get your brand voice reflected in the theme you choose.

Learning Curve

With its drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates, Squarespace is the cool kid in school who makes everything look easy. 

Nevertheless, it still needs some time to get used to. 

There is a learning curve - and although it’s not as steep as with Wordpress, it’s still there. 

Slow and Steady or Quick and Easy?

Okay, so that’s the overview.

Now, let's talk about how long it'll take you to get comfortable with each platform.

WordPress The Marathon

Every winter for about a decade, I used to train with a group of marathon runners.

It was hard work.

Okay, so with separate hosting and themes to install and playing around with plugins etc.  - learning WordPress is more of a marathon sport. 

You start off slow, and take it easy.

You need to put in plenty of time and effort. 

But hey, good things come to those who train, right?

Beginners

Give yourself about 2-4 weeks to get comfortable with the basics like adjusting themes, adding pages, managing the dashboard, and creating posts.

Intermediate 

Ready to flex those WordPress muscles?

Expect to spend around 1-2 months of exploring advanced features, plugins, analytics, backups, and troubleshooting.

Squarespace The Middle Distance Runner…

Squarespace is all about getting you to the finish line fast.

You have to go a few times round the track to feel comfortable - it’s not quite a sprint - but the learning curve is much quicker than Wordpress.

And you might get stuck for a while on things like connecting an outside email provider to your website

But overall, it’s a breeze. And there’s plenty of ways you can get some help along the way.

Beginners

In 5-7 days of practice, you'll know the platform well enough to add blog posts, images, and start setting up your shop.

Intermediate

Give it 3-4 weeks, and you should be able to navigate your Squarespace website and do what needs to be done to get your business out there.

Take some time to learn the advanced stuff like e-commerce and SEO settings, but you can easily do this as you go along.

High Maintenance or Low Key?

Let's face it, nobody wants to spend all their time maintaining their website. 

But all websites, on any platform, need care and attention.

Regular maintenance is important - or they just fall over.

Or get eaten by bugs (online attacks), which is much more likely if they’re Wordpress btw.

So, how do these two platforms stack up?

WordPress Is Your High-Maintenance Partner

WordPress has a lot of needs.

Be prepared to administer a bit more TLC to keep it running smoothly.

Ongoing Tasks

You'll need to set aside about 1-2 hours per week for updates, backups, and security checks. 

Remember your friend’s long-haired needy pet?

Adorable, but demands attention, and must have lots of grooming or those hairballs get out of control. 

Content Updates

All websites need content updates, but you’ll probably have to keep a closer eye on your blogs etc with Wordpress.

Plan on a few hours per week. 

Make sure your posts, articles, or product descriptions are still adding value and the links still work.

Squarespace - Your Low-Maintenance Buddy

Squarespace is more like that low-maintenance friend.

The one who breezes by with a smile and a wave, and doesn’t mind if you haven’t called in a while.

Ongoing Tasks

Most of the techy stuff is handled by Squarespace behind the scenes. 

You'll just need a couple of hours per month for checks & minor tweaks.

Don’t forget to save any changes you make… there are no automatic backups.

Content Updates

It's as easy as updating your social media. 

1-2 hours a month to check those links and keep everything valuable to your visitors should do the trick.

Finding Your Perfect Match

Not all businesses are created equal, and neither are these platforms. 

Let's see which one might be your business soulmate.

The Jack of All Trades

Wordpress does it all. 

Good For

If your business needs lots of customization (think big e-commerce stores or membership sites), WordPress is your guy. 

It's perfect if you're tech-savvy, willing to learn, or happy to hire someone to maintain your site.

Bad For

If you're looking for a quick setup with minimal fuss, WordPress might be overkill. 

The Stylish Simplifier

Squarespace is a minimalist at heart, happy to help so long as your business needs are not too complex.

Good For

Small businesses, ecommerce, bloggers, and creative folks, this one's for you.

If you want a sleek, professional-looking site with less hassle, Squarespace has your back.

Bad For

If you're running a massive online store or need super specific custom features, Squarespace might feel a bit limiting. 

It's not great for control freaks who want to tinker with every little detail.

The Verdict

WordPress

WordPress is an adventure.

It makes you grab your hat and go on a journey with it…

It’s always showing up with new plugins or trying new things. 

It offers tons of flexibility and customisation - but comes with a steeper learning curve and more maintenance. 

If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the tech world, WordPress might be your perfect match.

Squarespace

Squarespace is the level-headed, laid-back friend who always looks put-together without much effort. 

It's user-friendly, all-in-one solution is perfect if you want to get your site up and running quickly without much fuss.

You’ll still have maintenance and upkeep, and so long as you don’t want to make too many changes you’ll have a solid website you can rely on. 

Or, of course, if you want a bit more -  you can always hire someone to customise it for you…

At the end of the day, the choice between WordPress and Squarespace comes down to what you need and what you're comfortable doing yourself. 

Both platforms can help you create an awesome online presence – it's just about finding the one that feels right for you.

So, what'll it be? 

The flexible powerhouse or the sleek simplifier? 

Whichever you choose, remember – your website is your online home, so make sure it feels just right.