Web Design
How to Register a .com.au Domain
How to get a .com.au domain: eligibility, choosing a name, registering it, WHOIS privacy and the .au direct option if you have no ABN.
Wix vs Squarespace comes down to flexibility against polish. Wix gives you a free plan, a drag-and-drop editor where you can place things almost anywhere, and a large app market. Squarespace gives you fewer, more structured layouts that look refined with little effort, plus solid built-in selling tools. Both are good for small business websites; the better one depends on how you like to work.
What is the difference between Wix and Squarespace?
Both are hosted website builders: you pay a subscription, and the platform looks after hosting, security and software updates. The main differences are in how you build and how far you can stretch them:
| Wix | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | Free-form drag and drop: place elements almost anywhere | Section-based: more structured, harder to break the layout |
| Templates | Thousands, across many industries | Fewer, with a strong design focus |
| Free option | A free plan with Wix branding and a Wix address | No free plan; a 14-day free trial |
| Paid plans | Light, Core, Business and Business Elite | Basic, Core and Advanced |
| Add-ons | A large app market | A smaller set of extensions; more is built in |
| Selling online | Payments and ecommerce on Core and above | Selling on every plan, with a 2% transaction fee on Basic |
| Best for | People who want control over every detail and lots of add-ons | People who want a polished look with less fiddling |
Plan names and features are as shown on Wix’s plans page and Squarespace’s pricing page in November 2026. Both change their plans from time to time.
Is Wix or Squarespace better?
Neither wins outright. In the Squarespace vs Wix decision:
Wix is better if you want to start for free, like moving things around freely, need a particular feature you can add from its app market, or want plenty of templates to choose from.
Squarespace is better if you want a clean, consistent design without much effort, you’re showing off visual work, or you plan to sell products, services or memberships and want those tools built in.
If you’re torn, try both: Wix’s free plan and Squarespace’s free trial let you build a test page on each before you pay.
How much is Squarespace vs Wix?
We haven’t quoted prices here because both platforms show prices in your local currency and change them often, so check the pricing pages linked above for current Australian prices. What we can compare is how they charge:
- Wix has a free plan, then four paid plans. Prices shown are for yearly plans paid upfront, and most paid plans include a free domain for the first year (a new domain bought from Wix). Wix offers a refund if you cancel a new paid plan within 14 days.
- Squarespace has no free plan but a 14-day free trial, then three paid plans. Paying annually saves up to 36% on the monthly price, and plans include a free custom domain (conditions apply).
On either platform, budget for extras too: domain renewal after the first year, professional email, paid apps or extensions, and your own time to build and update the site.
Is Squarespace cheaper than Wix?
It depends which plans you compare. Wix’s free plan costs nothing (with Wix branding), and its entry paid plan is aimed at simple sites. Once you need to take payments, compare Wix’s Core or Business plan with Squarespace’s Basic or Core, and remember transaction fees: Squarespace charges a 2% online store fee on Basic and 0% on Core and Advanced, on top of payment processing.
Which is better for SEO, Wix or Squarespace?
Both handle the basics: editable page titles and descriptions, clean web addresses, mobile-friendly pages, sitemaps and SSL. Neither will rank a site on its own. What matters more is the content you write, how your pages are structured, your Google Business Profile and the links pointing at your site. Our guide to increasing click-through rate covers one part of getting more from search, whichever builder you choose.
Is Wix or Squarespace better for a portfolio?
Squarespace is often the first choice for photographers, designers and other creatives, because its templates put large images front and centre and stay consistent across pages. Wix can look just as good, and gives you more freedom to lay out a gallery exactly how you want it, but it takes more care to keep pages tidy on phones.
What about Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress?
WordPress is a different kind of tool. Self-hosted WordPress is free software you install on your own hosting, so you get more control, more plugins and the freedom to move hosts, in exchange for looking after updates and backups yourself or paying someone to. Wix and Squarespace are easier to start with and include hosting, but you work within their limits. Our Wix vs WordPress comparison covers that choice in detail, and our guide to WordPress.org vs WordPress.com explains the two kinds of WordPress.
Can I transfer my Wix website to Squarespace?
Not directly. Each platform uses its own builder, so moving between them means rebuilding the site: set up the new site, recreate each page, copy your text and images across, move or point your domain, and set up permanent (301) redirects from any old page addresses that change, so you keep your search rankings. The same steps apply if you switch from Wix to Squarespace or the other way. For a bigger site, our website migration service can handle the move.
Does Squarespace own Wix?
No. They are separate, competing companies: Wix is run by Wix.com Ltd, and Squarespace by Squarespace, Inc.
How we help businesses on website builders
We work with businesses that already use Wix, or want a simple site they can edit themselves. Our Wix website design service gives a Wix site proper structure, SEO basics and a look that isn’t straight from a template. If a builder is the wrong fit, for example because you need custom features or a large online store, we’ll say so and suggest a custom-built website instead. Our packages start at $5,000 + GST, and your Wix or Squarespace plan fees are paid to the platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wix or Squarespace easier to use?
Both are built for beginners. Squarespace’s structured sections make it harder to end up with a messy layout. Wix’s free-form editor is easy to start with, but the freedom means you need to check your pages on a phone as you go.
Can I use my own domain with Wix or Squarespace?
Yes. Both let you connect a domain you already own, including a .com.au, on their paid plans. See our guide to registering a .com.au domain.
Which is better for an online store?
For a small store, both work. Squarespace includes selling on every plan, and Wix adds ecommerce from its Core plan up. For a large catalogue or complex shipping, a dedicated ecommerce platform is usually a better fit.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes. Both let you upgrade as your site grows. Check each platform’s terms for refunds and changes to annual plans.
The short version
In Wix vs Squarespace, choose Wix for a free start, total layout freedom and a big app market, and Squarespace for polished, structured design and built-in selling tools. Try both free, then pick the one you’ll be happy editing every week.
If you’d like help deciding, or want a site built for you, book a free 30-minute discovery call.
