This guide compares the two builders on what a UK owner asks about. That means price, templates, editing, search engine optimisation (SEO) controls, selling online and who does the work. Every vendor fact comes from that vendor's own page, read on 29 October 2026. Prices change often, so check the live page before you buy.
How much do Squarespace and Wix cost in the UK?
Squarespace's UK plans run from £16 to £89 a month paid monthly, or £12 to £79 a month paid annually. Wix lists UK plans from £9 to £119 a month on a yearly subscription, and has a free plan with Wix branding. Wix says its prices exclude tax.
The Squarespace pricing page shows four plans in pounds: Basic, Core, Plus and Advanced. It says paying annually saves up to 36%, and that annual plans include a free domain for the first year. It does not say whether its prices include VAT, so check the total at checkout before you commit.
For the billing and renewal questions to ask before buying, read our Squarespace website cost checklist.
The Wix plans page shows four paid plans: Light, Core, Business and Business Elite. It says the displayed prices are for yearly subscriptions paid in full at purchase. Other periods are available, and prices do not include applicable taxes. It sometimes shows a time-limited offer on the first term, so read the final price on the purchase page.
For the costs beyond the plan price, use our Wix website cost checklist for UK owners.
Here are the UK prices side by side, plan by plan:
- Entry plan. Squarespace Basic is £16 a month paid monthly or £12 a month paid annually. Wix Light is £9 a month on a yearly subscription.
- Second plan. Squarespace Core is £24 monthly or £17 annually. Wix Core is £16 a month.
- Third plan. Squarespace Plus is £36 monthly or £29 annually. Wix Business is £25 a month.
- Top plan. Squarespace Advanced is £89 monthly or £79 annually. Wix Business Elite is £119 a month.
- Free option. Squarespace has no free plan but offers a 14-day free trial. Wix has a free plan that shows Wix branding.
The plans do not line up exactly, so compare the features you need rather than the row names. A plan that looks cheaper can cost more once you add the selling features or extra storage your business needs.
Which has better templates and design control?
Both offer polished templates, so the real difference is what happens after you choose one. Wix says you cannot switch the template of a site you have already built. Squarespace says all its current version 7.1 sites share one template family, so you can change the look without starting again.
Wix's help article on switching your site template explains that you can create as many sites as you like. The design, layout and some business features of the old site do not carry across. Its plans page describes thousands of templates and a drag-and-drop editor, which gives you a lot of freedom over where things sit on the page.
Squarespace's guide to understanding Squarespace templates says every version 7.1 site has the same features and style options. In our view that suits owners who want a tidy, consistent look and expect to refresh the design later. Wix suits owners who want to place every element by hand from day one.
Which is easier to edit?
Both are built for owners with no coding skills. Wix gives you more freedom to drag items anywhere, which some people love and others find fiddly on mobile. Squarespace works in structured sections, which keeps pages tidy but gives you fewer layout choices.
Think about who else will edit the site. Squarespace's Basic plan allows up to 2 contributors and the higher plans allow unlimited contributors. Wix lists 2 site collaborators on Light, 5 on Core, 10 on Business and 100 on Business Elite. If a receptionist or partner will update opening hours, check that the plan you pick allows them in.
Rather have it done for you? We build your website free, it goes live in days, and you pay nothing for the first 14 days. No card needed. See how the free 14-day trial works.
Which is better for SEO?
Neither builder will rank your site for you. Both include SEO tools on their paid plans, so the result depends on what you write. Clear page titles, a useful description of each page and content that answers real customer questions matter more than the builder.
If your site is mainly a shop, our guide to Shopify search engine optimisation (SEO) covers what to fix first.
Squarespace lists SEO tools as included on every plan, and Wix describes built-in marketing and SEO tools. Google's SEO starter guide is plain about the basics. Write helpful content, give each page a title and a short, unique description, and use descriptive web addresses. It also says there are no secrets that will automatically rank a site first.
Code access is where the plans differ. Squarespace's pricing page shows the advanced code block and site-wide code injection are not included on Basic. That matters if you want to add a booking widget, live chat or a tracking tag. Check the plan before you rely on one of those tools.
What are the e-commerce limits?
Squarespace lets every paid plan sell, with unlimited products, but Basic adds a transaction fee on online sales that the higher plans remove. Wix's Light plan has no e-commerce, and selling starts on Core. So the cheapest plan on either side is not the one to choose if you sell online.
On Squarespace, the Basic plan charges a 2% online store transaction fee, as shown in the price section above. Card processing fees are separate and apply on every plan. On Wix, Core includes basic e-commerce and accepting payments, Business adds standard e-commerce and Business Elite adds advanced e-commerce. Storage also grows with the plan, up to unlimited storage on Business Elite.
For a small shop, a simple check helps. Count your products, estimate a month of online sales and work out the fees on each plan. The cheapest monthly price is not always the cheapest year.
If selling is the main job of your site, compare Shopify or Wix for a small business shop.
Who does the work on each builder?
On both Squarespace and Wix, you do the work. The builder provides hosting, templates and tools, and you write the pages, choose the images, set up the SEO and keep everything up to date. Both offer help articles and support, but neither builds or runs the site for you on these plans.
That is a fair trade for many owners. You pay less and stay in control. The cost is your time: the first build often takes a few evenings, then prices, opening hours, photos and offers need updating as the business changes.
Before you choose, run through this checklist:
- Budget. Work out the yearly cost of the plan you actually need, plus VAT where it applies and any sales fees.
- Selling. If you sell online, rule out Wix Light and weigh the Squarespace Basic transaction fee.
- Design changes. If you expect to change the look later, remember Wix cannot switch a built site to a new template.
- Helpers. Count the people who will edit the site and check the plan's contributor or collaborator limit.
- Extras. List the booking, chat or tracking tools you need and check the plan allows custom code.
- Time. Be honest about how many hours a month you will spend writing, updating and checking the site.
When is a managed website a better fit?
A managed website fits better when you would rather spend your time running the business than building pages. Someone else designs the site, writes it with you, keeps it fast and secure and makes changes when you ask. You pay more each month than for a builder, but you hand over the work.
Our small business web design service builds the site for you, and our managed website service keeps it looked after once it is live. Buzzozo also helps your business use AI, for example by setting out your services, prices and areas so AI assistants and search engines can read them clearly. The Buzzozo plans and pricing page lists the Website plan from £149 a month.
If you are leaving one of these builders, our guides to a Squarespace alternative and a Wix alternative explain how a move works. If you are still weighing up a third option, our comparison of Wix and WordPress for a small business covers that choice.
Want to see a managed site before you decide? Start a free 14-day trial of a Buzzozo website: it is free for 14 days, no card needed. You can test it with your own details first.
Common questions
Is Squarespace or Wix cheaper in the UK?
Wix starts cheaper, at £9 a month on a yearly subscription, and has a free plan with Wix branding. Squarespace starts at £12 a month paid annually or £16 paid monthly. Compare the plan you actually need, not the cheapest one.
Do Squarespace and Wix prices include VAT?
Wix says its prices do not include applicable taxes, which depend on your billing address. The Squarespace pricing page does not say either way, so check the total at checkout.
Can I change my template later?
On Squarespace, yes: current sites share one template family, so you can change the design. Wix says you cannot switch the template of a site you have already built, so you would start a new site.
Which is better for SEO, Squarespace or Wix?
Neither is clearly better. Both include SEO tools on paid plans. What you write, how clearly each page is titled and described and how well you answer customer questions matter more than the builder.
Can I sell online on the cheapest plan?
On Squarespace, yes, but Basic adds a transaction fee on online sales. On Wix, no: Light has no e-commerce, and selling starts on the Core plan.
Does Squarespace have a free trial?
Yes. Squarespace says every website starts with a 14-day free trial and no credit card is needed. It does not offer a free plan.
Can I try a Buzzozo website before paying?
Yes. Start the free 14-day trial with no card needed. Test the website with your own details, then decide whether a managed site suits you better than a builder.