Choosing the right platform for your business website is one of the most important decisions you will make. It shapes how your site looks, how it performs, how much control you have, and ultimately how your business can grow online.
Two of the biggest names you will come across are WordPress and Squarespace. They are often compared, but when you dig deeper, especially into their market share, you begin to see major differences that can directly affect your business.
Let’s explore what the numbers really mean and how they should influence your decision.
Understanding Market Share
Market share tells us how widely a platform is used across all websites on the internet. It is a useful indicator of stability, strength, and support.
For business owners, a platform with a larger market share often means:
• A bigger ecosystem of tools, developers, and resources
• Greater future-proofing (the platform is less likely to disappear or change drastically)
• Faster innovation and better security updates
Put simply, choosing a platform with a strong market share is like choosing a car with plenty of spare parts and mechanics, you have more options and lower risk long term.
The Numbers
The current data for 2025 shows a stark contrast between WordPress and Squarespace:
• WordPress: Powers about 43% of all websites globally, holding over 63% of the CMS market.
• Squarespace: Powers around 3% of all websites, with around 4–5% of the CMS market.
WordPress is by far the largest CMS in the world. Squarespace, while popular among certain users, operates in a much smaller segment.
Quick Comparison:
| Platform | Share of All Websites | CMS Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | 43% | 63% |
| Squarespace | 3% | 4–5% |
What the Numbers Tell Us
WordPress Dominance
WordPress’s massive market share shows that it is trusted by millions of businesses, from small local firms to major global brands. Its open-source nature and flexibility make it the first choice for serious, growth-oriented websites.
Squarespace’s Niche
Squarespace has found success in the market for quick, stylish websites. It appeals to creative DIY users who value simplicity over flexibility such as photographers, freelancers, and new businesses looking for a straightforward setup.
Future Trends
WordPress continues to grow steadily, driven by increasing demand for custom-built, scalable websites. Squarespace’s growth is more limited, with competition from newer website builders such as Webflow also emerging.
For business owners, these trends are worth paying attention to. WordPress’s dominance suggests that it is a safer, longer-term investment.
Ownership and Flexibility
When you choose WordPress, you own your website. You choose your hosting provider, manage your files, and control every aspect of the site. If you need to move hosts or change developers, you can.
Squarespace is different. It is a hosted platform, meaning your website lives on their servers. You are tied into their infrastructure, and you have limited freedom to move your site elsewhere. Customisation is restricted to what their system allows.
For businesses planning to grow, this matters. Ownership means you are not limited by a platform’s rules or pricing changes.
Customisation and Growth
WordPress:
With WordPress, the possibilities are endless. You can create any type of website—eCommerce, membership, booking systems, complex service directories—and fully customise how it looks and behaves. Thousands of plugins and themes are available, and developers can build anything unique to your needs.
Squarespace:
Squarespace works well if you want a beautiful but standard website. It offers clean templates and an easy-to-use editor but is limited once you move beyond basic needs. Custom coding is possible but requires workarounds and is often discouraged.
Business Growth Considerations:
If you are serious about scaling your business, adding new features, and staying flexible as your needs change, WordPress is the logical choice.
Ease of Use and Management
Squarespace is often praised for its simplicity. Its drag-and-drop editor and all-in-one platform make it quick to set up and easy for beginners.
WordPress, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve. However, once properly set up—especially by professional teams like GorillaHub—it becomes just as easy to manage day-to-day. You also gain far more control and efficiency once you are familiar with the dashboard.
For business owners who value professional support and a site that evolves with them, WordPress becomes the more powerful tool over time.
SEO and Performance
WordPress:
Serious about SEO? WordPress leads the way. With access to powerful plugins like Rank Math or Yoast, you can fine-tune every part of your SEO strategy—from meta titles to sitemaps to structured data. You can also implement performance enhancements such as caching, image optimisation, and server-level adjustments.
Squarespace:
Squarespace offers basic SEO features out of the box, good enough for simple sites. However, its closed system limits your ability to fully optimise your site’s performance and visibility, particularly in competitive markets.
For businesses, strong SEO is essential.
Cost Comparison
At first glance, Squarespace appears cheaper. You pay a monthly subscription that covers hosting, templates, and basic support.
However, over time, WordPress often becomes more cost-effective:
• WordPress: Initial investment in design, development, and hosting. However, you avoid ongoing subscription fees that limit your options.
• Squarespace: Ongoing monthly fees, plus extra costs if you want advanced features (e.g., eCommerce, member areas).
In addition, the flexibility and scalability of WordPress often result in better business returns, offsetting any initial costs.
Choosing based only on initial cost is short-sighted. Think about the total cost of ownership over three to five years.
Conclusion
Both WordPress and Squarespace offer viable solutions for building a website, but they serve very different business goals.
• If you need a simple, stylish website quickly, and do not expect to grow or customise much in the future, Squarespace could suit you.
• If you view your website as a critical business asset, one that must grow, evolve, and work hard to bring in leads and sales, WordPress is the better choice.
Given the massive market share, greater flexibility, superior SEO tools, and better long-term value, WordPress is the platform that truly powers business websites worldwide.
Choosing the right platform is an investment in your business’s future. Make sure it is one that grows with you, not one that holds you back.
If you would like advice on building a high-performing, hardworking website that helps your business grow, speak to us . We specialise in creating and managing Smart Business Websites that deliver real results.
