The Best DIY Website Design Platforms: Why Squarespace Reigns Supreme
If you’re a solopreneur, coach, or creative professional looking to build a stunning website without hiring a designer, you’re in luck—there are plenty of DIY website platforms available. From drag-and-drop simplicity to advanced customization, the right platform can help you establish your online presence with ease.
But with so many options, how do you choose the best one? Let’s explore the most popular website builders, breaking down their pros, cons, and pricing—while making a strong case for why Squarespace stands out as the ultimate choice for a sleek, professional, and easy-to-maintain website.
1. Squarespace: The Best All-in-One Website Builder
Why It’s the Best:
Squarespace is the perfect blend of design, functionality, and ease of use, making it ideal for creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Its award-winning templates, built-in marketing tools, and user-friendly interface make it a top choice for anyone looking for a beautiful and professional website without coding.
Pros:
Stunning, modern templates that require minimal customization to look professional
Built-in SEO tools, email marketing, and e-commerce features
24/7 customer support and a thriving community
Reliable hosting and security—no need for third-party providers
Mobile-responsive design on all templates
Cons:
❌ Less flexibility for advanced custom coding compared to WordPress
❌ Slight learning curve for absolute beginners
❌ Limited third-party integrations compared to platforms like Wix
Pricing (as of February 2025):
💰 Personal Plan: $14/month
💰 Business Plan: $20/month (includes e-commerce)
💰 Commerce Plan: $24-$44/month (for full online store functionality)
Best For:
✔️ Creative professionals (designers, photographers, artists)
✔️ Small business owners who need a professional online presence
✔️ Coaches, yoga instructors, and wellness brands looking for a sleek, easy-to-update site
Final Verdict: Squarespace delivers the best combination of ease, design, and functionality, making it the top choice for solopreneurs and creatives who want a polished, professional site without the hassle.
2. Wix: A Flexible Alternative
Why Consider It?
Wix offers drag-and-drop customization, making it great for beginners who want full control over their website’s design. It’s packed with features but can feel overwhelming if you’re not tech-savvy.
Pros:
Highly customizable with a true drag-and-drop editor
Large template library with various styles
Offers a free plan (with Wix branding)
Decent e-commerce functionality
Cons:
❌ Can feel cluttered and less intuitive than Squarespace
❌ Free plan includes Wix ads and lacks a custom domain
❌ SEO tools aren’t as strong as Squarespace’s
❌ Some templates aren’t fully mobile-responsive
Pricing (as of February 2025):
💰 Light: $17/month
💰 Core: $29/month
💰 Business: $36/month
💰 Business Elite: $159/month
Best For:
✔️ Small businesses wanting a fully customizable drag-and-drop site
✔️ People who want free-form design flexibility
✔️ Users who don’t mind spending extra time tweaking layouts
Final Verdict: Wix is a good option for customization lovers, but its design interface isn’t as smooth as Squarespace’s, and its templates don’t feel as polished out of the box. Honestly most of the DIY Wix sites I’ve seen look pretty clunky.
3. Shopify: The E-Commerce Powerhouse
Why Consider It?
Shopify is the gold standard for online stores—if your main focus is selling products, it’s one of the best platforms available. However, it’s overkill for simple websites that don’t require advanced e-commerce tools.
Pros:
Powerful e-commerce features (inventory management, shipping, etc.)
Supports multiple payment gateways
Scalable for large stores
Excellent third-party app integrations
Cons:
❌ Expensive if you’re not running a full e-commerce business
❌ Customization is more complex than Squarespace
❌ Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
Pricing (as of February 2025):
💰 Basic Shopify: $19/month
💰 Shopify (for small teams): $49/month
💰 Advanced Shopify: $299/month
💰 Plus (for complex businesses) $2033/month
Best For:
✔️ Businesses primarily focused on selling physical or digital products
✔️ E-commerce entrepreneurs who want a scalable online store
Final Verdict: Shopify is fantastic for serious online stores, but if you just need a beautiful website with occasional product sales, Squarespace’s Commerce plan is a better value.
4. WordPress: The Powerhouse for Developers
Why Consider It?
WordPress is the most powerful and customizable platform—but it’s not beginner-friendly. If you want total control and don’t mind handling hosting, updates, and security, it can be a great choice.
Pros:
Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins
Great for blogging and content-heavy sites
Best long-term scalability
Cons:
❌ Requires separate hosting and security management
❌ Steeper learning curve than Squarespace
❌ Plugins can cause compatibility issues
Pricing (as of February 2025):
💰 Hosting Costs: $5–$30/month
💰 Premium Themes/Plugins: Varies
Best For:
✔️ Developers or tech-savvy users who want full control
✔️ Bloggers and content-heavy websites
Final Verdict: WordPress is great for large, custom sites, but for most solopreneurs and creatives, Squarespace is a much simpler, stress-free choice.
Why Squarespace is the Best Choice for Most People
After comparing all these options, Squarespace consistently comes out on top for solopreneurs, creatives, and small businesses because:
✨ Gorgeous, professional templates that don’t require tweaking
✨ Built-in marketing tools for SEO, email, and social media
✨ Reliable hosting and security included
✨ All-in-one simplicity—no need for plugins or outside tools
If you want a website that looks stunning, works effortlessly, and doesn’t require endless tweaking, Squarespace is the way to go.
Ready to Build Your Dream Website? Let’s Work Together!
If you’re excited about creating a stunning, functional website but don’t want to struggle through the DIY process alone, I can help! I specialize in custom Squarespace web design and branding—so you get a professional, polished website that truly represents your brand without the stress of doing it all yourself.
Here’s how I make it easy for you:
✔️ Custom Squarespace Design – I’ll create a website that’s beautiful, strategic, and tailored to your business.
✔️ Branding That Stands Out – Need a cohesive look and feel? I’ll design branding that connects with your audience.
✔️ Squarespace Training – Once your site is live, I’ll teach you how to update it yourself, so you have full control without ongoing costs.
✔️ A Fraction of the Cost of an Agency – You get expert design without the agency price tag, plus the freedom to DIY updates whenever needed.
💻 Let’s build something amazing together! If you’re ready for a website that looks professional AND empowers you to make updates with confidence, reach out today. I’d love to bring your vision to life!
👉 Contact me here to get started!
