WEB DESIGN · · 7 min read
How to choose the right website builder for your business
Squarespace, WordPress, Framer, Shopify or custom code? A plain English guide to picking the platform that fits your business, budget and team.
Ally · Lead Developer
The platform matters less than the fit
There’s no single best website builder. There’s the one that fits how your business works, who will update the site, and where you want it to be in two years. Picking the wrong one usually doesn’t show up on launch day. It shows up six months later, when simple changes feel hard or the site can’t do what you need.
Here’s how the main options compare.
Squarespace
Squarespace is an all-in-one platform with hosting, templates and editing included.
- Best for: service businesses, portfolios, cafés and small online stores
- Strengths: easy to edit, secure, reliable, low maintenance
- Limits: less flexibility for unusual layouts and complex features
WordPress
WordPress powers a huge share of the web and can do almost anything with the right plugins.
- Best for: content-heavy sites, blogs, membership sites and complex requirements
- Strengths: flexible, huge ecosystem, you can host it anywhere
- Limits: needs regular updates and security care, and plugins can slow it down
Framer
Framer is a modern design-led builder known for smooth animation and fast performance.
- Best for: brands that want a premium, design-forward site they can still edit themselves
- Strengths: beautiful motion, fast, easy visual editing, built-in CMS
- Limits: fewer third-party integrations than WordPress, and e-commerce is limited
Shopify
Shopify is built for selling online.
- Best for: e-commerce, from a handful of products to thousands
- Strengths: secure checkout, inventory, shipping, payments and apps for nearly everything
- Limits: monthly fees and app costs add up, and it’s overkill if you don’t sell products
Custom code
A custom-built site is designed and coded from scratch.
- Best for: unique requirements, high performance, integrations with your own systems
- Strengths: no limits, very fast, nothing you don’t need
- Limits: higher upfront cost, and changes may need a developer
Is WordPress better than Squarespace?
Not better, just different. WordPress wins on flexibility and is the right call for large content sites or complex features. Squarespace wins on simplicity, security and low maintenance, which is exactly what most small service businesses need. If you want to edit your own site without worrying about plugin updates, Squarespace is often the better choice.
What about AI website builders?
Tools that generate a site in minutes are fine for a quick placeholder. For a business that relies on its website to win customers, you’ll want proper structure, clear messaging and design that fits your brand. We’ve written more about AI builders versus designed sites in the journal.
Five questions to help you choose
- Who will update the site day to day, and how comfortable are they with tech?
- Do you sell products online, or mainly take enquiries and bookings?
- How much content will you publish each month?
- Do you need integrations with booking, CRM or other systems?
- What’s your budget for both the build and ongoing costs?
Our approach
We build on all of these, so we don’t have a favourite to push. We’ll recommend the platform that fits, and tell you honestly if a simpler option would do the job.
Not sure which platform fits? Book a call and we’ll talk it through with you.
Book a 20 minute call
WRITTEN BY
Ally · Lead Developer
Builds fast, solid sites and software across custom code, Framer, Squarespace, WordPress and Shopify.