The Best Website Content Management Systems in 2024: Squarespace Vs. Shopify Vs. WordPress
Choosing the ideal platform for your website & goals.
In the ever-expanding realm of Content Management Systems (CMS), the array of options can be both a blessing and a challenge for businesses seeking the perfect platform for their online presence. At Freshly, we've explored numerous CMS solutions over the years, but time and again, we find ourselves returning to our tried-and-true trio: Squarespace, Shopify and WordPress.
In this guide, we aim to shed light on why these three CMS platforms consistently earn our vote of confidence. We'll delve into the features we love about each, the unique strengths they bring to the table, and yes, the nuances that might not align with every business need. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and insights necessary to make an informed decision as you navigate the landscape of CMS options.
So, whether you're a startup founder carving out your digital footprint, a marketing director seeking the perfect platform for a site refresh, or a C-suite executive overseeing the digital strategy of your enterprise, join us on this exploration of Squarespace, Shopify and WordPress. Discover why these platforms have stood the test of time in our agency and how their distinct features can elevate your online presence and align seamlessly with your unique goals and aspirations.
Ease of Use:
Squarespace: Known for its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality, Squarespace is ideal for those without extensive technical expertise. It offers a visually intuitive platform for building websites.
Shopify: Geared towards e-commerce, Shopify is designed to be user-friendly. It simplifies the process of setting up an online store, making it an excellent choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
WordPress: While WordPress has a steeper learning curve, it provides unparalleled flexibility. The editor has improved the user experience, but it may still be more complex for beginners.
Category Winner: Squarespace
If you don’t need those extra bells and whistles for e-commerce and want a simple, easy-to-use platform - Squarespace comes out on top!
Customization and Flexibility:
Squarespace: Our agency has perfected the art of customizing a Squarespace site, the new Fluid Engine allows for more flexibility in layout so we can get as creative as we like! They are constantly introducing new functionality, so we find that Squarespace works for most of our clients.
Shopify: Provides a balance between ease of use and customization. Users can choose from a range of templates and our agency is also able to customize the code for more advanced modifications. It can be tougher to make changes on Shopify as some areas are very locked down.
WordPress: Renowned for its unlimited flexibility, WordPress allows extensive customization through themes and plugins. Our developers can manipulate the code to create highly customized websites tailored to very specific needs. So if you have an extra special idea in mind, WordPress is the way to go
Category Winner: WordPress
For those who want to control and customize down to the last detail, WordPress is the clear choice. However, Squarespace is coming in hot on its heels with the new 7.1 fluid engine.
E-commerce Functionality:
Squarespace: Offers e-commerce functionality but is not as feature-rich as Shopify. Suitable for small to medium-sized online stores with basic requirements, we like to put digital offerings and products on Shopify when there is no physical fulfilment of goods.
Shopify: A dedicated e-commerce platform with robust features, including inventory management, payment processing, and third-party app integrations. Ideal for businesses focused on online sales and that want to use one piece of software for the entire order and fulfilment process. It can also manage very robust POS needs, with multiple locations and warehouses. We recommend Shopify for most of our e-commerce clients.
WordPress: WooCommerce, a popular WordPress plugin, transforms the platform into a powerful e-commerce solution. It provides extensive features for building and managing online stores. But just like WordPress, it’s not beginner-level and be tough to manage. You will also need to pair it with a shipping fulfillment platform like ShipStation for ease of printing labels and billing with your shipping provider.
Category Winner: Shopify
Truly a do-it-all platform for your selling needs. Robust POS and fairly user-friendly to get your business up and running quickly.
Cost Considerations:
Squarespace: Offering subscription-based pricing with different plans. Their all-in-one solution, including software access, hosting and SSL, which makes their pricing quite competitive. They also offer domain registration, email marketing, and scheduling through Acuity. The nice part about this model is there are no software upgrades and no additional plugins to pay for, which means zero to no downtime for software upgrades.
Shopify: Also a subscription-based model with transaction fees for using external payment gateways, it also includes your SSL, software access and hosting. However, you can integrate add-ons and plugins which may incur additional fees. It is also a closed-source platform, like Squarespace, so there is also almost zero downtime, unless one of your integrations or plugins fails.
WordPress: Open-source software that costs nothing, but costs may include a separate host provider, SSL, domain registration, and premium themes/plugins. It will also cost more to maintain as software is updated, plugins also need updates and the site will need to be retested to ensure all is functioning properly. This is why we reserve WordPress builds for intermediate teams, organizations with a budget for ongoing maintenance or individuals who are well-versed in maintaining it.
Category Winner: Depends on your budget
This one is a toss-up, if you’re new to website building and need a stunning website - Squarespace. If you need that e-commerce love, Shopify. And if you want the full kit-and-caboodle - WordPress.
SEO Capabilities:
Squarespace: Built with SEO best practices, but customization options are limited compared to WordPress. You can still attain some success with Squarespace sites, but if search rankings are a big part of your online strategy, WordPress is the better choice of platform for you.
Shopify: Solid SEO features with customizable URLs, meta tags, and mobile optimization. Good for e-commerce SEO. But similar to Squarespace, you will be able to improve your SERPs, but won’t have as much control as WordPress.
WordPress: Excellent for SEO with a plethora of plugins and customization options. Users can optimize every aspect of their site for search engines and if they invest in the right strategy, they can see a great deal of success in their SERPs.
Category Winner: WordPress
While all platforms have solid SEO tools, WordPress comes out on top if SEO is your game. If rankings are king, WordPress is your queen.
In closing, choosing the right CMS depends on your specific needs and preferences. Squarespace is user-friendly and visually appealing, Shopify excels in e-commerce, while WordPress offers unparalleled flexibility for those willing to invest time and budget in customization and maintenance. Consider your business goals, technical expertise, and the scalability of each platform to make an informed decision that aligns with your online strategy.
Or reach out to us for a free Discovery Session and we can help you make a strategic decision!
