Squarespace vs Wix vs a done-for-you website

This is the most common choice for a new small business: do it yourself on a website builder, or pay someone to do it. Neither is always right. Here is how they compare, with prices checked on 29 October 2026.

The three routes at a glance

Prices are in US dollars as shown by Squarespace and Wix in October 2026, before tax. Both say prices vary by location, so check yours at checkout. Wix lists yearly prices, billed in full at purchase. Our Dexryn figures are our current US prices.

Squarespace

Squarespace is known for polished templates and a tidy editor. Plans on annual billing include a free custom domain for the first year, and it lists SEO tools, SSL and 24/7 support across all plans. Basic has a transaction fee of 2% on online sales and fewer contributors; Core is where it is usually recommended for taking payments. Good for photographers, studios and anyone who wants a refined look and is happy to do the layout.

Watch out: the price you see is the annual rate, the free domain renews at the standard rate after the first year, and Squarespace changed some of its prices in the summer of 2026. The figure on your own renewal notice is the one that counts.

Wix

Wix has a huge range of templates and apps and a flexible drag-and-drop editor. It is strong if you need bookings, events or a small shop. One limit that matters: on the Light plan you cannot accept payments. Core is the lowest plan that accepts payments and handles scheduling. Each paid plan covers one site, and the first-year domain is free.

Watch out: more freedom means more decisions, and it is easy to end up with a site that looks busy on a phone.

A done-for-you website

With done-for-you, someone designs and builds the site from your brief. You review and request changes. Pricing is usually a one-off build fee, sometimes with an optional monthly care plan for hosting and updates.

At Dexryn, we build a free demo first, and you pay only if you love it. Prices in the UK start at £99 for a one-page site, with optional care from £15 a month. The site is yours: the domain is bought in your name, and we hand over your files if you ever leave. The trade-offs are honest ones: it is a fixed-scope, template-assisted build, not a bespoke custom design or an online shop, and changes go through us rather than you editing on a whim.

What it really costs over a year

Here is simple arithmetic (ours) using the figures above, in US dollars and ignoring tax:

• Squarespace Basic, annual billing: $19 x 12 = $228.
• Wix Light, annual billing: $17 x 12 = $204. Wix Core: $29 x 12 = $348.
• Dexryn Launch, website only: $129 once. With optional care: $129 + ($19 x 12) = $357 in the first year.

The numbers are close in year one. The real difference is the cost of your hours, and what happens in year two: a builder keeps billing you for the platform, and a one-off build lets you choose whether to keep paying for care.

Control and leaving

With a builder, the site lives on the platform. If you decide to move later, you usually rebuild rather than copy it across. With a done-for-you site you should ask this before you sign: who owns the domain, and do I get the files if I leave? We think the answer to both should be you, and our FAQ says so.

How to choose

Choose a builder if you enjoy tinkering, want to change things yourself every week, or need an online shop with many products.

Choose done-for-you if you are busy running a café, salon or trade, your needs are simple (hours, services, photos, contact), and you would rather review a finished page than build one.

Either way, link the site to your Google Business Profile, keep the details consistent everywhere, and check it on your phone. Our café and restaurant checklist works for any local business.

Try it before you decide

You do not have to guess. We build a demo for your business first, free, and there is no card needed to look at it. Ask for your demo, compare it with what you would make yourself, and pick. For wider cost ranges, see how much a website costs in the UK.