Build it yourself or hire?
The trade-off between a builder and a developer, with a two-question decision tree.
Blog
Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress vs Carrd: which should you use?
There's no single best website builder - only the best one for your situation. In short: Squarespace for beautiful and simple, Wix for flexibility, WordPress for blogs and growth, Carrd for one clear page. In this article I put the four biggest options side by side honestly, with prices, and help you choose with three questions instead of an endless feature list.
I'm Andre, a developer from Wanneperveen. I built on all of these platforms before switching to custom development - so this isn't theory from a comparison site, but what I actually ran into.
Why this isn't an easy question
Every builder claims to be "the best". But it depends on your use case, not on who has the longest feature list. A photographer has different needs than a webshop or a local service provider. So don't start with features - start with what you need.
Wix: who is it the best choice for?
Wix is the flexible all-rounder. You drag elements exactly where you want them, there are hundreds of templates and a built-in app store. Ideal if you like to tinker and care about layout control. Downside: that freedom can get messy, and once you pick a template you can't simply switch. Price: free (with ads) up to around €27/month for a business plan.
Squarespace: who does it work best for?
Squarespace delivers the most polished default designs. You tinker less and the result almost always looks tidy. Strong for service providers, creatives and portfolios. Less flexible than Wix, but for many that's actually a plus - fewer decisions to agonise over. Price: from around €16-€23/month.
Wix vs Squarespace: the real differences
| Wix | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|
| Design freedom | Very high (drag anything) | Tighter, but prettier by default |
| Learning curve | Slightly steeper | Smooth |
| Best for | Tinkering yourself | Fast, polished result |
| Price | up to ~€27/month | ~€16-€23/month |
WordPress: flexible, but also high-maintenance
WordPress runs a large share of the web and is strong for blogs, bigger sites and SEO. But maintenance comes with it: updates, plugins and security are your responsibility (or your manager's). It's powerful, but not "set and forget". Count on plugin licenses on top of hosting.
WordPress vs Wix: which suits you?
In short: Wix is easier and all-in-one; WordPress is more flexible but needs more upkeep. Want to blog, grow and have maximum SEO control? WordPress. Want a tidy site fast without technical fuss? Wix. Expect lots of custom functionality and you'll hit limits on both over time - more on that below.
Carrd: micro-sites and landing pages
Carrd is surprisingly good at one job: a single, clear page. A linktree alternative, an announcement, a simple business card. Free to start, and paid is still dirt cheap (a few euros a year). For a multi-page business site it's too limited, but for what it does, it does excellently.
How do you choose the best builder for your situation?
Answer three questions:
- What's the goal? One page → Carrd. Beautiful multi-page site → Squarespace. Lots of layout control → Wix. Blog/growth/SEO → WordPress.
- What's your budget? Count over the years, not per month (see table below).
- Who maintains it? No time for maintenance → avoid WordPress without a manager.
Reviews and ratings: what do they actually say?
Be careful with stars on comparison sites. Many "best builder 2026" lists earn from affiliate links - they recommend whoever pays most. Look instead at reviews from people with your type of business, and test each builder yourself with a free trial before deciding.
Can you switch builders later?
Partly. You take your content (text, photos) with you, but you rebuild your design and URL structure. A migration costs time and sometimes SEO value. Plan this up front: don't pick the builder that's easiest now, but the one that fits where you want to be in two years.
Count over five years. A builder at €20/month is €1,200 over five years - and you're still locked to the platform. With custom you pay more up front but own it. So compare total cost, not the monthly price.
What options are there for an affordable website?
Affordable depends on what you actually need. Roughly I see four realistic paths for SMBs:
- Free / cheap builder (Carrd, Wix free) — fine for a test or business card, weak for serious SEO and growth.
- Paid builder (€16–€27/month) — fast start, but over five years often more expensive than you think and you stay locked in.
- WordPress with a hosted theme — lower monthly cost, more maintenance or a caretaker needed.
- Custom fixed price — from about €1,500 one-time for a business website. More up front, no monthly platform lock. See website at a fixed price and what a website costs.
The cheapest start is rarely the cheapest over five years. Count total cost of ownership, not just the first invoice.
When is no builder the right choice?
As soon as you need something specific - a real booking system, an accounting integration, a product configurator, or serious local SEO - builders get stuck. That's the moment for custom. For Nijenhuis Botenverhuur in Giethoorn that was the case: online bookings needed more than a template could offer. Torn between builder and developer? Read build it yourself or hire.
Comparison table
| Platform | Best for | Price | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrd | One page | Free - ~€19/year | No multi-page site |
| Squarespace | Beautiful & simple | ~€16-€23/month | Less flexible |
| Wix | Flexible self-build | up to ~€27/month | No template switch |
| WordPress | Blog/growth/SEO | Hosting + plugins | Maintenance required |
| Custom | Specific functionality | One-time, from €1,500 | Higher starting price |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wix or Squarespace better for small businesses?
Wix gives more layout flexibility; Squarespace has better default designs. For service providers Squarespace scores well; Wix is better if you like to tinker yourself.
Is WordPress still a good choice in 2026?
Yes, for blogs, more complex sites and search engine optimisation. But expect more maintenance: updates, plugins and security come with it.
Is Carrd good enough for a business website?
For a simple business-card site or landing page: absolutely. For a full business website with multiple pages it quickly becomes too limited.
Can you switch from Wix to another builder?
You copy content manually. Design and URL structure start over. Plan for migration when you begin - choose the builder that fits where you're heading.
What's the best free no-code platform?
Carrd (free with limits), Wix (free with ads) or WordPress.com (free, basic). For professional use the free versions are almost always insufficient.
What options are there for an affordable website?
Four realistic paths: free/cheap builder, paid builder (€16–€27/month), WordPress with a theme, or custom from about €1,500 fixed price. Compare five-year costs, not only the entry price. Details in what a website costs.
Conclusion
Don't pick the builder with the most features, but the one that fits your goal, budget and who maintains it. And know when you outgrow it: as soon as your site needs to do something special, custom is the logical next step.
Not sure which way to go? Plan a chat or send a WhatsApp. I'll tell you honestly whether a builder is enough for you.
More reading
Related articles
Read: Build it yourself or hire?
What does a website cost?
Honest price ranges for business sites, webshops and custom builds.
My services
Custom websites, software and AI - with a fixed price and one point of contact.