When you’re starting a website, cost matters.
I completely understand that.
Most small business owners are not sitting there with endless website budget just waiting to be spent.
You want something that works.
You want something you can afford.
And you want to know that you’re not wasting money on the wrong platform.
So one question I hear a lot is:
Is WordPress cheaper than Wix or Squarespace?
The honest answer is that it depends how you look at cost.
If you only look at the monthly fee, a hosted website builder may look simpler.
But if you look at long-term control, flexibility, ownership, growth, SEO, content, and the cost of rebuilding later, WordPress can be a very smart investment.
The Short Answer
WordPress is not always the cheapest option on day one.
But it can be better value long term.
With WordPress, your main costs are usually things like:
- Domain name
- Website hosting
- Theme or design tools
- Plugins
- Maintenance
- Support or training if needed
With hosted website builders, your costs are usually bundled into a monthly or annual subscription.
That can feel easier to understand.
But it can also mean you are renting access to a platform rather than having more control over your website setup.
Why Cheap Is Not Always Cheaper
This is where a lot of people get caught.
They look for the cheapest way to get a website online.
That makes sense at the start.
But a cheap website that does not work for your business can become expensive later.
It can cost you in:
- Lost enquiries
- Poor SEO
- Limited features
- Extra add-ons
- Time wasted trying to fix things
- Rebuilding costs
- Paying someone to move your website later
- Feeling stuck on a platform that no longer suits you
The cheapest option today is not always the best option for your business.
The better question is:
Which platform gives me the best value for where my business is going?
For many small business owners, that answer is WordPress.
How Wix and Squarespace Pricing Usually Works
Wix and Squarespace are hosted website builders.
This means your website builder and hosting are included together.
You usually choose a plan, pay monthly or yearly, and build inside their system.
Wix’s official pricing page explains that many yearly or multi-year premium plans include a one-year domain voucher for first-time purchases. It also notes that personalised email addresses can be purchased through Google Workspace.
Squarespace also offers monthly and annual subscriptions. Its official pricing page says annual subscriptions include one year of free domain registration for new websites.
This sounds nice and simple.
And for some people, it is.
But it is important to understand what is included, what is not included, and what happens when your site needs more than the basic features.
How WordPress Costs Usually Work
Self-hosted WordPress works differently.
WordPress itself is free open-source software.
But you need somewhere to host your website.
WordPress.org explains that to run WordPress, you need a web server, and that most hosting providers have the technical specifications required for WordPress.
So with WordPress, you are not usually paying WordPress itself for a monthly website builder plan.
Instead, you may pay for:
- Hosting
- Domain name
- Premium theme if needed
- Premium plugins if needed
- Backups if not included in hosting
- Security tools if needed
- Support, training, or maintenance
This gives you more control over what you use and what you pay for.
Why WordPress Can Be Better Value
WordPress can be better value because you are not locked into one company’s website builder.
You can choose your hosting.
You can choose your tools.
You can change your setup.
You can build your website in stages.
You can start simple and add more as your business grows.
You are not forced to pay for a bigger all-in-one plan just because you need one extra feature.
Now, that does not mean WordPress is free to run properly.
A serious business website still needs care.
It needs updates, backups, security, and maintenance.
But the money you spend is usually going into a flexible website you can grow with.
The Real Cost of a Website Is Not Just the Platform
When people compare WordPress, Wix and Squarespace, they often only compare the monthly fee.
That is too simple.
The real cost of a website includes:
- Setup time
- Learning time
- Design
- Content writing
- Images
- SEO
- Maintenance
- Support
- Email marketing connection
- Booking tools
- Online payments
- Courses or membership features
- Future rebuilds
- Time spent stuck or confused
This is why I tell people to think about the bigger picture.
A website is not just a cost.
It is a business asset.
If your website helps you get clients, sell offers, grow your list, or build trust, it should be making your business stronger.
When a Website Builder May Be Cheaper
A website builder may be cheaper if you only need a very simple website and you do not plan to grow it much.
For example, a basic one-page or brochure-style website may not need lots of advanced features.
If you just need something simple and you are happy to stay within the platform’s limits, Wix or Squarespace may be fine.
But if you know your website will become a bigger part of your business, it is worth thinking carefully before choosing the easiest-looking option.
When WordPress May Be Cheaper Long Term
WordPress may be cheaper long term if you want to:
- Build SEO traffic
- Publish lots of blog posts
- Add lead magnets
- Grow your email list
- Sell digital products
- Create an online course
- Build a membership
- Add ecommerce
- Add booking tools
- Customise your site more deeply
- Avoid rebuilding later
- Keep more control over your content
This is especially true if your website is central to how your business works.
For example, if your website is going to help you sell courses, grow a membership, publish content, build your list, or attract clients from Google, WordPress gives you far more room to grow.
The Hidden Cost of Outgrowing a Platform
This is the part many beginners do not think about.
You may start with a simple website builder because it feels easier.
Then your business grows.
Suddenly you want more control.
You want better SEO.
You want a blog strategy.
You want a course.
You want a membership.
You want better checkout options.
You want more control over landing pages.
You want to stop fighting the platform.
At that point, you may need to rebuild on WordPress anyway.
That means the original cheaper website may not have saved you money.
It may have delayed the bigger decision.
This does not mean everyone should rush into WordPress before they are ready.
But if you already know your website needs to become a serious business asset, WordPress is worth considering early.
What About Maintenance Costs?
This is important.
WordPress does need maintenance.
You need to keep your site updated, backed up, and secure.
That can scare beginners, but it does not need to.
You can learn how to manage the basics yourself.
Or you can get help.
Inside NCDAcademy WordPress101®, I teach beginners how to understand WordPress in stages, including how to build, maintain, and improve a WordPress website.
And inside the WordPress Learners Lounge, you can ask questions, get reassurance, and have somewhere to turn when you are not sure what to do.
Maintenance is not a reason to avoid WordPress.
It is a reason to learn it properly.
What About Support Costs?
Support is one of the best things you can invest in if it helps you stop wasting time.
A lot of beginners try to save money by doing everything alone.
But then they spend hours stuck on something that could have been explained in ten minutes.
That is not always saving money.
Sometimes paying for the right support helps you move faster, make better decisions, and avoid expensive mistakes.
This might look like:
- A WordPress course
- A live membership
- A coworking session
- A 1:1 support call
- A maintenance plan
- A developer for specific tasks
You do not need everything at once.
You just need the right help at the right time.
My Honest Take
If you only need a very simple website and you want the easiest setup possible, Wix or Squarespace may feel cheaper and easier at the start.
But if you are building a business website that needs to grow, WordPress is usually better value long term.
It gives you more control.
It gives you more flexibility.
It gives you more SEO opportunity.
It gives you more room to add features.
It gives you a stronger foundation for content, courses, memberships, products, and long-term visibility.
That is why I continue to recommend WordPress to non-techie business owners who want to build something they can grow with.
Final Thoughts
WordPress is not always the cheapest website option on day one.
But cheap is not the same as good value.
If your website is part of your business, you need a platform that can grow with you.
For many business owners, WordPress gives the best balance of control, flexibility, ownership, and long-term value.
You do not need to learn it all alone.
If you want a clear path, start with NCDAcademy WordPress101®.
If you want live support and somewhere to ask questions, join the WordPress Learners Lounge.
And if you’re not sure whether WordPress is the right next step for you, book a 1:1 WordPress Clarity Call and we’ll talk it through together.
