The best website builder for small business depends on what your site needs to do: WordPress is the most flexible and the one you fully own, Wix and Squarespace are the easiest to run yourself, and Shopify is built for selling products. If you mainly need a professional site that brings in calls and leads, WordPress or Squarespace usually wins; if online sales are the core of your business, start with Shopify.
That’s the short version. The longer version matters, because the platform you pick decides what you’ll pay every month, how much you can customize, and how hard it will be to move if you outgrow it.
This guide walks through all four platforms in plain English, the way we’d explain it to a café owner in Portland or a contractor in Bangor sitting across the table. No developer jargon, and no “it depends” without telling you what it depends on.
What Should a Small Business Look for in a Website Platform?
Before comparing logos, get clear on what your site actually has to do. Most small businesses in Maine fall into one of three camps: a brochure site that gets the phone ringing, a booking-driven site (inns, salons, charters), or an online store.
Here are the questions that separate the platforms:
- Who will update it? If it’s you, at 10 p.m. after closing, ease of editing matters more than anything.
- Will you sell online? Products, gift cards, deposits, or bookings all change the math.
- How much do you care about Google? Every platform can rank, but some give you more control over the details.
- Do you want to own it outright? Some platforms rent you the site; with others, the files are yours.
- What’s your budget over three years, not just month one? Monthly fees, apps, plugins, and transaction fees add up.
Keep your answers in mind as you read. The “best” platform is the one that fits those answers, not the one with the slickest ad.
Quick Comparison: WordPress vs Wix vs Squarespace vs Shopify
Here’s how the four stack up at a glance. Prices are the published rates we checked on each company’s pricing page in October 2026 and can change at any time.
| Platform | Best for | Ease of use | Starting paid price | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress (self-hosted) | Flexible business sites, content and SEO, growing companies | Moderate; easier with a good setup | Software is free; you pay for hosting, domain, and any premium add-ons | You own the files and can move hosts |
| Wix | Simple DIY sites, quick launches | Very easy drag-and-drop | Light plan from $17.77/mo, billed yearly | Hosted on Wix; can’t move the site elsewhere as-is |
| Squarespace | Design-forward service businesses, portfolios, small shops | Easy, polished templates | Basic from $19/mo billed annually ($25 monthly) | Hosted on Squarespace; limited export |
| Shopify | Businesses where online sales are the main event | Easy for stores; less suited to content-heavy sites | Basic from $29/mo billed yearly ($39 monthly) | Hosted on Shopify; product data exports |
Sources: Wix plans, Squarespace pricing, and Shopify pricing.
WordPress: The Most Flexible Option You Actually Own
When people say “WordPress,” they usually mean WordPress.org, the free, open-source software you install on your own hosting. According to WordPress.org, it’s released under the GPL license and powers over 43% of sites across the web. That huge user base is why almost every web designer, plugin maker, and hosting company supports it.
Because the software is open source, you’re not renting your site from a single company. If your host raises prices or your designer retires, you can pack up the site and move it.
Where WordPress shines
- Flexibility: Booking systems, menus, real estate listings, membership areas, online stores (through WooCommerce), and multilingual sites are all possible.
- SEO control: You can fine-tune page titles, URLs, redirects, schema, and site speed in ways closed platforms don’t always allow.
- Content: If blogging or local landing pages are part of your marketing, WordPress was built for exactly that.
- Ownership: Your content, design, and database live on hosting you control.
Where WordPress asks more of you
- Maintenance: Core software, themes, and plugins need regular updates, and you need backups. This is the trade-off for freedom.
- Quality varies: A WordPress site built with a bloated theme and 40 plugins can be slow and fragile. A well-built one is fast and stable.
- Learning curve: The editor is friendly once it’s set up well, but the initial setup isn’t a weekend DIY project for most owners.
WordPress is usually the right call when your website is a long-term marketing asset, when you want to rank for lots of local searches, or when you expect your needs to grow. It’s what Morellis builds on most often for exactly those reasons.
Wix: The Easiest Way to Get Something Online Fast
Wix is an all-in-one, hosted website builder. You pick a template, drag elements where you want them, and hit publish. Hosting, security certificates, and software updates are handled for you.
On the Wix plans page, paid plans currently run from Light at $17.77 a month to Business at $39.77 a month, with Business Elite at $159.77, all shown as yearly subscriptions paid up front. Accepting payments starts at the Core plan. There’s also a free plan, but it’s built for trying the editor, not for running a business site with your own domain.
Wix pros
- Truly beginner-friendly editor; you can see exactly what you’re changing.
- Hosting, security, and updates are included.
- Large app market for bookings, forms, and simple stores.
Wix cons
- Drag-and-drop freedom makes it easy to end up with a messy mobile layout if you’re not careful.
- You can’t take your Wix site and host it somewhere else. If you leave, you rebuild.
- Apps can add monthly costs on top of your plan.
Wix makes sense for a brand-new business that needs a simple, decent-looking site this month and has more time than budget. Many owners start here and move later; if that’s you, our guide to costs will help you plan the jump.
Squarespace: Polished Design With Less Tinkering
Squarespace is also a hosted, all-in-one builder, but it’s more structured than Wix. The templates are known for clean, modern design, and the editor keeps you inside guardrails so things don’t fall apart on phones.
According to Squarespace’s pricing page, plans run from Basic at $19 a month billed annually ($25 month to month) up to Advanced at $99 a month annually. One detail worth noticing: the Basic plan charges a 2% fee on online store sales, while Core and higher plans drop that fee to zero (card processing fees still apply). There’s a 14-day free trial, and annual plans include a free domain for the first year.
Squarespace pros
- Beautiful templates that look good with minimal effort.
- Good fit for photographers, salons, studios, restaurants, and inns that sell on looks.
- Built-in scheduling, simple commerce, and email marketing options.
Squarespace cons
- Less flexible than WordPress when you need custom features or integrations.
- Fewer third-party extensions than WordPress or Shopify.
- Like Wix, you can’t move the site to a different host; leaving means rebuilding.
Squarespace is a solid pick for a service business that wants to look sharp and update its own hours, menus, and photos without calling anyone.
Shopify: Built for Selling Products Online
Shopify is an e-commerce platform first and a website builder second. Inventory, checkout, shipping, taxes, discounts, and point-of-sale for in-person sales are all core features rather than add-ons.
Per Shopify’s pricing page, the Basic plan is $29 a month billed yearly ($39 monthly), Grow is $79 yearly ($105 monthly), and Advanced is $299 yearly ($399 monthly). Standard online card rates start at 2.9% plus 30 cents on Basic. If you use an outside payment processor instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds its own transaction fee, starting at 2% on Basic.
Shopify pros
- The smoothest path to a real online store with a trusted checkout.
- Handles shipping rates, inventory, and taxes well.
- Connects your online store with in-person sales at a shop, farmers market, or pop-up.
Shopify cons
- Overkill (and over-priced) for a business that doesn’t sell products online.
- Many useful features come from paid apps, which add up month after month.
- Blogging and content pages are workable but less flexible than WordPress.
If you’re a Maine seafood shipper, a maker selling soap or pottery nationwide, or a farm with a real product catalog, Shopify belongs at the top of your list.
How Do the Costs Compare Over Time?
Monthly plan prices are only part of the story. Here’s what tends to drive the real cost on each platform:
| Cost driver | WordPress | Wix / Squarespace | Shopify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | None for the software | Monthly or annual plan | Monthly or annual plan |
| Hosting | Paid separately; quality varies a lot | Included | Included |
| Add-ons | Premium plugins and themes (optional) | Apps and extensions (optional) | Apps, often monthly |
| Selling online | Payment processor fees | Processing fees; Squarespace Basic adds 2% on store sales | Processing fees; extra fee if you skip Shopify Payments |
| Maintenance | Updates and backups needed (DIY or paid plan) | Handled by the platform | Handled by the platform |
| Professional design | Common; custom work fits easily | Possible but limited by the template system | Common for theme customization |
The cheapest option in month one isn’t always the cheapest over three years. A hosted builder plus three paid apps can quietly match or exceed the cost of a well-run WordPress site. For a full breakdown of what Maine businesses spend on design, hosting, and upkeep, see our guide on how much a website costs in Maine.
Which Is the Best Website Builder for Small Business SEO?
All four platforms can rank on Google. Google’s own page experience guidance focuses on things any platform can deliver: secure HTTPS pages, a good mobile experience, solid Core Web Vitals, and helpful content that isn’t buried under pop-ups.
Where platforms differ is how much control you get over the details:
- WordPress gives you the most control: custom URLs, redirects, structured data, fine-grained speed tuning, and tools like Yoast for on-page SEO.
- Shopify handles product SEO well, though some URL patterns are fixed by the platform.
- Squarespace and Wix cover the basics well (titles, descriptions, sitemaps, mobile layouts) and are fine for most local service businesses.
Honestly, for a local business, the platform matters less than the work: clear service pages, a well-run Google Business Profile, real photos, reviews, and content that answers customer questions. A neglected WordPress site will lose to a well-tended Squarespace site every time.
Which Platform Fits Your Type of Business?
Here’s how we’d usually steer different Maine businesses, as a starting point rather than a rule:
- Contractors, plumbers, HVAC, landscapers: WordPress, for strong local SEO, service-area pages, and lead forms. Squarespace works for a simple start.
- Restaurants and cafés: Squarespace or WordPress, connected to your existing online ordering or reservation system.
- Inns, B&Bs, and vacation rentals: WordPress, so you can connect a booking engine and build pages that compete for travel searches.
- Salons, studios, and photographers: Squarespace’s templates and scheduling are a natural fit.
- Retail and makers shipping products: Shopify.
- Professional services (law, accounting, real estate): WordPress, for content depth and integrations.
- Brand-new businesses on a tight budget: Wix or Squarespace to start, with a plan to upgrade.
Can You Switch Platforms Later?
Yes, but it’s rarely a simple export and import. Moving from Wix or Squarespace usually means rebuilding the design and moving content page by page. Moving off Shopify means re-creating your store setup, even though product data can be exported.
The bigger risk is search rankings. When page addresses change, Google needs to be told where each old page went. Google’s site move documentation recommends permanent (301) redirects from each old URL to its new one and warns that rankings can fluctuate for a while during the move.
That’s why it pays to choose thoughtfully up front. If you think you’ll outgrow a simple builder within a year or two, it may be cheaper to start on the platform you’ll end up on.
Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?
Every one of these platforms markets itself as “easy,” and for basic edits, that’s true. Building a site that converts visitors into calls and bookings is a different skill.
DIY makes sense when your budget is very tight, your needs are simple, and you enjoy the work. Hiring help makes sense when:
- Your website is a main source of leads or sales.
- You need integrations, like booking, ordering, CRM, or listing feeds.
- You want to rank for competitive local searches.
- Your time is worth more running the business than wrestling with layout settings.
A good designer will also tell you when a simpler platform is enough. You should never be pushed into a bigger build than your business needs. You can see what Morellis handles, from design to hosting and SEO, on our services page.
Our Honest Take
If we had to boil it down to one sentence per platform:
- WordPress: Best long-term home for a growing business that wants control and strong SEO, as long as someone maintains it.
- Wix: Fastest way to get a decent DIY site online, with the least flexibility to move later.
- Squarespace: Best-looking DIY option for service businesses that value design and simplicity.
- Shopify: The clear choice when selling products online is the heart of the business.
There’s no single best website builder for small business owners everywhere. There’s the one that fits how you sell, who updates the site, and where you plan to be in three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WordPress really free?
The WordPress software is free and open source. You still pay for hosting and a domain, and you may choose premium themes or plugins. Professional design and ongoing maintenance are separate costs if you hire them out.
Is Wix or Squarespace better for a small business?
Squarespace tends to suit businesses that want polished design with less fiddling, while Wix offers more drag-and-drop freedom. Both are hosted, both are easy to update, and neither lets you move the site to another host. Try the free trials and see which editor feels natural to you.
Do I need Shopify if I only sell a few products?
Not necessarily. Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress with WooCommerce can all handle a small catalog. Shopify becomes worth it when you have many products, ship regularly, need inventory tracking, or sell in person and online together.
Which platform is best for Google rankings?
Any of the four can rank well for a local business. WordPress offers the most technical control, but consistent content, a strong Google Business Profile, and a fast, mobile-friendly site matter more than the platform name.
Can Morellis work with my existing Wix or Squarespace site?
Often, yes. Depending on your goals, we can improve what you have or recommend a move to WordPress if you’ve outgrown your current platform. We’ll give you an honest recommendation either way.
How much does a professionally built site cost?
It varies widely with the number of pages, features, and content needed. Morellis doesn’t publish fixed prices because every project is different; we quote each project after a free consultation so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Still not sure which platform fits your business? Book a free 30-minute consultation with Morellis. We’ll look at how you sell, who will update the site, and your budget, then recommend the right platform for your Maine business, even if it’s the simpler one.