Case Studies: Why Switch from WordPress to Squarespace
Introduction
Why switch from WordPress to Squarespace
I developed professional websites on WordPress for over 10 years before finally switching over and becoming a specialized Squarespace website designer. It wasn’t until the release of the 7.1 framework (in 2019) and the drag-and-drop Fluid Engine editor (in 2022) that Squarespace finally become a comparable platform. This is one of the many reasons why choose to switch from WordPress to Squarespace. Most small business owners aren’t aware of the many benefits of Squarespace vs WordPress!
The launch of 7.1 and Fluid Engine not only made Squarespace much more flexible, but it started the growth of an incredible developer community. This community began producing code snippets, plugins, templates, and more. Most small business owners do not know that we (website designers) can now build a professional, highly functional websites using Squarespace.
Top reasons why I decided to switch from WordPress to Squarespace:
It’s more fun to design on
I was able to quickly became an expert and can do more on the platform because there is only one theme and one page designer
The developer community is extensive and provides an incredible number of hand-coding resources
The client hand-off experience is 1,000 times better—it’s much easier for clients to edit on, I can provide more video tutorials, there are no monthly fees required to update plugins, themes, or other software. Plus, it is 100% secure.
| Squarespace | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Security | 100% secure and does not require any security plugins or regular maintenance. | Open source software; requires security plugins and monthly maintenance to remain secure. |
| Editing | Very easy learning curve; edit without knowing code. | Difficult learning curve; edit without knowing code. |
| Long Term Costs | Monthly hosting + Domain | Monthly hosting + Domain + additional developer costs to update your website or fix it when it breaks. |
| Customer Service | 24/7 customer service included with all hosting plans. | Some hosting plans have customer service, but generally it is minimal and you will need to pay a developer for most of your needs. |
Key Takeaways
In this white-paper style case study blog, I’m going to analyze three different client WordPress website projects and discuss why we decided to switch from WordPress to Squarespace. By diving into the challenges, solutions, and budgets of each, it is my hope to help more small business owners take advantage of this amazing platform.
The Refresher—a client that had a WordPress website and wanted to refresh their layout. They also wanted to learn how to edit their own site. This is a case study on why we transferred their website from WordPress to Squarespace.
The “Minor Edits”—a client on a tight budget that only needed one new page. She also wanted help learning how to edit her WordPress website so she could maintain the site forward. This is a case study on why we edited her current WordPress website (instead of transferring it) and why I wish we had transferred over to Squarespace.
The Hacked Site—a client who’s WordPress website had been hacked due to outdated software and lack of security plugins. The website was completely broken and needed to be replaced. This is a case study on why we built them a new website on Squarespace.
*These case studies are from real client projects. However, for privacy reasons, I won’t be including any screenshots or specific client details.
An outdated WordPress dashboard that is requiring extensive updates just to maintain functionality.
The clean Squarespace dashboard interface that requires no software updates or security plugins.
Ready to transfer your WordPress website to Squarespace to eliminate costly maintenance fees and get onto a platform that is super easy to edit yourself?
Contact me so we can talk some more about your unique website needs ⟶
Table of Contents
Case-Study 1: The Refresher
Challenge
This client was a small business owner in Colorado who offers a consulting service. He came to me with a WordPress website that hasn’t been updated in years. His website had been professionally developed by a website designer, but it was out of date. Additionally, he had forgotten how to edit his website. The client initially just wanted to update the content on the site and improve the user experience. He was initially apprehensive about switching to Squarespace. He thought that WordPress offered “more functionality” and that Squarespace would be an “out of the box” solution. After explaining that Squarespace now offers extended functionality and flexible design options for small business owners, without the maintenance hassle, he agreed to switch from WordPress to Squarespace
Solution
If we had stayed on WordPress, I would have had to first address the outdated website. The plugins and software hadn’t been updated in many years. There were several plugins that weren’t in use, and I didn’t recognize the theme. There were no security plugins or backup plugins. It was only a matter of time for this website was going to get hacked in its current state.
It would have taken hundreds of dollars and many hours just to get the website secure and functioning. I would have needed to examine the plugins, remove any that weren’t in use, make sure the current ones were being updated, replace any out-of-date plugins, and install security and backup software. All of this had to happen before performing any edits.
Additionally, I felt the design updates the client was requesting would be easier and more flexible on Squarespace. In the time it would take me to get the WordPress website secure, I could have a wireframe built on Squarespace ready for a brand-new layout.
We ended up transferring his WordPress website to Squarespace. I replicated the wireframe and updated the layout with modern elements for better user experience. The client can now easily update the site without any ongoing monthly costs.
Budget
The client’s original budget was $1,500-$2,000 for “edits and updates”
The final cost was $2,500 for a WordPress to Squarespace Transfer service
By switching to Squarespace the client saved $3,000 over a 5 year period* (*the average monthly cost of WordPress maintenance is $50 or more)
Case Study 2: The “Minor Edits”
Challenge
This client was a musician and University educator in Massachusetts. She came to me requesting some minor edits. She wanted to add a list of courses to her website. She also wanted help understanding how to edit her website so she could make her own changes.
This client was on a tight budget, so I decided to edit her current website instead of building her a Squarespace website. At the time, the edits seemed minimal.
The website hadn’t been updated in years. I knew we’d need to update the plugins, theme, and WP software. There were no security or backup plugins installed. There were also several plugins that were outdated and needed to be replaced. Because the edits were supposed to be minimal, I quoted for about 4 hours of time—this is what I thought I needed to update the software and do the edits.
Unfortunately, there were some unforeseen issues. The person who had originally built this website left all the template content live. There were dozens of pages, blocks, and global elements that had “placeholder” content on them. It took some extra time to remove all of this. It also took a tremendous amount of time to track down the login information for her host (something that I require before performing updates in case we get locked out due to an error).
Additionally, the client ended up requesting extra edits. The requests would have been super quick and easy on Squarespace, but on WordPress, they took more time to implement.
Solution
I helped her track down her hosting credentials, updated the software, performed the requested edits, removed all template content, and provided some training.
I wish we had switched her to Squarespace. Not were the hours double what I had estimated, but the client also couldn’t figure out how to edit her site, even with training. WordPress is so complicated to learn that she is now dependent on a developer for any ongoing edits.
At this point we had already invested a bit of time and budget into her current website, so switching wasn’t an option. This is a classic cautionary tale of why I believe it is more cost-effective to switch from WordPress to Squarespace!
Budget
The client’s original budget was $350-$400
The final project ended up costing $1,000
Case Study 3: The Hacked Site
Challenge
It makes me sad to report that this case study is one of several similar case studies. I have many panicked clients come to me over the years with hacked WordPress websites.
WordPress sites usually get easily hacked due to the following reasons:
The plugins, theme software, WP software are not being updated on a regular basis (every month is ideal, but at minimum every quarter). Outdated software leaves “holes” for hackers to get in. Most clients don’t know how to do this, or they forget to do it.
The website is missing critical security and backup plugins. This is like leaving your front door unlocked. It is a critical piece of building a WordPress website. Most DIY designers don’t know how to do this. However, it blows me away that many professional WordPress developers don’t setup security plugins either!
In this case study, this local non-profit client’s website didn’t have any security plugins and hadn’t been updated in years. The hackers got in and took over. The site was ruined.
First, they spent quite a bit of money on a team of people trying to fix the website. If they had come to me right away, I would have saved them thousands of dollars upfront—their site was trashed and it was more cost effective to rebuild it on Squarespace.
Solution
It wasn’t hard to convince this client to switch from WordPress to Squarespace. The prospect of never getting hacked ever again won them over! However, switching to Squarespace would also allow give them a website they could maintain themselves.
This client also needed an extensive community database and didn’t know if it could be done on Squarespace. In previous years, it wouldn’t have been possible, but now these sorts of complex features are and option!
Budget
The client’s original budget was $9,000. However, they spent all of that on a team that ultimately diagnosed the website as “unfixable”. No edits were made on that budget.
They only had $2,500 to spend on a new site when they came to me. Due to the extensive database and 20+ pages they needed, we ended up building them a custom Squarespace website for $5,000.
By switching to Squarespace the client saved $3,000 over a 5 year period* (*the average monthly cost of WordPress maintenance is $50 or more). Had they come to me first, they would have saved an additional $9,000.
Before and After Examples
Real client sites that did a switch from WordPress to Squarespace
The following examples are from live client sites. The before images are the original WordPress websites, and the after images are the new websites on Squarespace.
All functionality was either matched or increased during the transfer. The page layout, navigation, user experience, and conversions were all greatly improved by switching to Squarespace.
Conclusion
Most small business owners aren’t familiar with the various website building platforms and don’t know that they can switch from WordPress to Squarespace. They usually end up on WordPress by default because there are more WordPress developers out there then Squarespace developers.
Since switching over to Squarespace as my primary website building platform, I have yet to come across a single design or functionality request that I haven’t been able to execute. We no longer need WordPress to design business websites.
We can now build bespoke custom websites on Squarespace and provide a much better client experience after handoff. Squarespace websites do not require regular software updates, they don’t’ crash, they are safe and secure, and the platform has a much lower learning curve—anyone can edit their own website!
Transferring your website from WordPress to Squarespace will save you hours of frustration and thousands of dollars in maintenance fees.
Looking for more info? Here a little bit of information about what to expect around the process of moving your website from WordPress to Squarespace.
FAQ’s
Can I change from WordPress to Squarespace?
Yes, you can change from WordPress to Squarespace! The process involves exporting content from WordPress, importing it into Squarespace, and customizing your new site to match your brand. Blogs and other custom post type content and be imported directly into Squarespace, including comments! Pages and branding elements will need to be manually built out. However Squarespace is so easy to use, the transition can be smooth and accessible, even for beginners.
Why use Squarespace over WordPress?
Squarespace is a great choice over WordPress if you’re looking for a user-friendly, all-in-one platform. Unlike WordPress, Squarespace doesn’t require managing hosting, updating plugins or themes, or paying a developer to fix ongoing issues. It also offers beautiful, mobile-friendly templates, built-in SEO tools, and 24/7 customer support. For small business owners or individuals who want a low-maintenance professional website, Squarespace is an excellent option.
Should I switch from Squarespace to WordPress?
Switching from Squarespace to WordPress depends on your needs. If you require extensive customization, advanced integrations, or control over your hosting, WordPress might be a better fit. However, if you prefer a simpler, hassle-free website solution with built-in tools, Squarespace is likely the better choice. Evaluate your goals and technical abilities before making the switch.
Do professional web designers use Squarespace?
Yes, many professional web designers use Squarespace to create stunning, functional websites. Squarespace’s platform allows for extensive customization through code and design flexibility, making it a popular choice for clients who want visually appealing websites without the complexities of WordPress. For designers, Squarespace is a reliable option for creating modern, easy-to-manage sites.
Ready to switch from WordPress to Squarespace and eliminate costly maintenance fees and get onto a platform that is super easy to edit yourself?
Contact me so we can talk some more about your unique website needs ⟶
