WordPress Vs Squarespace – 5 Key Differences Computer Science Students Should Know

Are you a computer science student who wants to become a website developer? Don’t you know which platforms to master when creating a website or buying a hosting plan? Which content management system will be better for blogs and websites? WordPress vs Squarespace always remains a hot topic for students and professionals who want to and are creating websites and blogs.

Preferring one platform over the other is not as easy as it seems. According to WP Zoom, developers have used WordPress to make over 529 million websites, and almost 43.5% of websites use this platform as a content management system (CMS). On the other hand, Backlinko states that Squarespace has 4.91 million unique subscribers and generates $1.92 billion every year. These stats show that these systems are quite famous among developers, SEO professionals, and content writers.

In this detailed article, we will review the key differences between WordPress and Squarespace, their weaknesses and strengths. Let’s learn about them in detail so that you can make your next project a success!

What Is the Difference Between Squarespace and WordPress? Tips to Choose a System Carefully!

Selecting the right platform can make or break your project, especially when you are building your portfolio or working on your professional project. It always remains difficult for students to select the best one and learn about it. The selection may be easy; however, the real challenge begins when they start learning about it. Understanding these systems will become even more difficult for them if they are busy with their assignments.

Students are often required to grasp complex technical concepts, which can be challenging when combined with the pressure of completing lengthy assignments. Trying to manage both simultaneously may hinder deep understanding and academic performance. That’s why most students prefer to acquire assignment writing help online. These services handle the academic workload, giving students the freedom to focus on learning and mastering technical systems without added stress.

Here are some key differences between WordPress and Squarespace for portfolio and professional projects. Based on these differences, you can choose any of them and master them.

• Open Source vs Closed Source

As per WordPress.org, it is open-source software, which means that developers can easily access and modify its core code. It can become a golden opportunity for computer science students to debug and innovate. You will have the opportunity to create customised themes and build plugins. Additionally, you would also be able to contribute to the WordPress project. 

Contrarily, Squarespace is a closed-source project. Usually, professionals call it an all-in-one platform. While using this system, you will not have the option of flexibility. However, developers will be able to prioritise user experience. It is especially beneficial for non-tech people and students who don’t have in-depth knowledge about technical concepts. Therefore, it limits the possibilities for backend customisation and coding.

Here is a two-liner difference for WordPress vs Squarespace:

• WordPress allows you to apply real-world coding skills if you are a professional or computer science student.
• Squarespace restricts backend access; therefore, you will not get hands-on coding practice.

WordPress is a good option when you require development flexibility. However, if you lack in-depth coding skills, Squarespace is a better option.

• WordPress vs Squarespace for Ease of Use

Squarespace shines when it comes to user-friendliness. According to Website Builder Expert, it is one of the easiest platforms due to its simple editor and drag-and-drop options. This platform is famous for its beautiful templates and intuitive interface, which is why beginners and creatives prefer it over others. The best part of using Squarespace is that you will not need a single line of code to develop a website.

On the other hand, WordPress has a steeper learning curve. A student or novice professional will have to understand plugins, themes, and widgets. They also must have some knowledge of HTML, CSS, or PHP to make the most of it. Below is a short description of how WordPress differs from Squarespace:

• Let’s say you need to launch a quick project. Squarespace is a better choice because it will save time.
• WordPress is an effective classroom if you want to learn web architecture.

To put it shortly, Squarespace is for beginners and WordPress is for learners. Based on your knowledge and expertise, you can choose any of them accordingly.

• WordPress vs Squarespace Cost

The cost can be the deciding factor when prioritising a platform over another. Sometimes, you don’t have enough budget for website creation, especially when you are a student and working on your dissertation. Similarly, website development companies can save costs if they prefer WordPress over Squarespace.

When you self-host WordPress, you will need to pay for:

• Hosting
• Domain Name
• Premium Themes or Plugins (This is optional)

On the other hand, Squarespace offers subscription plans. These plans range between $16 and $49 a month. They include hosting, templates, and support. As compared to WordPress, these plans are expensive and break the bank if you regularly develop websites or blogs.

WordPress gives you budget control but will always require technical management. Squarespace is pricier but hassle-free. You need to choose these platforms carefully while considering your budget and technical expertise. WordPress will be a good option if you know how to manage a server.

• Portfolio Potential

The importance of a strong portfolio can’t be overlooked when it comes to finding a stable job. According to Access College America, a well-crafted portfolio is essential for CS students to show their skills, experience, and passion for a project, which means that getting a job will become easy for students who have a collection of professional projects. When building a portfolio, please remember that Squarespace offers beautifully designed templates. They will always remain easy to customise.

Let’s say you are going to complete your graduation, and you want to start a job immediately. However, you don’t have a strong portfolio, but want to develop one in a short time. In this situation, Squarespace will be your perfect companion for setting up a professional-looking portfolio. Contrarily, WordPress offers great design flexibility with the help of page builders, such as Elementor, Divi, or Beaver Builder.

• WordPress vs Squarespace for SEO

SEO is the backbone of any website, blog, or online business. If you want to make your website visible, search engine optimisation will always remain crucial. When building an online platform, CS students or web developers need to discuss it with SEO professionals so that higher rankings no longer remain a dream.

In terms of SEO, WordPress is a better option. As per Search Engine Journal, WordPress focuses on user experience and allows developers and SEO professionals to use themes and plugins to make a website attractive and friendly. While using this platform for your website or blog, you can use Yoast SEO or Rank Math to customise your website. They empower you to edit meta tags, generate site maps, and control canonical URLs.

In contrast to WordPress, Squarespace covers only basic SEO. It does not have advanced options to optimise a website. It will not be easy for you to edit schema markup or .htaccess. Moreover, implementing advanced performance tricks will also become a neck-breaking journey for you.

In short, we can say that:

• WordPress enables you to dig deep into SEO. This is great for technical experimentation.
• Squarespace is fine for casual SEO; however, it lacks advanced control.

If you want to dominate the world of SEO, you must use WordPress for every website and blog. It is essential for ranking on the first page of SERPs.

Why Is WordPress Better Than Squarespace?

WordPress always remains a preferred choice for students and professionals who want full website control. This control allows them to customise functionality and design with different themes and plugins. WordPress is an open-source platform, which means that you can access and modify its code, making it ideal for developers and tech-savvy users.

WordPress supports thousands of plugins and themes, which are unmatched by Squarespace. This content management system is perfect for blogs, portfolios, e-commerce, and large business sites with thousands of pages. It provides advanced SEO tools and deeper customisation for developers and content creators.

How Much Do WordPress Plugins Cost?

WordPress plugins come in free and premium versions. It currently allows you to enjoy over 59,000 free plugins for SEO, security, etc. Additionally, you also enjoy a lot of options in terms of paid versions; the paid plans can range between $10 and $300. Many plugins are completely free; however, some of their features are paid.

For instance, the basic features of Yoast SEO are free, which are essential to rank your website or blog. Nevertheless, many features come at a price, and you have to buy an annual plan of $99 to access them. Paid plugins often provide better support and seamless integrations. Based on the complexity of your website, you can choose a combination of free and paid plugins.

Final Verdict

Choosing between WordPress vs Squarespace is not like one plus one equals two. This is far more complex than that. Usually, professionals and CS students need to understand the nature of a business or website before choosing a CMS platform. Additionally, they have to master it to grow professionally.

Students often find themselves busy with homework, having little time to explore and learn complex content management systems. Since it’s difficult to focus on both tasks simultaneously. In such cases, students can share their academic burden with assignment writing services. This allows them to concentrate fully on mastering these platforms. 

By doing so, they not only enhance their technical skills but also pave the way for academic excellence and long-term professional success.

Author Bio

Ronda Rousey is a brilliant assignment writer who loves to help students overcome their academic problems. She focuses on discussing homework issues and choosing the best way to curate a piece of writing that impresses the instructor. Ronda always remains a call away, and she will be happy to respond to you quickly.