An Honest Comparison
Wix and Squarespace are real tools that work for some businesses. We're not here to bash them — we're here to lay out exactly where they win, where they lose, and what each option actually costs over the life of your business.
Capability
Capability comparison across the things that actually matter to a small business website.
| What you get | Meridian Works | Wix | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truly custom design (not from a template) | |||
| Built for speed (Core Web Vitals optimized) | |||
| Full SEO foundation (schema, sitemap, alt, meta) | |||
| Custom features (booking, location maps, custom forms) | |||
| Self-edit menu, prices, hours, location | |||
| You own the code (move hosts anytime) | |||
| Built around your business goals (not a template's) | |||
| One-time price (not a subscription forever) |
The Math
Subscription pricing makes Wix and Squarespace feel cheap month-to-month. Here's how the math plays out over the life of a small-business site.
| Time horizon | Meridian Works Starter $495 one-time |
Wix Core ~$29/mo |
Squarespace Business ~$23/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 what you pay that year |
$495 one-time fee | $348 | $276 |
| Year 2 what you pay that year |
$0 already paid | $348 | $276 |
| Year 3 what you pay that year |
$0 already paid | $348 | $276 |
| Year 4 what you pay that year |
$0 already paid | $348 | $276 |
| Year 5 what you pay that year |
$0 already paid | $348 | $276 |
| 5-Year Total cumulative cost |
$495 | $1,740 | $1,380 |
Prices reflect typical small-business tiers as of 2026 — Wix Core and Squarespace Business at annual billing. Higher-tier plans (Wix Business, Squarespace Commerce) cost more. Custom site totals don't include the small extras you'd pay for either option: ~$15/yr domain renewal and ~$0–20/mo basic hosting (Netlify and Vercel both offer free tiers that cover most small-business sites). Even with hosting included, custom comes out cheaper from year 2 onward.
Every month past break-even is pure savings — and over a typical 5-year run of a small-business site, you save $885 to $1,245 compared to a subscription builder. That's before you factor in the better speed, better SEO, and the fact that you actually own what you bought.
The Honest Section
We're not pretending Wix and Squarespace have zero use cases. They're real tools that solve real problems for some businesses. There are three situations where they're honestly the right choice over a custom site:
For everyone else — small businesses serious about being found, looking professional, and growing — custom wins on every dimension that matters. Better speed, better SEO, better design, ownership of what you build, and lower total cost from year 2 onward.
If you're still not sure which side of the line you're on, tell us about your business. We'll give you an honest take — and if Wix or Squarespace really is the right call for you, we'll say so.
Why Looks Matter
We've all clicked onto a small business website that screamed templated — mismatched colors, stock photos that don't match the brand, a layout straight out of 2018. The thought is always the same: this looks unprofessional.
Then we click away.
A polished, custom-built site signals that the business behind it takes itself seriously. A templated one — even an expensive subscription one — often signals the opposite. For a small business trying to win trust, a bad-looking website hurts more than no website at all.
Custom design isn't vanity. It's how you stop losing customers before they even read a word.
Custom websites starting at $495 one-time. Most small business sites launch in 2–3 weeks. Tell us about your business and we'll put together a plan.
Let's Talk →