StellarSites vs Wix vs Squarespace (2025): Which Platform Should You Really Choose?

This is a detailed comparison between StellarSites vs Wix vs Squarespace & I aim to provide you with a completely honest & non-biased comparison covering…

So let's dive in right away with a quick back story…

When I started out as a freelancer, Wix and Squarespace were some of the easiest ways to get a website live. They looked good, felt simple, and didn’t overwhelm me with options.

But as I grew into running my own design agency → 60pixel, I learned that ease alone isn’t enough.
Clients need speed, scalability, security, and a site they truly own.

So far, I was working with WordPress (the traditional way) & recently noticed StellarSites, a new product by StellarWP, stands out. It aims to give you the simplicity of Wix or Squarespace, but with the power and flexibility of WordPress baked in.

Over the past weeks, I’ve tested StellarSites hands-on, even launching a mock client site (VK Interiors) to see how it compares with Wix and Squarespace.

In this deep dive, I’ll share my experience, pricing breakdowns, and
verdict on which platform is best in 2025…

1. What Each Platform Is (In Simple Words)

StellarSites – A fully bundled WordPress hosting solution created by StellarWP (makers of Kadence, SolidWP, LearnDash, GiveWP). It gives you:

• Hosting powered by Nexcess
• KadenceWP theme + Kadence Blocks Pro
• SolidWP security & automated backups
• Cloudflare CDN & object cache pro for speed
• AI Website Wizard for fast setup

Wix – A SaaS website builder with drag-and-drop editing, built-in apps, and templates. Very beginner-friendly, but closed ecosystem → what you build on Wix stays on Wix.

Squarespace – A design-focused builder with stunning templates. Excellent for creatives, portfolios, and simple ecommerce, but less flexibility for integrations.

2. Ease of Use & Setup: StellarSites vs Wix vs Squarespace

Honestly, one of the biggest reasons people choose Wix or Squarespace is simplicity. You sign up, pick a template, and drag-and-drop & done – you've your site up & live working.

StellarSites approaches ease differently: it gives you a guided AI Website Wizard (powered by KadenceAI) that asks a few questions (industry, colors, style) and spins up a full WordPress site on Kadence.

When I tested it for VK Interiors, here’s how it went:

• Signup took minutes – no separate hosting logins.
• The AI wizard generated a starter site with layout + content.
• I had a functioning interior design website draft in under an hour.

👉 Verdict: Wix/Squarespace feel slightly easier for raw beginners, but StellarSites matches them closely and gives you more flexibility later. Onboarding is pretty easy on all 3 of the website builders.

3. Design & Customization

This is the main reason some people don't like Wix & Squarespace despite the ease of use.
Let's break it down of all three…

StellarSites (KadenceWP)

• Uses KadenceWP theme + blocks (fast, lightweight, Gutenberg-native).
• Deep customization: headers, footers, layouts, global color control.
• 40+ Starter templates with 800+ patterns (responsive & modern standards)
• Real proof: I built my client site CredibleFinance.in on KadenceWP → it’s fast and versatile.

Wix

• Dozens of templates (over 900 now) and easy drag-and-drop customization & also offers AI features
• While it does offers templates but still users find them limiting for achieving advance design goals.
• But once you pick a template, you can’t switch later without rebuilding

Squarespace

• For some, it's the undisputed king of visually polished templates
• However, advanced customization is limited unless you pay more or inject custom code.

👉 Verdict: Squarespace will win for instant beauty (for some industry). Wix wins for drag-and-drop. StellarSites wins for long-term flexibility, full control and performance.

4. Features & Integrations

Here’s where the difference really shows & I think this should be a considering factor if you're confused between choosing StellarSites vs Wix vs Sqaurespace.

StellarSites

• WordPress plugins = unlimited integrations (you can add any WP plugin)
• KadenceWP & Kadence Blocks Pro included (that gives full design control)
• SolidWP suite = hardcore security, automated backups, monitoring.
• E-commerce with WooCommerce – Shop plan starting at just $25/mo.
• In-built LearnDash system for online course type of website.
• In-built GiveWP for donations & nonprofit website.
• Full SEO control + design flexibility + no-lock ins

Wix

• App Market with add-ons (SEO, forms, ecommerce).
• Works for simple shops but advanced apps = extra cost.

Squarespace

• Built-in scheduling, memberships, ecommerce (different pricing plans)
• But you’re limited to their native integrations & SEO wise it's not that great.

👉 Verdict: Wix/Squarespace are good for basics. StellarSites wins for scalability + design freedom and plugin freedom as you can integrate any feature you want using a WordPress plugin.

5. Performance & Security: StellarSites vs Wix vs Squarespace

As an agency owner, performance and security for client sites are things I can’t ignore. So here's a quick breakdown of how each compares in-terms of performance & site security…

StellarSites

• Hosting powered by Nexcess (Liquid Web family).
• Cloudflare CDN baked in & they provide object cache pro for additional speed boost.
• SolidWP = malware scans, brute force protection, automated daily backups, one-click restore.

Wix & Squarespace

• Both manage performance on their own servers.
• There's usually no downside in terms of their security.
• Security is handled, but you don’t see or control what happens.

👉 Verdict: Wix/Squarespace = simple, “trust us” security whereas
StellarSites = transparency + tools + WordPress ownership.

Pricing: StellarSites vs Wix vs Squarespace (2025 Updated)

Here's the pricing breakdown of each platform…

The entry-level plan of each platform is just to get started & won't be a full-fledged website – keep that in mind.

Here's a quick snap of all the plans offered…

Considering the both, entry-level & high-tier pricing plans, here's my verdict…

👉 Verdict: Squarespace looks cheap but apps add up. Wix looks mid-range but advanced commerce is costly. StellarSites packs the most long-term value for both entry-level as well as high-tier plans.

7. Real Quick: Who Each Platform Is For?

StellarSites → New Freelancers, small businesses – serviced based, nonprofits, creators, educators. Best if you want growth, plugin freedom, and site ownership.

Wix → Hobbyists, side projects, quick small sites where design control isn’t critical long-term. For people who just want a website for their personal/business project.

Squarespace → Photographers, artists, creatives who want gorgeous designs with minimal fuss & are okay with limitations & higher pricing (later on)

Pros & Cons: StellarSites vs Wix vs Squarespace

StellarSites

Pros:

• All-in-one bundle – Hosting, security, backups, and premium KadenceWP included. You save time and avoid the headache of stitching services together.
• Ownership & flexibility – Unlike Wix or Squarespace, your site is truly yours, and you’re free to add any WordPress plugin or integration you want.
• Solid performance & security – Nexcess hosting plus SolidWP’s suite means your site runs fast and is protected without extra setup.
• Room to grow – From blogs to e-commerce shops to learning platforms, StellarSites can scale with your needs.

Cons:

• Not for advanced developers – If you need root server access or want to heavily customize the hosting environment, StellarSites won’t be the right fit.
• Still new – As a fresh product, its support ecosystem and template variety aren’t as extensive as older platforms.

Wix

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly – True drag-and-drop editor makes it the easiest option to launch a site with zero technical knowledge.
• Quick setup – Templates and the Wix ADI tool generate a functional site in minutes.
• App market – Adds functionality like booking, chat, and ecommerce, useful for small businesses.

Cons:

• Limited portability – Sites built on Wix are tied to Wix. Moving your design elsewhere is nearly impossible.
• Scaling costs – While the base price looks affordable, adding apps and storage can quickly increase costs.
• SEO limitations – It’s improved over the years but still doesn’t offer the same depth of SEO control as WordPress.

Squarespace

Pros:

• Beautiful templates – Perfect for portfolios, creative work, and visual storytelling.
• Built-in features – Blogging, ecommerce, and memberships are available without needing apps or plugins.
• Polished experience – The design system feels premium, with consistent style across features.

Cons:

• Customization limits – Going beyond template defaults is harder, especially for non-technical users.
• Fewer integrations – You’re locked into Squarespace’s ecosystem, so adding external tools is limited.
• Costs add up – Advanced commerce and removing transaction fees require higher-tier plans, which get expensive.

Final Verdict: Who wins?

After testing out all three, here’s my bottom line:

If your goal is a long-term, professional website that you control and can expand over time, StellarSites is the best choice in 2025. It brings together the reliability of managed hosting, the flexibility of WordPress, and the simplicity of a site builder → all without overwhelming you.

Wix and Squarespace still have their place. Wix is fantastic if you just want to test an idea quickly or need a small personal site without worrying about growth. Squarespace is the most visually appealing option out-of-the-box, ideal for artists or creatives who need polished design but don’t plan to scale beyond that.

But as someone who builds sites for a living, I value control, ownership, and future flexibility.
That’s why StellarSites wins for me. Here's my detailed StellarSites review to help you decide further.

It’s SaaS-smooth, but WordPress-strong – a combination that makes it hard to beat.

→ Try StellarSites today

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