Which CMS is Right for You? Deep Dives into WordPress, Squarespace, Wix & More

Choosing a CMS in 2025 is a bit like choosing a political side.

People are passionate, the options are polarizing, and no one seems to agree on what’s “best.”

WordPress. Squarespace. Wix. Webflow. Shopify. The landscape is crowded with platforms claiming to make website building easier, faster, or more elegant. But beneath the marketing gloss, the real question is: how much control do you actually have?

Having worked across platforms, I’ve come to favor WordPress. Not because it’s trendy, but because it doesn’t put me in a box. It offers something the others struggle with: true flexibility. You can host it anywhere. Customize everything. Extend it without begging permission from a walled garden. It’s not flawless, not even close. But it is open, powerful, and endlessly adaptable.

That’s not to say the other platforms don’t have their place. If your priority is quick setup and minimal decision-making, platforms like Wix or Squarespace might feel like a perfect fit. But the trade-off often comes in the form of creative limits, performance constraints, and the creeping realization that you’re building on someone else’s terms.

This article explores the real-world strengths and limitations of today’s most popular CMS platforms. Starting with WordPress, we’ll take a deep dive into what each system does well, where it struggles, and which types of users it’s actually built for.

Because building a site isn’t just about clicking “publish.” It’s about owning what you create—and knowing the foundation is solid.

What Is a CMS?

A Content Management System (CMS) is software that lets you build, manage, and modify a website without writing code from scratch. It’s the layer between you and the raw code—the tool that turns HTML, CSS, databases, and scripts into something you can control from a dashboard.

At its core, a CMS separates content from presentation. That means writers, editors, and marketers can manage content without touching the layout, while developers can fine-tune the design and functionality without interfering with the day-to-day publishing process.

Most modern CMS platforms include three basic components:

1. A content editor (what-you-see-is-what-you-get, or WYSIWYG)

2. A backend system to manage users, settings, and content types

3. A theme or template layer to control how content is displayed

As Peter Thomas and Andreas Mauthe put it in Professional Content Management Systems, a CMS serves as the “central hub” for managing all digital assets—whether those are blog posts, product pages, videos, or metadata. It provides workflow tools, version control, and publishing capabilities, making it essential not just for websites, but for any system dealing with complex digital information.

Not Just for Blogs Anymore

In the early 2000s, CMS platforms like WordPress were primarily used for blogging. Fast forward to today, and the scope has changed entirely. As HubSpot notes, a CMS is now the backbone of most digital businesses. It’s what powers marketing sites, online stores, internal documentation portals, membership platforms—you name it.

Some CMS platforms are open-source and developer-friendly (like WordPress or Drupal). Others are hosted and all-in-one, offering a streamlined experience at the expense of flexibility (think Wix or Squarespace). The best one for you often comes down to how much control, scalability, and customization you need.

A CMS Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Different CMSs offer different approaches to the same challenge: how do you manage digital content at scale without reinventing the wheel every time?

For example:

• WordPress gives you full control but expects you to manage hosting and updates.

• Squarespace simplifies everything but keeps you on rails.

• Shopify focuses on eCommerce and product management.

• Webflow targets designers and developers who want visual control and clean code.

Each tool is shaped by a philosophy. Understanding that philosophy is the first step to choosing the right platform for your needs.

Quick CMS Comparison Table

Feature	WordPress	Squarespace	Wix	Webflow	Shopify
Open Source	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Ease of Use	⚠️ Moderate	✅ Very Easy	✅ Very Easy	⚠️ Steep Learning	✅ Easy
Design Flexibility	✅ High	⚠️ Limited	⚠️ Limited	✅ High	⚠️ Template-based
Hosting Control	✅ Full control	❌ Built-in only	❌ Built-in only	✅ Custom hosting	❌ Built-in only
SEO Capabilities	✅ Extensive	⚠️ Basic	⚠️ Basic	✅ Strong	⚠️ Decent
Cost Transparency	⚠️ Variable	✅ Predictable	✅ Predictable	⚠️ Variable	✅ Tiered Plans
Best For	Developers, bloggers, agencies	Creatives, local businesses	Beginners, freelancers	Designers, front-end devs	E-commerce sites

 

WordPress: Power, Ownership, and Possibility

Among all CMS platforms available today, WordPress stands out as the most flexible and widely used system, powering over 43% of all websites on the internet. What started in 2003 as a blogging tool has grown into a content infrastructure that supports everything from indie publishers to Fortune 500 companies—and even the White House.

As WordPress.org puts it:

“WordPress is software designed for everyone, emphasizing accessibility, performance, security, and ease of use. We believe great software should work with minimum configuration, so you can focus on sharing your story, product, or services freely.”

That’s the key to understanding WordPress—it’s not just a tool, it’s an ideology. Built on open-source principles, WordPress gives you the freedom to build, scale, move, modify, and even monetize your site without being tied to a single vendor’s ecosystem.

Web.com echoes this sentiment:

“One of the biggest benefits of WordPress is that it gives you full control over your website. You aren’t limited to a specific host or locked into a specific set of features. You can choose what works best for you.”

This level of control is rare in a landscape dominated by SaaS platforms designed to keep you inside their ecosystem. With WordPress, you’re not just a user—you’re the owner.

Strengths of WordPress

Built for Growth

Whether you’re starting with a one-page blog or a massive multi-author content hub, WordPress scales gracefully. You can start small and expand as your needs grow—without ever having to migrate to a different platform.

Customization Without Limits

• Use the default block editor (Gutenberg) or integrate a page builder like Elementor, Beaver Builder, or Bricks

• Choose from thousands of themes, or build your own from scratch

• Extend functionality with over 60,000 plugins, covering everything from SEO to e-commerce to AI integrations

No two WordPress sites have to look or function the same. You can fine-tune every pixel or rely on curated design systems to get moving faster.

A Developer’s Playground

Unlike SaaS-based builders that restrict backend access, WordPress is open-source and fully extensible. Developers can:

• Create custom post types and taxonomies

• Use REST API or GraphQL to go headless

• Write plugins or tweak the core (though not always recommended)

If you can write code, WordPress won’t hold you back. It encourages it.

SEO That’s Actually in Your Control

Out of the box, WordPress is SEO-friendly. But paired with plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or SEOPress, it gives you complete control over:

• Meta titles and descriptions

• Canonical tags

• XML sitemaps

• Structured data

• Image optimization

• Site speed tweaks

If organic traffic matters to your business, WordPress gives you the tools to fight competitively in search rankings.

Weaknesses of WordPress

Requires Management

With freedom comes responsibility. You’ll need to handle:

• Core, plugin, and theme updates

• Backups

• Security (although many managed hosts help with this)

If you’re not tech-savvy, this can be a hurdle—but not an insurmountable one. Managed WordPress hosting (like Kinsta, WP Engine, or Flywheel) offloads a lot of the pain points.

Can Be Intimidating to New Users

Compared to plug-and-play platforms like Squarespace or Wix, WordPress can feel more complex. There’s a steeper learning curve, especially when trying to build a highly custom site without prior web experience.

But this complexity is what makes it so powerful in the long run.

Who Should Use WordPress?

WordPress is ideal if you:

• Want full control over your site

• Need scalability for long-term growth

• Prioritize SEO and performance

• Plan to blog, publish frequently, or manage large content libraries

• Want the freedom to choose your own host, design system, and features

It may not be ideal if:

• You want a site live today with minimal setup

• You have no interest in learning or managing technical tools

• Your needs are extremely basic (think digital business card or static brochure)

WordPress in 2025

In a time when platforms are increasingly closed, restrictive, and optimized for convenience over ownership, WordPress remains the most versatile CMS available.

Yes, it has quirks. It demands more from you. But it also offers more in return—control, adaptability, and longevity.

If your goal is to build something you actually own, WordPress is still the most capable platform to do it.

Squarespace: Beautiful by Default, but Not Built for Everyone

If WordPress is the open-source toolbox for those who want to control everything, Squarespace is the perfectly packaged product for those who don’t. It’s polished, elegant, and intentionally closed—designed for simplicity above all else.

There’s no shortage of praise for Squarespace’s aesthetic. Its templates are genuinely beautiful. Its onboarding is smooth. And it’s hard to beat if your goal is to go from zero to “website online” in a weekend. That’s not a knock—it’s an asset for plenty of users. The platform delivers on its promise of quick, streamlined web publishing.

But here’s the thing about Squarespace: it keeps you in the box.

That’s not always a bad thing. The box is clean, polished, and easy to work with. But if you’re the type of person who wants to customize beyond what’s offered—tweak layouts, build something unconventional, or connect tools that aren’t already integrated—you’ll start to feel the limits pretty quickly.

I think of it kind of like Apple products. Everything works great—as long as you work within their system. But if you want to go outside the lines, it’s just not built for that.

Squarespace in a nutshell: Gorgeous, but confined.

A Closed Ecosystem (For Better or Worse)

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform. You get hosting, templates, a visual builder, basic SEO tools, e-commerce support, and integrations with tools like Mailchimp or Acuity.

You don’t have to worry about security patches, plugin conflicts, or server configurations. And if that’s appealing to you, Squarespace may be exactly what you need.

But here’s the tradeoff: you’re operating entirely within their ecosystem. Want to swap templates halfway through a design? You’ll probably need to start over. Want a feature that doesn’t exist in their limited set of integrations? You’re out of luck—unless you’re comfortable injecting custom code into a block that was never really meant to host it.

Squarespace’s feature index is robust for its intended audience—designers, photographers, small shops—but it doesn’t offer much for developers or users with custom architecture in mind.

And as Website Builder Expert points out,

“If you’re the kind of person who wants to change everything down to the last pixel, Squarespace might not be for you.”

When Squarespace Works Best

Squarespace excels when you:

• Need a portfolio or brochure-style site with minimal friction

• Value design above custom development

• Prefer an all-in-one platform where you don’t touch code

• Want your website to “just work,” without managing hosting or updates

It’s ideal for creatives, local businesses, wedding photographers, and solo entrepreneurs who don’t want (or need) to dig beneath the surface.

But for developers, tinkerers, or clients with more specific functionality in mind, it quickly becomes frustrating.

Squarespace and SEO

Squarespace can perform well in search, but you’re not getting the same level of control as you would in a more flexible CMS. You can manage page titles, meta descriptions, alt text, and basic URL structures. But custom schema, technical optimization, and plugin-based SEO tools simply don’t exist here.

It’s a bit like using preset camera filters: they’ll get you a good result, but you’re not shooting in RAW.

Pricing and Portability

Squarespace pricing is straightforward: starting around $16/month and going up depending on whether you want e-commerce features or advanced analytics. That simplicity is appealing, especially for clients who don’t want to track down plugin licenses, hosting plans, or security add-ons.

However, it’s worth noting that your site lives entirely within Squarespace’s infrastructure. Yes, you can export your content, but not your full design or functionality. You’re building on rented land, and if you ever want to migrate, you’ll be starting fresh.

Squarespace in 2025

Squarespace is like the MacBook of CMS platforms: beautiful out of the box, intuitive to use, and excellent at what it does. But if you’re the type who wants to open up the terminal, overclock the performance, or build your own integrations, you’ll find yourself bumping up against the walls pretty quickly.

For those who don’t want to think too hard about their website, and don’t mind staying inside a carefully designed system, Squarespace is an excellent choice.

But if you’re looking for full ownership, performance tuning, or a highly customized experience, this isn’t it.

Wix: Surprisingly Stylish, Incredibly Simple — But Built for Beginners

If Squarespace is the curated design showroom, Wix is the colorful, welcoming workshop. It’s the kind of platform that invites anyone, regardless of experience, to build a site that looks genuinely good with very little effort.

And honestly? Wix deserves credit for that. It’s easy to assume that drag-and-drop builders mean “cheap-looking,” but Wix has done a lot of work to challenge that idea. Although, they were, at one time, one of the “cheap-looking drag-and-drop” platforms. Now, their templates are surprisingly modern, their design flexibility is better than you’d expect, and the visual editor has evolved to give non-designers the ability to make something that feels polished.

Whether you’re a local business, creative, or solo freelancer, Wix can absolutely get you a site that looks sharp.

But under the surface, that polish comes with trade-offs, especially if you’re thinking beyond a pretty homepage.

A Visual Builder with Impressive First Impressions

Wix gives users:

• A vast library of templates, with great designs right out of the box

• True drag-and-drop control (you can move elements anywhere)

• Built-in features like contact forms, blog tools, and e-commerce

• The option of Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) to auto-generate your site based on a few questions

It’s intuitive, fast, and frankly fun to use. For many people, this is more than enough—and that’s what makes Wix a popular choice.

The Limits Beneath the Surface

But with great freedom comes, well… a bit of a mess.

Because Wix doesn’t enforce any structure, it’s easy to create a site that looks good visually but falls apart in terms of layout consistency, responsiveness, and performance. The editor lets you move things around pixel by pixel—which is great for creativity, but bad for maintaining order when viewed on different screen sizes.

And once you start building, you’re locked into your template. Want to switch themes later? You’ll need to rebuild your site from scratch.

So while Wix lets you move fast, it doesn’t always set you up to grow with confidence.

SEO and Performance

Wix has come a long way in SEO. You can:

• Edit page titles, descriptions, and URLs

• Set alt text for images

• Use basic schema for certain content types

That’s good news for a platform that once had a poor SEO reputation. Still, it’s not quite on par with platforms like WordPress or Webflow, where technical SEO is more customizable and granular.

Performance-wise, Wix sites can struggle with load times—especially if you’ve layered on lots of apps or visual elements. And since it’s a closed ecosystem, you don’t have control over hosting, caching, or deep performance optimization.

Pricing & Portability

Wix offers a free tier (with ads and a Wix subdomain), but most users will want a paid plan, starting around $17/month and going up based on features. E-commerce bumps that cost higher.

It’s reasonably priced, and the value feels fair for what you get. Just be aware: once you’re in, you’re in. You can export content like blog posts, but the site itself isn’t portable. You’re building within a system that you can’t really take with you.

Wix in 2025

Wix makes a strong first impression—and it holds up well for many use cases. It’s especially great for small businesses, freelancers, and creatives who want something that looks good, works fast, and doesn’t require much maintenance.

But as your needs evolve, if you’re scaling, customizing, or optimizing for performance, you may find Wix starts to feel limiting.

To its credit, Wix has carved out a niche that serves its audience well. Just know that while it lets you build something beautiful quickly, you may eventually outgrow the box it puts you in.

Webflow: For Designers Who Want Power Without the Bloat

If Wix is the quickest way to get a decent-looking site online, Webflow is the tool you reach for when design matters—but so does control.

It doesn’t sit neatly in the “beginner-friendly” category, nor is it fully in the dev-only world of hand-coded HTML. Instead, Webflow lands somewhere in the middle—a visual builder that generates clean, semantic code, while still giving you access to that code if you want to take things further.

In the words of one designer from this video explainer,

“Webflow kind of sits in this happy medium… It writes beautiful code and gives you access to it if you want it. You can do pretty much anything that’s normal to do on the web, and it’s expanding.”

That’s the sweet spot Webflow has carved out. It’s for people who want full creative control—without jumping headfirst into a code editor.

What Makes Webflow Different?

Webflow gives you:

• A fully visual, CSS-based editor that mimics how the web actually works

• CMS features built for dynamic content (collections, filtering, relationships)

• Built-in hosting on fast, secure infrastructure (via AWS and Fastly)

• Animations and interactions that usually require JavaScript

• The ability to export or edit your site’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Unlike Wix or Squarespace, Webflow doesn’t hide the technical structure—it teaches you how to work with it visually. You’re not dragging around random boxes. You’re building flexbox layouts, grids, containers, and responsive components in a way that mirrors real-world front-end development.

Who It’s For (and Who It’s Not)

Webflow is a favorite among:

• Designers who want to ship client sites without relying on developers

• Marketers who need landing pages or microsites fast

• Startups building MVPs without building out an entire dev team

• Business owners who want more creative control than a template builder offers

It’s not ideal if:

• You’re looking for an ultra-simple setup (Wix is still faster out of the gate)

• You want a traditional WordPress-style plugin ecosystem

• You’re trying to hand off content editing to clients with minimal training

As noted in the same Webflow Essentials video,

“It’s a lovely flow for a designer to make websites… and it’s becoming very popular because it gives the client access too, without disconnecting them from the original idea.”

That’s a key point: Webflow empowers designers and clients to stay connected to the site, even as it gets more complex.

Design-First, But Developer-Ready

One of Webflow’s best features is that it encourages proper design process. You’re not supposed to start your design inside Webflow. You’re expected to prototype in Figma, XD, or whatever tool you prefer, and then build it out in Webflow with semantic structure and best practices.

It’s not Canva. It’s not Squarespace. It doesn’t pretend to be.

Once your layout is approved, Webflow becomes the final step—your build environment, your CMS, and your host. You can even export code if you want to move elsewhere, or integrate Webflow with custom code snippets, APIs, and embeddable tools.

It bridges the gap between visual editing and front-end development more effectively than anything else on the market right now.

Limitations of Webflow

That power comes with some caveats:

• There’s a learning curve. If you don’t know basic web layout principles (like flexbox, containers, or z-index), there’s a ramp-up.

• It’s not cheap. Plans start around $14/month for simple sites and climb quickly if you need CMS features or custom domain hosting.

• There’s no native plugin marketplace. While Webflow integrates with many third-party tools (via Zapier, Airtable, etc.), it doesn’t have the “plug-and-play” extensibility of WordPress or Shopify.

It’s also not the best for e-commerce at scale. Webflow has its own e-commerce engine, but it’s relatively young, and still catching up to platforms like Shopify in terms of inventory, shipping logic, and checkout flow customizations.

Webflow in 2025

Webflow isn’t for everyone, but, that’s exactly why it’s thriving.

For designers and teams who want pixel-perfect layouts, fast performance, clean code, and the ability to skip the dev queue, Webflow is a game-changer. It gives you enough freedom to build creatively, enough structure to do it well, and enough accessibility to hand it off confidently.

It’s not a starter tool. But it’s a serious one.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between the limitations of a builder and the complexity of code, Webflow might be the exact middle ground you’ve been waiting for.

Shopify: Built for Selling, Priced Like a Platform

Shopify is the undisputed heavyweight in the world of e-commerce CMSs. It’s the go-to platform for small businesses launching their first online store, as well as massive direct-to-consumer brands scaling to global audiences.

It works. It works really well, in fact.

But for all its convenience, Shopify can feel like a very polished toll booth. The more your store grows, the more you pay—and the fewer options you have to get around the rules of the road.

That’s not necessarily a dealbreaker. But it’s something anyone choosing a CMS for e-commerce should go in eyes wide open about.

What Shopify Does Well

There’s a reason Shopify powers millions of online stores: it makes selling online genuinely accessible. You get:

• A clean and intuitive dashboard

• Inventory, product, and order management tools

• Secure, built-in checkout and payment gateways

• Shipping and tax automations

• Mobile-friendly, commerce-first templates

• Access to a robust app store for marketing, loyalty, email, subscriptions, and more

As CNET’s review puts it,

“Shopify simplifies selling online and in person with a user-friendly interface and a well-integrated POS system.”

That’s the beauty of it. You can go from idea to operational store in days, without needing a dev team or learning to wrangle shipping APIs. For anyone focused purely on selling, Shopify is a strong foundation.

The Cost of Convenience

But the further you go with Shopify, the more you start noticing the price tags—not just in terms of dollars, but in flexibility.

Monthly plans range from $39 to $399 (and beyond for Shopify Plus), and those don’t include apps or themes, many of which carry their own monthly fees. Want subscription functionality? That’s another add-on. Want advanced shipping logic? Add-on. Better reporting? Add-on.

You’re always a few features away from needing a new plugin—and that adds up quickly.

What’s more, Shopify charges transaction fees if you don’t use their native payment gateway (Shopify Payments). That means if you prefer Stripe or PayPal, Shopify takes a cut on top of whatever your processor already takes.

So yes, it works out of the box. But it gets expensive fast—especially compared to something like WordPress + WooCommerce, where your costs are more upfront (hosting, development) but less tied to scaling fees.

WooCommerce vs. Shopify

The natural alternative for many is WooCommerce, WordPress’s e-commerce plugin. WooCommerce is free, open-source, and endlessly customizable—but it’s not nearly as turnkey as Shopify.

Here’s the key trade-off:

• Shopify: Quick setup, excellent support, fewer decisions—but you pay for ease, and customization has limits.

• WooCommerce: More flexible and scalable long-term, but requires setup, maintenance, and sometimes development help.

If you’re technically inclined or already working with WordPress, WooCommerce might give you a better return on investment. But if you just want to get your product out there with as few hurdles as possible, Shopify’s smoother path is worth considering.

Who Shopify Is For

Shopify shines when:

• You’re launching an e-commerce store and don’t want to mess with code

• You need reliable infrastructure and built-in PCI compliance

• You value a clean dashboard and strong support system

• You’re okay trading some flexibility for speed and stability

It might not be ideal if:

• You want complete control over how your store is built or hosted

• You’re trying to minimize recurring fees

• You’re building something highly custom or outside the “online store” mold

• You already have a WordPress site and want a seamless integration

Shopify in 2025

Shopify is like the Apple Store of e-commerce platforms: premium experience, tightly controlled environment, and lots of helpful add-ons—all for a premium price.

If you want to sell products without the overhead of managing plugins, updates, or complex infrastructure, Shopify is an outstanding option. But if you’re a builder at heart—someone who wants to stretch, tinker, or scale without transaction fees nipping at your margins—you may find it more restrictive than empowering.

Ultimately, Shopify gets out of your way so you can focus on the business of selling. Just be prepared for the fact that, over time, you’ll pay not just to use it, but to grow with it.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right CMS Comes Down to One Thing—Control

If there’s a theme that’s emerged across this deep dive, it’s this: every CMS is a trade-off between control and convenience.

• WordPress gives you total freedom—if you’re willing to manage it.

• Squarespace offers beautiful guardrails that keep things simple but firm.

• Wix feels empowering and easy—until you hit the edges of its limitations.

• Webflow is that sweet spot between no-code freedom and real dev control.

• Shopify dominates e-commerce, but you’ll pay for its polish.

So what’s the best CMS?
It depends entirely on your goals, your technical appetite, and how much ownership you want over your platform. There is no one-size-fits-all. But understanding the strengths and limitations of each helps you make a decision with your eyes open.

And for those who like to explore off the beaten path…

Honorable Mentions: CMSs Worth Knowing

Not every great CMS is a household name. Here are a few other platforms that deserve a nod:

Ghost – Best for Publishing & Newsletter-Driven Sites

Clean, fast, and built with content in mind. Ghost is an open-source CMS designed for creators who want to focus on writing and publishing without bloat. Think of it as a lightweight, modern alternative to WordPress for bloggers and indie publishers.

Craft CMS – Best for Developers Who Want Flexibility

Craft gives developers complete control over content structure and front-end output. It’s highly customizable, secure, and scalable—but it’s not for casual users. This one’s built for teams who know what they’re doing and want to build something tailor-made.

Statamic – Best Flat-File CMS (No Database Required)

Statamic runs off flat files instead of a database, which makes it incredibly fast and secure. It offers a modern control panel, version control with Git, and a strong dev-first experience. It’s a hidden gem for smaller, performance-focused builds.

Final Thought

Choosing a CMS isn’t just about today—it’s about setting a foundation for what you might need next year, or five years from now.

So ask yourself:

• Do you want to own your infrastructure, or rent it?

• Are you okay with limits if it means speed?

• Do you want something that just works, or something you can build on?

The right CMS is the one that matches your mindset. Once you’ve found that, building becomes a whole lot more fun.

But maybe building isn’t for you. That’s okay. We’re here to help.