Is Wix or Squarespace Better for SEO?
Choosing the best website builder can feel a little overwhelming, right?
Especially when SEO (search engine optimization) is such a big piece of the puzzle for growing your online presence.
So, is Wix or Squarespace better for SEO?
As an SEO expert, this is one of the most common questions I get from clients.
I’ve spent years working with Squarespace but Wix has come leaps and bounds in the past several years so I’d love to share their strengths, challenges, quirks, and what might make the most sense for you.
Let’s break it all down and settle the question: Wix vs Squarespace SEO—who wins?
Getting to Know Wix and Squarespace: A Quick Comparison for SEO
Wix and Squarespace are two of the most popular all-in-one website builders out there, and for good reason—they make it super easy for you to create a professional-looking website without knowing a single thing about coding.
Whether you’re a small business owner, a creative, or an entrepreneur, these platforms are designed with you in mind.
They’ve both got drag-and-drop editors, built-in hosting, gorgeous templates, and even SEO tools to help your site get noticed.
You might be thinking about starting a blog, launching an online store, or even showcasing your portfolio—Wix or Squarespace can make it happen.
SEO Basics: What Matters Most
When it comes to ranking on Google, SEO is not just a feature. It’s the foundation of your website’s success.
Many people ask me, Is Squarespace Good for SEO? And I can tell you that it’s not so much the platform, but about how you’re optimizing your website.
Truthfully, it doesn’t matter whether you’re using Wix or Squarespace.
The key to optimizing your site is understanding the basics of SEO.
So, let’s break down the most important must-haves:
1. Site Speed and Performance
Nobody likes a slow website, right? Google doesn’t either. Fast-loading sites keep visitors happy and lower bounce rates, which helps your rankings. Squarespace templates are already optimized for speed, while Wix users may need to tweak their designs to keep things running smoothly.
2. Mobile Optimization and Performance
Mobile optimization is a big deal for SEO, especially now that Google uses mobile-first indexing. Simply put, Google cares most about how your website works on mobile when ranking it. Both Wix and Squarespace offer mobile-friendly designs, but they go about it in different ways.
Squarespace keeps things tidy with its structured grid system, making sure your layouts stay consistent across devices. This means fewer glitches and a smoother experience for your visitors. However, the newer 7.1 version of Squarespace allows you to customize your website with much more freedom using the Fluid Engine so you can edit the mobile version of your website more freely.
Wix, on the other hand, gives you more creative freedom with its drag-and-drop editor, which is awesome if you love customizing. But here’s the catch—this flexibility can sometimes lead to misaligned elements, which might make designs that don’t look great on mobile or perform well in terms of SEO. For newbies, it’s easy to end up with a site that feels cluttered or struggles to work smoothly across devices.
3. Metadata Optimization
In the Wix vs Squarespace SEO debate, metadata optimization plays a key role in helping your site rank.
Basically, meta titles, descriptions, and image alt text are small details that make a big SEO impact. Both Wix and Squarespace let you edit these, but Squarespace’s built-in prompts make the process super straightforward. Better metadata = better keyword relevance and click-through rates.
A quick heads-up: Metadata is basically the behind-the-scenes stuff like titles, descriptions, and tags. Think of it as a way to help search engines understand your content better—so more people can find you online!
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4. Content Organization
Let’s be honest—a well-organized site makes life easier for everyone, including search engines. Squarespace’s categorization tools really help if you’re running a blog or a resource-heavy site. They keep everything clear and easy to find, so your visitors (and Google) can navigate without any hassle.
Read more: How To Create a Blog in Squarespace for Your Business
How Template Design Shapes SEO: Wix vs Squarespace SEO
Wix: Extensive Options but a Double-Edged Sword
Wix gives you over 800 templates to choose from, covering a wide range of industries (whoa, that’s a lot of options!)
But, many of these templates feel outdated, and the platform’s high level of customization can be tricky for beginners.
To make things easier, Wix offers an ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) tool that guides you through the design process. It’s helpful, but it doesn’t quite give you the same level of control and precision as manual design.
Squarespace: Fewer Templates, Greater Precision
Squarespace doesn’t have hundreds of templates (there are only about 150). But honestly, that’s not such a bad thing. Each one is modern, clean, and super responsive. Plus, the grid system is a lifesaver—it keeps everything looking sharp and aligned without spending hours tweaking the smallest spacing details. The best part is that it’s great for mobile performance, which Google absolutely loves!
Core SEO Features: Side-by-Side Comparison
Figuring out Wix vs. Squarespace SEO doesn’t have to be a head-scratcher. Let’s make it simple and make your decision a whole lot easier!
Content Optimization
Both Wix and Squarespace make it super easy to manage your SEO basics, which can go a long way in boosting your site’s visibility. Now, here’s where Squarespace steps things up.
It comes with some pretty handy tools for navigation and categorization. Basically, organizing your blogs and content feels as easy as a walk in the park. And that little extra structure? It might just give your SEO the edge it needs.
SEO Tools
Wix: If you’re new to SEO, Wix has your back with a beginner-friendly approach. It even provides an SEO checklist to guide you step by step. That said, tasks like improving site speed or keeping your code clean might need some manual adjustments—which can be a bit tricky if you’re not tech-savvy.
Squarespace: Squarespace keeps things simple with built-in SEO tools that do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Its clean HTML code and optimized site structure make it easier for search engines to index your content, giving you a solid head start without much effort.
Debunking the SEO Myth
Believe it or not, Wix and Squarespace sites can absolutely rank high on Google—that is, if you optimize them the right way. Sure, some people underestimate these platforms, but there are plenty of success stories that prove their SEO potential when used smartly.
Ecommerce SEO: A Closer Look
Both Wix and Squarespace make it ridiculously easy to set up an online store. Wix stands out with its superior payment options and a huge app market, giving you everything you need to handle transactions smoothly, no matter where your customers are.
Squarespace, on the other hand, nails simplicity. Its clean, SEO-friendly store designs are perfect for small businesses that want an elegant, hassle-free setup.
Blogging Capabilities and SEO
For blogging and content management, Wix vs Squarespace SEO tools are designed with different audiences in mind.
Squarespace keeps things super simple with clean, organized blogging tools. It’s built for tagging and categorization, making it easy to manage your content while giving your SEO a nice boost. Better structure and navigation? Big wins for your rankings.
Wix, on the other hand, gives you more flexibility with its blog editor, so you can customize things your way (though it’s not as polished as Squarespace). The interface can feel a bit clunky sometimes, which might slow you down if you’re running a content-heavy site.
So, it could really come down to what you value more: simplicity or creative control.
Read more:
Final Verdict: Wix vs Squarespace for SEO?
So, when it comes to the ultimate question—Wix vs Squarespace SEO—what’s The Right choice for your needs? If you’re all about design freedom and want tons of app options, Wix might be your best bet.
But if you’re looking for a streamlined, easy-to-use platform with strong SEO foundations, Squarespace might just steal the show.
Either way, both are great tools to help you succeed—you just need to pick the one that fits your style and needs!
Looking to DIY your website’s SEO? My SEO course is an in-depth resource to help you optimize your site and boost your rankings no matter what platform you’re on.
Or looking to outsource your SEO so that you can rank your website and convert visitors into customers? My 1:1 SEO package might just be the solution you’ve been looking for!
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