If you’re looking to create a website, two of the biggest names you’ll come across are Bluehost and Squarespace. But when considering Bluehost vs Squarespace, which one should you choose?
Bluehost and Squarespace are both popular options for building websites, but they take quite different approaches. In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The core differences between Bluehost and Squarespace
- How the website creation process works with each platform
- Bluehost and Squarespace pricing plans compared
- The pros and cons of each platform
- Which type of website builder is right for you
By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to confidently choose the best website builder for your next project.
Table Of Contents
Bluehost vs Squarespace: Key Differences
Before we dig into the details, it’s important to understand the fundamental differences between Bluehost and Squarespace:
- Bluehost is a web hosting company. It provides you with web server space to install website-building software like WordPress.
- Squarespace offers a comprehensive package as a website-building platform. It handles everything from web hosting to website creation tools.
So in short, Bluehost gives you the “place” to build a website, while Squarespace gives you the tools to build the website itself.
Bluehost Overview
Bluehost is one of the largest and most popular web hosting providers. It allows you to easily install open-source web-building software like WordPress onto your Bluehost web space.
Although Bluehost offers its own beginner-friendly website builder, most people use Bluehost to host WordPress websites. This gives you access to thousands of WordPress themes and plugins to customize your site.
The process of building a site through Bluehost looks like this:
- Sign up for Bluehost shared hosting
- Install WordPress onto your hosting account
- Select a theme and personalize your website’s design
- Add plugins to extend functionality
So Bluehost gives you the server resources, while you bring your own website-building tools.
Squarespace Overview
Squarespace is an all-in-one website-building platform. It handles everything from web hosting to website editor.
With Squarespace, you don’t need to install external software. You simply:
- Sign up for a Squarespace account
- Choose a template
- Customize your site in the editor
Because Squarespace includes the hosting and software, the process is more streamlined. But it also offers less flexibility compared to adding third-party tools like you can with WordPress.
Bluehost vs Squarespace: How Website Building Works
Now that you understand the core differences, let’s look at how the website creation process works with Bluehost and Squarespace.
Building a Website with Bluehost
With Bluehost, you sign up for web hosting and then install website building software onto your hosting account. Here are the steps involved:
- Sign up for web hosting – Bluehost offers shared, VPS, dedicated and WordPress hosting plans starting from $2.95/month.
- Install WordPress – Use Bluehost’s 1-click installer to deploy WordPress onto your hosting account. This sets up WordPress and its database.
- Pick a theme – Themes control the design and layout of your WordPress site. You can browse free and premium themes within your WordPress dashboard.
- Customize your site – Most themes offer customization options to change colors, fonts, layout, and more. You can do this from your WordPress dashboard.
- Add plugins – WordPress plugins add features and functionality to your site, like contact forms, e-commerce, and more. There are over 55,000 free and paid plugins available.
- Publish your site – Once your site looks and works how you want it, you can officially launch it for the world to see!
So in summary, Bluehost gives you the hosting environment while WordPress gives you the website building tools. Together they provide a customizable and powerful website building solution.
Building a Website With Squarespace
With Squarespace, everything you need to build, design and manage a website is included in one integrated platform.
Here’s an overview of how the website creation process works:
- Choose a template – Squarespace offers dozens of professionally designed templates to start your site.
- Connect your domain – You can purchase a domain directly through Squarespace, or connect an existing one you own.
- Customize your design – Use Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor to customize colors, fonts, layouts, and more without touching any code.
- Add site features – Enable built-in features like forms, blogs, galleries, and an online store through the settings panel.
- Manage your content – Squarespace offers intuitive content editing tools to manage pages, posts, images, and more on your site.
- Publish your site – Preview your changes and officially launch your live site with one click.
The key advantage of Squarespace is simplicity. Everything you need comes built-in, enabling anyone to build a website without technical skills.
Bluehost vs Squarespace Pricing
When it comes to Bluehost vs Squarespace pricing, Bluehost generally offers cheaper basic shared hosting plans starting at $2.95 per month. However, Squarespace is competitive at the higher plan tiers.
Here’s an overview of Bluehost and Squarespace pricing in 2023:
Bluehost Pricing
Bluehost offers four WordPress shared hosting plans, with prices starting from $2.95 per month on a 12-month contract:
| Plan | Price/mo (36 months) |
|---|---|
| Basic | $2.95 |
| Choice Plus | $5.95 |
| Online Store | $9.95 |
| Pro | $13.95 |
Key features include:
- Free domain for 1 year (Choice Plus and above)
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Free SSL certificate
- 1-click WordPress installer
Bluehost also offers managed WordPress hosting for $19.99/month, which includes advanced features like daily backups, improved security, and site migration.
Squarespace Pricing
Squarespace offers four main website building plans:
| Plan | Price/mo (annual) |
|---|---|
| Personal | $11 |
| Business | $17 |
| Basic Commerce | $24 |
| Advanced Commerce | $36 |
Key features include:
- Unlimited bandwidth & storage
- Free SSL certificate
- Advanced design & website editor
- Built-in ecommerce (on higher plans)
There are also some add-ons like enhanced commerce with zero transaction fees.
Pricing Comparison
When comparing the two platforms:
- Bluehost starts cheaper at $2.95/month for basic hosting needs.
- Squarespace costs more initially but you get better design tools.
- Both offer similar features at the higher plan tiers.
- Bluehost provides various hosting plans specifically designed for WordPress websites.
- Squarespace offers an all-in-one integrated solution.
So Bluehost is better if you’re on a tight budget, while Squarespace offers a more polished experience if you can spend a little more upfront.
Bluehost vs Squarespace: Pros and Cons
Now let’s compare some of the key advantages and disadvantages of Bluehost and Squarespace:
Bluehost Pros
- Powerful WordPress features – Bluehost makes it easy to build a WordPress site that is customizable and integrates with thousands of plugins.
- Affordable pricing – Bluehost shared hosting starts at just $2.95/month, making it a budget friendly option.
- Excellent performance – Optimized hosting configurations and server technology provide fast page speeds.
- 24/7 support – Phone, chat, and email support is available around the clock to help with any issues.
- 30-day money back guarantee – Bluehost offers a month-long refund window if you’re not satisfied.
Bluehost Cons
- WordPress learning curve – Those new to WordPress may find Bluehost more difficult compared to a simpler builder like Squarespace.
- Limited design options – Design customization requires using WordPress themes rather than drag-and-drop editing.
- Add-on costs can add up – Premium themes, plugins, and other services increase the overall cost over time.
- No free domain – You need to purchase a domain separately after the first free year.
Squarespace Pros
- Exceptional templates – Squarespace offers beautifully crafted templates to give any site an impressive design.
- All-in-one solution – Combines hosting, content management, and ecommerce tools into one platform.
- Everything included – No need for separate purchases like domains, plugins or themes.
- Great for blogs – Built-in blogging engine makes it easy to publish content regularly.
- 14-day free trial – Allows you to test drive Squarespace without paying upfront.
Squarespace Cons
- Limited customization – Less control compared to WordPress when modifying design and features.
- Higher minimum costs – The cheapest plan is $11/month compared to $2.95/month with Bluehost.
- No user-submitted plugins – Only official extensions approved by Squarespace.
- Cannot change hosting providers – Your Squarespace site will always remain locked into their platform.
Bluehost vs Squarespace: Which Is Better For You?
Deciding between Bluehost and Squarespace comes down to your specific needs and technical abilities.
For most beginners, Squarespace is the easier choice thanks to its simpler interface. However, the lack of customization may become limiting over time.
Bluehost requires using WordPress, which has a steeper learning curve. However, the control and extensibility may suit more advanced users looking to deeply customize their website.
As a quick comparison:
- Choose Bluehost if you…
- Want unlimited customization capabilities
- Need to integrate with advanced plugins/tools
- Are on a tight budget
- Don’t mind learning WordPress
- Choose Squarespace if you…
- Need to get a site up quickly
- Want an all-in-one solution
- Need to regularly publish blog content
- Prefer a simple drag-and-drop editor
Neither platform is inherently “better” than the other – it comes down to which one best fits your specific goals and technical capabilities.
Conclusion
Bluehost and Squarespace take markedly different approaches to building a website.
Bluehost is a web hosting provider that makes it easy to create a customizable WordPress site. Squarespace is an all-in-one platform combining hosting, design tools, and ecommerce features.
For most beginners, the simplicity of Squarespace may have the edge. Not only does Bluehost offer exceptional affordability, but it also provides unlimited customization options through the utilization of WordPress.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your budget, timeline, design needs, and technical abilities. For some, the streamlined experience of Squarespace is the best fit. Others may prefer the openness of WordPress combined with Bluehost hosting.
Hopefully, this detailed comparison has given you a good overview of Squarespace vs Bluehost to inform your decision to choose a website platform. Good luck with your new website and if you need some good blog ideas for beginners, I also have you covered!