Squarespace vs WordPress: The Best Choice for Charities and Nonprofits
Squarespace vs WordPress: Why Squarespace is the Superior Choice for Nonprofits and Charities
Having a strong online presence is essential for charities and nonprofit organisations that want to grow awareness, attract donors, and increase support for their cause. When comparing website platforms, the conversation often comes down to Squarespace vs WordPress. This guide explores why Squarespace stands out as the better option for charities and nonprofits, especially those looking for a platform that’s easy to use, affordable, and packed with built-in features.
1. Simplicity and Ease of Use
Updating a website shouldn't require a degree in coding, especially for busy charity teams! One of the biggest advantages in the Squarespace vs WordPress comparison is how user-friendly Squarespace is. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone to create a beautiful, professional-looking site without any technical experience. All you need is some creative design skills. Everything is in one place, from editing pages, managing donations to email campaigns, domains and more.
WordPress, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve. While it's powerful and highly customisable, it often requires a load of external plugins, hosting knowledge, and often regular developer support, something many charities simply don't have the time or budget for.
2. Transparent Pricing for Nonprofits
When funds are tight, predictability is key. Squarespace offers clear pricing plans that include hosting, security, and updates, no need to worry about hidden extras. While there isn’t a free plan, Squarespace nonprofit pricing is straight forward.
WordPress might seem free at first glance, but costs quickly add up. You’ll need to pay separately for hosting, themes, and premium plugins, many of which are essential for a functioning site. Over time, WordPress can become significantly more expensive and harder to manage than a Squarespace plan.
3. Built-In Features That Save You Time
Squarespace includes a wide range of features out of the box, everything from donation forms and mailing list integration to event calendars and galleries. That means you can start building your site and accepting donations without searching or adding any additional tools.
WordPress is modular, which means you often need to find and install plugins to match Squarespace’s built-in functionality. Not only does this take more time, but it also introduces a higher risk of plugin conflicts, bugs, and the need for regular updates and security patches.
4. Less Maintenance and Better Security
Squarespace takes care of hosting, security, and software updates for you. There’s no need to install antivirus plugins or worry about updating software to prevent hacking. It’s all handled in the background, giving your team total peace of mind.
In contrast, WordPress websites must be maintained manually or through a developer. Themes and plugins are updated frequently, and missing a security patch can leave your site vulnerable, something no charity can afford.
5. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
A common question is whether WordPress is better than Squarespace for SEO. The reality is that both platforms offer solid SEO capabilities, but Squarespace makes things simpler from the start. Features like editable page titles and descriptions, mobile-friendly design, automatic sitemaps, and clean URLs are all built in, meaning your site is search-ready without extra setup.
For charities and nonprofits without technical teams, this ease of use can make a real difference. With Squarespace, it’s much easier to manage SEO in-house and ensure your website is set up to be found online.
6. So, Is Squarespace Free for Nonprofits?
Now that would be nice! While Squarespace doesn’t offer a completely free version, it does provide value through all-in-one pricing, and discounted rates for nonprofits through Squarespace circle members, who are specialist Squarespace designers (Look out for the Gold and Platinum Circle member badges on their websites)
Remember, you’re not just paying for a website builder, you’re investing in hosting, security, and ongoing support in one easy-to-manage plan.
7. Squarespace Stats 2025
According to the latest Squarespace Designers Report for 2025, community and nonprofit websites make up the largest share of all Squarespace builds, accounting for 29% of projects. This clearly shows that charities and purpose-driven organisations are turning to Squarespace more than any other sector. It’s a strong indication that nonprofits are finding Squarespace to be the most suitable, reliable, and easy-to-manage platform for their unique needs.
My Honest Thoughts
When comparing Squarespace vs WordPress for charities and nonprofits, the winner depends on your needs. But for most purpose-driven organisations, Squarespace offers a simpler, more cost-effective, and less time-consuming way to manage your online presence, meaning that you can grow your website without overspending on developer support and without wasting precious time.
With everything you need built in, and fewer technical headaches, it’s no wonder more and more charities are asking: why Squarespace? …and the answer is why not!
I hope you found this article useful in your website journey! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about charity and nonprofit web design.
You might also be interested in these additional articles:
Nonprofit web design best practices
Choosing the right domain for your charity or nonprofit
Is Squarespace good for nonprofits?
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