When it comes to building a website for your Perth business, you have three main options: DIY website builders like Wix and Squarespace, or a custom-built solution. Each has different trade-offs that impact your business growth, costs, and long-term flexibility.
In this guide, we'll compare these approaches head-to-head so you can make an informed decision based on your specific business needs.
What Are Wix and Squarespace?
Wix and Squarespace are drag-and-drop website builders. You choose a template, drag elements onto your pages, and build a website without coding. They're hosted in the cloud, you don't manage servers, and you can publish changes instantly.
Key characteristic: You're building within their platform's constraints. You can't "own" your site in the traditional sense—you're renting it from them.
What Is a Custom-Built Website?
A custom-built website is coded specifically for your business using modern web technologies. Instead of being restricted to pre-built templates, developers create exactly what you need. The site is hosted on your own domain and you maintain full control.
Head-to-Head Comparison
1. Setup & Getting Started
Wix / Squarespace: 30 minutes to a few hours. Pick a template, customise text and images, publish immediately. No technical knowledge required.
Custom Build: 1–3 weeks. Requires discovery, design, development, testing, and launch. You need to work with a developer or agency.
Winner for speed: Wix / Squarespace (if you need something fast). Custom build (if you want something professional).
2. Cost Structure
This is where things get interesting. Let's look at the real costs:
| Cost Factor | Wix | Squarespace | Custom Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Build Cost | $0 (DIY) | $0 (DIY) | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Monthly Subscription | $27–$99 | $15–$99 | $30–$50 (hosting) |
| Custom Domain | $15–$20/year | Included | $12–$15/year |
| SSL Certificate | Included | Included | Included |
| Maintenance / Updates | Automatic | Automatic | Minimal (built-in) |
| Year 1 Total | $339–$1,287 | $180–$1,287 | $2,402–$5,650 |
| Year 3 Total | $1,017–$3,861 | $540–$3,861 | $2,506–$5,850 |
| Year 5 Total | $1,695–$6,435 | $900–$6,435 | $2,610–$6,050 |
Key insight: Wix and Squarespace seem cheaper upfront, but the gap narrows significantly over 3-5 years. Custom builds actually become more cost-effective long-term. For a detailed breakdown of hosting expenses, see our guide on how much website hosting should cost.
3. Customisation & Flexibility
Wix / Squarespace: You're restricted to what the platform allows. Templates look professional, but you're limited to pre-designed layouts and components. Want a custom feature? You're limited to their app ecosystem.
Custom Build: Unlimited customisation. Need a custom contact form? Booking system? Integration with your CRM? You can build it. The site is yours to modify as your business grows.
Winner: Custom build (by a wide margin).
4. Speed & Performance
Wix: Moderate speed. Wix sites load in 2–3 seconds. Wix tools can slow down page load times.
Squarespace: Excellent design, but slower than modern custom builds. Average load time: 2–3 seconds.
Custom Build: Lightning fast. Modern custom websites load in under 1 second.
Why it matters: Google ranks faster sites higher. You'll have an SEO advantage with a custom build.
Winner: Custom build.
5. SEO & Search Rankings
Wix: SEO-capable, but not ideal. Wix builds on top of its own domain structure, making it harder to fully control SEO elements. Still serviceable for basic optimisation.
Squarespace: Better SEO than Wix. Good built-in SEO tools and fast enough for respectable rankings. But still not as effective as custom builds due to slower speeds.
Custom Build: Built with SEO best practices from day one. Faster load times = better SEO. Full control over technical SEO elements.
Winner: Custom build (especially if SEO is important for your business).
6. Ownership & Portability
Wix / Squarespace: You don't truly "own" your site. If Wix changes pricing, removes features, or you want to migrate, you're stuck. You can export limited content, but migrating is painful.
Custom Build: You own your site completely. Your domain, your hosting, your content. Want to switch providers? You can move the entire site effortlessly. You have full control and portability.
Winner: Custom build.
7. Learning Curve & Support
Wix / Squarespace: Very user-friendly. You can make updates yourself without technical knowledge. Templates guide you. Customer support available but can be slow.
Custom Build: You'll need your developer or agency to make changes (unless you learn). But good developers provide ongoing support. Changes take 1–3 days instead of minutes.
Winner for speed of updates: Wix / Squarespace. Winner for quality: Custom build.
Comparative Scorecard
| Factor | Wix | Squarespace | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Customisation | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| SEO Performance | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Long-term Cost | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Ownership | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Scalability | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Wix or Squarespace if:
- ✓ You need a website immediately and have a tight budget
- ✓ You plan to update content yourself frequently
- ✓ You're just getting started and want to test the concept
- ✓ Your business doesn't rely on organic search traffic
- ✓ You have minimal customisation needs
Choose a Custom Build if:
- ✓ You want better SEO performance and Google rankings
- ✓ You plan to own this website for 3+ years
- ✓ You might need custom features or integrations
- ✓ Your business depends on leads from your website
- ✓ You want complete control and ownership
- ✓ Speed and performance matter for your industry
The Perth Perspective
For Perth-based small businesses looking to compete for local search traffic, a custom-built website almost always makes more sense than Wix or Squarespace.
Why? Because your competitors are using these platforms, and Google favours fast, well-built sites. A custom build gives you the speed and SEO advantage needed to rank higher for local keywords—which means more leads and customers.
Summary
Wix / Squarespace: Easy to start, limited long-term potential, slower growth.
Custom Build: Slightly higher upfront cost, unlimited potential, better SEO, faster speeds, full ownership.
Learn about our custom website build services and how we can help your Perth business grow faster with a modern, SEO-optimised website. Ready to discuss? Schedule a free consultation.