There’s a whole lot of “talk” online about which website platform is the best for SEO – Wordpress or Squarespace? In fact, there’s so much noise out there, that it’s becoming harder and harder to make sense of it all, without having to become an SEO expert in the process.
That’s why this week I’m bringing you 3 website SEO truths. You can use these truths to help you filter out the overwhelming amount of bad SEO advice that’s all over the internet (more on that later…), and to help you pick a platform that’s best for your site’s long-term SEO success.
Remember that good SEO involves:
- How fast your site loads
- Whether it looks good on mobile
- How well it’s structured behind the scenes
- If your pages are easy to crawl, index, and rank
And yes—your website platform affects all of that.
Truth #1: I Ranked On The First Page of Google with a Squarespace Site
A lot of SEO “experts” claim that Squarespace sites have terrible SEO. But my website was on Squarespace for four years, and I was consistently on the first page of Google when you search “Atlanta Graphic Designer.”
I was on the first page for that search, and a few others in a competitive space! To be perfectly honest, I really wasn’t focused on improving my SEO at all when I first found out I ranked on the first page of Google for a few keywords.
But this isn’t a #humblebrag….it’s a #newsflash. Because guess what I was focused on, that just happened to boost my site’s SEO….
Blogging. Blogging consistently. Every single week. And apparently, Google really liked that.
From the beginning, I set my site up for success using a few foundational SEO best practices. But from there, the only thing I can attribute my initial SEO success to is the fact that I created quality content on a consistent basis.
If you set your site up properly and create good content, you can be successful with Wordpress or Squarespace. So in most cases, you should simply pick the platform that’s right for your business.
Biggest differences between Squarespace and WordPress SEO
WordPress gives you full control—every tag, every setting, every tiny optimization is possible (if you know what you’re doing). Tools like Yoast SEO or RankMath let you fine-tune everything from meta titles to schema markup to redirects. You can upload your sitemap, set up structured data, and integrate nearly any third-party SEO tool you want.
But with great power comes… tech overwhelm. If you’re not comfortable with plugins, updates, or backend tweaks, it can be a lot.
Squarespace, on the other hand, keeps things clean and simple. You don’t need to install anything—SEO settings are built in. You can set page titles and meta descriptions, upload images with alt text, and Squarespace creates a sitemap automatically.
The downside? It’s more limited. No plugins, minimal schema control, and certain things (like fine-tuning your mobile performance or changing URL structures) aren’t always possible.
So it comes down to: do you want ultimate control—or do you want a simpler system that handles the basics for you?
Truth #2: Google Cares About Content, and You Should Too.
Since we’re talking about Wordpress or Squarespace sites, consistent content is important.
Now, there are a lot of website platforms out there — too many to cover in one blog post. So, the “truths” I’m sharing here apply if you’re using Wordpress and Squarespace. (In general though, I only blog about/recommend Wordpress and Squarespace, since these two have both been around a while and are highly reputable.)
Even though Google’s algorithm changes all the time, it’s almost always appeared to favor sites that publish high-quality, original content on a consistent basis. Writing a weekly blog is a great way to build your site’s SEO, regardless of whether it’s on Wordpress or Squarespace.
Hint: For a while now, Google’s been giving SEO “bonus points” to sites that publish consistent video content. Speaking of that, here’s this week’s video all about the worst SEO advice I’ve ever received:
If you’re trying to decide which platform makes sense for you, here’s what to think about:
- What are your business goals? If SEO is a major part of your growth strategy, WordPress might give you more long-term flexibility.
- How tech-savvy are you (or your team)? If you’re DIY-ing and want minimal maintenance, Squarespace might feel more doable.
- What’s your budget? WordPress hosting, plugins, and maintenance can add up. Squarespace is more all-inclusive.
Tips for optimizing on either platform:
- Compress images before uploading (I like TinyPNG)
- Use clear, keyword-rich page titles and headings
- Add alt text to all images
- Make sure your site is mobile-friendly (and test it!)
- Keep your navigation simple and your site speed fast
- Link between pages and blog posts to help users (and search engines) move through your site
If you’re already on one platform and wondering if it’s worth switching: start by optimizing what you’ve got. No platform is perfect, but small improvements can go a long way.
Truth #3: Google Also Cares About What’s Happening on Your Site
Because consistent content is important, you should pick a platform that simplest for you to use, specifically when it comes to regularly publish content that will engage your ideal audience.
There are two key things to consider here:
In general, does the platform (Wordpress or Squarespace) seem approachable for you to use regularly?
Simply uploading good content on a consistent basis can help your site’s SEO. So make sure this is simple for you to do on the platform you pick. Otherwise, you may end up procrastinating, or giving up on posting content altogether.
If you think that having to learn to use Wordpress (which can be a little bit technical) might hold you back from getting content up on your site, I’d seriously consider Squarespace. It’s the most user-friendly of the two. Plus, everything will automatically be mobile responsive (an essential for good SEO) so your audience will be able to experience your content from any device.
In general, does the platform allow you to have a site that does what you need it to do?
For some businesses, Squarespace just isn’t customizable enough. Wordpress, as you may know, is highly customizable.
Sure, there are lots of workarounds and “hacks” you can use to make Squarespace work how you need it to work…to an extent. The problem is, these workarounds can slow your site down and cause other issues that create “less than ideal” experience for people who visit your site. In Google’s eyes, this is a big no-no.
So, if you’re thinking you’ll need to use a lot of these workarounds to make Squarespace work for you, I’d recommend Wordpress.
To wrap up: there are so many things that factor into your site’s SEO. It’s a bit of a game. And it’s a game you can win on Wordpress or Squarespace — so pick the platform that’s right for you.
Both Squarespace and WordPress can support solid SEO—but the right choice depends on your goals, your comfort with tech, and how much control you want.
If you’re growing a service-based business and want a site that’s built to attract clients through search, start with your strategy, then match the platform to your needs—not the other way around.
FAQs: WordPress vs. Squarespace for SEO
Does Google favor one platform over the other?
Nope—Google doesn’t care what platform you’re on, as long as your site is well-structured, mobile-friendly, and optimized for search.
Can I switch platforms without hurting my SEO?
Yes, but it takes planning. You’ll want to properly redirect pages, transfer content carefully, and monitor rankings after the switch.
Which platform is better for local SEO?
Both can work well, but WordPress gives you more control over structured data, which can be helpful for local visibility.
Are there hidden SEO costs on either platform?
With WordPress, you might pay extra for good hosting, premium plugins, or developer help. Squarespace’s pricing is more all-inclusive, but you trade off flexibility.
Do I need to be super techy to do SEO on either one?
Not at all—but WordPress has a steeper learning curve. If you’re DIY-ing and want something more “plug and play,” Squarespace might be the better fit.
