Bluehost vs Squarespace: Which Website Builder Is Better in 2026?

Choosing the right platform to build your website can feel overwhelming, especially when comparing two popular but very different options. In the debate of Bluehost vs Squarespace, the real question isn’t which one is “better” overall—but which one is better for you.

Both Bluehost and Squarespace help you get online, but they serve different types of users, goals, and skill levels. Bluehost is best known as a web hosting provider with deep WordPress integration, while Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder focused on design simplicity.

In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down Bluehost vs Squarespace across pricing, ease of use, design, performance, SEO, ecommerce, blogging, and customer support—so you can confidently choose the right platform.

Bluehost vs Squarespace: Quick Overview

Before diving deep, here’s a quick snapshot of how Bluehost and Squarespace compare.

Bluehost

• Web hosting provider
  
  

• Best for WordPress websites
  
  

• Highly flexible and scalable
  
  

• Requires more setup and customization
  
  

• Ideal for bloggers, businesses, and developers
  
  

Squarespace

• All-in-one website builder
  
  

• Drag-and-drop editor
  
  

• Known for stunning templates
  
  

• Limited flexibility compared to WordPress
  
  

• Ideal for creatives, portfolios, and small businesses
  
  

If you want simplicity, Squarespace often wins. If you want control and growth potential, Bluehost usually comes out ahead.

What Is Bluehost?

Bluehost is one of the most popular web hosting companies in the world and is officially recommended by WordPress.org. Founded in 2003, it powers millions of websites globally.

Unlike Squarespace, Bluehost is not a website builder by default. Instead, it provides hosting for platforms like WordPress, which gives you full control over your site’s design, functionality, and scalability.

Key Bluehost Features

• One-click WordPress installation
  
  

• Free domain for the first year
  
  

• Free SSL certificate
  
  

• SSD storage
  
  

• Custom control panel
  
  

• WordPress-optimized hosting plans
  
  

Bluehost is best suited for users who want a professional, scalable website and are comfortable managing plugins, themes, and updates.

What Is Squarespace?

Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that includes hosting, templates, a visual editor, and built-in tools under one subscription.

It’s widely known for its beautiful, modern designs and beginner-friendly interface. You don’t need to worry about hosting, updates, or plugins—everything is handled for you.

Key Squarespace Features

• Drag-and-drop editor
  
  

• Professionally designed templates
  
  

• Built-in blogging and ecommerce
  
  

• Integrated analytics
  
  

• Free SSL
  
  

• All-inclusive pricing
  
  

Squarespace is ideal for users who want to launch quickly without dealing with technical details.

Bluehost vs Squarespace Pricing

Pricing is often one of the biggest deciding factors.

Bluehost Pricing

Bluehost pricing is generally more affordable upfront, especially for long-term plans.

• Basic plan starts around $2.95/month
  
  

• Includes hosting for 1 website
  
  

• Free domain and SSL
  
  

• WordPress installation included
  
  

However, keep in mind:

• Renewal prices are higher
  
  

• Premium themes and plugins may cost extra
  
  

Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace uses flat monthly pricing, which is higher but includes everything.

• Personal plan: around $16/month
  
  

• Business plan: around $23/month
  
  

• Ecommerce plans: $27–$49/month
  
  

There are no surprise add-ons, but you also have less flexibility.

Pricing Winner: Bluehost

If budget matters, Bluehost is significantly cheaper—especially for blogs and content sites.

Ease of Use: Bluehost vs Squarespace

Squarespace Ease of Use

Squarespace is one of the easiest platforms to use.

• Visual drag-and-drop editor
  
  

• No plugins or updates to manage
  
  

• Hosting handled automatically
  
  

• Minimal learning curve
  
  

You can build a beautiful website in a single afternoon.

Bluehost Ease of Use

Bluehost itself is easy to use, but WordPress has a learning curve.

• Dashboard is beginner-friendly
  
  

• WordPress offers unlimited customization
  
  

• Requires managing themes, plugins, and updates
  
  

It takes more time to learn but offers much more power.

Ease of Use Winner: Squarespace

If you’re a beginner or want zero technical hassle, Squarespace wins.

Design and Templates

Squarespace Design

Design is where Squarespace truly shines.

• Award-winning templates
  
  

• Clean, modern layouts
  
  

• Mobile-responsive by default
  
  

• Perfect for portfolios and creative brands
  
  

However, customization is somewhat limited to Squarespace’s framework.

Bluehost Design (WordPress)

With Bluehost, you get access to thousands of WordPress themes.

• Free and premium themes
  
  

• Unlimited customization
  
  

• Full control over layout and functionality
  
  

The downside is that not all themes are created equal.

Design Winner: Tie

Squarespace wins for out-of-the-box beauty, Bluehost wins for total creative freedom.

Blogging Capabilities

Bluehost Blogging (WordPress)

WordPress is the best blogging platform in the world.

• Advanced content editor
  
  

• Categories, tags, and custom taxonomies
  
  

• SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math
  
  

• Monetization options (ads, affiliates, memberships)
  
  

If blogging is your main focus, Bluehost + WordPress is hard to beat.

Squarespace Blogging

Squarespace has solid blogging features:

• Clean editor
  
  

• Built-in categories and tags
  
  

• Basic SEO settings
  
  

• Limited plugin support
  
  

It works well for casual blogging but lacks advanced features.

Blogging Winner: Bluehost

For serious bloggers and content creators, Bluehost wins easily.

SEO: Bluehost vs Squarespace

SEO is critical if you want organic traffic.

Bluehost SEO (WordPress)

WordPress is extremely SEO-friendly.

• Full control over URLs
  
  

• Advanced SEO plugins
  
  

• Schema markup support
  
  

• Faster site optimization options
  
  

With proper setup, WordPress sites often outperform builders.

Squarespace SEO

Squarespace includes built-in SEO features:

• Clean URLs
  
  

• Automatic sitemaps
  
  

• Basic meta controls
  
  

However, customization is limited compared to WordPress.

SEO Winner: Bluehost

If ranking in Google is a priority, Bluehost offers more SEO power.

Ecommerce: Bluehost vs Squarespace

Squarespace Ecommerce

Squarespace ecommerce is simple and elegant.

• Built-in product management
  
  

• Digital and physical products
  
  

• Subscription options
  
  

• Clean checkout experience
  
  

Best for small to medium stores.

Bluehost Ecommerce (WooCommerce)

With Bluehost, you can use WooCommerce.

• Unlimited customization
  
  

• Thousands of extensions
  
  

• Scales from small to enterprise
  
  

• More setup required
  
  

Ecommerce Winner: Depends

• Small store → Squarespace
  
  

• Growing or complex store → Bluehost
  
  

Performance and Speed

Bluehost Performance

• SSD hosting
  
  

• CDN integration available
  
  

• Performance depends on theme and plugins
  
  

With optimization, Bluehost can be very fast.

Squarespace Performance

• Fully managed infrastructure
  
  

• Consistent performance
  
  

• Less optimization control
  
  

Performance Winner: Tie

Squarespace is consistent; Bluehost offers higher potential.

Customer Support

Bluehost Support

• 24/7 chat and phone support
  
  

• WordPress-specific help
  
  

• Large knowledge base
  
  

Squarespace Support

• Email and live chat
  
  

• Extensive documentation
  
  

• No phone support
  
  

Support Winner: Bluehost

Phone support gives Bluehost an edge.

Bluehost vs Squarespace: Pros and Cons

Bluehost Pros

• Lower starting cost
  
  

• Best for SEO and blogging
  
  

• Full customization
  
  

• Scales easily
  
  

Bluehost Cons

• Learning curve
  
  

• Requires maintenance
  
  

Squarespace Pros

• Extremely easy to use
  
  

• Beautiful templates
  
  

• All-in-one solution
  
  

Squarespace Cons

• Higher monthly cost
  
  

• Limited flexibility
  
  

• Less powerful SEO
  
  

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Bluehost if:

• You want to blog seriously
  
  

• SEO matters
  
  

• You plan to grow your site
  
  

• You want full control
  
  

Choose Squarespace if:

• You want a fast, simple setup
  
  

• Design is your top priority
  
  

• You don’t want to manage technical details
  
  

• You’re building a portfolio or small business site
  
  

Final Verdict: Bluehost vs Squarespace

The Bluehost vs Squarespace debate comes down to control vs convenience.

Squarespace is perfect for beginners who want a stunning site with minimal effort. Bluehost, paired with WordPress, is ideal for users who want long-term growth, better SEO, and unlimited flexibility.

If you’re building a serious website with traffic and monetization goals, Bluehost is the better investment. If you want a beautiful site up and running today with zero stress, Squarespace is hard to beat.