Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress: Which Website Platform Is Best for Your Nonprofit?

29 Sept

If you’re starting or growing a nonprofit, one of your first big questions is:
👉 “Which website platform should we use—Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress?”

I’ve been a marketing strategist for 10 years, and I’ve seen nonprofits struggle with this decision again and again. The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The “best” platform depends on your goals, budget, and how much time (or tech support) you actually have.

In this article, I’ll break down the pros, cons, pricing, and nonprofit discounts for Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress—and share my perspective on when each makes sense.

Squarespace for Nonprofits

Pros:

Clean, modern templates (great for storytelling).
Easy drag-and-drop editor.
Built-in donation integrations with third-party tools.
Hosting, security, and updates are included.

Cons:

Limited design flexibility compared to WordPress.
SEO tools are basic (not bad, but not advanced).
Some integrations require an upgrade.

Pricing:

Starts at $16/month (Personal).
Business plan (needed for donations) starts at $23/month.

Nonprofit Discounts:
Squarespace doesn’t advertise an official nonprofit discount, but some nonprofits get custom offers by contacting support.

My Take:
Squarespace is perfect if you want a simple, beautiful website fast. If your nonprofit doesn’t have an in-house web team and you just want something reliable, this is a safe choice.

Wix for Nonprofits

Pros:

Extremely beginner-friendly (drag-and-drop freedom).
Affordable starter plans.
App marketplace for events, forms, and volunteers.
Built-in SEO wizard for beginners.

Cons:

Too much freedom can lead to messy design.
Not as scalable for larger nonprofits.
Limited control over advanced SEO and site speed.

Pricing:

Starts at $16/month (Combo plan).
Business & eCommerce plans start at $27/month.

Nonprofit Discounts:
Wix partners with TechSoup, which means nonprofits can get discounts and even free upgrades depending on eligibility.

My Take:
Wix is best for small, local nonprofits that need something affordable and easy to manage in-house. It works if you don’t have a web developer and just want to keep things simple.

WordPress for Nonprofits

Pros:

Most flexible and customizable platform.
Thousands of themes and plugins (including donation and event tools).
Scales well for large nonprofits and global organizations.
Strong SEO capabilities (if set up correctly).

Cons:

Steeper learning curve—usually requires a developer.
Hosting, security, and backups are your responsibility.
Costs can add up with plugins and custom builds.

Pricing:

Free to use (WordPress.org).
Hosting starts at around $5–$10/month, but custom builds can cost thousands.

Nonprofit Discounts:
Some hosting providers (like DreamHost and Bluehost) offer special nonprofit discounts or free hosting for 501(c)(3) organizations.

My Recommendation as a Marketing Strategist

As a marketer with 10 years of experience, WordPress is the best choice if you want full control, scalability, and advanced features. If your nonprofit is growing or you want to invest in a professional developer, WordPress will give you the flexibility you need. After working with nonprofits of all sizes, here’s how I’d guide you:

👶 Starting out, under 3,000 donors/subscribers? Go with Squarespace or Wix. They’re affordable and easy to manage without a developer.
🌱 Growing nonprofit with steady donor base? Squarespace is a solid step up for professional polish.
🌍 Scaling or global nonprofit? WordPress. It’s the most work upfront, but the flexibility pays off long-term.

Bottom line: Choose the platform you can actually manage. A simple, updated site is better than a fancy one you can’t maintain.

Whether you pick Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress, the key is building a site that’s donor-friendly, mobile-ready, and aligned with your mission. Your website isn’t just a brochure—it’s your digital headquarters.

Make your choice based on your capacity today, not what looks shiny tomorrow.

At Socials Runway, we help nonprofits choose the right tools and set up websites that actually drive donations.

👉 Follow us on Instagram for more nonprofit tech and marketing tips.