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Wix vs Squarespace vs GoDaddy for a trade business: which builder fits, and when should you hire it out?
· 5 min read
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All three can build a decent trade site. Squarespace Basic is $19 a month billed yearly, Wix sale prices renew at the regular rate, and GoDaddy's US plan prices weren't on any GoDaddy page we could load. The bigger cost is your time: a builder only saves money if you'll keep it updated.
If you've decided you want a website (not sure yet? read does my business need a website?), the next question is who builds it. This page compares the three builders trade pros ask about most, plus the done-for-you option we sell, on price, renewals, who does the updates, and what happens if you leave.
What do Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy cost?
These are the prices on each company's own pricing page. Builders run frequent sales, so look at what you'll pay in year two, not just the first charge.
Prices and terms checked Oct 17, 2026, on each company's own pages. They change often, so check before you sign up.
| Wix | Squarespace | GoDaddy | makeasite.co (done for you) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry plan with your own domain | Light: $17.77/mo billed yearly, as shown to us. Wix notes prices vary by location | Basic: $25/mo monthly, or $19/mo billed yearly | Not shown on GoDaddy pages we could load | Starter: $29/mo, or $290/yr |
| Next plan up | Core: $29.77/mo billed yearly | Core: $39/mo monthly, or $29/mo yearly | Not shown on GoDaddy pages we could load | Pro: $79/mo, or $790/yr |
| Free option | Free plan with Wix branding and no custom domain | No free plan. 14-day trial, no card | Free start with 50 AI credits a month | Free preview before you pay |
| Renewals | Sale prices are for the first year only, then the regular yearly rate | No separate renewal rate shown | Not verified | Same price. Founding customers keep theirs locked |
| Domain after year one | Free domain voucher for year one with yearly plans, then the domain renews at Wix's price | Free first-year domain on yearly plans, then $20/yr for .com | Free domain with an annual plan, per GoDaddy | Not included. You buy it in your own name, usually about $10 to $20 a year |
| Setup fee | None | None | None for DIY | None |
GoDaddy's US pricing pages returned errors to us on Oct 17, 2026. Third-party reviews list GoDaddy plan prices, but we only quote vendor pages, so check godaddy.com yourself before you compare. Want a full one-to-three-year total? The website cost calculator adds up plan, domain and your time.
How much of your own time does a DIY site take?
The plan price is the small part. You write the text, take and choose the photos, set up the pages, connect the domain, and then keep it current every time your services, prices or hours change. Value those hours at what you'd charge a customer: the hourly rate calculator helps you work that number out.
Made-up numbers: 12 hours to build and 1 hour a month to update, at $60 an hour, is $720 of your time in the first month and $720 more over the year. That's more than most plan prices.
If you enjoy that kind of work, or you have a family member who does, a builder is a fine choice. If the site would sit untouched for a year, a done-for-you service or a designer is usually cheaper in practice.
Who does the updates, and what happens if you leave?
| Wix | Squarespace | GoDaddy | makeasite.co | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who updates the site | You | You | You, with AI help | We do, when you text or email |
| Can you move the site to another host? | No. Wix says the site must run on Wix's servers, though your content belongs to you | Partly. The export covers some pages, one blog, text and images, but not style settings, custom CSS or store pages | GoDaddy says you can "export your code anytime" | No. Our designs and code stay with us. You get your domain and a copy of your content |
| Domain | Can transfer out, or connect one you own | "After you register a domain, you own it," and you can transfer it | Can connect your own domain | Registered in your name from day one |
| Cancel | 14-day money-back on the first upgrade | Cancel anytime. Takes effect at the end of the billing cycle | Check your plan terms | Cancel anytime. 30-day money-back on your first yearly payment |
What local SEO basics do DIY sites miss?
Every builder has SEO settings, but they don't fill them in for your trade. Google's own SEO Starter Guide says there are no secrets that rank you first. It comes down to useful, clear pages and good titles. For a trade site, that means:
More on the profile side in the Google Business Profile checklist.
When is a DIY builder the better call?
- You like design and writing, and you'll keep the site current.
- You need features a simple trade site doesn't have, like a full online store, courses or memberships. Squarespace and Wix both sell those plans.
- Your budget is close to zero for now. Wix's free plan or a builder trial gets something live, even with the builder's branding.
- You want to be able to change anything yourself, any time, without asking anyone.
Trades where photos sell the job, like landscaping, painting and remodeling, get the most out of a builder's galleries, if someone keeps adding new work. For our plan details, see makeasite.co pricing. Compare next: web designer vs agency or lead apps vs your own website, or go back to the overview: does my business need a website?
Disclosure: makeasite.co sells done-for-you websites, so we're one of the options on this page, and we've said plainly where something else is the better pick. Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, Yelp, Facebook, Meta and Google are trademarks of their owners. makeasite.co isn't affiliated with any of them.
Questions trade pros ask
Is Wix or Squarespace better for a small business?
For a simple trade site, either works. Squarespace has fewer plans and clear monthly and yearly prices. Wix has a free plan and more plan tiers, and its sale prices apply to the first year only. Pick the editor you find easier, because you'll be the one updating it.
Is the GoDaddy website builder good?
GoDaddy's builder is AI-first: you describe your business and it drafts the site, with a free start and the option to export your code. We couldn't verify its current US plan prices on GoDaddy's own pages on Oct 17, 2026, so check godaddy.com before comparing.
What's the best website builder for contractors?
The one you'll actually keep updated. Whatever you use, the site needs your phone number as a tap-to-call button, your services, the towns you cover, real job photos, and the same name, phone and hours as your Google Business Profile.
Does Wix own my website?
Wix says the content you build belongs to you, but the site has to be hosted and run on Wix's servers, so you can't move it to another host. You can keep or transfer your domain.
Sources
- Wix Plans (wix.com) Light $17.77/mo, Core $29.77, Business $39.77, Business Elite $159.77 as displayed to us; yearly billing; prices vary by location; 14-day money-back. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- Premium Plan Sale FAQs (Wix Help Center) Sale price is for the first year only; renewals at the regular yearly rate. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- Exporting or Embedding Your Wix Site Elsewhere (Wix Help Center) Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- Squarespace Pricing Basic $25/mo monthly or $19/mo yearly; Core $39/$29; Plus $65/$49; Advanced $139/$99; 14-day trial. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- Squarespace domains FAQ (last updated Oct 6, 2026) .com $20/yr; free first-year domain renews at $20. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- Export your site content (Squarespace Help Center, last updated Oct 9, 2026) Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- GoDaddy Website Builder Free start with 50 AI credits a month; export your code anytime. No plan prices shown on the page we could load. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- SEO Starter Guide (Google Search Central) Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- Guidelines for representing your business on Google (Google Business Profile Help) Checked Oct 17, 2026.
- makeasite.co pricing and terms Starter $29/mo or $290/yr; Pro $79/mo or $790/yr; no setup fee. Checked Oct 17, 2026.