How to Choose the Right Website Platform:
WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace?
Choosing the Right Website Platform for Your Business or Nonprofit
One of the questions I get asked the most is: “Should I use WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, or something else?”
And honestly? The answer is: it depends.
Every business, every nonprofit, every creative project has its own mix of goals, comfort levels, and long-term vision. The “best” platform is the one that works for you now, while still leaving space to grow into what’s next.
WordPress: The Flexible Powerhouse
WordPress is the cream of the crop when it comes to flexibility. It’s especially strong for:
- Nonprofits and foundations that need donations, events, and storytelling.
- Businesses that want to combine a blog, service pages, and maybe a shop all in one place.
- Anyone who cares about SEO and being found on Google.
With plugins like WooCommerce, GiveWP, and The Events Calendar, you can create a full ecosystem — donations, event registration, online store, memberships, blogs… all under one roof.
The trade-off? WordPress does need some care and setup. If it’s not managed well, it can feel slow or overwhelming. But with the right structure (and a good designer 👋), it’s incredibly powerful and future-proof.
Shopify: The E-Commerce Specialist
Shopify shines when your main priority is selling products online.
It’s simple, sleek, and gives you a retail-style dashboard. You get:
- A smooth, trusted checkout experience.
- Secure hosting baked in.
- Easy product management.
The trade-offs: Shopify’s blogging and content tools are limited, and most things beyond basic sales require extra apps (which can get expensive). If your site is more about storytelling, donations, or events — WordPress usually handles those better.
Squarespace: The Streamlined All-in-One Option
Squarespace is an all-in-one platform with beautiful design templates and simple management. It’s great for service-based businesses, creatives, and nonprofits who want polish without tech headaches. The trade-off is flexibility: if you need highly custom features, WordPress is stronger… but for many, Squarespace is a perfectly solid long-term solution.
It’s great for:
- Solopreneurs, creatives, and artists.
- Small service businesses that need a simple, polished web presence.
The downside is flexibility. Squarespace is lovely for starting out, but if you need complex features down the road — like donations, memberships, or advanced SEO — you’ll often bump into its limits.
Still, if ease of use for you (for updates, etc) is your top priority, this is hands down what I will likely recommend for you.
My Approach: Goals First, Platform Second
I don’t believe in pushing one platform for everyone. Instead, I look at:
- Primary goals: Is the focus donations, events, sales, visibility, or something else?
- Ease of use: How tech-comfortable are you (or your team)?
- Budget: Do you prefer one-time setup costs or monthly app fees?
- Future growth: Where do you want this to be in 2–3 years?
Sometimes the answer is clear. Sometimes it’s nuanced. And sometimes it’s a mix… like keeping WordPress for content and donations, while adding Shopify on a subdomain just for merch.
The point is… your website should be a tool that works for you, not a headache that holds you back.
Leaving Room for Growth
Whatever platform you choose, the most important thing is wiggle room. Your site should support you now and be flexible enough to adapt as you inevitably grow and evolve.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that businesses and nonprofits are always evolving, and your website should evolve with you.
✨ Closing thought: If you’re feeling stuck on what platform is right for you, that’s exactly where I come in. I help you design not just a website, but an ecosystem that works now and grows with you later.