WordPress vs. Squarespace vs. Wix: Which is Best for a Legal Website?

Building a website for your legal practice is a big deal. You want it to look professional, be easy to navigate, and show up when potential clients search for legal services. But with so many website builders out there, how do you choose the right one? WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix are three of the most popular platforms, and each has its own strengths and quirks. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into how these platforms stack up for creating a legal website, focusing on what matters most: professionalism, ease of use, SEO, security, and cost. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which one fits your needs.

Ease of Use: How Simple is it to Build Your Site?

When you’re running a law firm, time is precious. You don’t want to spend hours wrestling with a complicated website builder. Let’s break down how user-friendly each platform is for someone who’s not a tech wizard.

WordPress: Powerful but Tricky

WordPress is like the Swiss Army knife of website builders—it can do almost anything, but it takes some effort to master. It’s not as beginner-friendly as the others because you’ll need to handle things like hosting, themes, and plugins yourself. For a legal website, you might use a drag-and-drop page builder like Elementor to make things easier, but there’s still a learning curve. You’ll need to pick a theme that looks professional, install plugins for features like contact forms or SEO, and maybe tweak some settings to get everything just right. If you’re comfortable with a bit of setup and don’t mind learning, WordPress gives you tons of control. But if you want something that works out of the box, it might feel overwhelming.

Squarespace: Sleek and Simple

Squarespace is the go-to for anyone who wants a polished website without much hassle. Its drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and the templates are designed to look stunning right away. For a legal website, you can pick a template with clean lines and professional vibes, then customize it with your logo, colors, and content. Everything—hosting, security, and updates—is handled for you, so you can focus on adding your practice areas and attorney bios. The downside? You’re limited to Squarespace’s tools and templates, so if you want something super specific, you might hit a wall. Still, for most law firms, Squarespace’s simplicity is a huge win.

Wix: Drag-and-Drop Freedom

Wix is all about flexibility and ease. Its drag-and-drop editor lets you place elements anywhere on the page, which is great if you have a specific vision for your legal website. Want your “Contact Us” button front and center? No problem. Wix also offers an AI tool that can generate a site based on a few questions about your practice, which is perfect if you’re starting from scratch. Like Squarespace, Wix handles hosting and updates, so you don’t need to worry about the technical stuff. However, with so much freedom, it’s easy to accidentally create a cluttered or unprofessional design if you’re not careful. For a legal site, stick to Wix’s cleaner templates to keep things looking sharp.

Design and Templates: Looking Professional for Clients

Your legal website needs to scream “trustworthy” the moment someone lands on it. A clunky or outdated design could send potential clients running. Let’s see how these platforms help you create a professional look.

WordPress: Endless Options

WordPress has thousands of themes, many tailored for law firms. You can find premium themes on sites like ThemeForest that include features like attorney profiles, practice area pages, and booking forms. The catch? Not all themes are created equal. Some are bloated with unnecessary features, which can slow down your site. You’ll need to choose a high-quality, responsive theme that looks great on phones and desktops. With WordPress, you can customize every detail, but that might require some coding or a developer’s help for complex changes. If you’re willing to invest time or money, WordPress can deliver a unique, professional site that stands out.

Squarespace: Modern and Polished

Squarespace is famous for its gorgeous templates, and they’re perfect for legal websites. Think clean layouts, elegant fonts, and plenty of white space—exactly what you want for a law firm. Every template is mobile-responsive, so your site will look great whether clients are browsing on their phone or laptop. You can tweak colors, fonts, and layouts without coding, but customization is more limited than WordPress. For most lawyers, though, Squarespace’s templates are more than enough to create a professional, modern site that impresses clients. Plus, the consistent quality of their designs means you’re unlikely to end up with a dud.

Wix: Versatile but Mixed Quality

Wix offers over 900 templates, including some designed for legal services. You’ll find options with sleek, professional layouts, but the sheer volume means quality varies. Some templates might feel too flashy or generic for a law firm. Like Squarespace, Wix templates are mobile-responsive, and you can customize them extensively with the drag-and-drop editor. The downside is that Wix’s flexibility can be a double-edged sword—too many tweaks might make your site look busy or unprofessional. If you choose a clean, simple template and avoid overloading it with widgets, Wix can produce a sharp-looking legal website.

SEO: Getting Found by Potential Clients

If someone searches “divorce lawyer near me,” you want your website to pop up. Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for legal websites, so let’s compare how these platforms help you rank higher on Google.

WordPress: SEO Superstar

WordPress is the king of SEO, especially for legal websites aiming to attract local clients. With plugins like Yoast SEO, you can fine-tune meta titles, descriptions, and keywords for every page. You can also optimize site speed, create XML sitemaps, and manage technical SEO factors like redirects and schema markup. The catch? You’ll need a fast hosting provider and a lightweight theme to keep your site speedy, as slow load times can hurt rankings. WordPress also lets you add a blog, which is a great way to target keywords like “how to file for bankruptcy” or “what to expect in a custody battle.” If you’re serious about SEO, WordPress gives you the tools to dominate search results, but it requires effort.

Squarespace: Solid but Limited

Squarespace handles basic SEO well, automatically generating sitemaps and letting you edit meta titles and descriptions. Its clean code and fast hosting help with site speed, which Google loves. You can also add a blog to target legal keywords, and Squarespace’s analytics make it easy to track traffic. However, you can’t install third-party SEO plugins like Yoast, and advanced features like custom redirects or structured data are limited. For a legal website, Squarespace’s SEO is good enough to rank for local searches, especially if you optimize your content. But if you’re in a competitive market, you might find its tools a bit restrictive.

Wix: Improved but Not Perfect

Wix has come a long way with SEO. It now offers tools to edit meta tags, create sitemaps, and integrate with Google Analytics. You can also add a blog to target keywords, and Wix’s SEO Wiz provides a checklist to optimize your site. However, Wix’s SEO isn’t as robust as WordPress. Its site speed can lag on larger sites, and you have less control over technical SEO elements like structured data. For a legal website, Wix can work for local SEO, especially if you’re in a less competitive area. But if you’re aiming to outrank big firms, WordPress or even Squarespace might give you an edge.

Security and Compliance: Keeping Client Data Safe

Lawyers deal with sensitive information, so your website needs to be secure and compliant with regulations like GDPR or CCPA. Let’s look at how these platforms protect your site and your clients.

WordPress: Secure with Effort

WordPress is secure if you take the right steps, but it’s not automatic. You’ll need to choose a reputable hosting provider with features like SSL certificates, firewalls, and regular backups. Plugins like Wordfence can add extra security layers, and you can install tools to ensure GDPR compliance, like cookie consent pop-ups. The downside? You’re responsible for updates to WordPress, themes, and plugins, and outdated software can be vulnerable to hacks. For a legal website, WordPress can be as secure as Fort Knox, but it requires ongoing maintenance to keep it that way.

Squarespace: Hassle-Free Security

Squarespace takes security off your plate. All plans include a free SSL certificate, automatic updates, and built-in protections against common threats. Squarespace also offers GDPR-compliant features, like cookie banners, which are crucial for legal websites handling client inquiries. You don’t need to worry about hosting or server management, as it’s all handled by Squarespace. While you can’t add custom security plugins, Squarespace’s built-in tools are robust enough for most law firms. If you want a secure site without lifting a finger, Squarespace is a great choice.

Wix: Reliable and Automatic

Like Squarespace, Wix handles security for you. Every site gets a free SSL certificate, and Wix manages updates and server-side protections. It also provides GDPR-compliant tools, such as cookie consent options, to keep your legal website on the right side of regulations. Wix’s security is solid for small to medium-sized law firms, but like Squarespace, you can’t add third-party security plugins for extra layers. For most legal websites, Wix’s out-of-the-box security is more than adequate, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.

Features for Legal Websites: What Do You Need?

A legal website needs specific features: contact forms, appointment booking, client testimonials, and maybe a blog for thought leadership. Let’s see how each platform delivers.

WordPress: Endless Possibilities

WordPress shines when it comes to features. With plugins, you can add anything your legal website needs. Want a booking system for consultations? Try Bookly or Calendly. Need a secure contact form? Gravity Forms has you covered. You can also add testimonial sliders, live chat, or even client portals with plugins like WP Client. For blogging, WordPress is unmatched, letting you create detailed posts to showcase your expertise. The downside is that you’ll need to source and manage these plugins, which can add complexity and cost. But for a feature-rich legal website, WordPress is hard to beat.

Squarespace: Streamlined and Professional

Squarespace offers built-in features that cover most legal website needs. You get contact forms, testimonial blocks, and a blogging platform out of the box. Its Acuity Scheduling tool is perfect for booking consultations, and you can embed forms or calendars from third-party tools like Calendly if needed. Squarespace also supports basic e-commerce, so you could sell legal guides or templates if that’s part of your practice. While it doesn’t have the vast plugin ecosystem of WordPress, Squarespace’s tools are polished and easy to use, making it ideal for firms that want a professional site without extra complexity.

Wix: Flexible and App-Driven

Wix’s App Market offers plenty of tools for legal websites. You can add contact forms, booking systems like Wix Bookings, or live chat for client inquiries. Want to showcase reviews? There are apps for that too. Wix’s blogging tools are solid, though not as advanced as WordPress, letting you publish articles to attract clients. While Wix’s apps are generally user-friendly, some require paid upgrades, which can add up. For a legal website, Wix provides enough features to create a functional, client-friendly site, especially if you stick to its core tools and a few key apps.

Cost: What’s the Price for Your Legal Website?

Budget matters, especially for solo practitioners or small firms. Let’s break down the costs of each platform, including hidden expenses.

WordPress: Affordable but Variable

WordPress itself is free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain, and possibly premium themes or plugins. Hosting can range from $3/month for budget providers like Bluehost to $30/month for premium options like WP Engine. A good legal theme might cost $50–$100 upfront, and plugins like Yoast SEO or booking tools often have annual fees ($50–$200). You’ll also need a domain (around $10/year). Total cost? Expect $100–$500/year for a basic legal website, more if you hire a developer for setup or customizations. WordPress is cost-effective for those comfortable with DIY, but expenses can creep up.

Squarespace: Predictable Pricing

Squarespace’s plans range from $16 to $99/month (billed annually), with the Core plan ($29/month) being the sweet spot for legal websites. This includes hosting, a domain (free for the first year), SSL, and all features like Acuity Scheduling and blogging. There are no hidden costs for plugins or themes, and you won’t need a separate hosting provider. For most law firms, $350–$600/year covers everything. Squarespace is pricier than basic WordPress but offers predictability and no technical overhead, making it a solid choice for busy lawyers.

Wix: Budget-Friendly with Upsells

Wix’s plans start at $17/month, but the Core plan ($29/month) is best for legal websites, offering e-commerce, booking tools, and no Wix ads. Like Squarespace, this includes hosting, a domain (free for the first year), and SSL. Some apps from the Wix App Market have additional costs, so your expenses could grow if you add features like advanced forms or analytics. Expect $200–$500/year for a professional legal website. Wix is budget-friendly, especially with its free plan for testing, but be mindful of app costs to avoid surprises.

Conclusion

According to tech experts who write for us on tech, choosing between WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix for your legal website comes down to your priorities. If you want total control, robust SEO, and endless features, WordPress is your best bet, but it requires time or technical know-how. Squarespace is perfect if you want a sleek, professional site with minimal effort and no maintenance headaches. Wix offers flexibility and ease, ideal for those who want to experiment with design without breaking the bank. Think about your budget, tech comfort, and how much time you can invest, then pick the platform that feels like the right fit for your practice.

No matter which you choose, focus on creating a site that’s clear, professional, and easy for clients to navigate. A great legal website isn’t just about looking good—it’s about building trust and making it simple for people to reach out when they need you.