The short version
Over five years, a static site remains the cheapest option, even after paying to build or convert it. WordPress with a maintenance plan costs more than twice as much as any other option listed here, and nearly four times as much as static.
Cost is the simplest part of this decision, but it is rarely the most important. The rest of this page explains what each platform does best, because choosing the cheapest option for a job it cannot handle often leads to paying twice.
The five-year numbers
| Platform | What that includes | Per year | Five years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Static | $2,500 once, then domain only | $20 | $2,600 |
| Squarespace | Core plan, scheduling, email, one or two extensions | $816 | $4,080 |
| WordPress | Managed hosting and premium plugin renewals | $850 | $4,250 |
| WordPress with a care plan | The above, plus maintenance at $95 a month | $1,990 | $9,950 |
The table doesn't show two things. First, a static site is not free after the first year, since you still pay for changes. Second, the table doesn't compare the platforms' capabilities, which is covered in the next section and is what really matters.
What each one is actually for
Squarespace is great for launching a good-looking site without needing to hire help. It does this job well. However, you pay ongoing monthly fees, face limits on what your site can do, and cannot take your site with you if you leave. Most extra costs come from add-ons, which the Squarespace cost page explains in detail.
WordPress is best when your site needs to do more, like selling products, restricting content, running memberships, or managing editorial workflows with several authors. It offers plugins for almost everything, which is a big advantage, but each plugin is something you have to maintain. The WordPress cost page covers these details.
Static sites are best for publishing information, not handling transactions. They work well for brochures, portfolios, marketing, documentation, and most professional services. They are the fastest and cheapest to run, but cannot handle logins, shopping carts, or data changes unless you add extra services.
The key question is not which option is cheapest, but whether anyone needs to log in. If visitors need accounts, make purchases, or change data that needs to be saved, you need a backend, so choose WordPress or a custom solution. If no one logs in, you are paying for features you do not need, and a static site is likely the best choice.
The cost of switching, in both directions
Switching platforms costs money, so any comparison that leaves this out is incomplete.
| Move | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Squarespace to static | $1,500 to $2,500 | Most content exports, the design is rebuilt |
| WordPress to static | $1,500 to $2,500 | Every plugin needs a decision first |
| Static to WordPress | Varies | Rare, and usually means the requirements changed |
| Anything to Squarespace | Your time | Cheap to enter, and that is the point of it |
There is an imbalance here. Squarespace is the cheapest to start with, but the hardest to leave, since it only exports your content, not your whole site. This is just how their business works, so it is better to factor in this cost from the beginning instead of being surprised later.
How to decide in about five minutes
- Does your site need logins, purchases, or bookings? If so, you need a backend. In that case, choose between WordPress and a custom tool. Static sites are not suitable.
- How often do you update your site? If it is only a few times a year, you might be paying for an editor you rarely use.
- Add up all your real costs: your plan, add-ons, plugins, hosting, and care plan. Most people are surprised by the total, and this number matters more than the advertised price.
- Consider how long your site will last. If it is less than two years, running costs are not a big factor. If it is five years or more, running costs make up most of your spending.
Where this page is biased, stated plainly
Mythic Works offers static site conversions, so if this page says "static is cheapest," it is fair to be skeptical.
However, these totals are worked out line by line on the answer pages linked below, and the vendor prices there link to the vendor's own page with the date I checked it. These pages also explain when not to convert: for a basic Squarespace brochure site, converting does not pay off quickly, and with cheap WordPress hosting and only a plugin or two, it takes three to five years. If a page never tells you to stay put, it is just an ad.