What is the Best Website Builder for Startups and Science Labs?

Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress: Choosing the Best Website Builder for Your Lab or Startup

Building a website is one of the first steps toward a polished online presence for science labs and early-stage biotech/tech startups. But with limited time, budget, and no web developer on staff, how do you pick the right platform? In this post, we consider what is the best website builder for those ranging from startups to more established tech can science labs. We’ll compare three popular website builders – Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress – through the lens of academic research labs and fledgling science or tech companies. We’ll look at ease of use, cost, and scalability so you can make an informed decision.

Before we dive in, a quick note for academic labs: some universities have policies or preferred systems for lab websites. It’s wise to confirm with your institution’s IT or communications department if there are any platform requirements or branding guidelines you need to follow. University platforms aside, many labs use public website builders for more flexibility – just ensure you’re not violating any rules before investing time in a new site.

Also, remember that a great website goes hand-in-hand with great branding. Even if you’re DIY-ing your site, you’ll want a clear science branding strategy and visual identity (for some quick tips, see our post on building your brand in science and our free logo generator for scientists blog to kickstart your lab or startup logo).

Now, let’s get into the comparison!

Web Design Ease of Use for Non-Coders

If you’re a busy researcher or a startup founder, you probably don’t have coding experience or time to learn web design. Ease of use is crucial – you need a platform that lets you create a professional-looking site with minimal hassle. Here’s how Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress compare on user-friendliness:

• Wix: One of the most beginner-friendly platforms. Its drag-and-drop editor lets you build pages visually, no coding or design background required! You can start with one of hundreds of pre-made templates and customize text, images, and layout directly. It’s fast to get a site live (often in a few hours), and what you see while editing is exactly what users will see. However, this freedom can lead to inconsistent design if you’re not careful. Best for labs and startups that want full control without tech complexity.
• Squarespace: Also designed for non-coders but uses a more structured, section-based editor. You build with pre-designed content blocks that keep everything aligned and mobile-responsive. There’s a small learning curve, but it helps avoid layout mistakes common in more freeform editors like Wix. Squarespace includes features like built-in SEO tools, image galleries, basic analytics, blogs, and e-commerce options, making it ideal for startups or research groups that value clean design and functionality
• WordPress (self-hosted): Not an all-in-one service, so setup requires more effort, choosing a host, installing WordPress, and customizing with themes and plugins. That said, once configured, it’s relatively easy to update content using the block-based Gutenberg editor. Many labs and startups use WordPress for its vast library of plugins and design flexibility (e.g., for blogs, publication databases, multilingual content, or event calendars). However, it takes time to learn, and adding features often requires technical know-how or support from a designer/developer.

Bottom line on ease of use: If you need something up fast and foolproof, Wix is your friend. Squarespace requires a bit more tinkering but yields beautifully consistent results. WordPress can do anything – if you’re willing to invest time learning (or have someone tech-savvy to assist). Many early-stage companies start on Wix or Squarespace for speed, then graduate to WordPress as their needs become more complex.

Need help setting up? We guide clients through picking and customizing templates, or building a site from scratch when ready to scale.

Website Builder Cost: Initial and Ongoing

Budget is a big concern for both academic labs and bootstrapped startups. Let’s break down the costs of each platform – both the upfront pricing and the long-term expenses (prices correct at time of publishing).

• Wix: Wix offers a free plan, but it’s not suitable for professional use, it includes ads and a Wix-branded URL. Paid plans start around $13–$16/month (billed annually), which remove ads and allow a custom domain (free for the first year, then ~$15/year). E-commerce plans range from $23–$35/month. Some advanced features may require add-ons from the Wix App Market, which can increase costs. Overall, expect to pay about $150–$200/year for a basic, polished site, covering hosting, templates, and support.
• Squarespace: No free tier beyond a 14-day trial. Paid plans start at $16/month (Personal) and go up to $23/month (Business), with higher tiers for full e-commerce features (~$27+/month). Annual plans include a free domain for one year, with renewal costs between $20–$70/year depending on the domain. Most features—like galleries, blogs, SEO, and email marketing—are built in, so you’re less likely to encounter surprise add-on fees. Expect $144–$200/year for most standard sites.
• WordPress (self-hosted): The software is free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting ($5–$15/month) and a domain ($15/year). You can build a fully functional site using free themes and plugins, though some premium options cost $20–$100/year. Time is a key factor, so remember setup and maintenance can be demanding if you’re doing it yourself. Hiring a developer adds cost, but enables a highly customized site. Managed hosting services can reduce hands-on upkeep. WordPress scales from budget-friendly to enterprise-level, depending on your needs and support.

Cost summary: Wix and Squarespace offer all-in-one pricing that includes hosting, templates, and support. Wix has the lowest entry cost, while Squarespace offers a more polished look at a slightly higher price. WordPress is more flexible and you control the budget, but it may require more time or outside help. Both labs and startups should balance cost with the site’s importance – if your website is a key part of your startup marketing or how your research lab attracts collaborators, it’s worth investing a bit more for a solid setup.

Scalability and Future Growth Potential

Think beyond just launching your site: what will you need in a year or two? As your lab gains more publications or your startup grows (hooray!), your website may need to expand or add new functionality. Let’s compare how Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress handle growth and scalability:

• Wix: A great starting point for academic labs or early-stage startups that need a simple, fast web presence. It supports basic growth, like adding pages or apps, but has limits. You can’t switch templates without rebuilding, and advanced features or integrations aren’t easily supported. For labs with stable content or startups in the early validation stage, it works well short term, but migrating later can be a challenge.
• Squarespace: Suited for labs and science startups that want a polished, flexible site without much custom work. Built-in tools support blogs, e-commerce, event pages, and mailing lists. You can integrate with external services and change designs without starting over. Squarespace handles most needs out of the box, but very large or highly customized sites may eventually need a more robust platform.
• WordPress: Best for long-term scalability and growing content. Great for labs that want to publish ongoing research updates, share datasets, or add specialized functionality, and for startups building out product pages, documentation, or member areas. With thousands of plugins and full code access, you can build almost anything, but you’ll need to manage updates, hosting, and possibly developer support.

Worried about switching later on? We help clients start on Squarespace or Wix, and later transition to WordPress as their lab or company grows.

Quick Website Builder Comparison for Scientists

Which Website Platform Should You Choose?

Choosing between Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress comes down to your immediate needs, future plans, and how much time or help you have for website management. Here are a few final thoughts for our target readers:

• Academic Research Labs: If you want a quick, elegant site to showcase your lab members, projects, and publications, Wix or Squarespace are excellent starting points—especially for labs without dedicated IT support. Squarespace offers sleek, professional templates that can give a small lab an institutional-quality feel with minimal effort (just be sure to follow your university’s branding or acknowledgment guidelines). Wix may appeal to labs with no budget, but remember the free version isn’t suitable for a polished look. If your university already provides something like a WordPress-based lab website system, you might lean into that for convenience (and cost). And if your lab has specific needs, like an interactive sample database or a multi-project blog, WordPress may be worth the extra setup for its long-term flexibility. Many labs start simple, then upgrade as their content and capacity grow.
• Early-Stage Startups (Life Science & Tech): Your website is often the first impression for investors, partners, and customers – it’s a key part of your science marketing. If you’re pre-product or just launched, a clean one- or few-page site can go a long way. Wix is a great option for getting online quickly; with the right template and branding, your startup can look polished and professional. Squarespace is a favorite for startups that have a bit more emphasis on design. For example, a biotech startup wanting to appear cutting-edge might love Squarespace’s sleek templates for showcasing their tech and team. Both platforms can handle core pages: like an about page, team bios, contact forms, and a basic blog for news updates.

Need Help Bringing Your Site to Life?

At SayoStudio, we specialize in branding and web design for science and tech companies – whether it’s refining your visual identity or building a custom website that can scale with your ambitions. We’re happy to advise on the next steps when you’re ready. Until then, we hope this comparison guide has empowered you to create an engaging online presence for your lab or startup!

Explore our free resources on science branding here and reach out if you have any questions. Good luck with your website building journey!