Do I need hosting if I use Wix or Squarespace?

Short answer: no. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk!

No, seriously, if you’re using Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, or WordPress.com, hosting is included in your plan. You don’t need to buy it separately, set it up, or even think about it. The platform handles all of that behind the scenes.

But because this question comes up so often – and because the answer gets more nuanced once you understand what hosting actually is – it’s worth explaining properly. By the end of this post, you’ll understand exactly what hosting is, which platforms include it, and when you do need to buy it separately.

What is web hosting, and why does it matter?

Every website in the world lives on a computer called a server – a machine that’s connected to the internet 24 hours a day so that anyone can access your site at any time.

Web hosting is the service of renting space on one of those servers.

Think of it this way. Your website is a house. Your domain name (like yoursite.com) is the address. Web hosting is the land the house sits on – without it, your website has nowhere to exist.

When you sign up for a hosting service separately, you’re renting that space directly from a hosting company like Bluehost, SiteGround, or Hostinger.

When you sign up for an all-in-one platform like Wix or Squarespace, hosting is included in your subscription. The platform owns the servers, maintains them, and handles everything technical – you just build your site.

Which platforms include hosting?

These platforms include hosting in their plans – you don’t need to buy it separately:

Wix – hosting is included on all plans, including the free plan. Your site lives on Wix’s servers.

Squarespace – hosting is included on all paid plans. Everything is managed by Squarespace.

Shopify – hosting is included. Shopify manages all the infrastructure behind your store.

WordPress.com – the hosted version of WordPress (wordpress.com) includes hosting. This is different from WordPress.org – more on that below.

Weebly, Webflow, and GoDaddy Website Builder are all hosted platforms that include hosting in their fees.

If you’re using any of these, you are done. You don’t need to do anything else about hosting. The platform has it covered.

When do you need to buy hosting separately?

There is one major exception to this – and it’s an important one.

Self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) requires you to arrange your own hosting.

WordPress.org is the version of WordPress you download and install yourself, rather than the hosted version at WordPress.com. It’s the world’s most popular website platform – powering over 40% of all websites -, and it’s completely free to use.

The trade-off is that you’re responsible for the technical infrastructure. That means:

• Choosing a hosting provider (Bluehost, SiteGround, Hostinger, Kinsta, etc.)
• Buying a domain name if it’s not included in your hosting plan
• Installing WordPress on your host (most hosts make this a one-click process)
• Managing updates and backups

This sounds more complicated than it is. Most beginner-friendly hosting providers make WordPress installation straightforward, and you don’t need any technical knowledge to get started. But it is an extra step compared to signing up for Wix or Squarespace.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – what’s the difference?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion in website building, so let’s clear it up once and for all.

WordPress.com – a hosted platform. You sign up, choose a plan, and WordPress handles everything, including hosting. Similar to Wix or Squarespace in terms of the managed experience. Free plan available, paid plans from around $4/month (USA) or £4/month (UK).

WordPress.org – the self-hosted version. You download WordPress for free, choose your own hosting provider, and install it yourself. More flexible and more powerful, but requires more setup. This is the version most professional bloggers, content creators, and serious website builders use.

The confusing part is that both are called “WordPress”, and the difference isn’t obvious until you know what to look for. When most people in website-building guides talk about “WordPress” without qualification, they almost always mean the self-hosted WordPress.org version.

Why would you choose self-hosted WordPress over an all-in-one platform?

If Wix and Squarespace handle hosting for you, why would anyone bother with the extra setup of self-hosted WordPress?

Several reasons – and they’re meaningful ones.

You own everything. With self-hosted WordPress, your site, your content, and your data are yours completely. No platform can change its terms of service, restrict your features, or shut down in a way that affects your site. With Wix or Squarespace, you’re building in someone else’s ecosystem.

Better SEO control. WordPress with Rank Math gives you more granular control over every SEO element than any hosted platform. For a content site where ranking in Google is the primary growth strategy, this matters.

Display ad compatibility. If you’re planning to monetise with display advertising – Google AdSense to start, or premium networks like Mediavine and Raptive as your traffic grows – self-hosted WordPress is the best platform for that. Wix and Squarespace restrict ad placement in ways that limit your options.

Lower long-term costs. The WordPress software is free. Quality hosting starts from around $2.95–$3.99/month in the US, or £2.50–£3.50/month in the UK. For a basic site, the total cost is lower than Squarespace’s entry-level plan – and considerably lower once you factor in what you’d pay for equivalent functionality on a hosted platform.

Flexibility and extensibility. With over 60,000 plugins and thousands of themes, WordPress can do almost anything. Hosted platforms have apps and templates, too, but the depth of the WordPress ecosystem is unmatched.

So which should you choose?

Here’s a practical guide based on your situation.

You don’t need separate hosting – use an all-in-one platform if:

• You want to get live quickly with a minimum technical setup
• You’re building a portfolio, a small business site, or a creative website
• Design out of the box is more important than SEO flexibility
• You don’t want to think about the technical side at all

You need separate hosting – use self-hosted WordPress if:

• You’re building a content site, blog, or anything SEO-driven
• Display ad monetisation is part of your plan
• You want complete ownership and control of your site
• You want the lowest long-term cost
• You’re happy with a modest setup process at the start

Still not sure which route is right for your specific situation? Our quiz takes about two minutes and gives you a clear recommendation based on what you’re building.

Take the quiz — find your perfect platform →

And if you’ve decided you do need hosting, our hosting quiz will match you to the right provider for your budget and site type.

Take the WordPress hosting quiz →

A note on domain names

Whether you use an all-in-one platform or self-hosted WordPress, you’ll want a custom domain name – something like yoursite.com rather than yoursite.wixsite.com.

With Wix and Squarespace, your custom domain connects to your site through the platform’s settings. You buy the domain either through the platform itself or from a domain registrar like Namecheap, then point it at your site.

With self-hosted WordPress, your domain points at your hosting provider’s servers where your WordPress site is installed.

Either way, the domain is separate from the hosting – it’s your address, not the land itself.

Read our guide: How to buy a domain name →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need hosting if I use Wix or Squarespace? No. Hosting is built into your Wix or Squarespace plan, including Wix’s free tier. There’s nothing extra to buy, set up, or manage – the platform runs the servers for you.

Does Wix provide hosting? Yes. Wix includes hosting on all plans, including the free plan. You don’t need to arrange or pay for hosting separately.

Does Squarespace include hosting? Yes. Squarespace includes hosting, SSL, and a CDN on all paid plans. Everything is managed by Squarespace.

Does Shopify include hosting? Yes. Shopify is a fully hosted platform – all infrastructure is managed by Shopify.

Do I need hosting for WordPress? It depends on which WordPress you’re using. WordPress.com is hosted – no separate hosting needed. WordPress.org (self-hosted) requires you to choose and pay for your own hosting provider.

What’s the cheapest hosting for WordPress? Hostinger is the most affordable and reliable option, with introductory prices from around $1.99–$2.99/month in the US or £1.50/month in the UK. Bluehost and SiteGround start from $2.95–$3.99/month in the US or £2.50–£3.50/month in the UK, and are both officially recommended by WordPress.org.

Can I use my own hosting with Wix or Squarespace? No. Wix and Squarespace are closed platforms – you can’t use external hosting with them. Your site lives on their servers and cannot be moved to a different host while staying on the platform.