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SunliftAI vs Wix, Squarespace and hiring an agency
Published October 28, 2026 · Last updated October 28, 2026
SunliftAI is the only option here that designs a custom site, hosts it, maintains it and updates it for one monthly price with no contract. Wix and Squarespace cost less per month, but you do the designing, writing and upkeep yourself. A freelancer or agency builds for you, then hands back a site you maintain or pay to change.
| Topic | SunliftAI | Wix | Squarespace | Freelancer template | Agency custom build |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo Rise, $99/mo Shine | From $17/mo billed yearly, selling online from $29/mo | From $19/mo billed yearly | Often a few hundred dollars upfront | About $2,500 to $15,000+ upfront |
| Free option | Free preview of your site before you pay | Free plan with Wix ads and a wixsite.com address | 14-day free trial | No | No |
| Who builds it | Sunlift | You | You | A freelancer | An agency |
| Design | Designed from a blank canvas for your business | Template you customize | Template you customize | Usually a template | Custom |
| Mobile | App-like mobile with Add to Home Screen | Responsive template | Responsive template | Varies | Varies |
| Hosting and upkeep | Included | Hosting included, upkeep is yours | Hosting included, upkeep is yours | Often billed separately | Often extra |
| Content updates | Routine updates included | You | You | Usually billed | Usually billed |
| SEO and AI structure | Built in at launch, ongoing SEO and AEO on Shine, weekly AI question tracking with Halo AEO+ | Tools included, setup is yours | Tools included, setup is yours | Varies | Varies |
| Time to launch | Seven business days, starting once we have your materials and payment | Your free hours | Your free hours | Varies | Varies |
| Contract | None, cancel anytime | Monthly or yearly plan | Monthly or yearly plan | One-time project | Project contract |
| Moving later | Your domain, content and brand assets move with you, and the site is hosted by Sunlift while your plan is active | No full-site export | No full-site export (some content exports in WordPress format) | Depends on setup | Depends on contract |
Prices checked October 2026: wix.com/plans, squarespace.com/pricing, our website cost guide. Freelancer and agency ranges come from our website cost guide.
What does each option cost over two years?
Over two years the monthly plans stay predictable and the do-it-yourself options stay cheap in dollars and expensive in hours. The totals below assume list prices held for 24 months, before any discounts, and count your own time as zero.
| Option | Two-year total | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Sunlift Rise | $1,176 | Build, hosting, maintenance and updates |
| Sunlift Shine | $2,376 | Everything in Rise, plus SEO, AEO and two Frame reels a month |
| Wix Light | $408 plus your time | The plan only; design, content and upkeep are yours |
| Squarespace Basic | $456 plus your time | The plan only; design, content and upkeep are yours |
| Agency | From $2,500 upfront, plus hosting and changes | Custom build; hosting and maintenance often extra |
Is Sunlift cheaper than Wix or Squarespace?
In dollars per month, no. Wix starts at $17 and Squarespace at $19 billed yearly, and Sunlift starts at $49. The difference is who does the work: the builders hand you a template and tools, and Sunlift hands you a finished, custom site and keeps maintaining it. If your evenings are free and you enjoy the work, a builder costs less. If your time goes to the business, Sunlift usually costs less than the hours a builder takes.
Should I hire an agency or use Sunlift?
Hire an agency when the project is genuinely complex: a web application, a large catalog, or enterprise requirements with a budget to match. For a small business that needs a custom site, hosting, updates and search and AI structure without a five-figure invoice or a project contract, Sunlift is built for exactly that, built in seven business days, starting once we have your materials and payment, and month-to-month.
When is another option the better choice?
Honestly, sometimes. Wix's free plan wins when the budget is zero and you have the time. Squarespace wins if you enjoy designing it yourself. A freelancer fits a one-off brochure site you will maintain yourself. An agency fits complex web apps, large catalogs or enterprise needs. For everything else, we would rather show you a free preview and let the work speak.
- Wix's free plan, if the budget is zero and you have the time.
- Squarespace, if you enjoy designing it yourself.
- A freelancer, for a one-off brochure site you will maintain.
- An agency, for complex web apps, large catalogs or enterprise needs.
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