If you're a tradie looking to get online in 2026, the number of options is genuinely confusing. Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, Rocketspark, purpose-built tools like Site Sorted, or just sticking with a Facebook page. They all promise something different. They all cost different amounts. And most of them weren't built with tradies in mind.
This comparison is honest. Each platform has real advantages. The right one depends on your situation.
Option 1: Wix
Wix is the world's most-used website builder. You've probably seen the ads. The drag-and-drop editor is genuinely easy to use, and there's a free tier that lets you get something online without spending anything.
The problems: the free plan puts Wix branding on your site and gives you a wix.com subdomain. That looks unprofessional to anyone checking you out. The paid plans run $20 to $40 NZD per month, which adds up to $240 to $480 a year. The templates are generic. They weren't designed for plumbers or builders or electricians. You'll spend real time customising them, and mobile performance is often slower than it should be for a site that relies on search traffic.
Wix is fine if you enjoy tinkering and have time to spare. It's not ideal if you want something that looks trade-specific and doesn't require ongoing fees.
Option 2: Squarespace
Squarespace makes beautiful websites. The design quality is genuinely good, and it's a reasonable choice for photographers, restaurants, and creative businesses.
For tradies, it's a poor fit. Plans run $23 to $65 NZD per month. There's no free tier. The templates are styled for lifestyle brands, not for someone who needs to communicate "I'm a licensed electrician in Wellington and here's my phone number." You'll spend hours removing design elements that don't apply to your business. SEO setup requires manual effort. None of it is built around the suburbs, service areas, and direct-contact focus that a tradie website needs.
If design aesthetics matter more than practicality, Squarespace is worth a look. For most tradies, it's overkill in the wrong direction.
Option 3: WordPress
WordPress powers around 40% of websites globally. It can do almost anything. That's both the appeal and the problem.
To use WordPress properly, you need hosting (Hostinger or SiteGround will run $10 to $30 NZD per month), a domain, a theme, and plugins for SEO, contact forms, security, and backups. You're looking at a weekend of setup, not an afternoon. Plugins break when they update. Security patches need applying. If your site goes down or gets hacked, you're the one fixing it.
WordPress is excellent if you have some technical confidence and want full control. It's genuinely hard work to set up and maintain if you don't.
Option 4: Rocketspark
Rocketspark is New Zealand-made, which gives it some legitimacy for local businesses. The support team is in NZ, the templates are clean, and you can put together a reasonable site with enough effort.
Plans run $39 to $69 NZD per month ($468 to $828 per year). There's no one-time payment option. Setup takes real work. The templates are generic enough that you'll need to customise for your trade. It's a solid NZ-built option if you want to DIY and don't mind paying monthly.
Option 5: Site Sorted
Site Sorted was built for NZ tradies specifically. You answer a few questions about your business, your trade, your service areas, and your contact details. Your site gets built in about 15 minutes. One payment of $299. No monthly fees. Hosting is included.
The sites are mobile-first, load fast, include proper SEO structure, and are built around the things tradies actually need: a clear headline, services listed, areas covered, phone number front and centre, and a quote form. You don't need to design anything or touch a template.
The limitation: you're not building a custom website from scratch. If you want something highly tailored or unusual, Site Sorted won't give you that. But for a tradie who wants a professional site that ranks locally and doesn't cost $50 a month, it does the job well.
See the full pricing breakdown here.
Option 6: Facebook page only
A Facebook page is free and takes 20 minutes to set up. If you're just starting out or testing whether you want to invest in a website, it's not a bad temporary measure.
The problems are real, though. You don't own a Facebook page. Meta can change the algorithm, reduce your reach, or shut your page down. You can't rank on Google for "plumber Christchurch" with a Facebook page. When a property manager or commercial client Googles your business name and finds only Facebook, that looks less professional than a website would. There's no SEO benefit, no domain you control, and no way to customise how you appear in search results.
Facebook is useful as a supplement. It's not a substitute for a website.
Comparison table
- Wix: $0–$40/mo, generic templates, good editor, slow mobile, not tradie-specific
- Squarespace: $23–$65/mo, beautiful design, not built for trades, monthly fees
- WordPress: $10–$30/mo hosting + time, full control, technical maintenance required
- Rocketspark: $39–$69/mo, NZ-made, DIY setup, ongoing monthly cost
- Site Sorted: $299 one-time, purpose-built for NZ tradies, no monthly fees
- Facebook only: free, no SEO, no ownership, looks less professional
Which one should you choose?
If you want to build it yourself and enjoy that kind of project, Wix or Rocketspark are reasonable choices. Budget a weekend and $40 per month ongoing.
If you have technical experience and want full control, WordPress gives you that. Budget more time and expect ongoing maintenance.
If you want a professional site that's done fast with no monthly fees and no design work, Site Sorted is the straightforward option for most NZ tradies. The $299 one-time cost pays for itself quickly if the site brings in even one extra job.
For more on whether a website is worth it at all, read Does My Trade Business Need a Website in 2026?
And if you want to understand where the money goes, How Much Does a Tradie Website Cost in NZ? breaks down all the pricing options in detail.
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