Squarespace vs Wix: PCI Compliance Comparison Guide

Introduction

When choosing between Squarespace and Wix for your e-commerce website, understanding how each platform handles PCI compliance is crucial for protecting customer payment data and meeting regulatory requirements. Both platforms offer built-in features to help merchants maintain PCI compliance, but they differ in their approaches, levels of responsibility, and specific requirements for merchants.

This comparison matters because non-compliance with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) can result in hefty fines, increased transaction fees, and devastating reputational damage following a data breach. Choosing the right platform can significantly impact your compliance burden and ongoing security management.

Quick answer: Both Squarespace and Wix maintain PCI Level 1 compliance and handle most technical security requirements for you. However, Wix offers more flexibility in payment processing options, while Squarespace provides a more streamlined, integrated approach. Your choice depends on your specific business needs, technical expertise, and desired level of control over payment processing.

Overview of Each Option

Squarespace PCI compliance

Squarespace is a fully hosted website builder that integrates e-commerce functionality directly into its platform. The company maintains PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, the highest level of certification, and handles most security requirements on behalf of merchants. Squarespace Commerce uses Stripe as its exclusive payment processor, creating a tightly integrated but limited ecosystem for payment handling.

Wix PCI compliance

Wix is another popular hosted website builder with robust e-commerce capabilities. Like Squarespace, Wix maintains PCI DSS Level 1 compliance for its infrastructure. However, Wix offers more flexibility in payment processing options, allowing merchants to choose from multiple payment gateways including Wix Payments, PayPal, Stripe, Square, and others. This flexibility comes with additional considerations for PCI compliance depending on your chosen configuration.

Key Differences at a Glance

Payment processor options: Squarespace uses Stripe exclusively; Wix offers multiple options
Compliance burden: Both minimize merchant responsibilities, but Wix’s flexibility may require additional considerations
SAQ requirements: Both typically require SAQ A, but Wix configurations may necessitate SAQ A-EP
Integration complexity: Squarespace offers simpler integration; Wix provides more customization options

Detailed Comparison

Requirements Comparison

Squarespace Requirements:

Merchants must complete SAQ A (Self-Assessment Questionnaire A) annually
SSL certificates are automatically included and managed
No access to raw payment card data
Automatic security updates and patches
Limited ability to customize checkout flow
Must use Squarespace Commerce with integrated Stripe processing

Wix Requirements:

Merchants typically complete SAQ A, but may require SAQ A-EP depending on payment setup
SSL certificates included and automatically managed
Multiple payment gateway options may introduce different compliance requirements
Automatic platform security updates
More flexibility in checkout customization
Choice of payment processors affects compliance scope

Scope Comparison

Squarespace Scope:
Squarespace’s PCI compliance scope is relatively narrow for merchants because:

All payment processing occurs through Stripe’s iframe
No card data touches merchant’s systems
Platform handles all technical security controls
Merchants responsible only for password security and access control
Limited customization reduces potential security vulnerabilities

Wix Scope:
Wix’s compliance scope varies based on configuration:

Basic Wix Payments setup maintains narrow scope similar to Squarespace
Third-party payment gateways may expand scope
Custom checkout flows could increase compliance requirements
API integrations might introduce additional security considerations
Greater flexibility means potentially broader compliance responsibilities

Effort/Cost Comparison

Squarespace Compliance Effort:

Minimal ongoing effort required
Annual SAQ A completion (typically 20-30 minutes)
No additional security tools needed
Compliance costs included in platform fees
Limited need for technical expertise
Simplified vendor management (single point of contact)

Wix Compliance Effort:

Effort varies by configuration complexity
SAQ completion time depends on questionnaire type
May require additional security considerations for custom setups
Base compliance included, but advanced features may incur extra costs
Technical expertise needs vary by implementation
Multiple vendor relationships possible

Use Case Fit

Squarespace Best Fits:

Small to medium businesses wanting simplicity
Merchants without dedicated IT resources
Businesses prioritizing design and user experience
Companies comfortable with Stripe’s processing terms
Organizations seeking minimal compliance burden

Wix Best Fits:

Businesses requiring payment processor flexibility
Merchants with existing payment gateway relationships
Companies needing advanced e-commerce features
Organizations comfortable managing slightly more complexity
Businesses planning international expansion with local payment methods

When to Choose Each

Scenarios Favoring Squarespace

Choose Squarespace when:

You’re starting fresh without existing payment processor relationships
Simplicity and ease of compliance are top priorities
You want a fully integrated, cohesive e-commerce experience
Your business operates primarily in Stripe-supported countries
You prefer minimal technical maintenance and compliance overhead
Design aesthetics and user experience are crucial to your brand

Scenarios Favoring Wix

Choose Wix when:

You need specific payment gateway features not available through Stripe
Your business requires multiple payment processor options
You want more control over checkout customization
International payment method support is crucial
You’re comfortable with slightly increased compliance complexity
Price comparison between payment processors is important

Hybrid Approaches

While you can’t truly hybridize these platforms, consider:

Starting with Squarespace for simplicity, then migrating to Wix as needs grow
Using Wix with minimal customization to maintain simplicity while retaining flexibility
Implementing Squarespace for main site with separate specialized payment systems for specific needs

Decision Framework

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. What’s my technical expertise level?
– Limited: Lean toward Squarespace
– Advanced: Either platform works

2. Do I have existing payment processor relationships?
– Yes: Wix offers more flexibility
– No: Squarespace’s integration is simpler

3. What’s my risk tolerance for compliance?
– Low: Squarespace’s streamlined approach
– Higher: Wix’s flexibility may be worth it

4. What are my international selling needs?
– Extensive: Wix’s payment variety helps
– Limited: Squarespace suffices

5. How important is checkout customization?
– Critical: Wix provides more options
– Standard is fine: Squarespace works well

Evaluation Criteria

Compliance Complexity: Squarespace wins for simplicity
Payment Flexibility: Wix offers more options
Total Cost: Comparable, but depends on transaction volume and rates
Time Investment: Squarespace requires less ongoing management
Scalability: Both scale well, but Wix offers more growth options

Decision Tree

“`
Start → Need multiple payment processors?
↓ No ↓ Yes
Squarespace Consider Wix
↓
Comfortable with
more complexity?
↓ No ↓ Yes
Squarespace Wix
“`

Common Misconceptions

Myths Debunked

Myth 1: “Hosted platforms aren’t truly PCI compliant”
Reality: Both Squarespace and Wix maintain PCI DSS Level 1 certification, the highest level available.

Myth 2: “You don’t need to do anything for PCI compliance on these platforms”
Reality: Merchants still must complete annual SAQs and maintain secure passwords and access controls.

Myth 3: “Wix is less secure due to its flexibility”
Reality: Wix’s security is equally robust; flexibility doesn’t inherently mean less secure.

Myth 4: “Squarespace’s Stripe-only approach is limiting”
Reality: Stripe supports extensive features and global coverage suitable for most businesses.

Clarifications

Both platforms handle the technical heavy lifting of PCI compliance
Merchants remain responsible for their own security practices
Platform compliance doesn’t eliminate all merchant obligations
Annual assessments are required regardless of platform choice

FAQ

Q: Do I still need to complete a PCI SAQ if I use Squarespace or Wix?
A: Yes, merchants must complete an annual Self-Assessment Questionnaire regardless of platform. Both typically qualify for SAQ A, the simplest version with only 22 questions.

Q: Can I use my existing payment processor with these platforms?
A: Wix allows multiple payment processor integrations, while Squarespace exclusively uses Stripe. If maintaining your current processor is crucial, Wix is the better choice.

Q: What happens if there’s a data breach?
A: Both platforms maintain insurance and security measures to prevent breaches. In the unlikely event of a platform breach, they handle notification and remediation. Merchants remain responsible for breaches resulting from their own security failures.

Q: Are there additional PCI compliance costs beyond platform fees?
A: Generally no. Both platforms include PCI compliance features in their standard pricing. However, you may need to pay for annual SAQ submission through your payment processor or acquiring bank.

Q: Which platform makes it easier to prove PCI compliance to my bank?
A: Both platforms provide documentation of their PCI compliance status. Squarespace’s integrated approach may simplify documentation, while Wix’s flexibility might require additional documentation depending on your setup.

Conclusion

Both Squarespace and Wix offer robust PCI compliance support that dramatically reduces the burden on merchants compared to self-hosted solutions. The key differences lie in flexibility versus simplicity.

Choose Squarespace if you:

Value simplicity and minimal compliance overhead
Are comfortable with Stripe as your payment processor
Prioritize design and integrated user experience
Want the most streamlined path to PCI compliance

Choose Wix if you:

Need payment processor flexibility
Require specific payment features or international payment methods
Are comfortable with slightly more complex compliance considerations
Want more control over your checkout process

Regardless of which platform you choose, maintaining PCI compliance requires ongoing attention to security practices and annual assessments.

Ready to determine your exact PCI compliance requirements? Use our free PCI SAQ Wizard tool at PCICompliance.com to identify which Self-Assessment Questionnaire you need to complete and start your compliance journey today. Our platform helps thousands of businesses achieve and maintain PCI DSS compliance with affordable tools, expert guidance, and ongoing support.