Leaving Wix or Squarespace?

Website builders like Wix and Squarespace are a fine way to get started. But years later, many owners realise they've paid more in subscriptions than a custom website would have cost, and the site still isn't really theirs.

If that's you, switching is easier than it sounds. Here's how it works.

Signs it's time to switch

• You've been paying a monthly or yearly plan for years, and the site has barely changed.
• Your plan keeps going up, or the features you need sit on a more expensive tier.
• The site looks like a template, and doesn't really sound like your business.
• You're not sure what happens to your site, or your domain, if you stop paying.

What happens to your current site

On most website builders, your site lives inside the platform. If you stop paying, the site usually goes offline or drops back to a basic version. Most builders also don't let you take the design with you. That's why moving means rebuilding, not just copying files across.

How we move you across

1. We review what you have. Your pages, your domain, your email and anything connected to the site, such as bookings or forms.
2. We rebuild it properly. We design the new site, rewrite the content so it reads well, and reuse your photos where they're good enough. Copywriting is included.
3. Your old site stays live in the meantime. Customers won't see anything change until the new site is ready.
4. We switch your domain over. Your address stays the same. We make sure your email keeps working, and point your old page addresses to the right new pages so links people have saved still work.
5. Then you can cancel your plan. Once the new site is live, you can stop paying the old subscription.

What it costs

A switch costs the same as a new website. A one-page website is NZ$1,500 + GST and a five-page website is NZ$2,950 + GST, with design and copywriting included. After that, your website is hosted free in your name, and your domain renewal is the only ongoing cost for a standard site.

If you're currently paying NZ$40 a month for a website builder plan, that's NZ$2,400 over five years, and the payments never end. For a full comparison, read our NZ website cost guide or how a website with no monthly fees works.

Is switching right for everyone?

Not always. If you edit your site yourself every week, or run a busy online shop that relies on the platform, staying on a builder can be the better choice. If your site changes a few times a year, owning it outright usually works out cheaper and simpler.