Squarespace vs Wix: Founders, CEOs and History
Squarespace was founded in 2003 by Anthony Casalena and is led by Anthony Casalena. Wix was founded in 2006 by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, Giora Kaplan and is led by Avishai Abrahami.
Company facts
Squarespace
- Founded
- 2003
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- Current CEO
- Anthony Casalena
- Employees
- 1,800
Wix
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Current CEO
- Avishai Abrahami
- Employees
- 4,371
Founders
Squarespace
Anthony Casalena
Anthony Casalena is a fiercely visionary American software engineer, highly strategic digital product designer, and the profoundly influential CEO and founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for architecting the massively dominant Squarespace website buil…
Wix
Avishai Abrahami
Avishai Abrahami co-founded Wix in 2006 and has been its CEO since. He led the company through its 2013 Nasdaq IPO and, more recently, its shift toward AI products, including the 2025 purchase of Base44 and the 2026 restructuring.
Nadav Abrahami
Nadav Abrahami co-founded Wix in 2006 with his brother Avishai and Giora Kaplan and worked on building the original platform.
Giora Kaplan
Giora Kaplan is the third co-founder of Wix, which he started with the Abrahami brothers in 2006, and has worked on the company's product and technology.
CEOs and their tenures
Squarespace
- Anthony Casalena2003–present
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Founded Squarespace in a college dorm room in 2003, led it through the 2021 NYSE direct listing and past $1 billion in 2023 revenue, and stayed on as CEO after the 2024 Permira take-private.
Source - Jesse Hertzberg2010–2015
Co-CEO
Jesse Hertzberg served as a key executive during Squarespace's formative high-growth years, leading operational scaling, business development, and customer operations that were vital to expanding the platform's user base globally.
Source - Courtenay O'Connor2015–2020
President
Courtenay O'Connor, as General Counsel, played an instrumental role in shaping Squarespace's corporate strategy, navigating complex regulatory environments, and steering the company through critical milestones including its public listing.
Source
Wix
- Avishai Abrahami2006–present
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Has led Wix since its founding, through the 2013 IPO, the Base44 acquisition and the 2026 AI-focused restructuring.
Source - Lior Shemesh2010–present
Chief Financial Officer
Runs Wix's finances, including its share buybacks and the 2026 margin outlook.
Source
Timeline: Squarespace and Wix side by side
2003Squarespace
Squarespace Founded in College Dorm Room
Anthony Casalena coded Squarespace 1.0 from his University of Maryland dorm room with a $30,000 loan from his father.
2006Squarespace
Reaches $1 Million in Profitable Bootstrap Revenue
Bootstrapped to $1 million in annual revenue as a solo operation, managing coding, servers, and customer support single-handedly.
2006Wix
Wix founded
Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami and Giora Kaplan start Wix to make website building possible without code.
2010Squarespace
$38.5M Series A Led by Accel & Index Ventures
Closed its first outside institutional funding round after seven years of profitable solo bootstrapping.
2012Wix
HTML5 editor released
Wix moves its editor from Adobe Flash to HTML5.
2013Wix
Nasdaq IPO
Wix lists on Nasdaq under the ticker WIX in November 2013.
2014Squarespace
First Super Bowl Commercial & Squarespace 7 Launch
Debuted its well-known 'A Better Web Awaits' Super Bowl ad and rolled out Squarespace 7 with live preview editing.
2017Wix
DeviantArt acquired
Wix buys the online artist community DeviantArt for about $36 million.
2019Squarespace
Acquisitions of Acuity Scheduling & Unfold
Expanded into appointment booking and mobile creator storytelling through strategic acquisitions.
2021Squarespace
NYSE Direct Listing at $6.6 Billion Valuation
Listed directly on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol SQSP, crossing $780M in revenue.
2023Squarespace
Acquisition of Google Domains Customer Portfolio
Acquired Google Domains assets, migrating approximately 10 million registered domains onto Squarespace Domains.
2023Wix
Wix Studio launched
Wix launches Wix Studio, a platform for agencies and freelance web professionals.
2024Squarespace
$7.2 Billion Take-Private Acquisition by Permira
Permira completed an all-cash $7.2B acquisition, returning Squarespace to private ownership to drive AI innovation.
2025Wix
Base44 acquired
Wix buys the AI app builder Base44 for $80 million in cash, plus earn-outs through 2029.
2026Squarespace
Additional €70 Million Investment in Dublin
Announced a further ~$79.1 million (€70 million) investment in Ireland with IDA Ireland on September 23, 2026.
2026Wix
Restructuring and guidance cut
Wix cuts about 20% of its workforce and lowers its 2026 revenue and bookings outlook.
Acquisitions
Squarespace
- Google Domains Asset Portfolio2023$180M
- Tock2021$400M
- Acuity Scheduling2019$100M
- Unfold2019$30M
Questions about Squarespace vs Wix
Who is the CEO of Squarespace, Inc. and Wix?
Squarespace, Inc. is led by Anthony Casalena and Wix is led by Avishai Abrahami. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Squarespace, Inc. founded vs Wix?
Squarespace, Inc. was founded in 2003 — 3 years before Wix, which was founded in 2006. Squarespace, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Wix.
How many employees does Squarespace, Inc. have compared to Wix?
Squarespace, Inc. employs approximately 1,800 people, while Wix employs approximately 4,371. Wix has the larger workforce at 4,371 employees, compared to Squarespace, Inc.'s 1,800. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Squarespace, Inc. and Wix headquartered?
Squarespace, Inc. is headquartered in United States and Wix is headquartered in Israel. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Squarespace, Inc. and Wix?
Squarespace, Inc. was founded by Anthony Casalena. Wix was founded by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, Giora Kaplan.
Which company has a longer operating history — Squarespace, Inc. or Wix?
Squarespace, Inc. has been operating for approximately 23 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Wix has been in operation for around 20 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Squarespace vs Wix overview