Squarespace Alternatives: Should You Try Another Website Builder?
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Squarespace is the easiest website builder we’ve tested this year, offering a user-friendly editor and stylish templates to help you create the website of your dreams. But it won’t be the right fit for everyone – website needs and working styles differ from individual to individual and business to business.
Whether you’re comparing website builders or want to switch your website from Squarespace to another platform, here are our top four Squarespace alternatives:
Best Alternative Overall: Wix
- Wix Pricing: Free – $159 per month, or get 10% off your plan with code “TAKE10”
- Wix Review: Learn more about the key features and benefits
Wix is our top-rated website builder for 2024, outperforming all other platforms in this year’s round of testing. It offers an impressive suite of built-in features, high-quality templates, and an easy editor for beginners to wrap their heads around. So, how does it differ from Squarespace?
What We Like
✔️ While Squarespace offers stunning templates, you can choose from over 900 free Wix templates – these cater to a wide range of industries and website types, such as “Photography” and “Real Estate”
✔️ Wix provides an extensive suite of built-in website features and access to third-party apps – Squarespace Extensions has over 40 integrations whereas Wix’s app market holds hundreds
✔️ Wix’s drag-and-drop editor gives you complete creative control – Squarespace’s editor, while easy to use, limits you with its gridded structure
✔️ You can get started with Wix’s free plan and build your website without spending a cent – Squarespace only offers a 14-day free trial
What We Dislike
❌ Wix isn’t as easy to use as Squarespace and the number of features available can be overwhelming, especially for beginners
❌ Despite offering a free plan, Wix is more expensive than Squarespace if you’re considering selling online, with ecommerce plans starting from $29 per month (as opposed to Squarespace’s $23)
❌ You can’t swap your template once you’ve published your website – this is the same as Squarespace
Since Wix accommodates a diverse audience, it’s difficult to recommend the website builder for specific needs or website types. It’s great for tech novices and experienced website builders alike, whether you’re looking to create a personal website or start an online store.
However, Wix’s well-rounded approach might not suit your needs if your website has a real focus or niche. In this regard, Squarespace is a better option, particularly for artist websites and those with a more creative angle.
For a full comparison of the two, read our Wix vs Squarespace article to see who comes out on top.
How Much Does Wix Cost?
The great news is that Wix offers a free plan so you can test things out and get familiar with the website builder before making the switch from Squarespace. Unfortunately, the free plan comes with ads and limited storage, plus there’s no option to use a custom domain name. Because of this, we recommend upgrading to a premium plan if you want your site to appear professional.
Wix’s pricing ranges from $17 to $159 per month (billed annually).
To sell online, you’ll need to opt for the Core plan ($29 per month) or above – this is more expensive than Squarespace’s Business plan ($23 per month).
For Selling Products: Shopify
- Shopify Pricing: $29 – $299 per month, get your first month for $1
- Shopify Review: See if the builder is the right fit for your online store
Shopify is the best ecommerce website builder, offering powerful sales features, such as multichannel selling and a customizable checkout to help you sell products. While Squarespace offers ecommerce functionality too, its features pale in comparison to the dedicated support provided by Shopify.
What We Like
✔️ Shopify is the best builder for selling online, giving business owners access to top sales features – Squarespace can’t match the quality and scale
✔️ For online stores, Shopify provides the room to grow and expand through its three plans – there are additional Enterprise and Shopify Plus options for industry-leading businesses
✔️ Shopify provides better help and support than Squarespace – you can contact Shopify’s customer service team via 24/7 live chat, email, phone, and social media (Squarespace doesn’t offer 24/7 live chat or phone support)
✔️ There are over 8,000 apps in Shopify’s app store, meaning it’s easier to add extra functionality to your website or store
What We Dislike
❌ Shopify only has a handful of free templates – the majority of its themes come with a one-time price tag (sometimes up to $400!)
❌ The section-based editor is harder to use and restricts you creatively, whereas Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to tweak a template
❌ Shopify didn’t perform well in our value for money tests – it’s more expensive than Squarespace and only makes financial sense for more established and successful businesses
Because of this, Shopify is ideal for growing businesses and leading enterprises. It helps business owners manage and scale their inventories and audience in one swoop – though its top-quality features are better suited for merchants selling lots of products instead of just a small handful.
We compare the two website builders closely in our detailed Shopify vs Squarespace article, helping you determine which is best for your business.
How Much Does Shopify Cost?
Shopify is more expensive than Squarespace – its three premium plans range from $29 to $299 per month (billed annually). While this seems like a considerable step up from Squarespace’s cheapest plan ($16/mo), you must remember that all of Shopify’s plans come equipped with ecommerce functionality from the get-go.
Squarespace’s cheapest ecommerce plan costs $23 per month, so it’s not too far off Shopify’s price point.
For Value and Affordability: GoDaddy
- GoDaddy Pricing: Free – $20.99 per month
- GoDaddy Review: Get a detailed breakdown of the website builder
GoDaddy is your best bet if you’re looking to get online quickly and affordably. When testing GoDaddy myself, the setup process took less than 30 seconds, meaning I could get my site live in minutes if I only made a few minor tweaks here and there.
In comparison, when I tested Squarespace, it took over a minute for me to create a website when using the AI-powered Squarespace Blueprint builder.
What We Like
✔️ GoDaddy is the best value for money, offering affordable plans to help you build a website – GoDaddy also has a free plan which is something Squarespace lacks
✔️ You can get your website up and running quickly with GoDaddy, making it a faster way to get online than Squarespace
✔️ GoDaddy’s support team is available via 24/7 live chat or phone – Squarespace’s live chat isn’t available at all hours of the day and there’s no option to call the builder
What We Dislike
❌ GoDaddy has limited design options – this is an area that Squarespace excels, so if your focus is on aesthetics, Squarespace is more suitable
❌ The section-based editor keeps things straightforward but you’ll struggle to build anything very unique-looking because of its limitations
❌ GoDaddy’s templates appear outdated and dull in comparison to the beautiful templates on offer by Squarespace
GoDaddy’s AI sites and design options aren’t the most eye-catching, but if you want to build a simple website, GoDaddy’s got you covered.
You won’t create anything as beautiful by switching from Squarespace, but if speed and simplicity are your priorities then we recommend GoDaddy to you. It’s especially great for personal websites, side hustles, and hobbyists.
Compare GoDaddy vs Squarespace using our article where we review features, security, marketing, and more.
How Much Does GoDaddy Cost?
Like Wix, GoDaddy also offers a free plan to users – this is a helpful starting point but we recommend upgrading to a premium plan to remove ads. GoDaddy’s pricing ranges from $9.99 to $20.99 per month (billed annually), spread across three plans.
You’ll need the most expensive Commerce plan ($20.99) to sell products online, but this is still considerably cheaper than Squarespace.
Of the 16 website builders we tested in 2024, GoDaddy is the best value for money, outperforming Squarespace in this category. GoDaddy’s affordability makes it ideal for beginners and budget-conscious businesses.
For Ease of Use: Hostinger
- Hostinger Pricing: $2.99 – $3.99 per month
- Hostinger Review: A complete look at the builder’s pros and cons
Like Squarespace, Hostinger is incredibly beginner-friendly and a great option for anyone lacking confidence when it comes to building a website. For ease of use, Hostinger is the closest match to Squarespace – just at a cheaper price point.
So, how do the two compare and why do we recommend Hostinger as an alternative to Squarespace?
What We Like
✔️ Hostinger’s easy drag-and-drop editor is a breeze to use, making the builder ideal for beginners and simple websites
✔️ Hostinger’s plans are incredibly affordable, especially if you want to sell online – they’re much cheaper than Squarespace’s plans
✔️ The suite of AI features and AI website builder make building and managing your site very straightforward
✔️ You can test Hostinger’s AI website builder out with its 30-day free trial, which is double the length of Squarespace’s free trial
What We Dislike
❌ With only two website builder plans, there’s limited room to grow – if scalability is your issue with Squarespace, Hostinger won’t help your website expand
❌ Hostinger has basic built-in features and no app store to add further functionality
❌ Hostinger’s user-friendly builder is great for some but Squarespace will give you more creative control
Hostinger’s simplicity regarding features and design means it’s only suitable for smaller businesses or personal projects. In comparison, Squarespace’s easy-to-use editor is accessible for all but it has advanced capabilities too, accommodating both beginners and designers.
That said, Hostinger’s suite of AI tools (available on the new Business Website Builder plan) is impressive, especially for the low cost. I particularly like the AI Heatmap tool which helps you track your visitor behaviour and engagement.
How Much Does Hostinger Cost?
Hostinger recently introduced a second website builder plan, meaning Hostinger’s pricing now ranges from $2.99 to $3.99 per month (for a 48-month subscription). Out of all of Squarespace’s competitors, Hostinger is the cheapest website builder alternative.
You’ll need the $3.99 Business Website Builder plan to unlock ecommerce features and Hostinger’s AI tools – though the AI website builder is available with both plans.
Hostinger doesn’t have a free plan, but you can take advantage of the 30-day free trial to try the AI website builder out for yourself. However, unless you’re set on Hostinger, we recommend checking out one of the other alternatives first since you can experiment with their free plans or trials until you find a comfortable fit.
Why Should You Switch From Squarespace?
We’ve covered the best alternatives to Squarespace, but when do you know if it’s the right time to switch? Squarespace has its benefits and drawbacks, like any platform or software, and there might come a time when you need more from your website builder.
Here are a few factors to consider when debating the move:
- Budget: Squarespace lacks a free plan and while you get a lot of bang for your buck from its plans, it’s not as cost-effective or affordable as other website builders. For example, GoDaddy is the best value for money and has plans starting from $9.99 per month.
- Business tools: If you want to sell services, Squarespace has well-rounded features to support your online store, such as Acuity Scheduling to help you manage appointments and take payments. However, we recommend choosing a dedicated ecommerce website builder, like Shopify, if you want to sell products thanks to its advanced sales features and growth opportunities.
- Creative control: Wix’s drag-and-drop editor gives you total freedom to move elements wherever you want, whereas Squarespace’s editor imposes restrictions on your creativity because of its grid framework. While this is useful for beginners and keeping your web pages neat, it does limit you.
- Third-party integrations: Squarespace Extensions, the builder’s home for third-party apps, only boasts a handful of options for users (around 40). This falls behind the number of apps offered by other builders, such as Wix and Shopify, so if you want lots of additional functionality, Squarespace won’t be the right solution long-term.
Take a look at the key differences between the website builders below:
| | | | |
Squarespace | Wix | Shopify | GoDaddy | Hostinger |
Overall Rating 4.6 | Overall Rating 4.8 | Overall Rating 4.4 | Overall Rating 4.3 | Overall Rating 4.3 |
Starting from | Starting from | Starting from | Starting from $9.99 | Starting from
$2.99 + up to 3 months free (on 48-month plan) |
Free plan or free trial 14-day free trial | Free plan or free trial Free plan | Free plan or free trial 3-day free trial | Free plan or free trial Free plan | Free plan or free trial 30-day free trial |
Number of templates 150+ | Number of templates 900+ | Number of templates 150+ | Number of templates 200+ | Number of templates 150+ |
How We Test Website Builders
To determine the best Squarespace alternatives, we put 16 popular website builders through our research process. After 200+ hours of testing and hands-on experience, covering 398 areas of investigation, we can confidently discuss where Squarespace excels and where it falls short.
Thanks to our 2024 rankings, we’ve recommended four of the best alternatives to Squarespace, based on categories such as website features, value for money, and user experience.
Squarespace Alternatives: Our 4 Top Picks
While Squarespace might be the easiest website builder we’ve built with, it won’t be the right fit for everyone. We’ve discussed the four best Squarespace alternatives in this article. To recap:
- Wix is the best alternative overall, offering a diverse range of templates and features to cater to all website types and businesses
- Shopify is better for selling online thanks to its dedicated ecommerce sales features
- GoDaddy offers a quicker way to get your website up and running and it’s better value for money than Squarespace
- Hostinger is incredibly easy to use and more affordable than Squarespace, but its suite of features are more limited
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