Squarespace is a top website builder, though it’s not the only good option. There are a number of Squarespace alternatives, so we’ve researched the top platforms and narrowed it down to the five best based on features, ease of use, versatility, and affordability. Which is the best for you will depend on your unique needs, so read on to find which Squarespace alternative you should use.
Tip: If you’re just starting out, learn more about building a small business website.
Squarespace Alternatives Compared
Alternative | Best For |
|---|---|
Individuals and small businesses that want an easy way to build an informational website with more design freedom | |
Small businesses looking to sell products online | |
Small businesses looking to take online appointment bookings and recurring payments | |
Small businesses looking to set up a dropshipping website | |
Businesses looking to build a highly custom site |
Not sure which site builder is right for you? Take the quiz and find out!
Wix
Best for: Easily building an informational website with more design freedom
Cost: Free; Professional plans start at $13 month
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (read more)
Wix website editing interface
Wix is a top Squarespace competitor and for good reason. It also offers a large number of prebuilt templates and an easy-to-use site editor, and it includes everything a business needs to build and launch a website, such as a domain name and web hosting. What users like about Wix is how it’s a true drag-and-drop site builder, which lends to more design freedom. It also offers a free plan, which gives businesses a way to build a site without any upfront costs.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
User-friendly site editor | Premium plans are slightly more expensive than Squarespace’s |
True drag-and-drop editor for design freedom | No option to swap out templates after customizations |
A free plan is available | Templates aren’t as modern as Squarespace’s |
Tip: Debating between the two? Learn more about Wix vs Squarespace.
Weebly
Best for: Those looking to sell products online
Cost: Free; Professional plans start at $12 per month
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (read more)
Weebly site editing interface
Weebly is a top Squarespace alternative for those who want to sell products online. While Squarespace also offers ecommerce solutions (at the same starting price for plans that accept online payments at $26 per month), Weebly’s entry-level ecommerce plans come with more features. For example, it comes with abandoned cart recovery, which will cost you $40 per month with Squarespace.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Simple site editor | Squarespace generally has more modern themes |
Ecommerce plans come with more ecommerce features | Customization capabilities are limited |
You can change themes at any time | Fewer integrations available than with Squarespace |
Tip: Want more info to help you decide? Check out the complete comparison on Squarespace vs Weebly.
GoDaddy
Best for: Businesses looking to sell services online
Cost: Plans start at $10 per month
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (read more)
GoDaddy website editing interface
GoDaddy is a good Squarespace alternative for those who are looking for an easy way to build a website and sell services online. This is because GoDaddy’s website builder comes standard with a comprehensive online appointment booking system that enables users to not only book online, but even choose from different providers (e.g., different stylists for a hair salon). It’s also a lot cheaper than Squarespace, as its $10 per month plan accepts online payments.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Sophisticated online booking system included | Its templates are not as modern as Squarespace’s |
Far cheaper than Squarespace ($10 vs $26 per month to accept payments) | To sell products you need the Ecommerce plan for $25/mo. |
Simple site editor means anyone can build a website quickly | Its site editor does not provide a lot of design freedom |
Tip: Selling services online and still not sure which platform is right for you? Get more information on Squarespace vs GoDaddy.
Shopify
Best for: Building a dropshipping website
Cost: Free; Professional plans start at $29 per month
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (read more)
Shopify editing interface
Shopify is the leading Squarespace alternative for those who want to sell products online, including those who want to start a dropshipping business. While Squarespace does integrate with a number of ecommerce tools and dropshipping suppliers, it doesn’t offer as many as Shopify. Another reason users like Shopify for selling online over Squarespace is that its entry-level plan ($29 per month) includes features that cost $40 per month to get with Squarespace.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Designed for selling online | Less user-friendly than Squarespace |
Basic plan includes ecommerce features such as abandoned cart recovery | Very limited design control |
Tons of ecommerce integrations available | No page builder (must add third-party app) |
Tip: Still on the fence between the two? Get more insight into Shopify vs Squarespace.
WordPress
Best for: Building a website with custom functionality
Cost: Free to use content management system (CMS), with additional costs such as web hosting (learn more)
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (read more)
WordPress site editor with Elementor plugin
WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), which makes it a top Squarespace competitive and alternative. It surpasses Squarespace in regard to its endless customization capabilities, meaning it can be used to build any possible type of website. It’s also far more affordable, as all you need is web hosting and a domain name to be live on the web. Granted, it comes at the expense of ease of use as it’s a lot more challenging to use.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Vast customization capabilities | Not nearly as user-friendly as Squarespace |
Very affordable | Requires some web design experience or the time to learn |
Can build any website imaginable with it | Requires a domain name and third-party web hosting to be available |
Tip: Looking for more information? Get the complete comparison of Squarespace vs WordPress.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best website builders?
The best website builders make it easy and affordable for nearly anyone to build a professional website. While there are many options available, the overall best are Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, GoDaddy, Shopify, and WordPress. Which is the best for you will depend on your specific website needs. To find out more, read our article on the best website builder reviews.
How do I get a domain name?
There are a few ways to get a domain name. The most direct way is through a domain name registrar, such as GoDaddy or Google Domains. There, you can search for and purchase one for around $12 to $15 per year. A better way to get a domain name for those who still need to build a site is through a web hosting provider such as Bluehost (domains are included in annual plans) or a site builder such as Squarespace. Learn more about domain name registration.
How do you build a website with Squarespace?
It’s easy to build a website with Squarespace. All you have to do is go to Squarespace.com, select a template, and create an account. From there, you will be redirected to the easy-to-use site editor, where you can customize your chosen template, add plugins (optional), and build out your website. When you’re done designing your site, simply connect a domain and purchase a plan. Get the step-by-step details on how to build a website with Squarespace.
Bottom Line
While Squarespace is a good overall option for the average small business, it’s not the only option and if it isn’t a good fit, you should consider one of these site builders. We recommend the following Squarespace alternatives: Wix for those who want the ease of use but with more design freedom, GoDaddy for selling services online, Weebly for those selling products, Shopify for dropshipping, and WordPress for complete customization and total control.
Submit Your Comment
You must be logged in to comment. Click a "Log in" button below to connect instantly and comment.
LOG IN