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's website editor showing the action of dragging a section into the website template
I had no trouble tweaking my website with Wix's drag-and-drop editor. Source: Website Builder Expert

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.

Wix's template library showing travel-related themes
Squarespace has around 150+ templates to choose from, but I could browse over 900 Wix templates for my Wix site. Source: Website Builder Expert

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's website editor showing the structure of the page in the sidebar
I had more trouble designing a website with Shopify than I did with Squarespace, largely because of the restrictive section-based editor. Source: Website Builder Expert

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.

Shopify's page to add products, showing Shopify Magic generating a product description
I used Shopify Magic, the AI-powered text generator, to create my product descriptions. Source: Website Builder Expert

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 account dashboard for its website builder, showing a checklist of steps to help set up a website
I appreciated GoDaddy's checklist of steps to help me build my website. Source: Website Builder Expert

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.

GoDaddy's website editor showing a sidebar to edit an about us section
I found GoDaddy's section-based editor easier to use than Shopify, but not as flexible as Squarespace's editor. Source: Website Builder Expert

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
Preview of Hostinger's AI website builder creation for a pottery business
I used Hostinger's AI website builder to design a website for a pottery business and it only took around a minute to present me with an option for me to edit. Source: Website Builder Expert

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.

AI heatmap example on Hostinger website
I used Hostinger's AI heatmap to see which areas of my site are interacted with the most. Source: Website Builder Expert

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:

Swipe right to see more
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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

$11.99

79% off in early Black Friday sale: $2.49 + 3 months free (for 48-months)

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
Written by:
Headshot of Emma Ryan
Emma is Lead Writer at Website Builder Expert, having first joined the team in 2022. She manages the website's topical content strategy to help website owners navigate the highs and lows of being online. Emma also specializes in following the development of leading website builders Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify, through hands-on testing and research. Her work and expertise have been featured in Startups.co.uk, Digiday, TechRound, Industry Today, and Digital Information World.
Researched by:
natasha_willett
I love to understand human behavior and the cognitive biases that drive us to do what we do. For over nine years I have worked as a mixed method researcher – research using a mix of numerical data and personal experiences – across a range of sectors, from insurance and policy development to finally arriving at Website Builder Expert five years ago. Fascinated by consumer decision-making, I meticulously built our leading ranking methodology to explore where providers like Wix sit within a competitive industry and what value they truly bring to our audience.
As a member of the Market Research Society, I’m an advocate for high ethical, commercial, and methodological best practices. All of this combines to give you the most ethical recommendations based on real data.

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