Due to its reliability and ease of use, Squarespace is naturally one of the top recommendations when choosing a website builder. Over three million websites run on this platform, adding to its reputation and popularity. However, due to certain drawbacks, you may need to opt for an alternative.
Thankfully, the website-building landscape offers a diverse range of tools tailored to your specific needs, budget and level of expertise.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best Squarespace alternatives so you can make an informed choice and be one step closer to building the website you envision.
Why you should look for Squarespace alternatives
Squarespace offers a range of eCommerce features and built-in SEO capabilities to help you create an optimized store without coding knowledge. But you may need to explore other options for a variety of reasons.
First off, Squarespace may not be ideal for you if you’re on a budget, especially if you want to start selling products online. Its cheapest plan costs $23/month — you can easily find other website builders that offer eCommerce features for just a few dollars monthly.
Secondly, Squarespace offers limited customization options compared to other website builders. It has a limited selection of extensions and app integrations, which means you may not be able to add certain features to your website.
Not to mention, if you encounter any problems with a third-party extension, Squarespace won’t be able to help — you’ll need to contact the extension’s support team. You also won’t get support for Squarespace products obtained from a third party.
So, if you’d prefer more support and full control over your website’s design and functionality without breaking the bank, it’s best to opt for a Squarespace alternative.
Best Squarespace alternatives
With numerous Squarespace alternatives on the market, choosing the right platform can be a tall order. This guide speeds up your decision-making process by outlining the best alternative platforms.
Whether you’re looking for a specialized website builder, a more affordable option or better customizability, our list has something for you.
Bluehost
Bluehost is the leading web host with various hosting solutions, including managed WordPress hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated hosting. It also includes a website builder (integrated with WordPress) that lets you create a stellar website, even if you’re new to web design.
With Bluehost Website Builder, you can add a navigation menu to your site, add customizable sections within the pages and customize your website’s appearance to your liking.
In addition, you’ll get marketing and eCommerce capabilities, including form features that enable you to collect valuable feedback and build relationships with customers.
While Squarespace only offers a free custom domain for the first year, Bluehost offers this freebie in addition to an SSL certificate, CDN and daily website backups — all at no extra cost when you sign up for an annual plan.
Bluehost provides everything you need to run an eCommerce business and maintain a strong online presence in one place.
Key features:
- Web design tools and templates.
- WordPress Gutenberg blocks.
- Drag-and-drop page editor.
- Unlimited websites.
- Marketing tools.
- Custom fonts.
Best for: Small business owners.
Price: Plans start at $5.95/month when charged annually.
Web.com
Squarespace and Web.com both make it easy to get your website live as they offer customizable templates, domain registration and migration services. But if you’re looking for a wider selection of templates, Web.com provides exactly that.
Web.com also has an AI-powered site builder that lets you create a responsive website in just a few minutes. It also offers eCommerce features, including payment options (i.e., PayPal and Stripe), real-time shipping rates and inventory management.
Domain.com, a domain registrar platform, has partnered with Web.com to offer website-building services to its users, which is a testament to the efficiency and reliability of the builder.
Key features:
- Free professional email for the first three months.
- Appointment scheduling.
- Online store capabilities.
- AI website builder.
- Marketing tools.
Best for: Entrepreneurs.
Price: Plans start at $1.95 for the first month, then renew at $19.99/month.
WordPress
As of 2024, WordPress powers over 33 million websites, making it the world’s most popular content management system (CMS). There are many reasons why it deserves a spot on this list.
WordPress is highly customizable as it includes countless themes and plugins that allow you to build any type of website, whether it’s a portfolio site, an eCommerce shop or a membership website. Squarespace simply can’t match WordPress when it comes to customizability.
WordPress also has a user-friendly interface, and due to its open-source nature, it’s free to use. But you’ll need to pay for web hosting if you opt for the self-hosted version, i.e., WordPress.org.
Our guide discusses the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
Key features:
- Multilingual CMS — it supports more than 70 languages.
- Thousands of themes and plugins.
- Drag-and-drop editor.
- Built-in SEO tools.
Best for: Any sized business.
Price: Available for free. Hosting cost depends on your chosen web hosting provider and hosting type.
Duda
Duda is one of the best website builders for those looking to provide web design services. These include web developers, SaaS providers and web design agencies.
It offers a drag-and-drop editor, several font styles, a built-in photo editor and automatic image resizing. Users with advanced coding knowledge can access their website’s JavaScript, CSS and HTML.
You can also pull a client’s content from a website and generate new content with the platform’s AI assistant. And unlike Squarespace, you’ll get team collaboration and client management tools.
Key features:
- Client management (except for the base plan).
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosting.
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth.
- Customizable templates.
- AI content assistant.
- 100+ font styles.
- 14-day free trial.
Best for: Web design professionals and agencies.
Price: Plans start at $19/month when billed yearly.
Wix
Wix is an all-in-one platform you can use to create any type of website, including eCommerce shops and portfolio websites.
It provides over 900 templates that can be customized to match your branding. These templates are much more than what you’ll find on Squarespace.
Unlike Squarespace, Wix offers a free plan. However, it comes with limited features, an assigned Wixsite.com URL and Wix ads on every page.
Wix’s premium plans offer eCommerce capabilities and allow you to display products in your customer’s local currency — a feature Squarespace does not provide.
Key features:
- 900+ customizable website templates.
- Free domain for one year.
- Built-in accessibility tools.
- Drag-and-drop editor.
- Basic image editing.
Best for: Entrepreneurs.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $4.50/month.
Strikingly
If you’re looking for a website builder that’s easier to use than Squarespace, you’ll feel at home with Strikingly. This Squarespace alternative allows you to build a one-page website in 30 minutes or less.
It offers a free plan, helping you lower expenses. But while this plan allows you to create unlimited sites, you’re required to use a Strikingly.com domain. To own a custom domain, you must opt for a premium plan.
Key features:
- Built-in eCommerce functionality and analytics.
- Mobile responsive templates.
- Membership features.
- Built-in HTTPS.
Best for: People looking to create a simple website.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $8/month when billed annually.
Square
Square is mainly known as a payment processing company, but it also provides website-building services, particularly for online sellers. It adopts a three-pronged approach to building an eCommerce store — choose a theme, customize the theme and publish your website.
Like many other alternatives to Squarespace, Square provides a free plan. This plan lets you access SEO tools, sell on social media and set up your website to accept multiple payment methods.
You can also sync your products with Square Point of Sale (POS), meaning you can keep in-store and online orders in sync. In fact, Squarespace itself uses Square to process point-of-sale transactions.
One downside to using Square is that you must upgrade to a paid plan to access website themes.
Key features:
- Themes come preloaded with layouts, sections and pages.
- Multiple payment methods.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
- Built-in SEO tools.
Best for: Online store owners.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $29/month.
Weebly
Weebly has been around for over a decade and was acquired by Square in 2018. It lets you create your own website while Square handles your payments.
Weebly Website Builder comes with a drag-and-drop editor and responsive themes for any website you want to build. It also offers eCommerce features like inventory tracking, an automatic tax calculator and coupons, making it an ideal solution for online stores.
With Squarespace, only the most expensive plans include eCommerce functionality. So, it’s worth considering Weebly if you’re on a budget but want to sell products online.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop website builder.
- Inventory management tools.
- Ecommerce functionality.
- Coupon builder.
Best for: Ecommerce store owners on a budget.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $10/month when billed annually.
Pixpa
If you’re on the hunt for a Squarespace alternative that’s designed for top creatives, Pixpa is definitely worth considering.
While Pixpa offers more than 150 customizable website templates, it also allows HTML editing and CSS overrides for design pros.
With Pixpa, you can sell digital content (e.g., ebooks), physical products and services through an online store. The best part? It won’t charge any commissions on the sales you make.
This website builder outperforms Squarespace when it comes to apps and integrations. It provides more than 100 built-in apps, letting you enhance your website’s functionality.
Key features:
- Mobile-friendly and customizable templates.
- Commission-free sales.
- Integrated SEO tools.
- Free SSL certificate.
- Client galleries.
Best for: Creative professionals.
Price: Introductory rates start at $3/month when billed on a two-year basis.
Shopify
Shopify is a popular eCommerce platform — and for good reason. It allows you to sell items online and in-store, even if you have no technical skills.
Also, Shopify is PCI compliant, which means you can safely process credit card information. It even lets you sell products across multiple channels, including online marketplaces (e.g., eBay and Amazon) and social media, while managing everything in one place.
Squarespace’s sales and marketing tools aren’t as robust. And unlike Squarespace, Shopify allows you to get paid in different currencies.
Key features:
- Free and premium eCommerce themes.
- App store with 6,000+ apps.
- Ecommerce automation.
- Abandoned cart recovery.
- Shopify POS.
Best for: Online stores looking for advanced eCommerce features.
Price: Plans start at $24/month.
Webflow
Webflow is a no-code visual website builder for beginners and pros alike. While it offers a vast collection of website templates for beginners, it also allows professional web developers to dive in and edit the code for advanced customization.
One of its standout features is animations — you can create timeline- and scroll-based animations, capturing visitors’ attention without coding. Unfortunately, Squarespace lacks this feature, giving Webflow the upper hand when it comes to customization.
Webflow has a steep learning curve. However, it provides video courses and tutorials through Webflow University, so you can build a visually appealing website in no time.
Key features:
- User roles and permissions (with Workspace plans).
- Interactions and animations.
- SEO and eCommerce tools.
- Visual drag-and-drop editor.
- 2,000+ website templates.
- CMS functionality.
Best for: Web designers and developers who want full control over the look of their websites.
Price: Free plan available. Premium plans start at $14/month when billed annually.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is another web hosting provider that offers a beginner-friendly website builder.
GoDaddy Website Builder comes with a drag-and-drop editor and hundreds of templates (even for eCommerce websites). However, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan once you’re ready to start receiving orders.
The platform also offers learning resources (e.g., tutorials and courses), which are helpful if you’re new to web design, giving it an advantage over Squarespace.
Key features:
- Built-in SEO tools for all plans except the base plan.
- Free professional email for the first year.
- Responsive templates.
- Drag-and-drop editor.
- Marketing dashboard.
Best for: New website owners.
Price: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $9.99/month.
How to choose the best Squarespace alternative
To further guide you to the right decision, let’s explore four key factors to consider when choosing Squarespace alternatives.
- Pricing: Compare the pricing plans of different site builders to find one that fits your budget and requirements. Some Squarespace alternatives offer free versions with limited features. If you’re on a budget, you can opt for a free plan and later upgrade to unlock premium features.
- App integrations: A good Squarespace alternative should seamlessly integrate with third-party apps. This allows you to enhance your site’s functionality. For example, if you want to improve your response times, AI-powered chatbot apps can help you do exactly that.
- Customization options: A highly customizable website builder enables you to create a unique website that reflects your brand’s personality. Some builders provide full access to the underlying code, giving you more control over the look and feel of your website.
- Ease of use: Choose a Squarespace alternative that’s easy to use, especially if you’re a beginner. Features like the drag-and-drop editor let you select elements (e.g., text and images) and place them on your desired page without coding.
Final thoughts: 12 best Squarespace alternatives in 2024
Besides Squarespace, there are other site builders you can use to design visually appealing webpages. For instance, Webflow offers more control and customization options than Squarespace, while Weebly allows you to set up an eCommerce store on a budget.
But if you’re looking for a platform that provides everything you need in one place, Bluehost is your top choice. You’ll get reliable website hosting, built-in eCommerce and marketing tools, a free domain name and more.
We also offer web design services, so you can outsource this task to our expert designers and focus on growing your business.
Got any questions? Our customer support team is always available to assist you in real time.
Squarespace alternatives: FAQs
Yes. Squarespace alternatives such as Wix, Webflow and Strikingly allow you to create free websites. However, free plans come with basic features — you’ll need to upgrade to a premium plan to unlock advanced features. You may also have to display ads on your website if you opt for a free plan.
Webflow offers advanced customization options and allows users to export website code (e.g., CSS, JavaScript and HTML). This makes it one of the best site builders for web designers and developers.
No, you can’t make a Squarespace website for free. However, the platform offers a 14-day free trial, letting you explore its features before committing to a paid plan.
