Squarespace Alternatives: Comparing 11 Website Builders

If you want to create a website without having to code it line by line, we recommend trying out website builders, like Squarespace. These allow anyone to create a professional-looking website and/or online store without any programming know-how. They also handle hosting and domains. Only one question remains: Is Squarespace really the best choice for your needs?

In EXPERTE.com's comprehensive website builder assessment, Squarespace finished in second place owing to its high-quality templates, ease of use, and excellent support. However, despite all of the positives, the platform did have a few shortcomings.

Squarespace dropped points in the following areas:

When the dust settled after our website builder comparison, only one platform finished ahead of Squarespace: Wix. With its user-friendly interface, high-quality templates, and excellent support, you'll get everything that we liked about Squarespace. But that's not all, since the Israeli provider also includes a more versatile drag-and-drop editor, an AI-assisted editor for beginners, and a full-fledged app marketplace.

In terms of downsides, Wix isn't the best for blogging, and its AI-assisted ADI editor could allow somewhat more creative freedom, without sacrificing any of its user-friendliness. However, apart from those minor issues, Wix offers what in our minds is the best overall package. The cherry on top? Wix's subscriptions are more affordable than Squarespace's.

MyWebsite by IONOS might have come in just behind Squarespace in our ranking, however, it's much less expensive than the New York-based website builder. So far as features, support, and ecommerce capabilities are concerned, MyWebsite by IONOS doesn't have anything to be ashamed of.

The MyWebsite editor didn't seem to be as geared towards beginners as Squarespace's, however, with some practice, it's easy to use. And you'll be rewarded for your patience too since MyWebsite offers considerably more customization options.

IONOS offers almost four times as many templates as Squarespace, however, we still prefer the latter for their quality. Another downside is that IONOS doesn't have an app marketplace or center.

Most of the website builders from our sample are targeted at beginners and try to make the site designing and building experience as 'code free' as possible. Webflow isn't one of these: The website builder/content management system (CMS) hybrid doesn't rely on code, however, its approach to visual design is heavily based on programming logic.

If you want to avoid programming, Webflow probably won't be the best solution for you. However, the benefits of "visual programming" are worth considering, since it means that you can build just about anything that can be designed with code. As a result, users get much more creative freedom and versatility than classic website builders provide.

You can certainly open and run an online store with Squarespace, however, dedicated platforms like Shopify put a wider variety of ecommerce features at your fingertips. These range from enhanced sales and product management tools to delivery options, drop shipping, and points of sale, all of which exceed what Squarespace brings to the table.

Still, Shopify comes in behind Squarespace so far as classic web design is concerned: You'll get better blogging features and templates with Squarespace.

If your goal is to open an online business, and the other aspects of web design only play a secondary role, it pays to take Shopify into consideration.

With its user-friendly editor, Weebly makes website creation simple. The platform also scores thanks to its nifty mobile app, which allows you to tinker with your website or write blog entries on the go.

When it comes to customization, SITE123 doesn't have much to offer: There's no drag and drop, and only a few design aspects can be adjusted. All the same, SITE123 is extremely user-friendly and helps anyone quickly create a full and professional-looking website.

In our comparison of 12 website builders, we scored each in terms of "Configuration and Usability", "Features", "Templates & Design", "E-Commerce, Marketing & SEO", and "Customer Support". Based on this, Squarespace finished just behind Wix in second place, followed closely by MyWebsite by IONOS (3rd), and Webflow (4th).

Below, you can see the full ranking of all providers from our sample:

Squarespace, like all website builders, has both advantages and disadvantages. Its (high) price is certainly a drawback, as are its rudimentary app market, and the tendency of its high-quality templates to look too similar to one another.

For that reason, it's good that there are so many alternatives. Wix offers a more well-rounded package (including a dedicated app market) at a better price. MyWebsite by IONOS is much more affordable and provides more customization. Should you be looking to open up a digital business, you'll be better served by ecommerce platforms like Shopify, thanks to their wider variety of features.

You can check comprehensive reviews for all 12 of our providers in our EXPERTE.com website builder evaluation. We also assessed 9 dedicated ecommerce systems as well.