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Smart businesses recognized long ago how crucial a strong online presence is for their growth. It has led to a high demand for tools able to provide it, especially no-code website builders. Squarespace and Webflow have both emerged as some of the best choices for many. But when it comes to Webflow vs. Squarespace, which one is better? We’ve prepared an in-depth comparison of their features to help you make an informed decision about the best option for your needs.
A Brief Overview of Webflow and Squarespace
Both Webflow and Squarespace are no-code website builders. It means they come with visual editors that allow individuals and businesses to create and manage websites without extensive coding knowledge.
Squarespace is one of the most popular website builders worldwide (especially in the US). It has secured more than 4.6 million subscriptions by the end of 2023, and its user base keeps growing each year. The reasons behind its popularity probably lie in a beginner-friendly interface and the all-in-one solution it offers - Squarespace tries to combine everything you need to build a site in one place.
More than 500,000 active websites powered by Webflow prove this builder to be another platform of choice for many. While Squarespace is objectively easier to use, designers often prefer Webflow due to the complete design freedom and customization options it provides. This platform also offers valuable advanced features, such as custom coding, as well as many animation and integration tools.
Ease of use - user experience and learning curve
With a highly intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Squarespace’s ease of use is difficult to match. It’s a platform made with beginners in mind, so managing your website, even without any prior knowledge, won’t be difficult. This simplicity, however, comes with limitations. There isn’t much design freedom beyond the offered templates, especially compared to what Webflow has to offer.
Webflow, on the other hand, provides significantly more control than Squarespace does. However, it comes with a steeper learning curve - Webflow basics are not as easy to master. There is no denying that Webflow’s visual editor is far more powerful than Squarespace’s, but it’s also not as beginner-friendly. Webflow is built for those who already have certain design and development knowledge, or those who don’t mind a bit of upfront learning.
Design and customization - templates and flexibility
Both Squarespace and Webflow offer pre-designed layouts commonly known as templates. According to Webflow’s official site, this platform allows you to choose from more than 2000 templates (most of which you need to pay to use).
Besides the wide selection of templates, Webflow also allows you to customize them further. The initial choice does not restrict you in any way - you can change its layout, style, interactions, or animations to get user-focused digital experiences. This way, it’s possible to make a page that truly matches your needs and represents your brand. However, for the highest level of customization, you’ll likely need coding expertise or help from Webflow design specialists.
Squarespace’s offer of templates, on the other hand, is versatile, but not as extensive as Webflow’s. Many of them come free of charge, which is a significant advantage, but Squarespace is limited when it comes to customization. Sure, you’re able to make certain changes, but it does not come close to the level of design freedom Webflow offers. Therefore, if you’re wondering who is better than Squarespace when it comes to design flexibility, you’ll find your answers in Webflow.
SEO tools that help you get found online
Web builders that offer SEO features can bring many benefits to those who wish to improve their online visibility. Webflow includes several SEO elements that align with this goal, such as:
- Managing meta titles and descriptions - not only is their setup made easy in the Webflow platform, but you can also connect them to your content fields so they’re filled in automatically.
- Schema markup - you can add extra info to your pages (like ratings, FAQs, or business details) to help search engines understand your content.
- Easy redirects - if you change a page URL, Webflow makes it simple to create a redirect so visitors and search engines don’t land on a broken page.
- Automatic sitemap - Webflow can generate and update your sitemap for you. If you, for example, remove a page, it’s automatically taken off the sitemap too.
- Easy code addition - it allows you to apply custom SEO code to a single page or to a full collection with just a few clicks.
It’s also important to note that Webflow works wonders for technical SEO and website usability. Its fast, secure, and scalable web solutions and mobile-responsive design are among the most important elements for high Google rankings.
All these SEO features give Webflow an advantage compared to what Squarespace has to offer, such as custom meta titles, descriptions, and image alt tags, as well as easy internal linking. However, those who wish to (re)build an online store may find Squarespace more fitting, since it offers better e-commerce SEO than Webflow.
Integrations and marketing tools
Those who wish to track the success of their SEO campaigns need the right tools to analyze them. Both Webflow and Squarespace offer native integrations, but Webflow integrations come with a wider range and more flexibility. On the other hand, it’s important to note that Squarespace offers built-in marketing tools such as email campaigns, and Webflow does not. It can be a significant advantage for those looking to completely simplify the website-building process.
Content management - blogging and dynamic content
Squarespace offers a simple and beginner-friendly CMS, especially great for those who want to run a blog or maintain basic content without a technical setup. It comes with pre-built layouts, a clean writing interface, and tools like scheduling, tagging, and categories. But while it’s easy to use, Squarespace’s CMS isn’t designed for handling more complex, structured, or large-scale content needs. Webflow’s CMS is much more powerful and flexible, especially for websites with dynamic content.
The real strength behind Webflow’s CMS
If you decide to switch to Webflow or choose this platform right from the start, you can greatly benefit from how dynamic content works. With Webflow, you can create custom content types (Collections), like blog posts, products, case studies, or anything else, and define your own fields for each. Once you set up your structure, you can design one template and reuse it across hundreds of entries. Webflow also allows you to filter and reference between collections.
Pricing - cost comparison
Besides features and capabilities, one of the most important elements businesses look into before opting for one builder or another is pricing. Understanding the pricing models of Squarespace and especially Webflow is not always easy. That’s why we decided to create a simple breakdown of what each offers.
Squarespace pricing plans
Squarespace keeps things pretty straightforward. There are four main plans:
- Personal - 16/month
- Business - $23/month
- Commerce basic - $28/month
- Commerce advanced - $52/month
The Personal plan covers all the basics for a portfolio or simple website. If you need more flexibility, you’ll need the Business plan. The Commerce plans are best for more serious online stores and come with extras like advanced analytics, promotional tools, and no transaction fees. Every plan includes hosting and templates, and there’s a 14-day free trial so you can test it out.
Webflow pricing simplified
What are the disadvantages of Webflow? One of them is a complicated pricing structure. Webflow gives you more flexibility and control, especially if you're managing multiple sites or need advanced features. However, it takes a bit more time to get used to compared to Squarespace’s.
It separates Site plans (for individual websites) and Workspace plans (for teams or freelancers). General site plans include:
- Starter - free with Webflow.io domain
- Basic: $14/month
- CMS: $23/month
- Business: $29/month
- Enterprise - custom pricing
The basic plan is great for simple sites, while the CMS plan is ideal for blogs and content-driven sites. A business plan, like with Squarespace, is intended for higher-traffic or larger-scale sites. Besides the general one, Webflow also offers e-commerce plans, from Standard ($29/month), over Plus ($74/month), to Advanced ($212/month)
Workspace plans range from free to $49/month per seat, depending on collaboration needs. You can get a starter plan for free, but there isn’t much you can do with it. For more serious individuals and businesses, Webflow offers:
- Core (Teams) - $19/month
- Growth (Teams) - $49/month
- Enterprise (Teams) - custom pricing
- Freelancer - $16/month
- Agency - $35/month
Squarespace vs. Webflow - which is more profitable?
When deciding which of these two platforms is a better option for you (financially), it’s important to look past the initial numbers stated in the plans. You must also consider the type of your business as well as the goals you wish to achieve. For example, Webflow comes with a design-first approach and robust functionality that can easily translate to greater earning potential for professionals. Squarespace, on the other hand, offers ease of use and all-in-one marketing tools. Therefore, it’s a much more profitable option for individuals and small businesses with more basic website needs.
Webflow vs. Squarespace - pros and cons summary
Should I use Webflow or Squarespace? Our comprehensive guide should help you compare their strengths and limitations. However, for a quick summary, we’ve broken down their key differences into a simple table to help you make a final decision.
Why Webflow might be the smarter long-term choice
Both Squarespace and Webflow bring a lot to the table. However, if you're thinking long-term and looking for a builder that can offer you design freedom, scalability, and performance, know that Webflow offers more room to grow. It gives you full control over your site’s structure and style, cleaner code, and the flexibility to build truly custom digital experiences.
So, is there anything better than Webflow? For us, there’s not, which is why we’ve decided to make Weflow the platform of our choice. Whether you're building from scratch or migrating from another platform, our Webflow experts are here to help bring your vision to life. Feel free to contact us - we’d love to hear what you’re working on.
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