5 Best Squarespace Alternatives for 2025 (Free & Paid Options)
Last Updated on June 9, 2025 by Himanshu Rawat
If you’ve ever thought about building a website, you’ve likely come across Squarespace, known for its stylish templates and all-in-one platform, It’s popular among creatives and small businesses. However, as digital needs evolve, what worked before may not be ideal now.
You might be seeking more customization, better e-commerce tools, or a more affordable option. The good news is that several Squarespace alternatives meet these demands.
Whether launching a brand, starting an online store, or showcasing your portfolio, this blog will break down the best website builders available today to help you find the right fit for your vision.
Why Look for a Squarespace Alternative?
Squarespace has built its name as a stunningly designed, intuitive platform. It’s perfect for portfolios, personal sites, and small businesses that care about looks and ease. But it’s not every business’s dream come true—and that’s completely fine.
As your website needs to change or grow, you may realize some of Squarespace’s limitations. For instance:
- Limited Flexibility: Although its templates look good, they may also prove limiting. Experienced users might get annoyed with the difficulty of further customization beyond the platform’s capabilities.
- E-Commerce Limitations: Squarespace accommodates online shops, but it is not as full-fledged as specialized e-commerce sites such as Shopify or BigCommerce, particularly in terms of inventory management, selling through multiple channels, or offering advanced shipping options.
- Pricing: For many users, particularly freelancers or small businesses, Squarespace feels expensive, particularly when you layer on features such as member spaces, scheduling, or advanced commerce functionality.
- Performance and Speed: Squarespace sites can sometimes trail behind in performance against more lightweight or more optimized alternatives, which could impact SEO and usability.
- Third-Party Integrations: If you’re somewhat dependent on third-party tools or custom plugins, Squarespace may not provide the integration depth or flexibility that you require.
What is the Best Alternative to Squarespace?
Let’s take a brief look at some of the best Squarespace alternatives available.
5 Best Squarespace Alternatives
1. WordPress
Why Choose WordPress?
- WordPress is open-source and powers 43.5% of all websites globally, making it the most widely used website platform.
- It offers unmatched customization with over 30,000 themes and 70,000 plugins, far exceeding most competitors.
- WordPress provides superior SEO and blogging tools compared to Squarespace, supported by a vast ecosystem of specialized plugins.
- Its scalability allows users to build anything from simple blogs to large enterprise sites, serving startups and global brands alike.
Cons of WordPress
- Setup and Maintenance: Unlike all-in-one platforms like Squarespace, WordPress requires users to manage hosting, security, backups, and updates, which can be challenging for beginners seeking a hands-off experience.
- WordPress offers limitless possibilities, but fully utilizing its features often requires technical knowledge or hiring a developer for advanced customizations or troubleshooting.
- Security Responsibility: Users must proactively manage security with plugins and best practices, as WordPress’s popularity makes it a frequent target for hackers
2. Webflow
Key Features of Webflow
- Webflow’s visual editor allows you to design websites with real-time control over layout, fonts, and responsiveness without coding. Advanced users can add custom CSS, HTML, or JavaScript for precise adjustments and unique interactions.
- Webflow enables dynamic, interactive sites with custom content types and auto-updating templates perfect for blogs, portfolios, and marketing teams.
- It offers secure, fast hosting with SSL, DDoS protection, automatic backups, and easy site restoration no server maintenance needed.
- Webflow website is best For Designers, agencies, and tech-savvy users wanting creative freedom.
Cons of Webflow
- Webflow requires understanding web design fundamentals like CSS, flexbox, and responsive layouts.
- This makes it harder for beginners compared to more intuitive, drag-and-drop website builders.
- Many powerful tools like CMS, custom code, and site search are locked behind premium plans.
- Costs can quickly add up, especially for startups or small businesses with tight budgets.
Pricing
- Free plan includes a 2-page website with a webflow.io subdomain.
- Basic plan starts at $14 per month (billed annually).
- The Basic plan allows more pages and supports connecting a custom domain.
- Suitable for simple, static websites.
3. Shopify
- Shopify offers powerful tools for inventory management, marketing, analytics, and seamless integration with social media, POS systems, and third-party marketplaces.
- Includes AI-powered tools like Shopify Magic, AR/3D product displays, and Shopify Plus for enterprise-level customization—ideal for businesses of all sizes.
- Provides 24/7 support, mobile-responsive themes, multiple payment options, and supports trends like mobile commerce, sustainability, and voice search.
Cons of Shopify
- Shopify checkout is not highly customizable for all users, with Shopify Plus merchants being the only ones who get advanced checkout modifications.
- Transaction fees are incurred if you don’t use Shopify Payments, which might add to the operational expenditure for some companies.
- Although Shopify themes are extremely responsive and customizable, some sophisticated design tweaks may require knowledge of Liquid (Shopify’s templating language) or outsourcing a developer.
- The app dependence of the platform for extra functionality can result in extra monthly expenses and integration hassles as your store expands.
Pricing of Shopify
- Free Trial: 3-day free trial to explore the platform.
- $1/month Offer: Pay only $1/month for the first 3 months.
- Basic Shopify Plan: Starting at $29/month (billed annually).
- Transaction Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for the Basic Shopify plan.
- Unlimited Products: The Basic plan allows you to list unlimited products.
4. Wix
Key Features of Wix
- Wix offers a drag-and-drop builder with AI-powered design tools (Wix ADI) for quick, professional site creation without technical skills.
- Access over 900 templates and a wide range of third-party apps for enhanced functionality, from marketing to e-commerce.
- Wix includes a free plan with SSL security and offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and a knowledge base.
- Streamline business operations with workflow automation and integrations with tools like Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and social media platforms.
Cons of Wix
- Limited Flexibility: Wix restricts backend access and advanced coding, making it less suitable for large or highly customized sites.
- Difficult Migration: Wix’s proprietary system makes migrating content and design challenging, leading to potential vendor lock-in.
- SEO Limitations: Wix’s SEO tools are basic compared to WordPress plugins, which may impact rankings for larger websites.
- Costly Subscription: The bundled pricing for hosting, features, and apps can become expensive with premium add-ons and advanced functionality.
Pricing of Wix:
Wix offers a free plan, with paid plans ranging from $17 to $159 per month.
5. Weebly
Key Features of Weebly
- Weebly offers a simple drag-and-drop interface, making it ideal for beginners. Its user-friendly editor lets you quickly add and arrange elements without technical knowledge.
- The platform offers a free plan that lets you create and publish basic websites with a Weebly subdomain, which is great for personal projects or small portfolios without upfront costs.
- Weebly integrates with Square, providing e-commerce features with no transaction fees on the free plan and unlimited product listings, perfect for budget-conscious startups.
Cons of Weebly
- Limited Blogging Tools: Weebly’s blogging features are basic, lacking advanced options and integrations compared to platforms like WordPress or Wix.
- Free Plan Limitations: The free plan includes Weebly ads and a subdomain, which can look unprofessional and limit branding unless you upgrade.
- Small Template Selection: Weebly offers around 50 templates, which are fewer and less modern than the larger libraries available on platforms like Wix.
- Lack of Advanced Features: Weebly lacks advanced marketing and automation tools, making it less suitable for businesses looking to scale or run complex campaigns.
Pricing of Weebly
- Free Plan: $0/month (Basic use)
- Personal Plan: $10/month (billed annually) or $13/month (month-to-month) — Connect to a custom domain
- Professional Plan: $12/month (billed annually) or $16/month (month-to-month) — Connect your domain and add more customization
- Performance Plan: $26/month (billed annually) or $29/month (month-to-month) — Add features for growth and operations management
How to Choose the Right Squarespace Alternative
- Budget: Consider if you need a free plan or are willing to invest in advanced features.
- Ease of Use: Beginners may prefer Wix or Weebly; tech-savvy users might opt for WordPress or Webflow.
- Purpose: For e-commerce, Shopify is the clear leader. For blogging, WordPress excels. For portfolios or business sites, Wix, Webflow, or Duda are strong options.
- Customization: If you need full control, WordPress or Webflow are best. For quick, beautiful sites, Wix or Weebly work well.
- Support: Look for platforms with strong customer service, especially if you’re running a business.
Final Thoughts
Squarespace remains a solid choice, but it’s far from the only option. Whether you need more flexibility, better e-commerce tools, or a more affordable solution, there’s a website builder out there to fit your needs.
Evaluate your goals, budget, and technical skills, and you’ll find the perfect platform to bring your website vision to life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best Squarespace alternatives for beginners?
Some of the best alternatives for beginners include Wix and Weebly. Both platforms offer easy drag-and-drop builders, user-friendly interfaces, and a variety of templates. Wix, in particular, also offers AI-powered design tools that simplify the website creation process.
2. Which website builder offers the most customization options compared to Squarespace?
WordPress.org offers the most customization options. With access to thousands of themes and plugins, along with the ability to add custom code, WordPress provides the flexibility to build highly personalized websites.
3. Are there any Squarespace alternatives that are more affordable?
Weebly and Wix are more affordable than Squarespace, with Weebly offering a free plan and low-cost options, and Wix providing budget-friendly plans for basic sites.
4. Can I migrate my website from Squarespace to another platform easily?
Migrating from Squarespace is tricky due to its proprietary system, though platforms like WordPress and Wix offer smoother migration options, with some effort required.
5. Which Squarespace alternatives offer better e-commerce features?
Shopify leads in e-commerce with advanced tools, while BigCommerce is great for larger businesses. Wix and Weebly offer user-friendly e-commerce features for simpler stores.
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