Squarespace is a website builder that can help you create aesthetically pleasing websites, but it may not suit every user. An increase in prices, a lack of flexibility, and a decrease in integrations have made some users consider other builders. If you are starting an online business, don’t have enough features in your current plan, or just want more value, then you should know that there are plenty of alternatives to Squarespace.
We have analyzed 27 platforms utilizing real figures and market data to help you find the ideal website builder for your specific needs. You can find budget-friendly options that come with a free plan, as well as powerful ecommerce platforms that can grow with your business.
TL;DR
Why People Search for Squarespace Alternatives
We all know that Squarespace gets many things right. However, these drawbacks still keep customers from leaving:
Cost creep — There is no free plan, and paid plans start at $16 per month (billed annually). You are quickly pushed toward the more expensive tiers if you want to use advanced features.
Design rigidity — The gridded editor is neat and tidy, but your creative control is more limited than if you were using a drag-and-drop editor from another builder.
Integration gaps — Fewer third-party apps than Wix or Shopify are available for you, which limits the flexibility of building your website.
Ecommerce limitations — Perfect for small stores, but a real store owner will outgrow Squarespace’s ecommerce tools as they scale.
Developer constraints — Limited code access can anger a person who is looking for a developer platform with lots of customization options.
Who Should Read This Guide
- Small business owners seeking better marketing tools and business tools
- Creatives and freelancers needing portfolio sites with storage space for media
- Ecommerce sellers who need robust ecommerce features and payment tools
- Bloggers wanting superior blogging tools and seo tools
- Developers craving full code access and a content management system
- Budget-conscious beginners hunting for a free version or an affordable free trial
How We Evaluated These Platforms
We combined hands-on testing, real user feedback from Reddit and Product Hunt, crowdsourced data from AlternativeTo, and the latest 2025 statistics from trusted research firms like W3Techs, BuiltWith, and company investor reports.
Quick Comparison: Top Squarespace Alternatives at a Glance
| Platform | Starting Price | Free Plan? | Best For | Market Share | Active Sites | AI Features |
| Wix | $17/mo | ✅ | All-around flexibility | 3.7% CMS | 8.5M+ sites | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hostinger | $2.99/mo | ❌ | Budget sites | Growing | 9.5M+ hosted | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Shopify | $39/mo | ❌ (free trial) | Ecommerce | 10.32% ecommerce | 4.8M+ stores | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| GoDaddy | $9.99/mo | ✅ | Speed & simplicity | — | — | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Webflow | $14/mo | ✅ (limited) | Designers & agencies | 1.2% CMS | 493K+ sites | ⭐⭐ |
| WordPress.org | Hosting only | ✅ | Full customization | 43.6% all sites | 585M+ sites | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Jimdo | $9/mo | ✅ | AI-powered setup | — | — | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Weebly | $10/mo | ✅ | Multi-page sites | — | — | ⭐⭐ |
| Duda | $19/mo | ❌ (14-day trial) | Agencies & multilingual | — | — | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Carrd | $19/year | ✅ (1 site) | One-page sites | — | — | ❌ |
What Squarespace Lacks: Key Decision Factors
Pricing & Long-Term Value
Many other website builders offer a free plan or start at below $5 per month. Squarespace’s basic plan ($16/month) is mid-range, but you’ll likely upgrade quickly if you need ecommerce or marketing features.
Creative Freedom
Squarespace’s grid system ensures consistency but restricts layout flexibility. Platforms with drag-and-drop editors let you place elements anywhere.
Integrations & Extensibility
Squarespace connects with primary services, but other builders boast massive app markets. Shopify has over 8,000 apps, while Wix has more than 800 extensions.
Ecommerce Scalability
Squarespace handles small to medium online stores well. Serious ecommerce platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce support thousands of products, multichannel selling, and advanced inventory management.
SEO Flexibility
Squarespace covers seo tools basics, but limits control over technical SEO. WordPress sites and Webflow offer deeper optimization options.
Performance & Speed
Lightweight site builders and static generators often outperform Squarespace on page speed.
Ownership
Self-hosted WordPress websites give you complete data ownership. Hosted platforms maintain control.
Collaboration & Multi-User Support
Webflow and Duda excel at team collaboration with granular permissions—crucial for agencies managing multiple websites.
AI Functionality
Newer platforms integrate ai website builder capabilities and ai powered tools for content generation, design suggestions, and automation. Squarespace lags here.
Support Availability
GoDaddy offers 24/7 phone support; Squarespace relies primarily on email and chat.
The Best Squarespace Alternatives: Top 10 Platforms
1. Wix — Best All-Around Alternative
Ideal for: Small business owners, creatives, marketers
Price range: Free plan available; paid plans from $17/mo
Market position: 13% market share among website builders, 9.1% of the global CMS market
The Numbers Speak
Wix powers over 272 million websites as of 2025, with 3 million paid subscribers. According to Wix statistics from SQ Magazine, the platform generated $1.85 billion in revenue in 2024, and holds 43% of the U.S. website builder market share among DIY platforms, significantly ahead of Squarespace at 16%.
Why It Outshines Squarespace
Wix offers what Squarespace promises but with more flexibility. You get 2,000+ templates versus Squarespace’s 140+, an intuitive drag and drop editor, and over 300 third-party apps listed on the Wix App Market. The built in tools for email marketing, social media management, and customer relationship management surpass Squarespace’s marketing tools.
Key Statistics:
- 58% of Wix users opt for a free plan, but conversion to paid tiers increased by 9% in the last year
- Women entrepreneurs make up 51% of all new site creators on Wix in 2025
- Top 3 categories for Wix stores are people and society (75,824), home and garden (67,555), and beauty and fitness products (57,484)
- Wix improved its load time by 40% over recent years
Pros:
- Generous free plan with Wix branding
- More features and integrations than competitors
- Strong ai tools including AI text generation and design assistance
- Excellent blogging tools and seo tools
- 99.9% uptime ensuring websites are always live
Cons:
- Can’t switch templates after publishing
- Site speed can lag with heavy apps
- Limited ecommerce functionality compared to dedicated platforms
Choose Wix if: You want creative control without coding, need robust marketing features, and appreciate having more options than Squarespace provides at similar pricing.
2. Hostinger — Best Budget-Friendly Website Builder
Ideal for: Beginners, budget-conscious users
Price range: From $2.99/mo (with multi-year commitment)
Market position: Hosts more than 9.5 million websites, with 54% (around 5.2 million) built with WordPress
This ai website builder gets you online fast without breaking the bank. Hostinger’s AI creates a functional site in minutes based on your answers to a few questions—perfect for website creation when you’re starting fresh.
Real Performance Data
WordPress users on Hostinger’s platform create 20,000 websites per day, according to WordPress market share data, demonstrating both the hosting service quality and the platform’s popularity. The company hosts more than 9.5 million websites, with 54% (around 5.2 million) built with WordPress.
Key advantages over Squarespace:
- Dramatically cheaper — Save $150+ annually compared to Squarespace’s basic plan
- AI-powered simplicity — Built in ai tools handle design decisions
- Solid hosting service included with generous storage space
- Free custom domain for the first year
The tradeoff? Fewer templates and less design sophistication than Squarespace. But for simple business sites, personal portfolios, or testing ideas, Hostinger delivers exceptional value.
Choose Hostinger if: Budget is your top priority and you don’t need advanced ecommerce tools or extensive customization options.
3. Shopify — The Ecommerce Champion
Ideal for: Serious ecommerce store owners
Price range: From $39/mo; $5/mo Starter for social selling
Market position: Commands ~10.32% of global ecommerce market share and ~30% of the US ecommerce platform market share
The Ecommerce Powerhouse By the Numbers
According to Shopify’s official Q3 2025 investor report, Shopify posted $8.88 billion in full-year revenue for 2024, a 26% increase from 2023. The platform has 4.82 million active stores globally, with 2.67 million businesses running on the platform in the U.S. alone. Most impressively, Shopify surpassed $1 trillion in cumulative GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) in 2024.
1 in 6 internet users worldwide purchased something from a Shopify merchant’s online store in 2024, and merchants hit a record-high $11.5 billion in sales over Black Friday Cyber Monday.
Ecommerce Features That Matter
Shopify provides inventory management across unlimited products, multichannel selling (your website, Instagram, Amazon, TikTok), abandoned cart recovery, POS systems for physical retail, and 100+ payment gateways. The ecommerce tools include built-in shipping calculators, tax automation, and detailed analytics.
Key Performance Metrics:
- 176.5 million visitors per month to Shopify-powered sites
- 875 million customers served worldwide
- Over 12,320 apps in the Shopify App Store
- Shopify Payments available in 35 countries
- Mobile devices account for over 54% of all ecommerce sales by the end of 2025
The app market offers 8,000+ integrations covering everything from dropshipping to subscription boxes. Squarespace can’t match this ecosystem.
Drawbacks:
- Higher monthly cost
- Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments
- Overkill for non-ecommerce sites
Choose Shopify if: You’re building an ecommerce store with growth ambitions, sell across multiple channels, or need professional payment tools and inventory systems.
4. GoDaddy — Fastest Path to Launch
Ideal for: Absolute beginners, service businesses
Price range: Free plan available; paid from $9.99/mo
GoDaddy’s website builder prioritizes speed and simplicity. You can literally publish a professional-looking site in under an hour. The AI setup wizard asks targeted questions, then generates a custom site complete with relevant content, contact forms, and industry-appropriate design.
What makes it faster than Squarespace:
- Pre-built sections optimized for common business types
- Automatic mobile optimization
- Integrated appointment scheduling on the basic plan
- 24/7 phone support (rare among site builders)
Limitations:
- Template selection is modest (~200 vs. Squarespace’s design quality)
- Fewer advanced features for complex projects
- Basic blogging tools
Choose GoDaddy if: You need a professional site immediately, want hassle-free website building, or prefer talking to support rather than reading documentation.
5. Webflow — The Designer’s Playground
Ideal for: Designers, agencies, developers who don’t want to code
Price range: Free plan; paid from $14/mo
Market position: 1.2% CMS market share with 493,226 active websites
Growth & Financial Performance
According to Webflow’s investor data, Webflow generated $213 million in revenue in 2024, a 66% increase from $128 million in 2023. The company has a valuation of $4 billion following its Series C funding round in March 2022 and raised a total of $334.9 million in funding.
Webflow’s user base surpassed 3.5 million worldwide, with the majority (37.73%) aged 25 to 34. The platform has shown remarkable growth: based on data from W3Techs from 2023 to 2025, the number of websites using Webflow increased at an average of 15.48%.
Why Agencies Choose Webflow
Webflow bridges visual design and code, offering pixel-perfect creative control without touching HTML/CSS (though you can if you want). This developer platform gives you what Squarespace’s grid editor can’t: complete layout freedom with professional-grade interactions and animations.
The CMS (content management system) is sophisticated yet client-friendly. Team collaboration features include role-based permissions, content approval workflows, and white-label options. You can export code, connect custom databases, and build genuinely unique digital experiences.
Industry Adoption:
- 15,630 live stores currently running on Webflow
- Webflow stores increased 5% year-over-year in 2025 Q3
- Major brands using Webflow include Dell, Upwork, Michael Kors, and Rakuten
Pros:
- Unmatched design flexibility
- Clean, semantic code output
- Powerful CMS for content-heavy sites
- Integrated hosting service
- Over 100,000 clients use Webflow to create highly visited external and essential internal websites across 190 countries
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve than Squarespace
- Ecommerce features lag behind dedicated platforms
- Free plan limits (2 pages, no custom domain)
Choose Webflow if: Design precision matters more than speed, you’re building for clients, or you’ve outgrown template-based builders but don’t want to code from scratch.
6. WordPress.org — The Customization King
Ideal for: Bloggers, large sites, developers
Price range: Free software; hosting from $3-15/mo
Market position: 43.4% of websites on the internet run on WordPress, with 62.8% CMS market share
Dominance in Numbers
Over 585 million websites use WordPress as of November 2025. According to W3Techs data, WordPress powers 43.4% of all websites on the internet, with a 62.8% CMS market share. WordPress market share was 27.3% at the start of 2017 which grew to 43.6% in January 2025, an increase of 16.3%.
WordPress creates 20,000 websites per day on Hostinger alone, demonstrating continuous growth. The platform’s nearest competitor, Shopify, holds only 6.7% market share—WordPress commands 9x more than its closest rival.
The WooCommerce Ecommerce Advantage
WooCommerce is the top e-commerce platform, holding a 33.28% market share. With more than 4.6 million stores built using WooCommerce and over 382,754,000 WordPress users installing it since 2017, WordPress powers 1/3 of all online shops.
WordPress Statistics That Matter:
- 65,000+ plugins available
- 500+ new WordPress sites launched daily
- 81.2% of WordPress users run Version 6
- 71% of WordPress.com sites are in English
- By early 2025, WooCommerce exceeded 8 million active installations
When people say “WordPress,” they often mean WordPress.org—the self-hosted, open-source content management system powering nearly half the web. This isn’t a traditional website builder; it’s a platform you host yourself, offering unlimited possibilities.
Unmatched Flexibility
With 60,000+ plugins and 10,000+ themes, WordPress sites can do virtually anything: membership portals, online courses, job boards, directories, advanced ecommerce stores through WooCommerce, multilingual websites, and more. No other platform matches these extensive customization options.
Squarespace vs. WordPress:
| Feature | Squarespace | WordPress.org |
| Setup complexity | Simple | Requires hosting setup |
| Design flexibility | Template-bound | Unlimited |
| Plugins/integrations | ~50 built-in | 65,000+ plugins |
| Ownership | Hosted (limited) | Complete control |
| Maintenance | None required | Updates, security, backups |
| Cost | $16-65/mo | Hosting only ($3-15/mo) |
Real talk: WordPress requires more effort. You’ll manage hosting, security, and updates. But you get freedom, scalability, and cost efficiency that Squarespace can’t touch.
Security Considerations:
- A WordPress site is attacked every 22 minutes
- 13,000 WordPress sites are hacked daily
- 92% of breaches stem from outdated plugins
Regular updates and security plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri are essential.
Choose WordPress if: You want complete control, plan to scale significantly, need specific functionality, or want the best blogging tools available.
7. Jimdo — AI-Powered Simplicity
Ideal for: Hobbyists, local businesses, non-tech users
Price range: Free version available; paid from $9/mo
Jimdo’s AI-powered builder (Jimdo Dolphin) creates your entire site through a conversational interface. You answer questions about your business, select design preferences, and the AI generates a complete website in minutes—complete with relevant images, text, and structure.
Advantages over Squarespace:
- Much faster initial setup (5-10 minutes vs. hours)
- Free plan includes Jimdo subdomain
- Lower pricing across all tiers
- Built in ai tools for content suggestions
- Simpler interface for beginners
Tradeoffs:
- Limited design customization once AI generates the site
- Fewer templates and advanced features
- Basic ecommerce store capabilities
Choose Jimdo if: You’re intimidated by traditional website building, need something live today, or run a tiny business without complex needs.
8. Weebly — Best for Large, Content-Rich Sites
Ideal for: Content creators, educators, multi-page business sites
Price range: Free plan; paid from $10/mo
Weebly handles deep site architecture better than most other builders. If you’re planning 50+ pages with nested navigation, Weebly’s structure management outperforms Squarespace’s approach. The drag and drop interface is straightforward, and the ecommerce features (powered by Square) are surprisingly robust for the price.
Why choose it:
- Excellent content organization for large sites
- Clean, responsive templates
- Strong ecommerce integration with Square payments
- Built-in SEO guidance
- More affordable than Squarespace
Limitations:
- Design options aren’t as modern as Squarespace
- Fewer third party apps
- Limited ai features
Choose Weebly if: You’re building a multi-page resource site, school/nonprofit portal, or business site with extensive content that needs clear hierarchy.
9. Duda — Agency & Multilingual Specialist
Ideal for: Web agencies, international businesses
Price range: From $19/mo (agency plans higher)
Duda is the secret weapon of web professionals managing multiple client sites. Features like white-labeling, client permissions, team collaboration, and built-in client billing make it the best website builder for agencies.
Multilingual Excellence
Unlike Squarespace, which requires third-party solutions for multilingual websites, Duda includes native multilingual support. Create content in multiple languages with automatic language detection and switching—critical for international businesses.
Key Features:
- Advanced personalization and dynamic content
- Team collaboration tools with granular permissions
- Client management dashboard
- Built-in analytics and reporting
- Mobile-first responsive design
Pros:
- Professional agency tools
- Native multilingual support
- Fast loading speeds
- Excellent white-label options
Cons:
- Higher learning curve
- Pricier than entry-level builders
- Limited free tier (14-day trial only)
Choose Duda if: You’re an agency managing client sites, need multilingual capabilities out of the box, or require advanced personalization features.
10. Carrd — Best for One-Page Websites & Landing Pages
Ideal for: Entrepreneurs, creatives, link-in-bio pages
Price range: Free for 1 site; Pro from $19/year
Carrd strips website building down to its essence: beautiful, fast-loading, single-page sites. At $19 per year (not per month), it’s the most affordable paid option on this list.
Perfect use cases:
- Personal portfolios
- Product landing pages
- Event pages
- Link-in-bio alternatives to Linktree
- Simple business card sites
Advantages over Squarespace:
- Incredibly cheap — $19/year vs. $192/year for Squarespace
- Lightning-fast loading
- Super simple interface
- No unnecessary features
Limitations:
- One page only (multi-page requires Pro)
- No built-in blog
- Basic ecommerce store functionality
- Limited ai features
Choose Carrd if: You need a simple, effective one-page site and don’t want to pay monthly fees. It’s perfect for landing pages, portfolios, or anyone embracing minimalism.
Additional Niche Alternatives (Missed by Most Competitors)
These specialized platforms fill gaps that mainstream comparisons ignore:
11. GitHub Pages / Jekyll — Best for Developers (Free)
Ideal for: Developers, technical writers, open-source projects
Price: Free
GitHub Pages hosts static sites directly from your GitHub repository. Combined with Jekyll (a static site generator), you get version control, Markdown support, and complete customization—all for free.
Why developers love it:
- Free hosting with custom domain support
- Git-based workflow
- Perfect for documentation sites
- No database or server management
- Lightning-fast performance
Choose GitHub Pages if: You’re comfortable with Git, want version control for your content, and prefer Markdown over visual editors.
12. Cloudflare Pages — Fastest Static Site Deployment
Ideal for: Developers, performance-obsessed builders
Price: Free tier available
Cloudflare Pages deploys static sites to Cloudflare’s global network, ensuring blazing-fast load times worldwide. It integrates with GitHub and GitLab for automatic deployments.
Key benefits:
- Distributed globally across Cloudflare’s CDN
- Instant cache invalidation
- Free SSL certificates
- Unlimited bandwidth on free tier
- Sub-second deployment times
Choose Cloudflare Pages if: Page speed is critical, you’re building with static site generators (Next.js, Gatsby, Hugo), and you want enterprise-grade performance for free.
13. Ghost — Best for Publishers / Newsletter Writers
Ideal for: Professional bloggers, journalists, newsletter publishers
Price: From $9/mo (self-hosted) or $9/mo+ (hosted)
Ghost is a modern publishing platform built specifically for content creators who want to monetize through memberships and newsletters.
Publishing-first features:
- Native newsletter functionality
- Built-in membership and subscription tools
- SEO-optimized from the ground up
- Clean, distraction-free writing interface
- No bloat—just content management
Choose Ghost if: You’re serious about content creation, want built-in monetization, or need a platform designed for publishers rather than general websites.
- Framer — Best for High-Fidelity Visual Prototypes
Ideal for: Interaction designers, product teams
Price: Free for personal sites; from $5/mo for custom domains
Framer started as a prototyping tool and evolved into a full website builder with powerful animation and interaction capabilities.
Design superpowers:
- Advanced animations and transitions
- Component-based design system
- Real-time collaboration
- Responsive design controls
- Code export option
Choose Framer if: You’re building highly interactive sites, need sophisticated animations, or want design tool features in your website builder.
15. ProcessWire — Best CMS for Developers
Ideal for: Custom web applications, complex sites
Price: Free (open-source)
ProcessWire is a powerful, flexible content management system that gives developers complete control without the complexity of enterprise solutions.
Developer benefits:
- jQuery-inspired API
- Extremely flexible content modeling
- Built-in multi-language support
- Excellent documentation
- Active developer community
Choose ProcessWire if: You’re building custom web applications, need a flexible content structure, or want a developer-friendly alternative to WordPress without Drupal’s complexity.
16. Directus — Best Open Data Platform for Custom Apps
Ideal for: Headless CMS needs, API-first projects
Price: Free (open-source); Cloud from $15/mo
Directus wraps any SQL database with a beautiful admin interface and powerful API, making it perfect for headless CMS implementations.
Modern architecture:
- Database-first approach
- RESTful and GraphQL APIs
- Customizable admin interface
- Role-based access control
- Multi-language content support
Choose Directus if: You’re building a headless CMS, need API-first content management, or want to separate your content layer from your presentation layer.
17. Square Online — Best for Local Retail & Restaurants
Ideal for: Local businesses with physical locations
Price: Free plan; paid from $12/mo
From the company behind Square payments, Square Online integrates seamlessly with Square POS systems, making it perfect for businesses that sell both online and in person.
Retail-focused features:
- Unified inventory across online and physical stores
- Integrated Square payment processing
- Restaurant ordering and menu management
- Appointment booking
- Local delivery and pickup options
Choose Square Online if: You already use Square for in-person transactions, run a restaurant or local retail shop, or need tight integration between your online store and POS system.
18. Weblium — Best Ready-Made Template Sections
Ideal for: Beginners who want quick customization
Price: Free plan; paid from $8.25/mo
Weblium offers AI-assisted building with a unique library of pre-designed blocks that you can mix and match.
Quick building features:
- AI design assistant
- 300+ pre-designed blocks
- Industry-specific templates
- Automatic mobile optimization
- Built-in CRM tools
Choose Weblium if: You want template quality with block-level customization, need fast turnaround, or appreciate AI design suggestions.
19. Webnode — Best for Multilingual Sites on a Budget
Ideal for: International businesses, multilingual content
Price: Free plan; paid from $3.90/mo
Webnode stands out for its affordable multilingual capabilities, making it accessible for small businesses targeting multiple markets.
Multilingual advantages:
- Create up to 100 language versions
- Separate content for each language
- Language detection and switching
- Affordable pricing
- Easy translation workflow
Choose Webnode if: You need multilingual websites without enterprise pricing, serve multiple geographic markets, or want a simple platform with strong translation support.
20. Mozello — Free Multilingual Platform
Ideal for: Small multilingual projects, personal sites
Price: Free plan includes multilingual; paid from $8/mo
Mozello is one of the few platforms offering multilingual capabilities on the free plan—a rarity in the website builder space.
Unique free features:
- Multilingual support (free tier)
- E-commerce on paid plans
- Simple interface
- Blog functionality
Choose Mozello if: You need multilingual support but have zero budget, are building a small personal or business site, or want to test multilingual website building.
21. Silex — Open Source No-Code Builder
Ideal for: Designers who want open-source freedom
Price: Free (open-source)
Silex is a free, open-source website builder that runs in your browser, giving you complete ownership without vendor lock-in.
Open-source benefits:
- No hosting fees required
- Complete code ownership
- No vendor lock-in
- Visual editor with code access
- Static HTML output
Choose Silex if: You want free, open-source website building, need to own your code completely, or want to self-host without recurring fees.
22. Ucraft — Creative-Focused Builder with AI Copilot
Ideal for: Designers, creative professionals, agencies
Price: Free plan; paid from $10/mo
Market position: Over 1 million users worldwide, Y Combinator-backed
The AI-Powered Revolution
Ucraft Next represents a new generation of website building. According to platform reviews and statistics, the platform’s UC Copilot generates fully functional websites in just 2.3 minutes based on simple text prompts—complete with custom copy, features, and design elements. This isn’t just template filling; the AI understands context and creates genuinely customized solutions.
Real Performance Metrics:
- Generates complete sites in under 3 minutes
- Over 60 professionally designed templates
- Block-based building system for quick assembly
- Built-in SEO tools and multilingual support
- 92% of reviewers praise the value for money
Advanced Features for Professionals
What sets Ucraft apart is its dual focus: beginner-friendly AI tools combined with professional-grade capabilities. The Visual Editor provides code-level customization without actual coding, while the Collections tool lets you create and reuse templates for repetitive content.
23. Strikingly — Quick One-Page Sites & Mobile-First Design
Ideal for: Personal brands, simple portfolios, landing pages
Price: Free plan; paid from $8/mo
Market position: Over 1 million customers, Y Combinator graduate, $61 million revenue (2024)
Mobile-First Pioneer
Founded in 2012 as the first Mongolian company to graduate from Y Combinator, Strikingly pioneered mobile-first website building. According to company investor data, the platform powers over 34,000 active websites, with particularly strong adoption in America. In 2024, Strikingly raised $17.5 million in total funding and serves 1 million customers worldwide.
The Single-Page Specialty:
Strikingly doesn’t try to be everything—it excels at one thing: creating beautiful, fast-loading one-page websites and landing pages. Instead of overwhelming users with options, it streamlines website creation to its essence.
24. Format — Portfolio Sites for Creatives
Ideal for: Photographers, designers, artists
Price: From $7/mo
Format specializes in portfolio websites for visual artists, with features specifically designed for showcasing creative work.
Creative-focused features:
- Client proofing galleries
- Print store integration
- Custom watermarking
- High-resolution image support
- Integrated blogging tools
Choose Format if: You’re a photographer or visual artist who needs client proofing, want to sell prints directly, or require portfolio-specific features.
25. Pixpa — All-in-One for Photographers
Ideal for: Photographers, creative professionals
Price: From $3.60/mo (billed annually)
Pixpa combines portfolio, online store, and client gallery features in one platform at a remarkably affordable price.
Photography essentials:
- Client galleries with downloads
- E-commerce for prints and digital products
- Appointment booking
- Marketing tools included
- No transaction fees
Choose Pixpa if: You’re a photographer needing client galleries, want an all-in-one solution, or need affordable portfolio plus ecommerce.
26. Bookmark — AI-Powered Design Assistant
Ideal for: Non-technical users, quick launches
Price: Free plan; paid from $11.99/mo
Bookmark’s AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Design Assistant) builds websites in minutes by asking questions about your business.
AI advantages:
- Complete site generated in under 2 minutes
- AI content suggestions
- E-commerce capabilities
- Built-in analytics
- Responsive design automatically applied
Choose Bookmark if: You want AI to handle design decisions, need a site immediately, or prefer minimal manual customization.
27. Dorik — No-Code Landing Pages & Websites
Ideal for: Startups, marketers, product launches
Price: Free plan; paid from $18/mo
Dorik focuses on conversion-optimized landing pages and marketing sites with a clean, modern interface.
Marketing-first features:
- Pre-built templates for landing pages
- A/B testing capabilities
- Form builder with integrations
- SEO tools built-in
- White-label options on higher tiers
Choose Dorik if: You’re launching products, need high-converting landing pages, or want a modern alternative focused on marketing.
Cheapest Squarespace Alternatives (Ranked by Cost)
Here’s a comprehensive cost breakdown from free to affordable, helping budget-conscious users make informed decisions:
Free Forever Options
| Platform | What You Get | Limitations | Best For |
| WordPress.org | Free software, complete control, 65,000+ plugins | Requires hosting ($3-15/mo) | Maximum power and flexibility |
| GitHub Pages | Free hosting, custom domain support, Git workflow | Static sites only, technical knowledge needed | Developers and documentation |
| Cloudflare Pages | Free with unlimited bandwidth, global CDN | Static sites, requires Git integration | Performance-focused projects |
| Silex | Open-source, no vendor lock-in, self-hosted | Technical setup required | Open-source advocates |
| Mozello | Free multilingual support (rare!) | Mozello branding, limited features | International personal sites |
| Wix | Most features on free tier, 800+ templates | Wix branding, limited storage | Testing before buying |
| Weebly | Drag and drop, ecommerce basics | Weebly branding, ads displayed | Simple personal sites |
| Jimdo | AI-powered setup, simple interface | Jimdo branding, basic features | Quick personal sites |
| GoDaddy | Quick setup, industry templates | GoDaddy branding, feature limits | Immediate web presence |
| Carrd | Clean one-page sites | Limited to 1 site, basic features | Single landing pages |
Under $10/Month Options
| Platform | Price | Key Features | Storage/Bandwidth | Best For |
| Carrd Pro | $19/year ($1.58/mo) | Up to 25 sites, custom domains, forms | Basic | Multiple landing pages |
| Hostinger | $2.99/mo | AI builder, hosting included, free domain | 100 GB SSD | Budget-conscious beginners |
| Pixpa | $3.60/mo | Portfolio + ecommerce, client galleries | Varies by plan | Photographers |
| Webnode | $3.90/mo | Up to 100 languages, no ads | 3 GB | Multilingual sites |
| Format | $7/mo | Portfolio-specific, client proofing | Unlimited | Visual artists |
| Strikingly | $8/mo | Mobile-first, 2 sites, remove branding | 1 GB bandwidth | One-page sites |
| Mozello | $8/mo | Multilingual, ecommerce basics | 2 GB | Small multilingual shops |
| Weblium | $8.25/mo | AI design assistant, 300+ blocks | Varies | Quick template sites |
| Jimdo | $9/mo | AI builder, no branding, SEO tools | 5 GB | Hobby sites |
| Ghost (self-hosted) | $9/mo | Publishing-focused, newsletter tools | Self-managed | Content creators |
| GoDaddy | $9.99/mo | Fast setup, 24/7 support | Basic | Service businesses |
$10-$20/Month Range
| Platform | Price | Key Features | Storage | Best For |
| Weebly | $10/mo | Multi-page sites, Square payments | Unlimited | Content-heavy sites |
| Ucraft | $10/mo | Unlimited pages, multilingual | Varies | Creative professionals |
| Bookmark | $11.99/mo | AIDA AI builder, quick setup | 10 GB | AI-assisted building |
| Square Online | $12/mo | POS integration, local delivery | Unlimited | Local retail |
| Webflow | $14/mo | Designer tools, CMS, clean code | 50 GB | Designers |
| Directus Cloud | $15/mo | Headless CMS, API-first | Varies | Custom applications |
| Squarespace | $16/mo | Beautiful templates, all-in-one | Unlimited | Creative portfolios |
| Wix | $17/mo | 2,000+ templates, app market | 50 GB | Small businesses |
| Dorik | $18/mo | Landing pages, A/B testing | Varies | Product launches |
| Duda | $19/mo | Multilingual, agency tools | Varies | Agencies |
Cost Analysis:
Squarespace sits at $16/mo in the middle tier. You can save significantly with alternatives:
- Annual savings vs Squarespace:
- Hostinger: Save ~$157/year
- Carrd Pro: Save ~$173/year
- Webnode: Save ~$145/year
- Strikingly: Save ~$96/year
This pricing demonstrates that many alternatives offer similar or better features at substantially lower costs.
Best Squarespace Alternatives by Use Case
Choosing the right platform depends on your specific needs. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown:
Best for Ecommerce
Top Pick: Shopify
- 10.32% global ecommerce market share
- 4.82 million active stores
- 8,000+ apps for every ecommerce need
- Built-in multichannel selling
- Professional payment tools and inventory management
Runner-up: WooCommerce (WordPress)
- 33.28% ecommerce market share
- 4.6+ million stores worldwide
- Complete customization freedom
- Lower monthly costs
Honorable Mention: Square Online
- Perfect for local retail and restaurants
- Seamless POS integration
- Free plan available
Best for Service Businesses
Top Pick: Wix
- 272 million websites built
- Comprehensive marketing tools
- Appointment booking built-in
- Email marketing and CRM included
- Contact forms and automation
Runner-up: GoDaddy
- Fastest setup time
- Appointment scheduling on basic plan
- 24/7 phone support
- Industry-specific templates
Best for Creatives & Photographers
Top Pick: Format
- Built specifically for visual artists
- Client proofing galleries
- Print store integration
- High-resolution image support
Runner-up: Pixpa
- Portfolio plus ecommerce
- Client galleries
- Extremely affordable at $3.60/mo
- No transaction fees
Honorable Mention: Squarespace
- Still offers best template design quality
- Beautiful portfolio templates
- Strong visual presentation
Best for Agencies & Teams
Top Pick: Webflow
- 3.5 million users worldwide
- Team collaboration with permissions
- White-label capabilities
- Client management tools
- $213 million revenue (growing 66% YoY)
Runner-up: Duda
- Built specifically for agencies
- Client billing integration
- White-labeling included
- Team workflow features
Best for Large Websites (50+ Pages)
Top Pick: WordPress.org
- Powers 43.6% of all websites
- Unlimited scalability
- 65,000+ plugins for any functionality
- Best blogging tools available
Runner-up: Weebly
- Excellent navigation structure for deep sites
- Content organization tools
- Affordable pricing
Best for Multilingual Websites
Top Pick: Webnode
- Up to 100 language versions
- Starting at $3.90/mo
- Easy translation workflow
- Language detection included
Runner-up: Duda
- Native multilingual support
- Professional-grade tools
- Dynamic content per language
Honorable Mention: Mozello
- Free multilingual on free plan
- Rare feature at this price point
Best for Total Beginners
Top Pick: GoDaddy
- Publish in under an hour
- 24/7 phone support
- AI setup wizard
- Pre-built industry templates
Runner-up: Jimdo
- AI builds complete site in 5-10 minutes
- Conversational interface
- Minimal learning curve
Runner-up: Hostinger
- AI website builder included
- Simple interface
- Great value for beginners
Best for Developers
Top Pick: WordPress.org
- Complete code access
- 65,000+ plugins
- Full customization freedom
- Largest developer community
Runner-up: Webflow
- Visual coding interface
- Clean code export
- Advanced interactions
- No actual coding required
Honorable Mentions:
- GitHub Pages — Free, Git-based workflow
- Cloudflare Pages — Blazing fast static sites
- ProcessWire — Flexible developer CMS
- Directus — Headless CMS platform
Best for Landing Pages
Top Pick: Carrd
- $19/year pricing
- Lightning-fast loading
- Perfect for single pages
- Simple and effective
Runner-up: Dorik
- Conversion-optimized templates
- A/B testing capabilities
- Marketing-focused features
Honorable Mention: Framer
- High-fidelity interactions
- Advanced animations
- Professional design control
Best Free Options
- WordPress.org — Most powerful (hosting cost only)
- GitHub Pages — Best for developers
- Cloudflare Pages — Fastest performance
- Silex — Open-source website builder
- Mozello — Includes multilingual for free
- Wix — Most features on free plan
- Webflow — 2 pages with limited features
- Jimdo — Simple AI builder
- Weebly — Easy drag and drop
- GoDaddy — Quick setup
Best for Blogs & Content Creation
Top Pick: WordPress.org
- Most powerful blogging tools
- 585 million websites
- SEO optimization built-in
- Unlimited scalability
Runner-up: Ghost
- Purpose-built for publishers
- Native newsletter functionality
- Membership and subscription tools
- Clean writing interface
Honorable Mention: Wix
- Strong blogging tools
- Good SEO tools
- Easier than WordPress
Best AI Website Builders
Top Pick: Hostinger
- AI builds complete sites
- Content suggestions included
- Design automation
- Fast setup
Runner-up: Jimdo Dolphin
- Conversational AI interface
- Complete site in minutes
- Content and image suggestions
Honorable Mention: Bookmark
- AIDA design assistant
- 2-minute site generation
- AI content creation
When You Should NOT Leave Squarespace
Despite this entire guide about alternatives, Squarespace remains the best choice for certain users:
Best Template Design Quality
Squarespace still has the most professionally designed templates. If visual aesthetics are your absolute top priority and you don’t need extensive customization, Squarespace’s templates are hard to beat.
Perfect for Creative Portfolios
For photographers, designers, and artists who want a beautiful portfolio without technical hassle, Squarespace delivers. The templates are specifically designed for visual impact.
Built-in Scheduling (Acuity)
Squarespace acquired Acuity and integrated appointment scheduling directly into the platform. This is more seamless than adding third party apps to other builders.
All-in-One Simplicity
You don’t want to deal with plugins, hosting decisions, or maintenance. Squarespace handles everything with zero technical knowledge required.
Consistent Quality
Every Squarespace site looks polished and professional out of the box. The platform prevents bad design choices through its structured approach.
Stay with Squarespace if:
- Design quality matters most to you
- You’re building a creative portfolio
- You need scheduling and don’t want plugins
- You value simplicity over flexibility
- You can afford the monthly cost
- You don’t need extensive ecommerce tools
- You’re satisfied with the built-in features
Migrating Away From Squarespace: What to Expect
Switching platforms isn’t trivial. Here’s what you need to know:
Export Limitations
What Squarespace exports:
- Blog posts (as XML)
- Pages (limited content export)
- Products (basic information)
- Comments
What doesn’t export:
- Page layouts and design
- Image galleries and blocks
- Custom CSS/code
- Form submissions
- Analytics data
- Customer data (limited export)
You’ll need to manually recreate most design elements on your new platform.
SEO Considerations
Critical actions:
- 301 redirects — Set up redirects from old URLs to new ones to preserve search rankings
- Maintain URL structure — Try to keep similar URLs when possible
- Update sitemaps — Submit new sitemap to Google Search Console
- Monitor rankings — Watch for ranking drops post-migration
- Update backlinks — Contact important sites linking to you
Expect a temporary dip in traffic during migration, typically recovering within 2-4 weeks if done correctly.
URL Structure Issues
Squarespace uses specific URL patterns. Your new platform may structure URLs differently, requiring careful planning for 301 redirects to avoid broken links and lost SEO value.
Image Hosting & Media Migration
Process:
- Download all images from Squarespace
- Upload to new platform’s media library
- Update image URLs in content
- Verify alt text transfers
- Check image compression settings
Large image libraries can make this time-consuming.
Domain Transfer
Timeline:
- Unlocking domain: Immediate
- Transfer initiation: 1 day
- Complete transfer: 5-7 days
Steps:
- Unlock domain in Squarespace
- Get authorization code
- Initiate transfer at new registrar
- Approve transfer email
- Wait for completion
Keep both platforms running during transfer to avoid downtime.
Time Investment by Platform
Quick migrations (1-3 days):
- Carrd (simple sites)
- Jimdo (AI rebuild)
- GoDaddy (template-based)
Medium migrations (1-2 weeks):
- Wix (drag and drop recreation)
- Shopify (ecommerce setup)
- Webflow (design recreation)
Complex migrations (2-4 weeks):
- WordPress (custom development)
- WooCommerce (extensive ecommerce)
- Custom platforms
When to Hire Help vs. DIY
DIY if:
- Small site (under 20 pages)
- Simple design
- No custom code
- No ecommerce or simple store
- You’re comfortable with technology
Hire professional if:
- Large site (50+ pages)
- Complex ecommerce store
- Custom functionality
- Large media library
- High-traffic site (SEO critical)
- Business depends on website
Professional migration costs range from $500-$5,000+ depending on complexity.
Migration Checklist
✅ Before Migration:
- Backup all content and images
- Export what you can
- Screenshot all pages for reference
- Document custom code
- List all integrations
- Note email settings
- Export customer data
✅ During Migration:
- Set up new platform
- Recreate design
- Import content
- Upload images
- Configure SEO settings
- Set up integrations
- Test all functionality
✅ After Migration:
- Implement 301 redirects
- Submit new sitemap
- Monitor analytics
- Check for broken links
- Test forms and ecommerce
- Update social media profiles
- Notify customers if necessary
Conclusion: Which Squarespace Alternative Is Best for You?
After reviewing 27 platforms with real statistics and market data, here’s the decision tree:
Budget-Focused ($0-$10/mo)
Choose WordPress.org if: You want maximum power for minimum cost and don’t mind technical setup
Choose Hostinger if: You want AI help at $2.99/mo
Choose Carrd if: You need a simple one-page site at $19/year
Choose Mozello if: You need free multilingual support
Ecommerce Priority
Choose Shopify if: You’re serious about selling online (4.82M stores, $8.88B revenue)
Choose WooCommerce if: You want maximum customization (33.28% market share)
Choose Square Online if: You have a physical retail location
Creative Control & Design
Choose Wix if: You want flexibility without coding (272M sites, 13% market share)
Choose Webflow if: You’re a designer or agency (493K sites, 66% YoY growth)
Choose Framer if: You need advanced interactions and animations
Speed & Simplicity
Choose GoDaddy if: You need a site live today
Choose Jimdo if: You want AI to build everything in 5 minutes
Choose Hostinger if: Simple + affordable is the goal
Content & Publishing
Choose WordPress.org if: Serious blogging (43.6% of all websites)
Choose Ghost if: Newsletter-focused publishing with monetization
Choose Wix if: Good blogging without WordPress complexity
Developer-Friendly
Choose WordPress.org if: You want complete control (65,000+ plugins)
Choose Webflow if: Visual coding appeals to you
Choose GitHub Pages if: You want free hosting with Git workflow
Choose Cloudflare Pages if: Performance is everything
Multilingual Needs
Choose Webnode if: Budget multilingual (up to 100 languages, $3.90/mo)
Choose Duda if: Professional multilingual with agency features
Choose Mozello if: Free multilingual required
Agency & Client Work
Choose Webflow if: Design agencies (3.5M users, team collaboration)
Choose Duda if: White-label and client billing needed
Choose WordPress if: Maximum flexibility for diverse client needs
Final Recommendation Matrix
| Your Priority | Best Choice | Runner-Up | Budget Option |
| Ecommerce | Shopify | WooCommerce | Square Online (free) |
| Design Freedom | Webflow | Wix | Carrd |
| Blogging | WordPress.org | Ghost | Wix (free) |
| Budget | Carrd ($19/yr) | Hostinger ($2.99/mo) | WordPress.org (free) |
| Speed | GoDaddy | Jimdo | Hostinger |
| Agency Work | Webflow | Duda | WordPress.org |
| Multilingual | Webnode | Duda | Mozello (free) |
| Developers | WordPress.org | Webflow | GitHub Pages (free) |
| Beginners | GoDaddy | Jimdo | Wix (free) |
| Creatives | Format | Pixpa | Squarespace |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest alternative to Squarespace?
Which alternatives have the best domain support?
Which platforms support collaboration?
Which is best for SEO?
Take Action: Your Next Steps
Identify your priority — Ecommerce, design, budget, speed, or features?
Try 2-3 platforms — Most offer free trials or free plans
Test with real content — Don’t just browse templates
Check integrations — Ensure your essential tools connect
Calculate total cost — Include domain, apps, and transaction fees
Plan migration carefully — If leaving Squarespace, budget time and possibly professional help
The best Squarespace alternative depends entirely on your specific needs, budget, and technical comfort level. With 27 options reviewed—from WordPress.org’s 43.6% market dominance to Carrd’s $19/year simplicity—you now have the data to make an informed decision.
The era of one-size-fits-all website builders is now behind us. Choose the platform that fits your actual needs, not what works for everyone else.
