Squarespace alternatives – best of the rest
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Squarespace is renowned for its ease of use and extensive library of beautiful templates. This drag-and-drop editor is a great choice for beginners or anyone who wants a visual-focused website. However, just because it has plenty of pros doesn’t mean that Squarespace has no downsides. I can see why people might not like Squarespace:
- It has limited site editing flexibility
- The business tools leave a lot to be desired
- SEO tools are not as fleshed out as they could be
In this list, I present the 5 best Squarespace alternatives that can compete with it. Each website builder has a different focus, so you can decide which best suits you.
Best Squarespace alternatives 2025: overview
- Wix – best Squarespace alternative overall
- Hostinger Website Builder – cheaper Squarespace alternative starting at $2.69/month
- Bluehost Website Builder – Squarespace alternative with an extensive plugin library
- SITE123 – beginner-friendly Squarespace alternative
- GoDaddy Website Builder – incredible Squarespace alternative with advanced eCommerce tools
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test website builders and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website builders.
Best alternatives to Squarespace – detailed list
After reviewing and comparing 32 website builders, I chose my top five alternatives to Squarespace. I focused on their features, pricing, and overall ease of use, aiming to find platforms that provide a strong balance of functionality and value. After the evaluation, I found that Wix is the best alternative to Squarespace.
1. Wix – best Squarespace alternative with great flexibility
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Pricing: | From $10.50/month |
| Templates: | 900 |
| Best for: | Design and editing freedom |
Wix stands out as one of the best alternatives to Squarespace due to its extensive customization options and free version that allows users to build fully functional websites at no cost. While Squarespace is known for its polished templates, Wix offers more design flexibility and is perfect for those looking for creative freedom and control over every aspect of their site.
Why is Wix an alternative to Squarespace?
Wix provides a more customizable experience compared to Squarespace. With 900 templates, advanced design tools, and the ability to use AI-generated content, users have immense creative control. I found the AI tools very helpful. I could generate text, images, and even entire sections, speeding up the site-building process. Wix also offers a free plan with 500MB storage, 1GB bandwidth, and a Wix-branded domain, giving users a chance to explore before upgrading.
Additionally, Wix offers built-in mobile optimization, a vast App Market for expanding functionality, and advanced business tools such as email marketing and SEO. While Squarespace’s templates are often praised for their professional polish, Wix excels in flexibility, though changing templates can be tedious after your site is set up.
Who is it best for?
Wix is perfect for users who want both creative freedom and easy-to-use tools. Its AI options make it great for beginners, while its robust design tools appeal to experienced users who want more control. However, beginners may find Wix overwhelming at first due to its vast feature set. Squarespace might be better for those who prefer simplicity and fewer choices, but for those ready to explore more features, Wix is an excellent option.
Pricing
According to our Wix review, the website builder has many plans to fit everyone's needs. The free version is ideal for testing the platform, while the cheapest paid plan starts at $10.50/month. Plus, there’s a 14-day trial period for Premium plans, giving you peace of mind. Higher-tier plans come with more storage and advanced marketing and eCommerce tools for growing your site.
2. Hostinger Website Builder – cheaper Squarespace alternative with SEO tools included
| Free plan: | No |
| Pricing: | From $2.69/month |
| Templates: | 150 |
| Best for: | Personal projects |
Hostinger Website Builder is an excellent alternative to Squarespace. It offers an affordable, user-friendly platform with powerful features for quickly creating websites. While Hostinger doesn’t have a free version, its pricing is lower than Squarespace's ($2.69/month compared to Squarespace's $16.00/month), making it more accessible for users on a budget.
Why is Hostinger an alternative to Squarespace?
Compared to Squarespace, Hostinger stands out for its affordability and user-friendly approach. It offers a range of design and built-in marketing tools, such as Hotjar, making website creation both simple and effective.
As discussed in our Hostinger Website Builder review with expert insights, the website builder offers great AI features, similar to Wix. Hostinger also includes AI-driven website creation, which covers everything from page design generation to text and image optimization. The provider also offers an AI logo maker that is far more advanced than what Squarespace offers. Notably, the AI Heatmap feature is particularly useful for advanced users, as it helps visualize user attention on critical areas of the website’s design, allowing for more informed adjustments and predictions of user behavior.
Additionally, Hostinger supports multi-language functionality, which automatically duplicates content in different languages, making it easier to reach a broader audience. It also integrates seamlessly with online stores, Google, and Facebook, providing essential tools for managing eCommerce and marketing efforts.
While Squarespace is renowned for its premium design options and advanced customization capabilities, Hostinger offers a compelling alternative by balancing affordability with high-quality features and performance. This makes Hostinger a solid choice for users who prioritize ease of use and value without the complexities and higher costs associated with more advanced website builders.
Who is it best for?
Hostinger is perfect for small business owners, freelancers, or personal bloggers seeking an affordable website solution without the complexities of more advanced platforms. It’s an excellent choice for those looking for a budget-friendly alternative to Squarespace, providing similarly attractive templates at a significantly lower price. Additionally, Hostinger’s robust SEO tools are ideal for anyone aiming to enhance their online presence.
Pricing
Hostinger doesn’t offer a free version but includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the platform risk-free before making a long-term commitment. The pricing is very affordable, starting at just $2.69/month. The higher-tier plan includes eCommerce and AI features, offering more functionality. However, it's important to note that prices increase significantly upon renewal.
3. Bluehost Website Builder – Squarespace alternative for WordPress websites
| Free plan: | No |
| Pricing: | From $1.99/month |
| Templates: | 300 |
| Best for: | WordPress websites |
Bluehost is the ideal alternative for those seeking more customization options than Squarespace offers. Both platforms enable easy website building, but Bluehost, through WordPress, offers greater flexibility with plugins and design tweaks, even though its templates may not be as visually appealing as Squarespace’s.
Why is Bluehost an alternative to Squarespace?
With our guide to building a website with Bluehost, you can make a simple website just like you would with Squarespace, but the real difference is in customization. Squarespace offers polished templates and a user-friendly interface, and while you can customize your site through Developer Mode, you're ultimately limited to what Squarespace provides. In contrast, Bluehost offers much more flexibility. You can use the WordPress-powered WonderSuite or integrate tools like Elementor for added functionality.
Plus, Bluehost gives you access to a wide range of plugins, such as Yoast SEO and broken link checkers – features that Squarespace lacks. While Bluehost's templates might not be as sleek, its customization potential is far greater, especially with WordPress plugins. You're not confined to built-in tools and can optimize your site for SEO, eCommerce, and payment methods more extensively than with Squarespace.
Who is it best for?
Bluehost is perfect for anyone who wants to tweak every part of their site, whether it's design or functionality. If you’re comfortable exploring plugins and want more control over your website’s future growth, Bluehost is a great option. However, if you prioritize an easy-to-use, visually stunning site with minimal effort, Squarespace might be the better choice.
Pricing
Bluehost does not offer free web builder plans but integrates them into its hosting packages, which start at an affordable $1.99/month. The website builder features remain the same across all plans, with higher tiers providing additional hosting resources.
4. SITE123 – beginner-friendly Squarespace alternative
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Pricing: | From $12.80/month |
| Templates: | 80 |
| Best for: | Small business sites |
SITE123 is a strong alternative to Squarespace. It offers a free version and a more straightforward website-building process, making it ideal for beginners who want to create a website with minimal effort.
Why is SITE123 an alternative to Squarespace?
Based on our extensive SITE123 review, the website builder is an excellent choice for users who want a fast and straightforward website-building experience. It offers a streamlined process where you can quickly choose from pre-set website structures, enabling you to create a fully functional site in under 10 minutes.
I found its layout options intuitive, making it easy to design a visually appealing website without much hassle. The setup process is also smooth – after answering just three simple questions, I was able to jump right into refining my site.
However, SITE123’s customization options are fairly limited compared to more robust platforms like Squarespace. You can only adjust the fonts of the whole page rather than for individual text. The overall percentage of the page that can be edited is quite low. Customization mostly revolves around selecting layout templates, with little room for deeper design adjustments. Additionally, it lacks the advanced AI features that other website builders, such as Wix or Hostinger, offer.
Who is it best for?
I recommend SITE123 for beginners and anyone looking to create a simple website for a small business, personal blog, or freelance portfolio. Its user-friendly interface is easy to understand and intuitive, making it much simpler than Squarespace, which can feel overwhelming at times. It offers great features for those wanting to build a basic site and move on, but for anyone with even a little experience or looking for more complex design control, SITE123 can feel limiting. It's a strong choice for anyone prioritizing ease of use and simplicity.
Pricing
SITE123 offers a free plan that allows you to test its features and decide if it meets your needs before committing. If you choose to upgrade, there are five paid plans, starting at just $12.80/month and going up to $45.00/month. Higher-tier plans provide additional benefits like increased storage, advanced eCommerce features, and the ability to translate your site into multiple languages, giving you more flexibility and control over your website’s functionality.
5. GoDaddy Website Builder – Squarespace alternative with excellent marketing tools
| Free plan: | Yes |
| Pricing: | From $9.99/month |
| Templates: | 240 |
| Best for: | Businesses looking to find new audiences |
GoDaddy's website builder is a solid alternative to Squarespace for those who need a simple website platform. While GoDaddy’s features and AI tools are more limited compared to Squarespace, it offers a cost-effective entry point for small businesses or those looking to test the waters before committing.
Why is Godaddy an alternative to Squarespace?
As described in our GoDaddy Website Builder review, the web builder offers a straightforward experience that is ideal for those looking to create a site quickly and easily. Its eCommerce features are particularly strong, making it a solid choice for small businesses or online sellers. GoDaddy also provides helpful suggestions for improving your site, which is a great feature for beginners. It offers a broader range of themes compared to SITE123, great options to customize colors and fonts, and the ability to tweak each section.
Although GoDaddy’s interface and features are basic compared to Squarespace, it offers a 7-day free trial, after which you can continue on a free plan (limited to a single-page website) or choose a paid option. This flexibility is perfect for users who want to try all the features before committing. That being said, Squarespace offers a broader selection of presets, which I find more appealing, but GoDaddy’s simplicity and affordability make it an excellent alternative, especially for newcomers.
Moreover, GoDaddy now offers GoDaddy Airo – a collection of AI-powered tools that help users create a website, build a brand, and grow their business online. It's included with any new domain purchase from GoDaddy.
Who is it best for?
GoDaddy is perfect for small businesses or individuals looking to quickly get online with minimal fuss. If your goal is to create a simple online presence with basic functionality or start selling products fast, GoDaddy’s ease of use and quick setup make it a practical option. However, if you aim for a more sophisticated, highly customizable site with advanced features, Squarespace would be a better fit.
Pricing
GoDaddy offers a free version that allows you to explore all of its features before committing. There are three paid plans available, ranging from $9.99/month to $20.99/month. What's great is that you can try any of these plans for free for 7 days, giving you a chance to experience all the features and determine if the builder or a specific plan is the right fit for your needs.
Best Squarespace alternatives
| Website builder | Rating | Templates | Free plan | Price (from) | Free domain name | Blogging | eCommerce |
| Squarespace | 4.4 | 180 | ❌ No | $16.00 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Wix | 4.8 | 900 | ✅ Yes | $10.50 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Hostinger Website Builder | 4.6 | 150 | ❌ No | $2.69 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Bluehost Website Builder | 4.3 | 300 | ❌ No | $1.99 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| SITE123 | 4.2 | 80 | ✅ Yes | $12.80 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| GoDaddy Website Builder | 3.8 | 240 | ✅ Yes | $9.99 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
How I tested these Squarespace alternatives
At Cybernews, we take a meticulous approach to reviewing website builders. If you're curious about our process, visit our how we test web builders page for details.
When searching for the best Squarespace alternatives, together with the Cybernews team, I evaluated 32 website builders. Here's what I focused on during the reviews:
- Ease of use (30%). I tested each provider to ensure that the website-building process was intuitive and simple.
- Templates and customization (30%). While Squarespace is known for its sleek designs, I made sure the alternatives also offered beautiful templates and solid customization options.
- Features (20%). I reviewed additional features like AI tools, SEO, marketing capabilities, and eCommerce options to see how each provider stacked up.
- Price (20%). I compared the value of each service by assessing its features, tools, and user experience and determining whether it was worth the cost.
Each provider was ranked from 1 to 5 based on performance in these categories, giving you reliable recommendations to meet your website needs.
Wrapping up
The best Squarespace alternative depends on your specific needs, whether it's price, user experience, or performance. My top pick is Wix, which offers even more beautiful templates, robust SEO tools, and a vast app market to enhance your website’s functionality. Another great option is Hostinger, which is known for being affordable, easy to use, and highly customizable. Bluehost is great for more advanced users, as it offers many great plug-ins and customization options. SITE123 is perfect for beginners with its simple, straightforward design that covers the basics of a clean website. GoDaddy is also a solid choice, ideal for building a basic website quickly and efficiently.
While Squarespace is undoubtedly a great platform, these alternatives show that you can find something even better tailored to your unique needs.
FAQ
Why not use Squarespace?
One of the main drawbacks of Squarespace is its limited editing flexibility and less robust SEO tools. While it allows for the creation of visually stunning websites, you're restricted when it comes to customizing the layout and functionality.
Is there a free version of Squarespace?
No, Squarespace does not have a free version. However, you can take advantage of the 14-day free trial to test it out and see whether you like it.
Is there a free alternative to Squarespace?
Yes, there are several free alternatives to Squarespace, including Wix, GoDaddy Website Builder, and SITE123. However, their free plans often come with limited functionality. To access more advanced features like custom domains and full design control, you need to upgrade to a paid plan for better flexibility and options.
What's better than Squarespace?
Many website builders similar to Squarespace offer more features for sometimes a lesser price. It all depends on your needs – if you’re craving more integrations and apps, your choice should be Wix. Then again, SITE123 and GoDaddy provide a super simple building experience. Experimental new features and designs can be found on Hostinger and Bluehost website builders.
Why is Squarespace bad?
Squarespace has a few cons: limited customization, deeper edits can only be done through HTML and CSS, the prices aren’t exactly the most affordable, and the business tools leave a lot to be desired.
Can I move my website from Squarespace?
Yes, it is possible to move your website from Squarespace. Gallery and blog pages will be exported along with the content in your text and image blocks will appear on your new website automatically. You’ll have to manually export your style changes and custom CSS, along with your audio, video, and product blocks.
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