When building websites, your chosen tools can (and will) make or break your project.
It’s no longer about creating a good-looking product; you need a platform that aligns with your goals—launching a dynamic blog, running a seamless e-commerce store, or showcasing an interactive portfolio.
For years, Webflow and Squarespace have been two of the most popular website builders, each catering to different audiences. Webflow is known for its flexibility, scalability, and professional-grade tools, while Squarespace is celebrated for its simplicity and ease of use.
But which one is right for you?
As a Webflow Premium Enterprise Partner, I’ve worked with countless clients who started on Squarespace for its templates and ease but eventually moved to Webflow for its creative freedom and advanced capabilities.
What are Webflow and Squarespace?
1. Webflow: Creativity Without Limits
Webflow is a no-code website development platform designed for professionals who need complete creative freedom. It bridges the gap between design and development, allowing users to craft production-ready websites without writing a single line of code.
Who is Webflow for?
- Designers and agencies who need unique, pixel-perfect websites.
- Businesses that need scalable, content-driven platforms.
- Marketers who require advanced SEO tools and integrations for growth.
2. Squarespace: Simplicity at Its Best
Squarespace is a template-based website builder ideal for beginners or those who need a quick, straightforward solution
Its intuitive interface and all-in-one approach make it perfect for small-scale projects like portfolios, personal blogs, or simple business sites.
Who is Squarespace for?
- Hobbyists and small business owners with limited technical skills.
- Creatives who value visually appealing templates and ease of use.
- Users looking for an affordable, all-in-one solution for their online presence.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Feature | Webflow 🏆 | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
Ease of Use | Flexible, with a learning curve for advanced tools. | Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop editor. |
Design Freedom | Full creative control with no reliance on templates. | Pre-designed templates limit customization options. |
CMS and Scalability | Advanced CMS for managing dynamic content at scale. | Basic CMS suitable for static sites and smaller projects. |
SEO Tools | Built-in tools for clean code, fast loading, and advanced optimizations. | Basic SEO options, sufficient for small businesses but less competitive. |
E-Commerce Capabilities | Customizable product pages, dynamic filtering, and payment integrations. | Simplified e-commerce tools, ideal for small stores. |
Interactions and Animations | Advanced Interactions 2.0 for scroll effects, parallax, and hover states. | Limited animations and design effects. |
Hosting and Performance | Enterprise-grade hosting with global CDN and AWS-powered infrastructure. | Suitable for small sites but slower for high-traffic or resource-heavy sites. |
Custom Code | Full support for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and API integrations. | Minimal custom code support. |
| Pricing | Starts at $14/month, scalable plans for professionals and businesses. | Starts at $16/month, better suited for individuals and small businesses. |
| Best For | Designers, agencies, marketers, and businesses focused on scaling. | Beginners, bloggers, and small businesses looking for quick setup and simplicity |
When deciding between Webflow and Squarespace, it’s essential to understand how they compare across key features. Let’s break it down:
1. Ease of Use
Simplicity is its biggest strength. Its drag-and-drop editor and pre-designed templates allow anyone with zero design experience to create a functional website in hours. However, this simplicity can become a limitation if you want something customized.
While Webflow has a steeper learning curve, it offers unmatched flexibility. Tools like Webflow University help users quickly get up to speed.
It has been my experience that if you’re willing to invest time learning, Webflow’s professional-grade tools provide the creative control that Squarespace lacks.
2. Design Freedom
From what I could figure out, templates are the foundation of Squarespace. While visually appealing and professionally designed, they’re restrictive.
Think of Webflow as a blank canvas. There are no templates unless you choose to use one. Every element is customizable, from layout to animations.
Pro Tip: With Webflow’s Interactions 2.0, you can create engaging scroll effects, hover states, and dynamic transitions.
3. CMS and Scalability
Squarespace is best for static sites or those with minimal content. Its CMS is limited in functionality, making it unsuitable for managing large-scale content.
Speaking of which, the CMS is one of Webflow’s biggest strengths. Whether you’re managing 50 blog posts or 5,000 products, Webflow’s CMS scales effortlessly. You can even connect it to external tools like Airtable or Zapier for automation.
4. SEO Tools
Basic SEO tools like meta tags, alt text, and simple analytics are included in Squarespace. However, slower page speeds and bloated code can hurt your rankings for competitive keywords.
WIth Webflow, built-in SEO tools let you manage everything from schema markup to fast-loading performance. Webflow’s cleaner code and flexibility make it a favorite for SEO specialists.
5. E-Commerce Capabilities
Squarespace is suitable for small online stores. It offers basic features like product pages and payment processing but lacks advanced customization for larger e-commerce needs. Webflow’s e-commerce solution controls product pages, checkout flows, and dynamic filtering.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend e-commerce for either of these platforms. Having tried all three players, I highly recommend Shopify as both Squarespace and Webflow are limiting in this regard.
6. Custom Code Integration
While Squarespace does offer support for custom code integration, it’s very limiting and doesn't have any advanced functionalities. Webflow, in comparison, provides you full access to the HTML, CSS and JS elements of the site and lets you go beyond no-code tools.
How to Switch from Squarespace to Webflow?
- Audit Your Current Site: List the pages, features, and content you want to carry over. Decide what to recreate and what to improve.
- Plan Your CMS Structure: Use Webflow’s CMS to organize content like blogs, product catalogs, or case studies. This is your chance to set up a scalable system.
- Rebuild and Enhance: Design your site from scratch in Webflow, using its tools to improve layouts, animations, and functionality.
- Optimize for SEO: Leverage Webflow’s built-in tools to optimize search engine performance, metadata, and page structure.
- Test and Launch: Use Webflow’s staging environment to review and refine your site before going live.
LoudFace Makes Migration Easy
Migrating from Squarespace to Webflow can feel overwhelming, but it’s a seamless transition with the right partner. At LoudFace, we handle everything—from auditing your current site to building a scalable, custom design in Webflow. Book a Free Consultation and help us unlock your website’s full potential.
Webflow vs Squarespace: Strengths and Weaknesses
Every platform has its pros and cons, and choosing the right one means understanding how their strengths and weaknesses align with your needs. Here’s a clear breakdown of where Webflow and Squarespace shine—and where they fall short.
Webflow Strengths | Webflow Weaknesses |
|---|---|
Creative freedom | Learning Curve |
Dynamic content with advanced CMS | Higher Cost for Small Projects |
Built-In SEO and Performance | |
Custom Code and Developer Flexibility | |
Robust Hosting and Security |
