Squarespace could look like the “go-to” choice for web site builders, however it’s not the one one. In actual fact, there are numerous options which can be usually higher for some customers.
Due to its easy interface and modern templates (and possibly additionally its aggressive advertising campaigns), Squarespace has shortly develop into the world’s hottest web site builder. Although it might be a fast and simple choice, it won’t have all the things a profitable web site wants.
On this submit, we’ll run down a few of our favourite Squarespace options, in addition to what it is best to search for when selecting one. Learn on to study extra.
Why Use a Squarespace Different?
Regardless of its recognition and simple interface, a few of Squarespace’s options are missing depth.
Whereas the platform provides modern design choices and a few fundamental ecommerce instruments, they’re pretty restricted. In consequence, a rising variety of Squarespace customers are discovering themselves in search of higher options to develop their web sites.
In fact, that’s to not say Squarespace is a “dangerous” web site builder — it’s something however. Nonetheless, these seeking to construct greater than only a fundamental web site from a template could need to take into account some Squarespace options.
However how are you aware in case you want another within the first place?
That will help you out, we’ve compiled this checklist of widespread eventualities that many Squarespace customers discover themselves in. Whether or not you already use Squarespace or are nonetheless buying round, take into account these components as you resolve whether or not to change or purchase.
Vary of Options
Although Squarespace has loads of built-in options and integrations, they’re precisely that: built-in.
In consequence, customers are additionally restricted to those options, making it unimaginable to combine third-party apps to enhance the performance of their web sites. For customers seeking to construct greater than a fundamental web site, this limitation is, effectively, limiting.
As we’ll see later in our high Squarespace options, many different web site builders permit third-party apps or integration of {custom} options and software program.
Past app integration, Squarespace customers even have restricted design options. Although Squarespace’s templates and designs are fairly modern and effectively laid-out, they provide little room for personalisation and customized design.
Extra Flexibility
Squarespace customers even have restricted design flexibility. Although we already touched upon this within the earlier part, it’s price noting among the finer variations between Squarespace and main options.
For one, many options provide a “clean canvas” for customers to construct on. Whether or not you’re an entire newbie or an online design professional, most options permit you full flexibility in the way you lay out your webpage. In contrast, Squarespace solely provides a comparatively small handful of templates.
Talking of templates, many options additionally present customers with customizable templates. Within the case of web site builders like WordPress, this will additionally embrace entry to third-party templates and {custom} designs. In consequence, most options permit customers to construct absolutely anything they’ll think about – whatever the finish consequence.
Ecommerce Choices
Although Squarespace additionally has some strong ecommerce choices, they’re restricted to a fundamental storefront, buying cart, and appointment scheduling.
Which may be sufficient for working on-line shops as an extension of a fundamental web site, however it doesn’t provide sufficient options and scalability to assist extra ecommerce-dedicated net presences. In consequence, these seeking to launch on-line retail, ordering platforms, or different extra “full” ecommerce options ought to take into account extra strong Squarespace options.
Squarespace’s restricted vary of third-party ecommerce apps additionally makes it unimaginable to combine extra well-liked instruments reminiscent of Shopify and PayPal.
Third-Get together Apps
Squarespace provides no apps – solely integrations of pre-approved instruments. In consequence, customers are restricted to no matter Squarespace thinks they want and often aren’t ready to make use of the apps and instruments they need.
We’ve already talked about this limitation for ecommerce instruments, however it applies to just about each different class.
One in every of these classes is net analytics. Whereas Squarespace provides proprietary analytics instruments, it’s not strong sufficient to compete with specialty SEO (website positioning) and enterprise intelligence platforms.
Whereas Squarespace has performed effectively to assist integration with well-liked apps like Google Workspace, these with specialty third-party app necessities might have a extra {custom} answer.
Simplicity
Although Squarespace’s simplicity and intuitive interface are main benefits, organising a web site on the platform nonetheless requires some effort. Fortunately, there are a number of options that supply an excellent easier setup, some even having fully-automated design choices.
Multi-Consumer Collaboration
Constructing and managing a web site can take a workforce, particularly for an organization or small enterprise.
In these circumstances, it’s often higher to decide on a web site builder that promotes multi-user collaboration. Whereas Squarespace permits additional customers to offer content material as “contributors,” it isn’t as versatile as having a number of directors or net builders. In consequence, groups ought to take into account extra versatile packages for selling collaboration.
Pricing and Charges
With private plans beginning at $14 per thirty days as of April 2022, Squarespace is unquestionably a bit pricier than constructing and managing your personal web site. Although the additional comfort could justify the price for some, there are nonetheless different prices and costs to contemplate.
One instance is Squarespace’s 3% transaction payment for Enterprise Plan customers. Whereas Squarespace’s different premium plans don’t have this payment, the following obtainable choice is to pay $27 per thirty days for the Commerce Plan.
With many cheaper Squarespace options obtainable, that will not be a fantastic choice for small companies already coping with service provider and point-of-sale charges.
High 15 Squarespace Options for 2022
Squarespace is a superb web site builder, however there are many equally nice options. To assist slim your search, we’ve compiled 15 Squarespace options that ought to cowl nearly each want and software.
1. WordPress
WordPress is without doubt one of the strongest instruments obtainable for constructing a web site. Whereas it takes slightly extra technical know-how than “drag-and-drop” instruments like Squarespace, it provides full customization and integration with plugins like Woocommerce for storefronts.
Although WordPress is free to make use of, customers should pay for their very own templates, plugins, and so forth. Nonetheless, with many free templates and plugins obtainable, loads of customization is feasible with out a paid subscription.
High Options:
- Absolutely customizable
- Limitless plugins
- Value based mostly on utilization
Value: Varies
2. Kinsta
Whereas we’re as regards to WordPress, there’s a giant distinction between internet hosting by means of WordPress and self-hosting. Although internet hosting instantly by means of WordPress could also be extra handy at first, self-hosting is a much more versatile choice.
Self-hosting is available in two varieties: internet hosting by yourself server or utilizing a managed internet hosting service.
When you can undoubtedly arrange and handle your personal server, it comes with a whole lot of overhead. Between having to carry out routine (learn: tedious) administration and common safety checkups, internet hosting by your self can shortly develop into time-consuming, costly, and troublesome to scale and adapt.
In consequence, many individuals use managed WordPress internet hosting to simply construct, scale, and preserve their web sites as their wants change. With Kinsta’s managed WordPress internet hosting companies, groups can shortly construct highly effective internet hosting options custom-tailored to their web site’s wants and use circumstances.
Plus, with all the things within the cloud, monitoring useful resource utilization, customer site visitors, and different stats are all obtainable on a single dashboard.
High Options:
Value: $30-$1500/mo (enterprise plans additionally obtainable)
3. Wix
Simply as well-liked as Squarespace (if no more so), Wix is without doubt one of the longest-running and most versatile web site builders obtainable.
Preferrred for each entrepreneurs and people on a finances, Wix provides over 500 fully customizable templates. With a lot flexibility, you may design nearly any web site utilizing a set of straightforward and intuitive instruments.
Whereas the free plan would require you to make use of a wix.com subdomain, paid customers can use their very own domains and internet hosting packages.
High Options:
- 500+ templates
- Limitless storage and pages
- Drag-and-drop editor
Value: $0-$49/mo (enterprise plans additionally obtainable)
4. Weebly
Although similar to Wix, Weebly is even simpler to make use of. In actual fact, it might be the simplest and user-friendly web site builder we’ve ever come throughout.
Nonetheless, the added simplicity comes on the value of fewer options. Whereas paid tiers of membership unlock options like {custom} domains and ecommerce instruments, it’s nonetheless much more bare-bones than most web site builders. Even so, it’s nonetheless a fantastic alternative for constructing easy web sites.
High Options:
- Extraordinarily user-friendly
- Easy interface
- Extensive choice of templates and apps
Value: $0-$30/mo
5. Shopify
With over 500,000 lively retailers worldwide, Shopify leads the pack because the gold commonplace of ecommerce. Whereas Squarespace and different web site builders could provide satisfactory ecommerce instruments, none of them provide the scalability, fame, and reliability of Shopify.
On that notice, each characteristic of Shopify is optimized for on-line promoting. Which means regardless of in case you’re configuring a product web page or laying out your web site’s buying cart interface, Shopify will provide help to optimize it for gross sales each step of the best way.
High Options:
- Glorious ecommerce instruments
- App retailer
- Future-proof level of sale
Value: $26-$2000/mo
6. Webnode
Although Webnode is a reasonably typical web site builder in most respects, it’s second to none in terms of constructing multilingual websites. With assist for many languages, Commonplace Plan customers ($12+/mo) can have their web site routinely translated for a number of audiences.
One other distinctive characteristic is e-mail assist. The place most web site builders and hosts require you to arrange your personal net e-mail, Webnode offers it by default.
High Options:
- Multilingual websites
- Engaging templates
- E-mail included
Value: $3.90-$22.90/mo
7. Jimdo
One other easy web site builder, Jimdo’s instruments and interfaces are simpler to make use of than Squarespace, Wix, and lots of different well-liked choices. Whereas much like Weebly in some ways, Jimdo can also be optimized for velocity. This characteristic alone makes it one other nice alternative for constructing easy, high-speed web sites.
High Options:
- Extraordinarily user-friendly
- Easy interface
- Velocity-optimized pages
Value: $0-$39/mo
8. Webflow
Supposed extra for front-end designers and builders, Webflow provides some fairly cutting-edge net design instruments. Nonetheless, whereas Webflow customers can take pleasure in full customization and management, the high-end package deal comes with a little bit of a studying curve.
High Options:
- Full customization and suppleness
- Chopping-edge design instruments
- Export code to different purposes
Value: $12-$200/mo (enterprise plans additionally obtainable)
9. Gator Web site Builder
The Gator web site builder is one other straightforward “drag-and-drop” choice supplied by well-liked webhosting service HostGator. Whereas it’s simply as straightforward to make use of as Wix and provides a number of engaging designs, it’s not very feature-rich.
Nonetheless, it’s a really handy choice for many who already use HostGator for webhosting or area registration.
High Options:
- Straightforward to make use of
- Web site rollback characteristic
- Effectively-designed templates
Value: $9.22-$19.98
10. Duda
Along with some nice web page templates, Duda is exclusive in providing assist for multilingual websites and web page personalization. With the personalization options, you may show your web site in numerous methods for various guests.
High Options:
- Straightforward to make use of
- Multilingual websites
- Customer web site personalization
Value: $14-$44/mo (enterprise plans additionally obtainable)
11. Strikingly
Nothing makes for a “hanging” first impression greater than a fantastic first web page — and that’s precisely what Strikingly is all about. As one in every of just a few web site builders specializing in one-page websites, it’s a fantastic choice for constructing touchdown pages, portfolios, and extra.
High Options:
- Nice templates for one-page web site design
- Straightforward to make use of
- Area identify included
Value: $0-$49/mo
12. GoDaddy
One other net host web site builder, GoDaddy makes it straightforward for current customers to shortly arrange a web site on their present area or internet hosting package deal. Nonetheless, it additionally provides some surprisingly spectacular and scalable instruments for ecommerce, advertising, website positioning, and extra.
High Options:
- Straightforward to make use of
- Constructed-in apps and instruments
- Assist for scalability
Value: $6.99-$17.49/mo
13. Cargo
Should you’re a inventive sort, look no additional than Cargo. Supposed as a web site builder for artists, Cargo’s 70+ uncommon (but gorgeous) templates are fully customizable, from colours to fonts and all the things in between.
High Options:
- Distinctive templates and layouts
- Constructed for artists
- Absolutely customizable
Value: $19-$28/mo (however free for college students!)
14. CMS Hub
As the positioning builder for HubSpot, CMS Hub is extra of an entire content material administration system (CMS) than a web page builder. Even so, it provides the identical drag-and-drop editor instruments you may anticipate from different suppliers, all with integration with HubSpot’s famend advertising and gross sales instruments.
High Options:
Value: $23-$1200/mo
15. Leadpages
Changing guests into clients is usually a main problem. Leadpages helps its customers overcome the hole with layouts and templates meant particularly for conversions. With built-in gross sales and analytics instruments, it’s a fantastic alternative for gross sales and advertising groups.
High Options:
- Templates optimized for conversions
- Included gross sales instruments
- Efficiency analytics
Value: $49-$99/mo
How To Select the Proper Web site Builder for You
Whereas each web site builder has its distinctive benefits (and distinctive drawbacks), solely a handful could also be best for you. However with so many choices obtainable, how will you select the fitting one?
Squarespace or not, the perfect web site builder ought to meet your wants. As you start your search, ask your self what you’re making an attempt to realize, what instruments you need to use, and what options you anticipate so you may know precisely what to search for.
Think about Your Wants
You undoubtedly know you want a web site – in any other case, you most likely wouldn’t be selecting a web site builder. The actual query is what you want that web site to do.
Although each web site builder can technically construct a web site, specialty web sites usually want specialty instruments. For instance, whereas Squarespace can shortly deploy a homepage and fundamental buying options, an enterprise-level ecommerce presence might have a extra strong, hard-coded answer.
In any case, all the time take into account what precisely you need your web site to do. It could even assist to make a listing and see whether or not every web site builder you evaluation can examine off all of your packing containers. In doing so, you’ll ensure you aren’t blindsided by a lacking characteristic after forking over your subscription payment.
Examine Design Choices (and Limitations)
Even when all you want is a “easy” web site, design remains to be an vital consideration.
Good design not solely makes it simpler for guests to make use of and navigate your web site, however it additionally says so much about you or your organization. Equally, design may also affect customers’ notion of your web site’s objective. For instance, chances are you’ll not need to show your private weblog as if it had been a company homepage.
Granted, most web site builders provide sufficient templates to cowl most sorts of web sites. Nonetheless, these templates are precisely that: templates. In consequence, it’s vital to have {custom} design choices to face out from the group and convey your model identification.
As we’ve coated earlier than, Squarespace customers usually face fairly restricted design choices. Whereas the designs and templates are fairly modern, they’re additionally fairly generic by most requirements. Although that is perhaps fantastic for a lot of makes use of, it can be stifling for extra inventive sorts.
In any case, be certain your web site builder’s design choices align with your wants and artistic imaginative and prescient. Lots of the Squarespace options listed above permit customers to create designs from the bottom up and even construct their very own templates.
Decide Your Ecommerce Wants
Whether or not you’re a small boutique or a full-fledged retailer, ecommerce will likely be one of many largest components in selecting your web site.
Although nearly each fashionable web site builder provides some type of ecommerce integration, they range extensively in options and capabilities. For instance, whereas Squarespace’s ecommerce choices is perhaps excellent for a easy storefront, a web-based clothes retailer with a big catalog and point-of-sale system is perhaps higher off with one thing like Shopify.
In fact, your ecommerce platform doesn’t have to come back from the positioning builder you select. Should you already use a selected platform or have one in thoughts, then it might be extra vital to examine that your web site builder helps the mixing. As we’ve seen, web site builders like Squarespace not often permit for this selection.
Examine Compatibility With Your Apps
Should you use apps for net analytics or website positioning, you’ll undoubtedly need to be certain they’re supported by your web site builder – even when it already provides its personal model.
This level is particularly vital in case you’re working with a pre-existing know-how stack, reminiscent of a mix of ecommerce, analytics, CRM, and website positioning instruments. Until you’re prepared to make some huge (learn: costly) adjustments, you’ll want a web site builder (or a {custom} answer) that helps integration with what you have already got.
Ask Your Crew
Should you plan to construct and/or handle your web site with a workforce, then they need to be absolutely on board (and absolutely acquainted) with the positioning builder you select.
Even in case you discover the “excellent” web site builder, it’s solely as excellent as your workforce’s capabilities. For instance, many individuals select web site builders for his or her ease of use. Nonetheless, if even an “straightforward” web site builder presents a steep studying curve on your workforce, then it’s no higher than the worst alternative.
Which may be an unlikely state of affairs, however it’s an vital one to contemplate. All the time examine your workforce’s preferences and talents earlier than deciding on a platform.
Think about the Value
As if an enormous vary of options weren’t sufficient, web site builders additionally come at an enormous vary of costs. These costs can vary wherever from fully free to tons of of {dollars} per thirty days.
Usually, you get what you pay for. The final pattern is that increased costs afford both higher customization, higher options, or a better capability for customers, transactions, and so forth.
Nonetheless, merely paying extra doesn’t all the time assure {that a} web site builder will meet your actual wants. For instance, Squarespace’s Enterprise Plan provides extra ecommerce instruments for $10 greater than the Private Plan, however this additionally comes with an extra 3% transaction payment when utilizing their instruments.
Don’t Overlook Internet hosting
Although many web site builders embrace internet hosting as a part of their package deal, utilizing it might probably include a number of caveats.
For one, you’ll have little to no management over the host server, which may affect your site visitors capability or website positioning efforts. Plus, as many web site builders host a number of web sites on a shared server, your web site may very well be negatively impacted if different web sites in your web site’s server have poor rankings or, within the worst case, a felony historical past.
Usually, it’s greatest to decide on a internet hosting plan separate out of your web site builder. Selecting your personal internet hosting plan not solely permits you extra flexibility and safety, but in addition tends to be inexpensive and extra strong than internet hosting plans offered by web site builders.
Abstract
Squarespace could also be the preferred web site builder, however options like WordPress and Shopify provide additional options and higher efficiency – usually at extra aggressive costs.
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