Explore Squarespace vs. Webflow and how each differs in terms of pricing and flexibility.
“We have been running an offline business, but now as times are changing, we think it’s time to adopt in terms of establishing our brand’s digital presence. Some business owners suggested Webflow while others recommended Squarespace, which one should we choose”
A prospective lead commented on our LinkedIn post.
Getting back to them in the comment section would have been back and forth with no real solution in the end. So, we figured, why not write a blog on this topic?
Webflow vs. Squarespace: Factors Considered to Rank Each
Webflow vs. Squarespace: Which One to Choose?
1. Design Flexibility and Customization
Webflow: Code-Level Design Freedom
Webflow’s database offers 2,000+ templates (1,000+ free and paid, plus third-party options that developers can take advantage of).
Customization Tools
Flexbox Editor
Animations & Interactions
Webflow offers 4 default breakpoints which are desktop, tablet landscape, tablet portrait, and mobile.
If you want to build a brand website, reusable color/font variables can come in handy for consistency.
Code Export from HTML/CSS.
Advanced Features
CMS-Focused Design: You can build dynamic templates for blogs, portfolios, or e-commerce websites.
Figma Integration
Custom Code: You can work with a Webflow agency to add scripts, modify headers/footers, or embed third-party tools.
Squarespace: Drag-and-Drop Templates
Squarespace has 180+ pre-designed templates (which is significantly less than Webflow). These are split into different categories such as ‘Art and Design’, ‘Entertainment’, and ‘Events’
Customization Tools
Squarespace has a drag-and-drop section-based editor. However, there isn’t a full-page canvas editing option.
Style Editor: Helps adjust fonts, colors, and spacing.
Limited CSS/JavaScript access (only on Business and Commerce plans).
Mobile Editor: Tweaks are automated, but you can hide/show elements manually.
2. Performance and Speed: Overview
Ranking Factor
Squarespace
Webflow
Global CDN Coverage
Limited proprietary CDN
200+ Fastly/CloudFront edge nodes
Avg. Load Time
2.5–3.5s
1.2–2.1s
Mobile Performance
65–85/100 (PageSpeed)
85–100/100 (PageSpeed)
Image Control
Automatic WebP, no manual settings
WebP + manual compression
Code Efficiency
Template-driven, higher bloat
Clean, semantic code output
Uptime
99.94%
99.99%
Webflow: A Powerhouse of Performance
Speed Test Results: What Do They Say
Average Load Time: 1.2–2.1 seconds (GTmetrix tests of 50+ Webflow sites).
PageSpeed Insights Scores: 85–100/100 on mobile, 95–100/100 on desktop.
Uptime: 99.99% (consistently monitored via independent trackers).
Advanced Optimization Tools
Code Minification: Reduces file sizes by 20–30%.
Image Optimization: It offers automatic WebP conversion and lazy loading. And the manual compression setting is tweaked for quality and dimensions.
Caching: Customizable cache headers and CDN caching rules.
Asset Delivery: Asynchronous loading to prevent render-blocking.
Server Response Time: 200–400ms
Squarespace: Less Optimized For Speed and Performance
Speed Test Results: What Do They Say
Average Load Time: 2.5–3.5 seconds (based on GTmetrix tests of 50+ Squarespace sites).
PageSpeed Insights Scores: 65–85/100 on mobile, 80–95/100 on desktop.
Uptime: 99.94% (monitored via UptimeRobot over 12 months).
Note: Unlike Webflow, Squarespace doesn’t offer advanced optimization tools that businesses can take advantage of.
3. Which Website Builder is Scalable?
Webflow: Synonymous With Growth
Webflow is designed to accommodate growing businesses:
Webflow allows for dynamic content management that scales with business needs.
You can easily add new functionalities as your business evolves, such as features or services.
Squarespace: Best for Simpler Sites
Squarespace is the best option for you if you are running a small business with minimal chances of growth. Here’s what Squarespace offers:
Squarespace is less flexible to add complex features or integrations.
This website builder does not support extensive modifications.
4. SEO: Which One Has a Higher Chance to Rank on Google?
Webflow: Comprehensive SEO Tools
Webflow provides robust SEO capabilities:
You can edit titles, descriptions, and alt text, which gives you the freedom to control what Google sees.
Webflow has a clean semantic code that enhances search engine readability and indexing, which means good news if you want to rank on Google’s 1st page.
Squarespace: Basic SEO Features
Squarespace offers essential SEO tools:
Squarespace simplifies search engine indexing, which makes it easier for Google to crawl your website.
This website builder has clean URL structures, making sure that it's optimized for SEO.
5. E-Commerce: Where to Sell Your Products?
Webflow: Flexible E-Commerce Solutions
1. Customizable Storefront and Checkout Experience
Customizable product pages.
Webflow visual editor can help business owners customize user journeys from product selection to checkout.
2. Product and Inventory Management
Supports Digital and Physical Products
Flexible Inventory Control
3. Payment Processing & Transaction Fees
Payment Gateways: Supports Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for global transactions. However, it does not support PayPal.
Lower Transaction Fees: Webflow does not charge additional transaction fees.
4. Shipping and Fulfillment
Businesses can set flat-rate shipping, weight-based shipping, or location-based pricing.
For automated order processing, you can integrate your Webflow e-commerce store with third-party plugins.
Squarespace: E-Commerce Solution for Small Stores
1. Pre-Built Online Store Templates
Squarespace uses pre-designed templates, making it a less creative option for your online store.
The checkout process is less customizable.
2. Product and Inventory Management
Offers built-in tools to sell physical goods, services, memberships, and digital downloads.
Allows stock-level monitoring and low-stock alerts but lacks advanced automation.
3. Payment Processing & Transaction Fees
Payment Gateways: Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square
There’s a 3% fee on the “Business” plan.
4. Shipping and Fulfillment
Real-time carrier shipping with FedEx, USPS, and UPS.
Automatic shipping label printing for fulfillment.
Cannot define highly specific conditions (such as how should the product be handled) like Webflow.
Pricing: Most Bang For Your Buck
Webflow: Pricing That Meets Your Needs
1. General Pricing Plan
2. E-Commerce Pricing Plan
Squarespace: A Pricey Plan for Small Businesses
Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial. This website builder is aimed at small businesses that are looking for a digital presence.
Hidden Feature: Squarespace AI
Squarespace uses AI to help you build websites in just a day. The design can be customized, but there are limited options for you to make any desired changes.
All you need to do is type out your brand name along with the colors and voice that you want the content to have.
Conclusion
In this Webflow vs. Squarespace, the former has taken the lead and has been declared the winner.
But working with Webflow comes with a steep learning curve, which means you would spend more time learning than implementing.
So, what’s the solution?
Working with a Webflow agency, that will handle customizations and help create your brand identity.
Ready to be different?
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