Honest Review: The Pros & Cons of Using Squarespace
The Pros and Cons of Using Squarespace as Your Website Platform
If you're a business owner or creator who’s been meaning to create a website for your business, you’ve probably heard of Squarespace.
Or if you watched the Super Bowl in January 2023, you probably saw all the Adam Driver Squarespace ads. 📺 (aside I had a slightly charming and definitely odd dream about Adam Driver right after writing this post. He was in love with me, and I was like, sorry, I have a boyfriend that I love, thank you very much Adam Driver. 😏)
EDIT for 2024: Or the Martin Scorsese Superb Owl commercial in January!
But in case you DON’T know, Squarespace is a popular website builder that offers a range of features and tools to help you easily create a professional website.
It’s also, obviously, the website builder I use here and the builder I use to create websites for my clients. But with so many website builders out there, you may be wondering —
Is Squarespace is the right choice for you? 🤔
In this post I’ll share some of the pros and cons of using Squarespace and walk you through if it’s the right platform right for you. It’s clearly my favorite (after 10+ years on WordPress 😒), but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everybody.
I'll take a closer look at the advantages of using Squarespace - like its user-friendly interface and reliable hosting. And I won’t be shy about the disadvantages, like the limited design customization options and up-front fees.
By the end of this post, you'll have a better understanding of whether Squarespace is the right platform for you to use.
The Pros of Using Squarespace
01. User-friendly interface and drag-and-drop editor
Squarespace offers a user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy to build a website even - or especially - if you don't have any coding or design experience. With its intuitive interface, you can easily add text, images, videos, and other content to your website and customize it to your liking.
02. Professional templates and designs
Squarespace offers a wide range of professionally-designed templates that can help your website look polished and professional. These templates are fully customizable, so you can make them your own by adding your own content, changing the colors and fonts, and more. This is great for the business owner who doesn’t want to spend any extra time learning how to design or figuring out where things should go.
FYI - a lot of the templates are designed for aesthetics, which is great of course. But I personally recommend going through and updating your Heading Hierarchy on every pre-set page. This shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and will be both a boost for SEO as well as more accessible to people with visual impairments using screen readers.
Here’s a simple breakdown of how you can be sure you’ve got Heading Hierarchy dialed in, whether you use a template or not:
Heading Tags (H1-H4)
H1: This is the main title of your page. Use it for the top-level title only. There should be only one H1 tag per page.
H2: Use these for main section titles. They break down the content under your H1.
H3: These are sub-sections under each H2. They further categorize information.
H4: Use these for additional sub-sections under H3 if needed.
Paragraph Styles (P1-P3)
P1: This is your standard paragraph text. Use it for most of your content.
P2: This can be used for slightly less important text or for supplementary information.
P3: Use this for the least important text, like disclaimers or footnotes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Use only one H1 per page.
Structure content using H2, H3, and H4 to create a clear, logical flow.
Apply P1 for main text, P2 for secondary, and P3 for tertiary information.
This setup helps keep your content well-structured and easy to navigate.
03. Built-in features for e-commerce, blogging, and portfolios
Squarespace has a large and growing list of built-in features that can help you build an online store, create a blog or portfolio page, and more. With Squarespace, you can easily set up an e-commerce store and accept payments online, create a portfolio to showcase your projects or clients, or create a blog to share your thoughts or knowledge (and build up your SEO presence!).
04. Reliable hosting and security
Squarespace offers reliable hosting and security features that can help ensure your website is always up and running smoothly. With Squarespace, you don't need to worry about finding your own hosting provider or dealing with security issues on your own. (This to me is worth the yearly fee I pay.)
05. 24/7 customer support
Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support via email and live chat, so you can get help whenever you need it. Whether you have a question about how to use a particular feature or need help troubleshooting an issue, Squarespace's customer support team is there to help. They’re usually super friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful in my experience too.
Overall, Squarespace's user-friendly interface, professional templates and designs, built-in features, reliable hosting and security, and 24/7 customer support make it a popular choice for business owners and creators who want to build a website without the hassle of dealing with hosting and security issues on their own.
Or, if you’ve used WordPress, you don’t have to worry about trusting the authenticity of the plugins you need, or having to choose and buy themes.
The Cons of Using Squarespace
As much as I like using Squarespace, there are also a few cons:
01. Limited design customization options
While Squarespace offers a range of professionally-designed templates, customization options may be limited for those who want more control over the design of their website. Users may find that they can only make small changes to the design and layout of their website. This has changed with the recent-ish introduction of the 7.1 Fluid Designer, but platforms like Showit or WordPress do offer more creative control.
02. Monthly or annual fees
Squarespace charges a monthly or annual fee to use their platform (💡tip: choose yearly, it’s a better deal!), which may be a disadvantage for those who are looking for a free website builder. While the fees are reasonable, they can add up over time, especially if you're running a small business or organization.
This to me is the biggest disadvantage. Whereas I see the value, I know a lot of writers, creators or small business owners may be hesitant to invest in ongoing fees, especially at the start of their career.
However, one thing to note is that with a platform like WordPress, it’s becoming increasingly necessary to pay a web developer to maintain and monitor your plug-ins and website updates and security, so even though the upfront fee for Squarespace can be a deterrent, it’s possible Squarespace may actually be cheaper in the long run.
03. Steep learning curve for advanced features
While Squarespace's drag-and-drop editor is user-friendly, some of the more advanced features may have a steep learning curve. When you see a website built in Squarespace and see a really cool feature, chances are that’s a custom CSS code or featured plugin from an agency like Squarekicker. While awesome to have those options (and I for one appreciate them), they can make designing unique sites seem out of reach to the casual Squarespace user.
Overall, Squarespace's limitations in design customization, advanced features, and monthly or annual fees may make it a less viable option for users who want more control and flexibility over their website.
So… who should use Squarespace?
Service-Based Business Owners & Solopreneurs
Squarespace is a great option for small business owners who want to create a professional-looking website without the need for extensive technical knowledge. With built-in features for e-commerce, blogging, and more, Squarespace can help online small business owners create an eye-catching and easy-to-update website.
Creative Professionals
Squarespace's sleek templates and designs make it an ideal choice for creative professionals like artists, photographers, and designers who want to showcase their work online. The platform's drag-and-drop editor also makes it easy for these users to create a portfolio or online store to sell their work.
Bloggers, Writers, and Academics
Squarespace's built-in blogging features make it a great option for travel bloggers and writers in industries like travel, recipes, and affiliate marketing niches who want to create a professional-looking blog. It’s also great for academics who are looking for a portfolio-style website. The platform makes it easy to monetize a blog with built-in advertising features and integrations with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal.
Small E-commerce Businesses
Squarespace's built-in e-commerce features make it an ideal choice for small online businesses that want to sell products online. With features like inventory management, shipping, and tax calculations built in, Squarespace makes it easy to set up and manage an online store.
A bit of advice: If your business is primarily a physical product shop, it may be worth taking a look at other platforms, like Shopify.
And… who shouldn't use Squarespace?
Larger businesses with complex needs
Squarespace's limited customization options and third-party integrations may not be sufficient for large businesses with complex needs. These users may require a more flexible platform that allows for more control over the design and functionality of their website.
Developers who want complete control over their website
Squarespace's drag-and-drop editor and limited customization options may not be suitable for developers who want complete control over their website. These users may prefer to use a platform that allows for more advanced customization and coding.
Users on a tight budget
Squarespace's monthly or annual fees may be a barrier for users on a tight budget who are looking for a free website builder. These users may be better off using a free website builder or open-source platform that allows for more flexibility and control over their website.
Squarespace is a popular website builder for a reason.
It offers several advantages, including a user-friendly interface, professional templates, built-in features for e-commerce and blogging, reliable hosting and security, and 24/7 customer support. However, there are also some disadvantages to using Squarespace, such as limited design customization options, monthly or annual fees, and a potential steep learning curve for advanced features.
It's important to remember that the decision of whether to use Squarespace ultimately depends on your specific needs and goals.
Key Takeaways
Squarespace may be a good fit for small business owners, creative professionals, bloggers and writers, and e-commerce businesses, as it offers several features that can help you to create a professional and optimized website.
However, Squarespace may not be the best fit for large businesses with complex needs, developers who want complete control over their website, or users on a tight budget.
Do your own research and try Squarespace for yourself* to determine if it's the right platform for you. Squarespace offers a free 2-week trial period, so you can test out the platform and see if it meets your needs before making a final decision.
>>> And BTW, if you hire a Squarespace web designer to build your website, be sure to hire one who’s a Squarespace Circle member, so you can receive a six-month trial period, plus a 20% discount off your first year! (Contact me for a free consult)
