Create Your Own Website – Which Is Better For Designers?

The idea of a web page builder for designers could seem a bit counterintuitive. Templates? Prebuilt layouts? AI? Not exactly conducive to creativity, correct?

Properly, which could have been true a few years previously. However web page builders have developed, and with that comes a period of web page builders which have been notably created with designers and creatives in ideas.

I’m talking, in actual fact, about Webflow and Squarespace. A quick take a look at their websites reveals two very clean and polished web page builders, every of which can be in a position to producing websites with eye-catching, on-growth designs.

Webflow and Squarespace’s homepages

So which one is finest for you? On this roundup, I’ll consider the fully completely different choices of Webflow vs Squarespace, that may show you how to select the proper platform based in your requirements – whether or not or not that’s for a portfolio, pictures web site, enterprise web site, on-line retailer, or completely different sort of web page.

Webflow vs Squarespace: Who wins this comparability? (Spoiler Alert)

Class	Webflow	Squarespace
Ease of Use	0	1
Templates	0	1
Design Flexibility	1	0
Running a blog Options	0	1
internet optimization	1	1
On-line Retailer	0	1
Apps and Widgets	1	1
Help	1	1
Worth	1	1
Complete	5	8

It was a fairly tight race, nevertheless in the end Squarespace beat out Webflow – study on to look out out why…

Webflow vs Squarespace: What are the first variations?

Each Webflow and Squarespace are US-based companies (Webflow hails from San Francisco, Squarespace from New York) which will be backed by some pretty vital VC funding. Nonetheless, there are a number of key variations throughout the product itself.

Squarespace is constructed like a customary web page builder, allowing you to assemble websites all through the confines of its templates and editor. Though you’ve got some design administration, you might solely take your customizations so far – the templates, for most likely probably the most half, dictate the styling of your web page.

Webflow might be thought-about as further of a hybrid of a web page builder and a CMS. It affords you full design flexibility, resulting from its seen canvas and dynamic content material materials choices. So, it’s for certain the additional extremely efficient of the two – nevertheless that doesn’t on a regular basis translate to “increased”.

Let’s see how they sq. off in our top notch: ease of use.

Ease of Use

By definition, web page builders are presupposed to be easy to utilize. I wouldn’t identify Webflow or Squarespace most likely probably the most intuitive devices to utilize, nonetheless. No, you don’t have to be successfully-versed in HTML or CSS to utilize each, nevertheless there’s positively a finding out curve involved.

That is very true of Webflow. Its design flexibility comes at a worth – there are so many decisions for personalization that it’d most likely take a while to know all of them. Having a superb stage of technical knowledge, being conscious of devices comparable to Sketch or Figma, and being prepared to invest the time into finding out the system, are all key to getting most likely probably the most out of it.

Constructing an internet web page in Webflow’s design editor

An enormous plus is that Webflow presents an infinite differ of help supplies to help clients get conscious of it, along with applications, tutorials, films, and a dialogue board.

By comparability, Squarespace is far more easy. You may get to know the system pretty successfully by exploring by your self (the interface is straightforward and minimalistic), with out loads of further help (although it is on the market while you need it).

Navigating Squarespace’s web page editor

But it surely’s not pretty as intuitive as a result of it could very properly be. Enhancing a element usually takes a few additional clicks than it must, and you possibly can manually save changes everytime you make them.

Palms down, though – if ease of use is what you’re after, Squarespace may very well be the selection to go for. That’s 1:0 to Squarespace!

Templates

In case you’d want to not start from scratch when setting up your web page, every Webflow and Squarespace provide an infinite assortment of templates to pick from.

In actuality, Squarespace’s template selection is one amongst its most frequently-touted selling components – and I’ve to say it’s pretty spectacular. There are spherical 110 fully completely different mobile templates, defending portfolios, blogs, on-line outlets, enterprise web sites and further. And, as you’d anticipate, all are impeccably designed, in step with the most recent on-line design developments.

One among Squarespace’s stunning templates

Webflow presents a similar number of templates, and quite a lot of the designs are pretty trendy, although I’m uncertain they’re truly a match for Squarespace’s extreme-design aesthetic.

A template in Webflow

There’s one completely different large distinction. Whereas Squarespace’s templates are all free, Webflow solely presents spherical 40 free templates. The overwhelming majority (and the upper-prime quality ones, I’d say) have to be purchased, with prices ranging between $19 – $149.

It’s moreover worth noting that every Webflow and Squarespace’s templates are mobile-nice by default, although Webflow goes the extra step in letting you regulate their templates for numerous show sizes.

After all, while you’re planning to start with a clear slate, template prime quality isn’t one factor you really want to consider. In case you want a excessive-notch selection of templates nonetheless, I’d say Squarespace is the winner proper right here. 2:0 for New York!

Design Flexibility

How quite a bit administration do you recuperate out of your web page design with Webflow vs Squarespace? Right here’s a category the place the excellence between the two platforms is big.

Webflow truly locations you throughout the driver’s seat in relation to design. Other than supplying you with three decisions to begin with – starting from scratch, selecting a template, or choosing a preset format – you moreover get full administration over every seen issue of your web site. Content material, placement, styling and interactions can all be adjusted inside Webflow’s drag-and-drop editor.

As well as, Webflow affords you the selection to embed custom-made HTML, CSS or JavaScript code. And as I mentioned earlier, you even have the ability to edit the design for as a lot as seven(!) fully completely different breakpoints, supplying you with the freedom to design mobile experiences as you need.

Enhancing for mobile screens in Webflow

With Squarespace, you’re further restricted. Templates embody a finite set of sorts and layouts. This helps to ensure design consistency, however moreover means a lot much less inventive freedom. They are going to be customized-made, nevertheless solely to a certain extent. And whereas sorts might be overridden by means of code on Squarespace’s Marketing strategy, it’s undoubtedly not the proper customization experience.

The editor itself will be significantly restricted. Content material is edited on a bit-by-half basis, and as Squarespace’s editor is simply not an actual drag-and-drop editor, getting parts positioned within the right place requires utilizing columns and spacer parts.

Enhancing a bit throughout the Squarespace editor

Even though Squarespace has massively improved its template system with its most up-to-date mannequin (7.1), you proceed to have far more flexibility with Webflow. That narrows Squarespace’s lead, at 2:1.

Running a blog Options

Which is the upper instrument for operating a weblog? You would be surprised.

Webflow presents a robust operating a weblog decision. You will have the freedom to design your weblog template as you’d like, and should take advantage of Webflow’s dynamic content material materials choices to have your weblog posts created routinely.

A sample weblog in Webflow

However getting further choices to work, comparable to suggestions, RSS feeds or social media sharing, takes a bit little bit of extra work. These all have to be manually organize, and usually require a little bit little bit of fiddling spherical with code.

Because it appears, Squarespace is doubtless one of many biggest web page builders we’ve come all through for operating a weblog. Its operating a weblog choices are unbelievable – suggestions, numerous authors, submit scheduling, and AMP (Accelerated Cell Posts) help, are all included out of the sector. It moreover presents constructed-in e-mail campaigns, social media integrations, mobile enhancing, and even podcast web internet hosting. Spectacular!

A weblog constructed with Squarespace

So, while you do get further administration over your weblog’s design with Webflow, I really feel Squarespace is the additional full decision if operating a weblog is a priority for you: That brings us to a ranking of three:1!

internet optimization

Proper now now we have now Squarespace firmly throughout the lead, taking out 3 of the 4 rounds. However which of the two presents increased internet optimization choices?

I’ve to say, Webflow and Squarespace are pretty equal on this entrance. Each have robust internet optimization enhancing decisions, supplying you with the ability to do all the fundamentals (edit internet web page titles, URLs, descriptions and so forth). However they even current superior internet optimization options, comparable to letting you organize 301 redirects, edit your robots.txt file, and generate sitemaps.

Each moreover provide some distinctive advantages. Squarespace goes the extra mile to ensure your web site is Google-pleasant, by allowing you to permit AMP to your weblog posts, structuring product data to give attention to Google rich search outcomes, and offering direct integration with Google data by means of its Key phrase Search panel.

Weblog submit internet optimization settings in Squarespace

In Webflow, the ability to have full administration over the responsiveness of your web site will show you how to obtain additional components in mobile-friendliness, which is a key ranking concern for Google. And it moreover lets you create ‘auto-generated’ meta titles and descriptions for assortment pages (e.g. weblog posts), the buildings of which you will define.

Enhancing internet optimization settings for the homepage in Webflow

Webflow and Squarespace are every professionals on the internet optimization sport, so this spherical is a tie – 4 components to Squarespace, 2 to Webflow.

On-line Retailer

They’re possibly not the first web page builders that come to ideas everytime you contemplate ecommerce. Nonetheless, every Squarespace and Webflow come outfitted with the devices you possibly can assemble an web retailer, while you’re planning to advertise bodily or digital merchandise in your web site.

So how do they consider? This desk affords a snapshot of Webflow vs Squarespace’s ecommerce choices:

FEATURES	Webflow	Squarespace
Degree of customization	Excessive. Though you must make the most of a template, you can also design product pages and collections/lists, along with the checkout internet web page, affirmation internet web page, and procuring cart	Medium. You’ll be able to edit the design of your product and checkout pages by tweaking a few settings, nevertheless not by dragging and dropping parts
Product prohibit	Between 500-3000 devices, relying in your plan. Notice that devices consists of not solely merchandise, however moreover product variants, courses and CMS devices	Limitless
Digital downloads	Sure	Sure
Fee gateways	Stripe, PayPal	Stripe, PayPal, Sq. (for POS)
Transaction costs	2% on Customary plan; no costs on elevated plans	3% on Marketing strategy; no costs on elevated plans
Auto tax calculation	Sure, for US, Canada, EU and Australia (by means of TaxJar)	No, although you might be part of TaxJar to your retailer
Actual-time transport costs	No, these have to be manually set	Sure, on its highest plan (Advance) for US outlets
Buyer accounts	Not out of the sector. You’ll be able to add these in using a third-get collectively integration comparable to Cunning	Sure
Analytics	Not inbuilt, nevertheless you might mix with Google Analytics	Sure, by means of the Gross sales panel in Squarespace Analytics. You’ll be able to even mix with Google Analytics

Whereas not most likely probably the most extremely efficient on-line retailer builders in the marketplace, I’d say every Webflow and Squarespace provide a fairly refined ecommerce decision in case your retailer is on the smaller aspect. Nonetheless, if we’re evaluating them primarily based totally on choices, I really feel Squarespace ticks only some further containers than Webflow.

A product internet web page constructed with Squarespace

That locations Squarespace at an infinite lead of 5:2! Can Squarespace maintain this worthwhile streak in the last few rounds?

Apps and Widgets

What in the event you want to add additional efficiency to your web site? Let’s take an in depth check out how far you might take a web site constructed on Webflow vs Squarespace.

Squarespace launched its Squarespace Extensions market in December 2019. It presents spherical 20 fully completely different extensions, most of which can be ecommerce and accounting-related (e.g. Shippo, Printful, Quickbooks On-line).

A few of the apps on the market on Squarespace Extensions

In case you purchase Squarespace’s Marketing strategy or elevated, you can also entry its constructed-in add-ons, comparable to pop-ups, image galleries, appointment scheduling, Member Areas, and further. Moreover, there are some third-get collectively devices that could be added to your web site by means of Code Injection, and APIs that could be organize in case you’ve an ecommerce web site.

Webflow’s integrations are barely fully completely different. Though its library lists over 200 integrations, these aren’t quite a bit direct app integrations as they’re guides of simple strategies so as to add the devices manually. Useful, nevertheless they require a bit further work than merely enabling an extension.

Webflow’s huge choice of integrations

Totally different approaches, nevertheless every current a superb amount of versatility by means of enhancing your web site. This spherical’s a tie!

Help

We’re nearing the tip of our comparability, so let’s take a look at one essential class: help.

Whereas web page builders are notorious for being gradual to supply help (notably while you really want it!), I can let firsthand that this isn’t the case with Squarespace. You may get options just about instantly resulting from Squarespace’s keep chat, they often moreover current 24/7 e-mail help, along with a whole knowledge base.

You’ll be able to entry Squarespace’s Assist Middle instantly from all through the editor

In case you’re looking out for personal help for Webflow, you might uncover them a bit slower to answer. That’s on account of they don’t (at current) current any phone or keep chat help – e-mail is the one channel on the market, and their dedication is to answer inside 1-2 enterprise days. Not exactly snappy.

Nonetheless, while you’re further of a restore-it-your self sort of particular person, then you definately definately’ll possibly have the benefit of combing by Webflow’s huge differ of property on the Webflow College, which embody applications, films and step-by-step guides. There’s moreover a dialogue board, weblog, and an computerized chatbot to help stage you within the right path.

So, whereas Squarespace’s personal help is kind of a bit sooner than Webflow’s, I really feel Webflow’s inconceivable property help to make up for it. It’s but yet another tie, taking the ranking to 7:4.

Worth

Now for the final word class: which one presents increased value for money?

Let’s first take a look at their widespread web page plans, designed for people who don’t plan in order so as to add an web retailer.

• Squarespace’s Private plan costs spherical $12/month, letting you assemble a weblog or a non-public web page by your self space. There usually are not any storage or bandwidth limitations, nevertheless you don’t get right of entry to Squarespace’s ecommerce, promoting or provide code choices. If you would like these, you might enhance to the Enterprise plan for $18/month, although ecommerce choices on this plan are significantly restricted.
• Webflow’s equal is its Fundamental plan, priced at $12/month. This affords you 100 pages, 50GB of CDN bandwidth*, a most of 25k month-to-month visits, nevertheless no CMS assortment devices. To enhance any of these limits, you might switch to a greater plan, comparable to CMS ($16/month) or Enterprise ($36/month).

*50GB is quite a bit and can merely help the 25k month-to-month visits

Costs for ecommerce plans are a bit elevated:

• Squarespace’s lowest ecommerce plan is Fundamental Ecommerce, which is $26/month. There usually are not any product limits, nevertheless you could be missing superior choices comparable to abandoned cart restoration and precise-time transport costs. These might be purchased on Fundamental Superior, for $40/month.
• Webflow’s lowest ecommerce plan is its Customary plan, for $29/month. An important distinction proper right here is that you have a prohibit of 500 devices (along with merchandise, variants, courses, and CMS devices). If you would like further, you’ll should enhance to each the Plus plan ($74/month for 1,000 devices) or Superior ($212/month for 3,000 devices).

So, it’s clear that while you need elevated portions of storage, bandwidth or merchandise, Squarespace comes out on excessive for value for money.

But it surely’s moreover worth noting that Webflow presents a few advantages that Squarespace doesn’t:

• Webflow affords you the selection of setting up two websites freed from cost on its Starter plan. Squarespace doesn’t provide any free plans, although you might trial it for 14 days
• Webflow moreover presents fairly a number of account plans, in case you possibly can assemble numerous web sites (e.g. for purchasers) – these start at $16/month

That’s why I really feel Webflow moreover deserves some extent on this spherical, as a result of it’s not often that you just come all through such quite a lot of plans to swimsuit numerous requirements.

Sadly, that’s nonetheless not ample to position Webflow ahead – truly, with 8 components to 5, Squarespace is the undisputed winner of this showdown!

Webflow vs Squarespace: A aspect-by-aspect comparability

Right here’s a quick recap of the fully completely different choices you’ll uncover in Webflow vs Squarespace: