Squarespace or Webflow? A Web Designer's Honest Take

As a web designer, a common question I get is: “What about using Squarespace for my website?” or "I made my current website really quickly on Wix , and I'm not sure if I should keep it on there." I wanted to take the time to address some strong thoughts I have on this.

In this post, I’ll going to focus on Squarespace, but keep in mind that much of what I say also applies to Wix, which is a similar platform. While the Squarespace and Wix websites—and many designers who are married to one platform as their tool of choice—will try to convince you that these builders are a fit for just about anyone, in my experience this is not the case. I do believe, however, they are the right path for some. So let's break that down.

Over time, I’ve developed four key criteria for evaluating whether someone is a good fit for a mass-market website builder like Squarespace as opposed to something a bit more advanced, like Webflow.

Let’s dive in. Here are the 4 things I look for:

1. Simple or Complex Site Functionality Needs?

First things first: what do you need your website to do? If you only need a straightforward, static site to showcase your business, maybe have a contact form and a blog, I'd say this is a "green flag" for you being a potential Squarespace fit.

But if your business requires more complex functionality—like a Content Management System (CMS), e-commerce, custom SEO capabilities, or even a customer portal—I would proceed with caution. Squarespace can handle some of this basic functionality, but you will quickly bump up against its limitations.

2. Growth Plans: Are You in Maintenance Mode or Actively Evolving?

Another thing to consider is whether your business is in “maintenance mode” or still changing.

If you feel fairly confident that your business won’t change much over the next few years, Squarespace can be a reliable, low-maintenance choice.

But if you find yourself dreaming of new ways to expand, new services to offer, or exciting directions for your venture, I’d steer you toward a platform that can grow with you. You don’t want to hit a point where you’ve outgrown Squarespace’s capabilities after only a year or two. Migrating to a different platform isn't impossible, but it's something I would avoid if you can.

3. How Hands-On Do You Want to Be with Your Website?

If you’re someone who wants to make frequent design changes to your site—changing up the homepage, adjusting layouts, adding new sections, here's where Squarespace could be a safe bet.

Think of Squarespace like Canva for websites—it’s designed to be extremely user-friendly for non-designers. While platforms like Webflow or Framer offer far more power and flexibility, there’s an undeniably steep learning curve. With these tools you can handle smaller updates yourself (adding to a blog, changing copy, swapping photos etc.), but larger modifications will likely require the support of a designer or developer.

To sum it up: if you see yourself wanting to make frequent design changes by yourself, Squarespace is a strong contender.

4. Branding: Minimal vs. Custom?

Number four is a piece of criteria that I’m very passionate about: branding. Specifically, does minimal branding make sense for your business, or does something truly custom align with what you're trying to build?

If you’re happy with a clean, simple look—color palette, basic typography, and a simple logo—Squarespace will get the job done. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, especially if you’re aiming for a no-frills, approachable brand (think: a straightforward creative portfolio site, or a neighborhood plant shop).

However! If you want a truly bespoke website experience, Squarespace will limit you. Unless you’re paying someone to add custom code (which, in my opinion, defeats the purpose of using Squarespace a bit), it’ll be tough to make your site stand out from the millions (yes, I looked this up: millions) of other Squarespace sites out there.

Let’s look at an example. Imagine two architecture firms:

1. Firm A uses this Squarespace template. It’s nice. It’s clean. But it feels familiar, like many other sites you’ve seen.
2. Firm B uses a customized approach (this Webflow template is a good example). It has playful hover effects, smooth scroll animations, and a distinctive feel.

So, why does this matter?

If I were to contact Firm B, I wouldn’t be surprised if their prices were 40% higher than Firm A’s, purely based on their site’s presentation. Branding counts for so much when it comes to perceived value, and your website plays a massive role in how customers view your business.

Conclusion

TL;DR—

Before choosing a website builder, ask yourself (or your client):

1. Does my site only require very simple functionality (+1 Squaresapce)
2. Is the business more in maintenance mode (+1 Squarespace) or is it still evolving and growing? (+1 for an advanced builder like Webflow)
3. Do I see myself wanting to make frequent layout and design changes (+1 Squarespace), or will I primarily only make minor changes and updates to site copy, the blog, and photos (+1 Webflow)
4. Does minimal branding vs. premium/custom make more sense for your business, and for your service/product pricepoint? (minimal branding & accessible pricepoints = +1 Squarespace, custom branding & premium prices = +1 for Webflow).

Whether you’re a business owner trying to make the best choice for your site, or a designer helping clients navigate the decision-making process, I hope you found this breakdown helpful.

In another post coming soon, I’ll share a few tips and tricks to help your Squarespace (or Wix) site stand out from the crowd without needing custom code.