Webflow vs Squarespace

When it comes to website builders, Webflow and Squarespace sit on vastly different ends of the spectrum — they can’t really be compared. But, we’re going to compare them anyway. So, for those wondering, here’s your definitive answer to which is best, Webflow or Squarespace?

What is Squarespace?

Squarespace is a template-based site builder, offering modern templates, drag-and-drop tools, and advanced ecommerce functionality. Who’s it for? Freelancers, small business owners, and perhaps early stage start-ups… Basically, anyone who isn’t familiar with building websites and/or needs a fast solution. Because that’s the great thing about Squarespace — it’s quick, user-friendly, and takes the guesswork out of website creation, holding your hand every step of the way.

What is Webflow?

Webflow offers a blank canvas for developers and designers, powered by no-code functionality. What does this mean? Essentially, with Webflow, you can create anything your mind can dream up. The platform enables fully custom builds without needing to write every line of code. The foundations are laid as you work, speeding up build times and allowing more time spent on customising the finer details. It’s streamlined without compromise.

That said, Webflow also has hundreds of templates, all of which are highly customisable, and it’s packed with advanced capabilities, from SEO to app integration. The platform truly covers all bases. You could consider it the power toolkit of website builders — designed for professionals, ready to tackle any project. 

Let’s compare: Webflow vs Squarespace

To give you a clear picture of these two site builders, we’ve broken down the fundamentals. From build speed and ecommerce abilities to pricing — it’s all here.

But before we dive in, we want to be upfront. N4 is an accredited Webflow agency and Webflow Enterprise Partner, though it’s all for good reason (you’ll see soon). With that said, this review is not a sales pitch. Rather, it’s an honest comparison of Webflow and Squarespace, helping you make the best calls for your business.

01. Design & build speed

Squarespace:

Let’s keep it real. When it comes to Squarespace, you’re choosing a template and designing within those limitations. If you’re happy with the basic design, the turnaround time is going to be quick, faster than a Webflow website. But there’s a price to pay. With Squarespace, you’re saving time by losing customisation — one of the defining characteristics of engaging websites.

Webflow:

While Squarespace allows for quicker builds, Webflow makes it possible to build highly bespoke websites quicker than a traditional custom build. Instead of months, you’re looking at weeks. Just WEEKS to have the exact website you wanted launched and ready to use.

“The transition from Squarespace to Webflow was, I feel, a lot easier than I thought it would be. It was largely due to the way Webflow allows you to set up multiple domains at the same time and with a click of a button it just works. That in itself is just so powerful!” — David, Lead Software Engineer, Growth at Projectworks (N4+ client)

02. General functionality

Squarespace:

At a high level, Squarespace and Webflow serve different needs: Squarespace is template-based, while Webflow offers a blank canvas for full customisation. They sit at opposite ends of the website builder spectrum. But let’s take a closer look.

With easy-to-use templates, Squarespace breaks down barriers, making website building accessible for amateurs and mutually affordable. The templates are ultra modern, keeping up with the latest web design trends, and they’ve even got AI building templates too, according to your requests. But adding custom code gets clunky — so your options are limited.

“You're working within the framework of a template, rather than creating something truly custom. It’s great for freelancers or small businesses, but it has its restrictions.” — Brandon Miller, Webflow Developer

Webflow:

Like Squarespace, Webflow has hundreds of templates. But because of the platform’s blank-canvas nature, these templates are also highly customisable. So even if you do lead with a template, anything is possible.

But that’s not why we love Webflow. At N4, we’re obsessed with the platform’s blank canvas and no-code capabilities. We get complete control over design and functionality, and can build fully tailored sites quickly. It’s creative freedom without compromise.

03. The CMS

Squarespace:

When it comes to content management systems, Squarespace isn’t the most favourable. Sure, it’s minimalistic and easy to navigate, but its functionality is limited. 

The platform features a drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to edit visually. But editing is confined to specific sections, meaning you can't make broad changes across the entire page. This restriction can be frustrating for users who need more flexibility in customising the overall design or structure of their site.

Webflow:

It’s always a pleasure introducing marketing teams to Webflow’s CMS. It’s just that good. Drag-and-drop functionality without limits, dynamic product integration, and intuitive usability are a few of the reasons for its widespread acclaim. All of this to say, Webflow puts the power back in the hands of the website owner. It lets you achieve your vision without any headaches or added costs.

“We’ve saved a huge amount of time by switching from Squarespace to Webflow — specifically with managing the blog. Before, we had to put images in, drag them around, and make the format ourselves and it took so much time. Now with Webflow, I can very easily put together a blog article in under an hour. If we have the content all ready, Webflow formats everything for us.” — Nicola, Content Marketing Manager at Projectworks (N4+ client)

04. Enterprise collaboration

Squarespace:

Both Webflow and Squarespace offer Enterprise solutions to empower larger businesses, providing advanced features like scalability, customisation, and dedicated support. Yet, of the many exciting tools, collaboration is perhaps most important. So, what are we looking at here?

With Squarespace Enterprise, collaboration is structured around six team roles:

Organisation-level roles and permissions

Enterprise Team Admin

• Complete authority over all Enterprise sites
• Can manage team members and permissions
• Can create trial sites and activate billing

Enterprise Team Member

• Access to the Enterprise dashboard and brand portfolio
• Can create trial sites
• Cannot manage team permissions

Website Admin

• Full control over a specific website
• Can edit content and site settings
• Can add other contributors

Website Manager

• Access to design and content editing for one website
• Can customise the site’s appearance and manage pages

Website Editor

• Can edit and publish content on a website
• Limited to content changes; cannot alter design

Draft Editor

• Exclusive to Enterprise; can create and edit drafts
• Cannot publish drafts or edit live content
• Suitable for junior members or interns

All considered, the roles are relatively basic and lack the flexibility required by larger teams or complex workflows. And it doesn’t stop there. The platform also lacks advanced collaboration tools, such as real-time editing, and has limited version control capabilities.

The cost? Your time and, therefore, money. That’s one of the hidden cons of Squarespace. Yes, the websites are quick and cheap to build. But when it comes to ongoing website management, the lack of collaboration features can become a significant hurdle.

Webflow:

In contrast, Webflow Enterprise takes a much more comprehensive approach to user collaboration, offering a wide range of roles with fine-tuned permissions. Let’s take a look.

Workspace-level roles and permissions

Owner

• Can edit Workspace plan and settings
• Can add, update, or remove the payment card on file
• Able to delete the workspace

Admin

• Has most permissions granted to Owner
• Can’t request transfer of Workspace ownership to an admin
• Can’t manage in-development Apps

Member

• Has limited administrative permissions
• Can update Workspace templates and configure integrations
• Can download invoices

Site-level roles and permissions

Site Manager

• Full control over the site
• Can manage all aspects including design, content, and settings
• Able to create an API token for the site

Designer

• Has most permissions granted to Site Manager
• Can’t manage a site plan and billing information
• Complete freedom with design mode & build mode

Limited Designer

• Has access to design mode and build mode
• Can publish single items in CMS, but can’t publish the entire site
• Can’t create new components or modify classes

Content Editor

• Has access to The Editor (not edit mode)
• Can add and update content without interfering with design
• Easy-to-use visual editing

Reviewer

• Can add, delete, and resolve comments
• Cannot comment on components, CMS Collection items, or elements that are only visible through custom code or animations

To put it simply, Webflow Enterprise’s fine-tuned user roles are a game-changer. But unlike Squarespace, collaboration is not reduced to its permissions — it’s also powered by tools.

With Webflow, you gain access to real-time editing, empowering the whole team to work together at once. Whether you’re a developer, marketing manager, or content strategist, there’s room for everyone (massive time-saver). And that’s just scratching the surface…

Learn more about collaborating in Webflow Enterprise.

05. SEO tools

Squarespace:

Just as with its user controls, Squarespace provides a good foundation for SEO. You have clean URLs, SSL security, and automatic markup support, along with a built-in panel of essential tools. But when compared to Webflow, its capabilities are limited. You simply won’t get the same level of control, resulting in less flexibility to fine-tune your SEO strategy.

Webflow:

“All the power you need, without plugins” — Webflow’s words, and they’re pretty spot on.

With Webflow, you gain intensive control over your website’s SEO, from adding custom schema markup, right through to aligning with responsive design principles. Everything, and we mean everything, is designed with organic performance in mind. Because, at the end of the day, Webflow is all about empowering users to craft websites that look great and perform even better.

06. Ecommerce functionality

Squarespace:

Ecommerce is undoubtedly one of Squarespace’s most valuable offerings, and it's clear that the platform was built with this functionality at its core. From intuitive product management to secure payment processing, Squarespace makes it easy for users to launch and maintain online stores.

Moreover, the platform’s bold, modern templates are very appealing when it comes to digital storefronts. So it’s no wonder why the platform is popular amongst Ecomm businesses — specifically those that are small to medium in scale.

Webflow:

In all honesty, Webflow’s Ecommerce functionality is a bit limited, especially in contrast to its other powerful capabilities, such as Edit Mode and Localization. But that doesn’t necessarily make it lesser in quality — it’s more so on par with Squarespace. 

That said, many people do take the Shopify route, which integrates seamlessly with Webflow. So it really depends on what you’re looking for, whether it’s an all-in-one solution with Squarespace or the flexibility to integrate Shopify with Webflow for more advanced Ecommerce needs.

07. Security

Squarespace:

Both Squarespace and Webflow prioritise security, which is great to see. You can’t really go wrong with either option, on this front. However, there are differences, with Squarespace’s offering providing a more straightforward, all-in-one solution.

Squarespace’s top security features:

• Free SSL certificates
• Denial of Service protection
• PCI-DSS compliant
• Login activity panel
• Two-factor authentication
• Password protected pages
• Cookie & privacy panel

Webflow:

On the other hand, Webflow’s security is far more comprehensive, making it a stronger choice for businesses requiring more advanced security measures. With features like SSL encryption, automatic backups, and customisable access controls, Webflow ensures a higher level of protection, especially for larger or more complex websites.

Webflow’s top security features:

• SOC 2 compliant
• Verified third party plug-ins
• Two-factor authentication
• Per-page password protection
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosting
• Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption
• Custom Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates
• Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection

08. Pricing

Squarespace:

Webflow and Squarespace both have similar pricing structures, both with Enterprise options, although Squarespace’s standard offers are comparatively more cost-effective. So, if you’re a freelancer or small business, you will likely find a plan that works for you, and with it, some rather beautiful website templates.However, you need to be aware of the platform’s limitations — which the pricing does indicate. By opting for a more affordable option, you do miss out on advanced customisation, which will be noticeable across almost all areas of website design and management.

Webflow:

While it may be pricier, Webflow’s platform gives you significantly greater control. From design freedom and SEO to Enterprise collaboration, you can depend on a whole other level of flexibility, which will be noticeable in your website’s performance.

It’s also worth noting that Webflow also has separate Ecommerce site plans, acknowledging the additional features designed to drive Ecomm success. This is a different approach from Squarespace, and yet again goes to show Webflow’s commitment to offering highly customisable solutions.'

Final review: Squarespace vs Webflow

At the end of the day, Webflow and Squarespace are both powerhouse website builders in their own right, but they cater to completely different audiences. Squarespace is ideal for freelancers or small businesses, providing a quick, user-friendly solution, while Webflow is the ultimate platform for larger, Enterprise-scale businesses, unlocking a digital world of intensive customisation.

Our preference? It’s going to be Webflow, on any given day. But that’s because N4 Studio is formed by highly experienced website developers and designers. We not only appreciate the freedom that Webflow gives, but we’re also able to fully utilise it, crafting creatively bold, high-performing websites that drive meaningful results.

Explore more comparisons:

• Webflow vs WordPress
• Webflow vs Hubspot

Speak with our Webflow Experts

N4 Studio is a global Webflow agency with expertise in developing enterprise-grade solutions. If you’re searching for a better web solution, or looking for an award-winning team to bring your vision to life, then let’s chat. We’re always eager to work with ambitious people. 

Simply get in touch to begin exploring your options.