Squarespace vs Weebly: Which Website Builder Should You Actually Use?

Let's cut to the chase: Squarespace and Weebly are both solid website builders, but they're targeting different users and budgets. Squarespace is the premium option with gorgeous templates and more features. Weebly is the budget pick with a free plan and surprisingly decent ecommerce tools.

Here's the uncomfortable truth about Weebly: Since Square acquired it in 2018, development has essentially stalled. Square has been pushing users toward Square Online instead, and Weebly hasn't released meaningful new features in years. Meanwhile, Squarespace keeps rolling out updates, AI tools, and improved functionality.

That said, Weebly still works. And for someone on a tight budget who just needs a basic website, it might be exactly what you need. Let's break down the specifics.

Quick Verdict: Squarespace vs Weebly

Choose Squarespace if:

Choose Weebly if:

Pricing Comparison: The Real Numbers

Here's where Weebly has a clear advantage for budget-conscious users.

Weebly Pricing

The Personal plan still displays Square advertisements, which looks unprofessional for business sites. Most serious website owners should skip directly to the Professional plan to remove all branding and get a cleaner appearance.

Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace recently rolled out new pricing plans (Basic, Core, Plus, Advanced) that are replacing the old Personal, Business, and Commerce tiers:

The price gap is significant. Weebly's most expensive plan ($26/month) is cheaper than Squarespace's starting price ($16/month) when you compare annual rates. And Weebly has a legitimately free option.

However, Squarespace's Core plan at $23/month is often the sweet spot for most businesses. It removes transaction fees entirely for physical products and includes features that would cost extra on other platforms.

For a deeper dive into Squarespace's pricing structure, check out our Squarespace pricing breakdown and see how to save with a Squarespace coupon.

Hidden Costs to Consider

Both platforms have additional costs beyond their base subscription prices:

Domain Renewals: Squarespace domains typically renew at $20-70 per year depending on the extension. Weebly domains renew at $19.95 per year for .com domains, and up to $36 for specialty domains like .shop.

Email Marketing: Squarespace Email Campaigns start at $7/month for up to 500 subscribers. Weebly Promote starts at $8/month for unlimited email campaigns.

Apps and Extensions: Third-party apps on both platforms range from free to $50+ per month depending on functionality.

Templates and Design: Not Even Close

This is where Squarespace dominates. Squarespace offers around 194 free templates in version 7.1, all of them professionally designed, modern, and mobile-responsive. They're genuinely beautiful - the kind of designs that make people assume you hired a professional.

Weebly has around 40-70 templates depending on how you count. They're... fine. Functional. Simple. But they look dated compared to Squarespace, and they haven't been updated in years. Customization options are more limited too.

With Squarespace, you get:

What Makes Squarespace's Fluid Engine Special

Squarespace's Fluid Engine, released in 2022, represents a major leap forward in website building technology. Unlike traditional editors where adding elements disrupts your entire layout, Fluid Engine uses a grid-based system that gives you pixel-perfect control.

You can drag and drop elements anywhere on the page, overlap images and text, resize blocks by dragging corners, and layer content in ways that weren't possible before. It's similar to using design tools like Canva or Photoshop, but specifically built for web design.

The mobile editing capability is particularly impressive. You can now customize your mobile layout separately from desktop, giving you complete control over how your site appears on smartphones and tablets. This level of control was previously only available on more complex platforms.

With Weebly, you're more locked into your template's structure. The drag-and-drop editor is simpler and more beginner-friendly, but that simplicity comes at the cost of creative freedom. Many Weebly sites end up looking similar because there's only so much you can customize.

If design matters to your brand, Squarespace is the clear winner. If you just need something functional and don't care much about aesthetics, Weebly will get the job done.

Curious how Squarespace stacks up against other design-focused builders? See our Squarespace vs Wix comparison or Squarespace vs Webflow for more options.

Ease of Use: Weebly Wins (Barely)

Weebly is arguably the easiest website builder on the market. Its editor is extremely intuitive - you can drag elements around, edit text inline, and publish a basic site in under an hour with zero technical knowledge.

Squarespace isn't hard to use, but it has a slightly steeper learning curve. The Fluid Engine takes some getting used to, and there are more options to figure out. Most people can build a solid Squarespace site in an afternoon, but it's not quite as "pick up and go" as Weebly.

That said, Squarespace offers much better learning resources - video tutorials, webinars, a comprehensive help center, and an active community. Weebly's support is more basic, and since Square's acquisition, the platform hasn't invested heavily in educational content.

The Learning Curve Reality

For absolute beginners building their first website, Weebly's simplicity is attractive. You won't encounter as many customization options, which means fewer decisions to make. This can be liberating if you just want to get something online quickly.

Squarespace requires a bit more upfront learning, but the payoff is much greater design control. Once you understand the Fluid Engine basics - which typically takes a few hours - you'll have significantly more creative freedom than Weebly offers.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, check out our Squarespace tutorial.

Ecommerce Features: It Depends What You Need

Here's something surprising: Weebly lets you sell unlimited products on their free plan. That's rare. You won't find many website builders that let you run a store for $0/month.

Weebly's ecommerce includes:

The catch? Features like abandoned cart recovery, PayPal support, and shipping labels are only available on the Performance plan ($26/month). And since Square acquired Weebly, they've been pushing users toward Square Online for serious ecommerce, which creates a confusing experience.

The Square Online Confusion

Here's where things get tricky for Weebly users. When you sign up for Weebly in the US, you're presented with two options: "I want a business website" (which redirects you to Square Online) or "I want a personal website" (which gives you the classic Weebly builder).

Square Online is built on Weebly's technology but offers a different, more limited editing experience. It's focused entirely on ecommerce and lacks many features available in the standard Weebly builder, including access to the Weebly App Center. This dual-platform approach has frustrated many long-time Weebly users.

If you're an existing Square merchant, the integration can be valuable - syncing inventory between your physical POS system and online store. But for most website builders, this added complexity is confusing.

Squarespace's ecommerce is more robust overall:

Transaction fees matter here too. Squarespace's Basic plan charges 2% on store sales. Move to Core ($23/month) and that drops to 0% for physical products. Weebly doesn't charge transaction fees beyond standard payment processing.

Payment processing fees are separate from transaction fees. Squarespace charges 2.9% + 30¢ for credit card transactions on most plans, with slightly lower rates on the Advanced plan. This is comparable to industry standards.

For casual sellers or testing a product idea, Weebly's free plan is hard to beat. For a serious online store with growth potential, Squarespace is the better long-term choice.

If ecommerce is your primary focus, you might also want to compare Squarespace vs Shopify - Shopify is purpose-built for online stores.

SEO and Marketing Tools

Both platforms cover the SEO basics:

Squarespace goes further with an actual SEO checklist, better blogging tools, and the ability to customize URLs more easily. The blogging platform supports categories, tags, and RSS feeds - features that matter for content marketing.

Weebly's blogging is more basic. Notably, you can't add proper heading tags (H2, H3) to blog content easily, which is bad for SEO. This limitation makes it harder to structure content properly for search engines and readers.

Advanced Marketing Capabilities

Squarespace offers more sophisticated marketing tools out of the box:

Weebly's marketing tools are adequate for small businesses but lack the depth that growing businesses need. The Weebly App Center does offer extensions for additional functionality, but these come with extra monthly costs.

For email marketing, both platforms have solutions. Squarespace offers Email Campaigns starting at $7/month. Weebly has Promote, their email tool, which starts around $8/month. Neither is as powerful as dedicated email marketing platforms, but they work for basic newsletters.

If email marketing is important to your business, check out our guide to email marketing for small business or explore dedicated tools like AWeber.

Apps and Integrations

Weebly actually wins here. The Weebly App Center has over 350 apps covering forms, galleries, scheduling, marketing tools, and more. Many are free or low-cost.

Squarespace's Extensions marketplace is much smaller - around 30-40 third-party integrations, mostly focused on ecommerce and marketing. Squarespace makes up for this somewhat by building more features directly into the platform, but if you need specific functionality, Weebly offers more plug-and-play options.

That said, Squarespace does integrate with key services like Zapier (on Core plan and above), which opens up thousands of automation possibilities. This single integration can be more valuable than hundreds of niche apps.

Important Integration Considerations

The quality of integrations matters as much as quantity. Weebly's app ecosystem hasn't seen significant new development since the Square acquisition. Many apps haven't been updated in years, and some have compatibility issues.

Squarespace's more curated approach means the integrations they do offer tend to be more reliable and better maintained. Their partnership with Acuity Scheduling (which Squarespace owns) provides seamless booking functionality that rivals standalone scheduling tools.

Performance and Reliability

Website speed and uptime are critical for user experience and SEO. Both platforms offer solid performance, but there are differences worth noting.

Hosting Infrastructure: Both Squarespace and Weebly include hosting in their plans. Squarespace uses a robust cloud infrastructure that handles traffic spikes well. Weebly, backed by Square's infrastructure, also provides reliable hosting with good uptime.

Loading Speeds: Squarespace sites generally load slightly faster thanks to better image optimization and more modern code. Weebly sites can be fast but depend more heavily on how you structure your content and which apps you install.

Mobile Performance: Squarespace's mobile optimization is excellent, with responsive templates that automatically adjust to different screen sizes. The Fluid Engine's separate mobile editing ensures your mobile experience is optimized. Weebly templates are mobile-responsive but offer less control over the mobile experience.

Customer Support Comparison

When things go wrong, quality support matters.

Squarespace Support:

Weebly Support:

Weebly deserves credit for offering phone support even on their free plan - most platforms don't do this. However, many users report that support quality has decreased since Square took over, with longer wait times and less knowledgeable representatives.

Squarespace's support is generally more knowledgeable and responsive, particularly for design and technical questions. Their documentation is more comprehensive and regularly updated.

Security and Backup Features

Both platforms take security seriously, but there are differences in what they offer.

SSL Certificates: Both platforms include free SSL certificates on all plans, ensuring your site uses HTTPS encryption. This is essential for security and SEO.

Backups: Squarespace automatically backs up your site regularly, though you can't access these backups directly. Weebly also performs backups, but the process for restoring is less clear.

Site Export: Neither platform makes it easy to export your entire site to move to another host. This is intentional - both are closed platforms that want to retain customers. However, you can export your content (blog posts, pages, etc.) from both platforms if needed.

Two-Factor Authentication: Squarespace offers two-factor authentication for added account security. Weebly does not currently offer this feature, which is a notable security gap.

The Big Problem With Weebly

Here's what you need to understand: Weebly is essentially in maintenance mode. Since Square bought it, they've focused development resources on Square Online instead. Weebly hasn't had meaningful new features in years.

This creates several issues:

Squarespace, meanwhile, is actively developing new features like AI text generation, Blueprint for custom templates, and expanded ecommerce tools. If you're building something for the long term, that matters.

The uncertainty around Weebly's future is concerning. While Square has stated they have no plans to discontinue Weebly, the lack of investment and the push toward Square Online suggests the platform may eventually be phased out or merged completely with Square Online.

Scalability: Planning for Growth

If your website or business grows, can your platform grow with you?

Squarespace Scalability: Squarespace handles growth well. You can upgrade plans as needed to access more features. The platform can handle significant traffic without performance issues. Many successful businesses run entirely on Squarespace, including high-traffic blogs and busy online stores.

The Advanced plan includes features like API access, which allows developers to build custom integrations. This opens up possibilities for businesses with unique needs.

Weebly Scalability: Weebly works for small to medium websites but has limitations for growing businesses. The lack of new features means you'll eventually outgrow the platform's capabilities. Many businesses that start on Weebly eventually migrate to platforms with more robust features.

The Performance plan ($26/month) is Weebly's top tier, and it lacks features that serious online businesses need - like subscription billing, advanced automation, and sophisticated customer management tools.

Migration and Platform Switching

What if you change your mind?

Both platforms make it somewhat difficult to migrate away, which is common with closed website builders. However, you can export your content:

Exporting from Squarespace: You can export blog posts and pages as XML files. Images and other media need to be downloaded separately. The process is manual but straightforward.

Exporting from Weebly: Similar to Squarespace, you can export content but not your entire site design. The process can be more complicated, and there are fewer tools to help with migration.

Moving between these two platforms is particularly challenging because they use different systems. If you start on Weebly and want to move to Squarespace later, you'll essentially be rebuilding your site from scratch (though you can import your content).

Who Should Use Squarespace?

Squarespace is the right choice for:

The extra cost is worth it if your website represents your business. First impressions matter, and Squarespace sites look professional.

Try Squarespace Free for 14 Days →

Not ready to commit? You can test everything with a Squarespace free trial before paying.

Who Should Use Weebly?

Weebly makes sense for:

Just go in with realistic expectations. Weebly will get you a functional website, but it won't impress anyone with its design or features.

Real-World Use Cases

Let's look at specific scenarios to help you decide:

Scenario 1: Freelance Photographer Portfolio

Best Choice: Squarespace - The superior templates and image-focused design options make Squarespace ideal for photographers. The ability to create stunning galleries, client proofing galleries, and a professional brand presence justifies the higher cost.

Scenario 2: Small Restaurant Website

Either Could Work - For a simple restaurant site with menu, hours, and location, Weebly's simplicity and lower cost might be sufficient. However, if you want online ordering or reservations, Squarespace's better integrations and more polished appearance are worth the investment.

Scenario 3: Growing E-commerce Store

Best Choice: Squarespace - The superior ecommerce features, customer account management, and scalability make Squarespace the clear winner. Alternatively, consider Shopify if ecommerce is your sole focus.

Scenario 4: Personal Blog or Hobby Site

Best Choice: Weebly - For a casual blog with no business goals, Weebly's free plan is hard to beat. You can get online without spending money, and the limitations won't matter for personal projects.

Scenario 5: Service-Based Business (Consultant, Coach, Agency)

Best Choice: Squarespace - Professional services require a polished web presence. Squarespace's superior design, better blogging tools, and integration capabilities (like Acuity Scheduling) make it worth the investment.

What About Other Options?

If neither Squarespace nor Weebly feels right, consider:

For a broader overview, our guide to website builders for small business covers more options.

Making Your Final Decision

Here's a simple decision framework:

Choose Weebly if:

Choose Squarespace if:

The difference in cost - roughly $6-13 per month - is minimal compared to the value a professional website provides for your business. If your website generates leads or sales, Squarespace's superior design and features will likely pay for themselves many times over.

Bottom Line

If you can afford $16-23/month and want a website you'll be proud of, go with Squarespace. The design quality, ongoing development, and feature depth justify the price.

If you're broke, just starting out, or only need something basic, Weebly's free plan is genuinely useful. Just understand you're using a platform that's no longer being actively developed.

For most business use cases, Squarespace is the better investment. Your website is often the first thing potential customers see - it's worth spending a bit more to make a good impression.

The reality is that Weebly had its time as a competitive platform, but Square's acquisition has left it in limbo. While it still functions and serves a purpose for ultra-budget-conscious users, the lack of updates and uncertain future make it a risky choice for serious projects.

Squarespace, meanwhile, continues to innovate and improve. The recent introduction of Fluid Engine, AI-powered tools, and continuous feature updates demonstrate a company invested in staying competitive. For anyone building a website they plan to use for years, this ongoing development matters immensely.

Start Building With Squarespace →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from Weebly to Squarespace later?

Yes, but it's not a simple process. You'll need to export your content from Weebly and rebuild your site design on Squarespace. Your blog posts and pages can be migrated, but you'll lose your design and need to recreate it. Plan for several hours of work if you go this route.

Which platform is better for SEO?

Squarespace has better SEO capabilities overall. It offers cleaner code, better blogging tools, more control over meta data, and superior site structure options. Both platforms cover SEO basics, but Squarespace gives you more tools to optimize your content for search engines.

Do I own my content on these platforms?

Yes, you own your content on both platforms. However, you don't own the design or template - that belongs to the platform. You can export your content (text, images, etc.) at any time, but recreating your site design on another platform requires rebuilding from scratch.

Which is better for mobile users?

Squarespace offers superior mobile capabilities, especially with the Fluid Engine editor that allows separate mobile and desktop layouts. Both platforms create mobile-responsive sites, but Squarespace gives you more control over how your site appears and functions on smartphones and tablets.

Can I use my own domain name?

Yes, both platforms allow custom domains. Squarespace includes a free domain for the first year with annual plans. Weebly includes a free domain with Professional plans and higher. You can also connect a domain purchased elsewhere to either platform.

What happens if I stop paying?

If you stop paying for your Squarespace subscription, your site will remain active for a grace period (typically 15 days) before being archived. With Weebly, stopping payment will also result in your site being taken offline. Your content is typically retained for a period, but your site won't be accessible to visitors. Both platforms allow you to export your content before canceling.