Sleepless nights and countless hours in front of the computer are the images that typically accompany building a website. For non-developers, it sounds like a daunting task, too. However, the success of drag-and-drop website builders like Squarespace and Weebly has made creating one’s own website without any coding experience possible, and if not, a default route for many users.
One platform prides itself on visually stunning templates that allow for deeper customizations. The other boasts an impressive app store teeming with plugins to manage and optimize a website. So where do you build your site? Read below to find out.
Squarespace vs Weebly Comparison Chart
| Name | Squarespace | Weebly |
| Â |  |  |
| Price | Check Price at Squarespace | Check Price at Weebly |
| Type | Website builder | Website builder |
| Standout Feature | Stunning, professionally-designed website themes | An easy-to-use website editor and comprehensive app center |
| Hosting | Yes | Yes |
| SSL Certificate | Yes | Yes |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| E-Commerce Features | Built-in | Built-in |
| Third-Party Plugins | Over 20+ extensions | Over 350+ apps |
| Shipping Management | Yes | Yes |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Support | 24/7 email support and live chat, help center, community answers | Email, phone, and live chat support |
Website Builder
Weebly provides a faster way to build websites whereas Squarespace’s editor offers a more intuitive user experience.
Website builders exist for two reasons. First, not everyone has the resources to hire a web developer. Second, not all people are willing to learn the technical skills needed in starting a website. So for those without coding and web development knowledge, website builders like Squarespace and Weebly should be easy to use. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of being a website builder.
Squarespace
With this in mind, Weebly does feel more beginner-friendly compared to Squarespace. The latter’s website editor uses a section-based approach that, while making the interface clean and organized, makes things a little trickier. Instead, Squarespace describes its website editor as intuitive. Users build their websites by sections and through content blocks that can be dragged and dropped.
There’s a bit of a learning curve here but as one becomes more familiar with the interface, Squarespace’s approach makes more sense. Because you work by sections, the editor is largely clean and uncluttered. Navigating shouldn’t be an issue, and since it’s also a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) platform, you see changes applied in real-time. There’s no need to move back and forth from back-end to front-end just to see the edits you make.
Weebly
Meanwhile, if you want to build and launch a website fast, Weebly is a more sensible option. The platform offers guided prompts that help beginners in creating their online presence, including the option to choose a regular website or an online store. The process is linear and once you’ve provided the key information, you’ll find yourself in a similarly neat and well-designed editor.
Just like Squarespace, Weebly features drag and drop functionality. Moving elements across the page take little to no time to master. There’s also a prominent Add button in the editor that allows users to add specific content quickly like a section, page, item, or category. Since Weebly is also a WYSIWYG platform, changes are previewed live so you don’t need to deal with lines of codes.
Templates and Customization
Weebly has a great catalog of templates but Squarespace’s designs are more refined and customizable.
Squarespace has some of the best-looking templates from any website builder. After all, this is the bread-and-butter of the platform. The designs are all modern, visually appealing, and mobile responsive. Currently, users have over 60+ Squarespace templates to choose from, including themes dedicated to food, photography, design, and technology websites.
Similar to Squarespace, Weebly’s over 50 templates are also organized by category and industry. Users can choose themes for events, blogs, online stores, and portfolios among others. Weebly’s designs are mobile-responsive, too and just like Squarespace, you also get a phone preview of your website. However, Squarespace’s templates look more refined while also offering a range of creative layout options.
This flexibility offered by Squarespace extends to customizations. The platform’s templates are open to a number of modifications, including page configuration, font type, and color theme. In addition, you can move around text and media content, while also changing up key design elements like image and video headers, as well as page animations. For deeper customizations, a built-in CSS editor is available, too.
Weebly’s editor isn’t far off from Squarespace. You also have options to change your site’s font type, modify its main color and accent color, and upload your own logo. For basic customizations, Weebly is quite straightforward. But adapting a template specific to your preferences can be a little trickier. If you want to truly personalize your website, then you might have to get your feet wet using Weebly’s built-in code editor.
Features
Squarespace and Weebly boast a plethora of e-commerce and marketing tools.
Apart from the site-building tools, Squarespace comes with an impressive suite of marketing, e-commerce, and analytics features. These include SEO-optimized and ready pages, automatic Google site maps, and anti-spam.
Meanwhile, those who want to set up an online store can rely on Squarespace for support. The platform offers inventory management, product merchandising, customizable checkouts, and tax rate management. If you want to grow your customer base, Squarespace also comes with its own email marketing tool.
Weebly, on the other hand, offers a dedicated e-commerce solution. True to its design features, the website editors makes selling online simple. Weebly already comes with a fully-integrated shopping cart and secure checkout. It also provides inventory management and tracking, storefront templates, and SEO-optimized stores. The best part is that you don’t need technical skills to set up these features.
Between Squarespace and Weebly, the latter does boast more features. Weebly’s app center has over 360 extensions to choose from, so nothing is left to chance when it comes to managing or optimizing your website. Squarespace’s third-party extensions are still limited compared to its competitors, including Weebly. However, the platform’s integrated tools are quite reliable, so you’re less likely to need a bunch of third-party plugins.
Pricing
Squarespace has more expensive plans compared to Weebly.
Squarespace currently offers four plans. The Personal plan comes in at $16 a month and includes core features like hosting, domain, and unlimited bandwidth. For those who want to set up an online store, the Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce subscriptions cost $30 and $46 respectively. Both include most of the e-commerce features you’ll need to sell online. However, Squarespace’s most popular plan is Business, which comes in at $26 a month. It also offers the highest discount, at 30%, if you opt for an annual subscription.
Meanwhile, Weebly offers two sets of pricing plans: one for websites, and another for online stores. An entry-level Weebly subscription, called Basic, is free to use albeit with limited functionality. Instead, most of the key features you’ll need to grow your website is available in the Connect, Pro, and Business website plans. These subscriptions range from $5 to $25 when paid annually. The Online Store plans, on the other hand, range from $12 to $38 a month when paid annually.
Verdict
Squarespace’s intuitive website editor is ideal for creative professionals whereas Weebly’s solid e-commerce features and affordable plans are better for those on a budget.
Combining stunning templates with an intuitive website editor, Squarespace is best for creative professionals. The platform’s themes are all professionally-designed and should appeal to those who put a premium on the visual elements of a website.
Meanwhile, Weebly is better suited for beginners, individuals, and small businesses. The plans are a bit more affordable compared to Squarespace, and the website editor is easier to use as well.
When it comes to making a site your own, Squarespace does have an advantage. However, you can only truly personalize your website with a little coding. In this aspect, both Squarespace and Weebly do come with built-in code editors for deeper customizations.
Weebly’s app center is pretty impressive. There are several third-party plugins you can use to manage your site or build an online store. Squarespace doesn’t have as many extensions but the built-in tools are more than reliable. If you want to sell online, Squarespace will still have a slight advantage.
FAQs
Squarespace and Weebly are both drag-and-drop website editors. However, Squarespace features more visually appealing templates. Weebly, on the other hand, puts a premium on ease-of-use and support from extensive third-party plugins.
Yes, you can easily switch templates in Squarespace without losing content from your existing site.
Yes, Weebly’s App Center includes apps that allow you to connect your social networking profiles to your website.
Weebly’s Online Store plans are more affordable compared to Squarespace, making them ideal for smaller organizations and businesses with limited resources.
