When choosing a development platform to build a professional website, it can be challenging to weed through the countless options and determine which will best serve your business needs and goals. From Wix or WordPress to SquareSpace to Shopify (for e-commerce) and Webflow, every web design platform has its pros and cons.
Among some of the best website builders, Webflow and Squarespace offer various features that your business could benefit from, depending on your goals. While both platforms are similar, Squarespace is best for businesses that are more concerned with simple, cost-effective solutions. At the same time, Webflow is best for businesses that want more control over how their site looks and functions.
While you consider whether Webflow or Squarespace would benefit you more, you might have the following questions: what is the main difference between Webflow and Squarespace? Why use Webflow over Squarespace? Do professionals use Webflow? What are some reasons to stick with Squarespace over Webflow?
What Is the Main Difference between Webflow and Squarespace?
Webflow is a no-code website builder that offers accessible drag-and-drop functionality. It allows you to create whatever creative design you have in mind for your website with the need for expert programmers. Webflow provides various subscriptions to different goals, including those of individuals, enterprise companies, and agencies. While Webflow does seem overwhelming at first with the significant learning curve, they offer tutorials preceded by an assessment of the user's HTML and CSS skills to provide focused training so you can get the most out of all Webflow offers.
Squarespace is a similar website builder that allows users to build their website without using code while offering options for those who want to extend advanced features with coding. Overall, Webflow is more flexible and customizable than Squarespace and caters to businesses wishing more control over their website's brand and aesthetic.
Why Use Webflow over Squarespace?
Flexibility
One of the benefits Webflow offers over Squarespace is its flexibility. While some of the platform's functions might require time to get used to, users can customize every feature through a drag-and-drop editor, from the size of the text boxes to the placement of every picture or icon. You can also make animations and interactions through Webflow. Webflow offers the flexibility to achieve whatever you envision for your site, so unchangeable pre-existing templates do not inhibit you.
Pricing Plans
Webflow also offers flexible pricing plans so that you are not locked into a subscription, offering extra features your business does not need. Whether you are a small business, a large company, or e-commerce, there is a plan for you.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
If you are looking for a platform that offers more control of your online presence, Webflow has you covered. When building a site through Webflow, users experience an end-to-end process that addresses all the crucial facets of creating an online presence.
Not only do all websites receive a free SSL, but with Webflow, meta titles, and descriptions can be created automatically based on your definitions. Webflow also provides clean code that makes the site load faster, optimizing it for website crawlers. With automated SEO features, bypass the inconvenience of manually managing back-end SEO best practices for a more efficient workflow.
Efficient
Along with these benefits, Webflow offers a more efficient experience by combining designing and coding into one process. With other platforms, designing tends to take a back seat to coding, which leaves less room for creating sites that stand out and meet your vision's expectations. Plus, Webflow offers its own hosting solution to make scaling your website easier to accommodate more traffic as your business grows.
Do Professionals use Webflow?
While some web design platforms are created with beginners or business users in mind, Webflow presents code visually for both professional developers and beginners. Those with web development skills will benefit from its efficient process and still be able to add plugins, apps, and other features through custom code. With streamlined coding, design flexibility and several webflow templates, the website-building process is much more straightforward, leaving room for more innovation.
What Are Some Reasons to Stick with Squarespace over Webflow?
Despite all of the powerful benefits Webflow offers, there are still downsides. Consider the following reasons some businesses might choose Squarespace over Webflow:
Accessibility
As powerful as Webflow is, adjusting to the platform's mechanics is more of an investment than with Squarespace. In some cases, businesses might even need to consider investing in experts to deliver their vision through Webflow.
On the other hand, Squarespace is more accessible to the average user and is known for its ease of use. Squarespace was designed to cater to businesses looking for simple but functional sites without the technical complications of creating more elaborate sites. Users can build a beautiful and functional site through Squarespace's templates and pre-code building blocks, even on their free plans. Plus, Squarespace offers 24/7 customer support whenever you hit a roadblock.
Price
Squarespace is known for offering more affordable options, including plenty of free pre-designed templates and subscriptions that provide features and services that are well worth it in the long run if you do not need to develop an overly customized website. Plus, some of Webflow's site plans, like their e-commerce or business plans, can get a little expensive and apply some bandwidth restrictions.
Purpose
Squarespace does not offer as much power or flexibility as Webflow does, but it is perfect for businesses without a simple website design. Webflow also provides a wide selection of features that can add more integrations. Whether your business needs an online store complete with e-commerce features or you are simply looking for a platform to host content and build an online presence, Squarespace can get the job done.
Conclusion
Choosing a web design platform to serve your business needs best can seem overwhelming, with so many options available.
Popular platforms like Squarespace are best for businesses needing a user-friendly platform and content management system to help them develop a simple but effective website. However, Webflow was created for companies with more complicated visions for their website with advanced design tools that will help you achieve your vision for your online presence and leave you with endless customization options. With Webflow, the learning curve is steeper, but users can scale and customize on a much greater level than Squarespace.
Some of Webflow's benefits include flexibility, different pricing plans, built-in SEO tools, and overall efficiency in designing and developing a website.
Some businesses might choose to stick with Squarespace for its accessibility and pricing, and if your business does not need a highly customized website,
