Squarespace is not exactly a new player in the court when it comes to content management systems. Its inception dated back in 2003, but the real buzz began years ago when it started to level up its marketing efforts.
With Squarespace killing it in the world of marketing, is their product worth the hype? Is it going to take the title of being the best CMS in the market?
In this review, we're going to talk about its pros and cons, and by the time we're finished, you'll be able to decide for yourself whether its the right fit for you.
What is Squarespace?
In a nutshell, Squarespace is a website publishing platform that allows you to:
Create a professional website online without the necessary coding.
Easily edit your site thanks to the extremely user-friendly content management system (CMS).
Overall, it is a product that is not designed for those who want to tweak and tinker a lot. It is a platform that lets you choose a template, add a couple of texts and images here and there, and press the go button.
It has a clean and modern interface
Squarespace provides a clean and modern interface that you could work with. It is uncluttered and easy enough to navigate, making editing easy and quick because you know what you are doing.
It takes longer to get used to it
In the beginning, it might feel a little too clean, making it difficult to find a couple of features. But after the initial adjustment stage, everything else would be smooth sailing.
It is also much simpler to build a website since you are aware of the changes you are making.
It has a huge selection of templates
Their tagline is "Build It Beautiful," and they obviously live up for what the tagline means through their design templates.
After setting up an account, you can then pick a template and build your design. You even have the option to upload your own design. Most of the appeal of Squarespace is because they have a large collection of design templates that look both beautiful and professional.
Also, most of their designs focus on photography. Therefore, you can create a template that is uniquely yours while switching your own photographs. The colors, typography, and responsiveness are also aligned to give a more professional touch.
What's more, their templates are highly customizable through their Site Styles menu.
It lacks support for third-party apps
While Squarespace has an all-in-one platform, it also comes with a huge disadvantage. It does not offer support to third-party apps and extensions such as affiliate tools.
Unlike other providers like Shopify and Wix, it does not have an ecosystem that is regulated for quality apps and extensions to be integrated with Squarespace.
Any feature that would be used has to be rolled out on Squarespace and will be a disadvantage if you are opting for seamless integration with specific functionality.
It offers a free trial
Squarespace provides a two-week, free trial period that gives you enough time to get used to the software and see whether or not it suits your needs.
It has no free plan
In their 14-day trial period, you can sign up and build a website from a template. You can edit it as much as you like for the period. But after that, you would not be able to do so anymore.
So, if you do not like the prospect of buying one of their paid plans after the trial is up and your website is locked, you would not be able to edit it at all.
It provides website security
Squarespace will take care of your website's security ‒ which you should also look for in a digital marketing services provider. Anyone who tries to hack through your site will be the platform's responsibility and not entirely yours.
You are not required to purchase and configure the security software, either.
It has no phone support
Squarespace provides 24/7 email support. Moreover, thanks to their live chat feature, you can expect to get a reply instantly.
The live chat support also runs between Monday and Friday, between 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
The downside of it is that it lacks phone support. In comparison, its competitors like Wix offer telephone support, even for those that have free accounts.
Is it Worth the Investment?
Squarespace is definitely one of the leading website builders out there, and for a good reason.
It's a great way for individuals and other small businesses to make themselves found on the web. It creates one of the most mobile-friendly websites and offers a lot of potential for growth.
Let's not also forget that it offers one of the best designs in the market, incorporating its highly intuitive templates with powerful, built-in features.
If you think that a highly inclusive website builder is the perfect way to go, then Squarespace can be the right solution for you. It might have some drawbacks, but a lot of built-in, gorgeous designs. But if you want to learn more about this CMS, you can check out this Squarespace complete review.
