Squarespace vs Showit: Which is Better?
Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you :)
As a website designer, I am asked ALL the time for a comparison between Squarespace and Showit when it comes to website creation for business owners.
And, the truth is, I don’t have one simple recommendation. Each platform comes with its pros and cons, which are all worth mentioning and taking into account when choosing which platform is right for you.
I’ve been designing with Squarespace for 5 years now, and I’ve grown to love it! It’s simple, clean, and easy to maintain, which makes it perfect for my clients who are looking for a stellar, finished website that they don’t have to constantly update and maintain. I’ve been working with Squarespace the longest, so don’t let my bias sway you - I’m going to keep this post as neutral as possible in order to help you make the best decision for yourself and your business.
About 2 years ago, I started designing on Showit and I’ve absolutely loved it!
Nonetheless, I realized I have TONS to say when it comes to my professional opinions of each platform and their respective pros and cons, which is why I decided to compile all the info I have into one post today - so you can make the choice that makes sense for yourself and your business.
I hope this helps you decide which platform is right for you on your website creation journey!
Let’s begin!
User interface
Showit
Showit is great for Adobe users because it looks and feels similar to Adobe programs!
This is why Showit is naturally a recommended option for photographers or other creatives who regularly use Adobe, and aren’t looking to completely re-learn a new type of program.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s interface is fairly easy to use as well. The backend is broken up into clearly labeled categories:
Pages - visually see all pages that are labeled as menu and non-menu items.
Design - change templates, fonts, and color options, as well as choose your custom 404 page
Commerce - manage orders, inventory, and any settings related to your online shop
Marketing - manage your email marketing, SEO, promotional popups, announcement bar text, and more.
Scheduling - manage your calendar booking system
Analytics - view website traffic and SEO data
Profiles - manage your audience
Comments - view comments left by readers on your blog
Settings - add social profiles, manage your domain, change site visibility, and more
Design capabilities
Showit
First, Showit (affiliate link) offers FULL customization capabilities. When I say this, I mean you can literally drag any element from anywhere and put it somewhere else on the page, and you can EASILY change the colors of any element or section to fit your branding.
This makes Showit a super popular option for DIYers who have a brand they’re proud of that they want their website to fit exactly!
Squarespace
It’s decently limited in customization, which means that, in order to add specific features to your website, you’re going to need to do some coding. This can be a huge turn-off for non-coding business owners looking for a super customizable website that fits their branding in every facet.
However, Squarespace’s templates and capabilities force users to create clean and simple websites - which enhances the user experience and removes most distractions.
(Again, this is why I recommend hiring a website designer in the first place to help you avoid these problems that come with website customization!)
Blogging
Showit
Next, Showit integrates with Wordpress for your blog, which allows you to publish blog posts right on your website with ease. (And, if you aren’t already blogging for your business, now is the perfect time to get started!)
Showit connects your domain and can move over all your blog posts/podcast show notes with ease, making it a great option for anyone who regularly blogs or runs a podcast - which many business owners now do.
Be aware that you can only have one blog associated with a Showit website, so if you have both a blog and podcast, chances are that your podcast is set up as a category inside your blog.
All posts will have the same URL structure instead of unique ones for both blog and podcast. For example, you can’t achieve both: yourdomain.com/blog/title-name-here and yourdomain.com/podcast/title-name-here.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s blog capabilities are built into the backend. You simply add a blog page in the backend and can start adding posts from there!
The great benefit about Squarespace is that you can add multiple blog pages, meaning you can have separate “homes” for your blog and podcast. This means you can achieve a unique URL structure for both types of blogs.
This translates to: yourdomain.com/blog/title-name-here and yourdomain.com/podcast/title-name-here.
SEO
Showit
Showit has most SEO settings, such as the ability to customize title tags, meta descriptions, image file names, and alt text (except banner images).
One simple SEO aspect that seems like it’s missing is URL structure customization for pages.
Squarespace
Similar to Showit, Squarespace has most necessary SEO settings needed to optimize your website to appear in search but it doesn’t allow you to add alt text to banner images.
Honestly strange that both platforms have this issue…
Customer support
Showit
Sometimes I find that Showit’s support lacks and isn’t always top-tier, which can lead to headaches and frustration if you run into problems creating or maintaining your website and need quick answers.
For this reason, if you’re looking for constant and dependable customer support for your website, Showit MAY not be the way to go. You may find yourself waiting a while for an answer from customer support.
Squarespace
Squarespace has great customer support, specifically the chat feature. I love that I can talk to Squarespace support in real time, and I find that I typically move through the queue fairly fast so that I’m not waiting for more than a few minutes.
They are responsive, respectful, and helpful, reducing the headache that can come with other website platforms whose customer service is lacking. I never feel like I’m on my own if I run into issues - an amazing team is always available to help me out.
Pricing
Showit
Showit’s most basic plan is $24 a month or $19 a month when billed annually. This is perfect for business owners who don’t want to blog.
The middle tier plan is for Showit users who want to blog. This plan is $29/month or $24 a month when billed annually.
For users who want a more advanced blogging plan, the top-tier option is $34 a month or $39 a month billed annually. This plan is most popular for business owners who need to migrate more than 50 blog posts, want to use custom plugins, and need up to 25,000 blog visits per month.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s most basic plan, Personal, is $19 a month and $14 a month when paid annually.
The Business plan is $33 a month and $23 a month when paid annually. This plan is the minimum for what I recommend for all clients because it includes a professional Gsuite email, access to premium blocks, and allows you to sell products and services.
There are two more plans for business owners who want more robust e-commerce capabilities - the Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce plans. These range from $36 and $65 a month and $27 and $49 a month on the annual plan, respectively.
Add-ons
Showit
Through Showit, you can only set up your website’s hosting.
At the time of writing this, however, Showit announced a new partnership with Memberspace for business owners who want to easily connect a membership or course to their website.
Squarespace
Squarespace is kind of a one-stop shop. Most things you need to run a business can be purchased directly through Squarespace.
In addition to hosting, Squarespace also offers:
Domain purchasing
Gsuite setup
Email marketing
Ecommerce store (sell services, digital products, and physical products)
Membership hub
This makes it an attractive option for anyone looking to simplify their website services.
In conclusion
As you can see, I have learned a LOT about each of these platforms as a Squarespace and Showit website designer. When someone asks me which platform I recommend most, I can’t simply pick a favorite - I have to have a detailed conversation with them about their wants and needs, as well as their non-negotiables.
Though I always recommend hiring a website designer if you’re serious about getting a professional-looking website that will convert guests into clients, Squarespace IS great for DIYers.
This is because Squarespace makes it super easy to create clean, minimalist websites that look professional while getting your point across elegantly.
If you’re confident in your abilities to figure things out, though, this may not be a big deal to you at all - and Showit may be your “perfect” platform.
In case you scrolled to the bottom and you’re wondering, which is better? It really depends on what is more important to you.
Is it having an all-in-one platform? Squarespace might be a fit.
Is it having full design freedom? Showit might be a better fit.
If you’re currently looking to decide between these platforms, I encourage you to take into account the advice I’ve provided here and also do more of your own research on each of these platforms.
Talk to friends who have had experience with them, and even try them out before deciding which one you will ultimately stick with. Most of these offer free trials, which can help you get a feel for their features and abilities before shelling out cash and finding yourself “stuck” with whatever you choose.
I hope this information has helped you in your journey to finding the right website building platform for your and your business’s needs. If you have any questions, I encourage you to explore more of my blog posts which cover a variety of topics in the website design and building process, which can be found here.
If you are instead looking for a done-for-you, professional website that eliminates the headache of all this decision making and trial and error, I encourage you to check out my website design services here. I’m a website designer who specializes in both Squarespace and Showit, and I provide fully-customized, ready-to-go websites for business owners who are ready to take their online presence to the next level.
My services are perfect for the business owner who simply doesn’t have the time to focus on website building, and instead wants to dedicate their energy to other areas of their business, resulting in a need for a done-for-you website that’s ready to rock and roll.
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