Quick verdict
Bottom line up front: If Squarespace feels too expensive or too locked-in, Wix is the easiest like-for-like swap, WordPress.com gives you the most long-term freedom, and Webflow or Framer win if design control matters most. Hostinger is the cheapest credible option, and Shopify beats Squarespace if selling is the whole point of your site.
Why do people look for Squarespace alternatives?
Squarespace makes beautiful sites, but prices have risen sharply — its entry plans cost roughly 58–61% more than in 2020, with the latest rise in July 2026 — and there is still no free tier. You cannot move a Squarespace site to another host, templates limit how far you can customise, and the Basic plan adds a 2% transaction fee on store sales plus 7% on digital products. If you have outgrown those limits, the picks below are worth a look. Prices checked October 2026.
Quick picks: Squarespace alternatives compared
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | All-round small-business sites | Yes | $17/mo billed annually | Easiest direct swap |
| WordPress.com | Bloggers and long-term ownership | Yes | $4/mo billed annually | Most freedom |
| Webflow | Designers who want pixel control | Yes (Starter) | $15/mo billed annually | Best design control |
| Framer | Fast, animated marketing sites | Yes | $10/mo billed annually | Fastest modern sites |
| Shopify | Serious online stores | No (trial only) | $29/mo | Best for ecommerce |
| Hostinger Website Builder | Tight budgets | No | $2.99/mo intro term | Cheapest credible pick |
| Ghost | Newsletters and memberships | No | From $15/mo | Best for publishers |
| Duda | Agencies building client sites | No | $19/mo billed annually | Best for agencies |
If you are still comparing builders, our guides to Wix alternatives and Webflow alternatives cover the same field from the other direction.
The 8 best Squarespace alternatives
1. Wix — the easiest like-for-like swap
Wix offers a free plan and paid plans from $17/month billed annually (Light), with Core at $29/month adding basic ecommerce. It has 900+ templates and a large app market, so it feels more flexible than Squarespace, though busy sites can feel cluttered. Choose Wix if you want to stay in a drag-and-drop builder without starting over conceptually.
2. WordPress.com — the most freedom and ownership
WordPress.com has a free plan and Personal from $4/month billed annually, with Premium at $8/month. Unlike Squarespace, your content sits on the world’s most portable platform, with a huge plugin and theme ecosystem on higher tiers. The trade-off is more decisions to make — it rewards owners who plan to grow for years.
3. Webflow — best for designers who want control
Webflow offers a free Starter plan, then Basic at $15/month billed annually and Premium (CMS) from $25/month, with ecommerce from $29/month. You get pixel-level visual control and a proper CMS that Squarespace cannot match. The learning curve is steeper, so it suits designers and marketing teams more than first-time owners.
4. Framer — fastest way to ship a polished modern site
Framer has a free plan (Framer subdomain only), then Basic at $10/month and Pro at $30/month billed annually. It excels at animated landing pages, portfolios, and startup sites, with AI sections and one-click publishing. Ecommerce and large CMS sites are its limits — see our Framer alternatives guide if you need more depth there.
5. Shopify — best if selling is the whole job
Shopify starts at $29/month and has no free plan, only a trial — similar to Squarespace on that point. Where it pulls ahead is commerce: inventory, checkout, and apps built for stores at scale, without Squarespace’s Basic-plan transaction fee structure. It is overkill for a portfolio, but the right move for a growing store; compare it in our Shopify alternatives roundup.
6. Hostinger Website Builder — the budget pick
Hostinger’s builder starts at $2.99/month on a long introductory term (renewing higher, around $10.99/month), bundling hosting and an AI site generator. Templates and apps are simpler than Squarespace’s, but for a basic business or portfolio site the saving is real. Check the renewal price before you commit, not just the intro rate.
7. Ghost — best for newsletters and paid memberships
Ghost (Pro) starts from around $15/month and is built for publishers: newsletters, paid memberships, and fast, clean blogs are native, not add-ons. It is not an ecommerce platform, so product sellers should look elsewhere. Pick Ghost if your site exists to grow an audience that pays you directly.
8. Duda — best for agencies and client work
Duda starts at $19/month billed annually, with Team at $29/month and Agency at $52/month. Its strengths are white-label tools, client management, and building many similar sites quickly — things Squarespace does not try to do. Solo owners will pay for capacity they do not need, but agencies save hours per site.
Verdict: which Squarespace alternative should you pick?
Most Squarespace leavers should start with Wix for familiarity or WordPress.com for freedom — both have free plans, so you can test before paying. Choose Webflow or Framer if design control is why you are leaving, Shopify if revenue comes from a store, and Hostinger if price is the deciding factor. Squarespace is still a good builder; it is just no longer the only polished option, and it is no longer cheap.
Frequently asked questions
Does Squarespace have a free plan?
No. Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial, but no free tier. Wix, WordPress.com, Webflow, and Framer all offer free plans in this list.
What is the cheapest Squarespace alternative?
Hostinger Website Builder, from $2.99/month on an introductory term, is the cheapest paid option here. WordPress.com Personal at $4/month billed annually is the cheapest without a steep renewal jump.
Can I move my Squarespace site to another platform?
You can export some content, but you cannot move the site itself — designs and many features do not transfer. Expect to rebuild the layout on the new platform and copy your text and images across.
Is Wix or WordPress better than Squarespace?
Wix is better if you want a similar drag-and-drop experience with a free plan and more apps. WordPress is better if ownership, portability, and long-term flexibility matter more than simplicity.
Research-based roundup — no hands-on testing claims. Prices checked October 2026 and can change; confirm on each vendor’s pricing page before buying.