Squarespace vs. Showit: Which Website Platform Is Right for You?
Not sure which One is best for you?
No clue which is better than the other?
The clarity you are looking for is right here.
Designing a new website can feel like a big decision, especially when it comes to choosing the right platform. If you’ve been torn between Squarespace and Showit, you’re not alone. These two platforms are favorites among creatives, coaches, and service providers, but they’re very different when it comes to design flexibility, ease of use, and customization.
So how do you know which one is the best fit for you?
As a designer and developer who builds strategic, high-converting websites and e-commerce experiences on both Squarespace and Showit, and as someone who has personally set up their business on BOTH platforms over time, I’ve helped many clients navigate this exact question. In this post, I’m breaking down the key differences to help you make a confident, informed decision that supports your brand and business goals.
JUST HERE FOR THE CLIFF NOTES?
♡Grab my free Squarespace & Showit Comparison Checklist, a one-page guide to help you choose your perfect-fit platform with clarity and ease.♡
First, Let’s Meet the Platforms
Before we get into the side-by-side breakdown, here’s a quick intro to what each platform is all about:
Squarespace
An all-in-one website builder with built-in templates, e-commerce, blogging, and marketing tools. Squarespace is known for its clean, modern layouts and streamlined setup which is perfect for anyone looking for a polished site without a complicated backend. Highly recommend that people who are interested in maintaining their own websites without developer assistance should consider setting up shop on Squarespace.
Showit
A drag-and-drop website builder made for creative freedom. With Showit, you can design your site exactly the way you envision it—plus, it integrates with WordPress for powerful blogging and SEO. If you’ve ever wished your website could look and feel like your brand’s dream moodboard, Showit delivers. This is an excellent option for those who are tech savvy and willing to take on the learning curve to maintain their website, or for those who love the idea of working with a designer and developer for continued maintenance.
Squarespace vs. Showit:
Let’s get into it, Feature by feature
1. Design Flexibility
Squarespace: Structured templates that are beautiful out of the box, but come with some limitations when it comes to layout customization.
Showit: Complete design freedom. Everything is fully customizable, from the placement of images and text to mobile-specific layouts.
My take:
Choose Squarespace if you want a clean, professional site that’s quick to launch as soon as you choose a template.
Choose Showit if you want to create something much more custom, creative, and truly unique to your brand.
2. Blogging + SEO
Squarespace: Includes a built-in blog that’s simple to use and perfect for occasional updates or short-form content.
Showit: Uses WordPress on the backend for blogging, giving you access to powerful SEO tools and full control over your content structure.
My take:
If blogging is part of your content strategy or you’re focused on long-term organic growth, Showit is the stronger choice. Squarespace works wonderfully for blogs as well but it is limited on how you can customize it without code. There also isn’t any such thing as Yoast on Squarespace. SEOspace is probably the closest alternative!
3. E-Commerce Capabilities
Squarespace: Offers a solid, built-in shop for physical and digital products, services, or appointment booking.
Showit: Doesn’t have native e-commerce, but you can integrate tools like Shopify Lite or ThriveCart for checkout.
My take:
Need a built-in store? Want everything in one place? Squarespace wins.
Have a more custom sales process? Need advanced shipping options and product options? Showit gives you the flexibility to embed and customize what you need.
4. Ease of Use + Learning Curve
Squarespace: User-friendly, especially for beginners. You can launch quickly without needing to know any code. No code platform but with code, lots of things are possible.
Showit: Has a learning curve, but the creative possibilities are unmatched once you get the hang of it (or work with a designer!)
My take:
Squarespace is a great DIY-friendly option for beginners who don’t want to take time to learn how to use it.
Showit is ideal if you’re working with a designer or want full design control and don’t mind the learning curve.
Real-Life Examples From My Clients
Squarespace in Action:
I recently worked with an online dating coach who was previously hosting her website and courses on Kajabi. Her goal was to move off of Kajabi and do away with StanStore for selling her products and coaching. Squarespace was the best place to house her business online all in one place, down to the domain and email hosting. Successfully moved all of her courses over to Squarespace and even replicated her payment plan offers using Squarespace Payments. (Did I mention anything about payment integrations? I’ll write another note about that soon…
Showit in Action:
A few summers ago, I had an entertainment company reach out to me with a desire to move from Wordpress to Showit instead. They really wanted to put more focus onto their content marketing at the time and have a site that’s easier to design and edit on their own compared to the experience they were having with hosted Wordpress. We rebranded and put them on Showit which helped them update their team page, showcase their services, and streamline their client experience with booking calls and appointments with custom software integrations.
From Kajabi To Squarespace:
Which One Is Right for You?
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you decide:
Choose Squarespace if you…
Prefer a simple, all-in-one platform
Want to launch quickly without a ton of design decisions
Need built-in features like blogging, e-commerce, or scheduling
Like a minimalist, structured look, truly no code.
Choose Showit if you…
Want a fully custom website that looks nothing like a template
Value creative freedom and visual storytelling
Plan to blog consistently or grow through SEO
Don’t mind learning something new or working with a designer
Still Not Sure?
Let’s Make It Easy.
If you’re still feeling stuck, don’t worry. I’ve created a free Platform Comparison Checklist that breaks everything down side-by-side—so you can clearly see which platform aligns with your goals, brand vibe, and content needs. It’s free and it’s right here, no signing up to get it!
Or if you’d prefer expert guidance, book a discovery call and I’ll help you decide which platform will set your business up for success.
You don’t have to figure it out alone—and whichever direction you go, I’m here to help you build a beautiful, strategic website that actually works.
