Do I Need a Custom Website or Can I Use Squarespace?

# Do I Need a Custom Website or Can I Use Squarespace?

The short answer: Use Squarespace or Wix if you are just testing an idea or need a basic online presence for under $200/year. Choose a custom website if you are serious about growing your business, need it to convert visitors into customers, or want to show up in Google search results.

What Squarespace and Wix Are Good For

• Personal portfolios and creative resumes
• Simple one-page sites for events or side projects
• Businesses that just need a basic "we exist" presence
• Tight budgets with no immediate revenue goals from the site

Where DIY Website Builders Fall Short

SEO Limitations

Squarespace and Wix have basic SEO tools, but they generate bloated code and slow load times that hurt your Google rankings. If you want to show up when someone searches "web designer near me" or "best chiropractor in Charlotte," a custom site will outrank a Squarespace site almost every time.

You Do Not Own Anything

When you cancel your Squarespace subscription, your site is gone. You are renting, not owning. With a custom website, you own the code, the design, and all the files, forever.

Limited Conversion Optimization

Squarespace templates are built to look good. They are not built to convert. A custom website is built specifically around your customer journey, what they need to see, what questions they have, and what action you want them to take.

Monthly Costs Add Up

Squarespace starts at $16/month. Add e-commerce, email campaigns, and premium templates and you are paying $50-$100/month forever. A custom website is a one-time investment.

Custom Website: When It Makes Sense

• You are actively trying to get clients or customers from your website
• You run ads and need a landing page that actually converts
• You want to rank on Google for your services
• You have a specific business process (booking, intake forms, e-commerce)
• You want your site to look as professional as your business actually is

The Real Cost Comparison

If your website is a revenue tool, not just a business card, go custom. If it is a placeholder, a website builder will do.

See our custom website packages →