📦

Squarespace

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Astro

Squarespace vs Astro

Squarespace vs Astro: which is right for your project? Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates. Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Astro wins overall, but Squarespace is better for non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code. Choose Squarespace for Non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code. Choose Astro for Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript.

Official docs: Squarespace Developer Docs · Astro Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Squarespace	Astro
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Squarespace

Pros

Beautiful, professionally designed templates out of the box
All-in-one: hosting, SSL, domain, and CDN included
Drag-and-drop editor requires zero coding knowledge
Built-in e-commerce, analytics, and email marketing

Cons

Walled garden — no code access or custom server logic
Cannot self-host or export to another platform easily
Limited to Squarespace's template system for design
Monthly costs add up ($192-588/year) for a content site

Astro

Pros

Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture)
Use React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework in the same project
Content collections with type-safe Markdown/MDX
Purpose-built for content sites — blogs, docs, marketing pages

Cons

Not ideal for highly interactive apps (designed for content sites)
Smaller ecosystem than Next.js — fewer integrations available
SSR support is newer and less battle-tested
Island architecture requires thinking differently about interactivity

Platform Details

Detail	Squarespace	Astro
Language / Stack	Proprietary	JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
Type	website builder	framework
Pricing	$16-49/month	Free (open-source)
Open Source	No	Yes
Best For	Non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code	Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript
Export Method	Built-in XML export (limited to blog posts and pages)	N/A (destination framework)

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Squarespace if…

You need non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code
Your team is comfortable with Proprietary
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Choose Astro if…

You need content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal javascript
Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members
You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Squarespace and Astro depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Squarespace is a website builder built with Proprietary, while Astro is a framework built with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Squarespace's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

From a cost perspective, Astro is open-source (Free (open-source)), while Squarespace ($16-49/month) carries ongoing license costs. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Squarespace better than Astro?

Astro scores higher overall (25/30 vs 16/30) thanks to better performance. However, Squarespace remains the better choice for Non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code.

Can I migrate from Squarespace to Astro?

Yes. Export your Squarespace content via Built-in XML export (limited to blog posts and pages), then convert it to Markdown or import into a headless CMS. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Squarespace and Astro?

Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates, while Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. Key differences: ease of use (Squarespace: 5/5, Astro: 4/5), pricing ($16-49/month vs Free (open-source)), and ecosystem size (Squarespace: 2/5, Astro: 3/5).

How much does Squarespace cost compared to Astro?

Squarespace: $16-49/month. Astro: Free (open-source). Astro is open-source and free to self-host, while Squarespace is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Squarespace or Astro?

Squarespace is easier to pick up (5/5 vs 4/5). Beautiful, professionally designed templates out of the box. Astro has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic).

Which performs better, Squarespace or Astro?

Astro has the performance edge (5/5 vs 3/5). As a framework, Astro pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. Squarespace may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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