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Squarespace

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Gatsby

Squarespace vs Gatsby

Squarespace vs Gatsby: which is right for your project? Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates. Gatsby is react-based ssg with graphql data layer. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Gatsby 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 Gatsby for Content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL.

Official docs: Squarespace Developer Docs · Gatsby Documentation

Migrate Squarespace → Gatsby

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Squarespace	Gatsby
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

Gatsby

Pros

Rich plugin ecosystem for data sources (CMS, APIs, databases)
Unified GraphQL data layer pulls from any source
Excellent image optimization with gatsby-plugin-image
Pre-renders pages for fast initial load and good SEO

Cons

Build times scale poorly with page count (minutes for 10K+ pages)
Gatsby Cloud was shut down — hosting is now DIY
GraphQL data layer adds complexity to simple projects
Declining community momentum — many projects migrating to Astro or Next.js

Platform Details

Detail	Squarespace	Gatsby
Language / Stack	Proprietary	JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
Type	website builder	ssg
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-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via GraphQL
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 Gatsby if…

You need content-rich sites pulling data from multiple sources via graphql
Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (React)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Squarespace and Gatsby 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 Gatsby is a ssg built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React). 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, Gatsby 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 offers a free Squarespace → Gatsby migration tool that preserves your URLs, metadata, and content structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Squarespace better than Gatsby?

Gatsby scores higher overall (22/30 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 Gatsby?

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 Gatsby?

Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates, while Gatsby is react-based ssg with graphql data layer. Key differences: ease of use (Squarespace: 5/5, Gatsby: 3/5), pricing ($16-49/month vs Free (open-source)), and ecosystem size (Squarespace: 2/5, Gatsby: 3/5).

How much does Squarespace cost compared to Gatsby?

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

Which is easier to learn, Squarespace or Gatsby?

Squarespace is easier to pick up (5/5 vs 3/5). Beautiful, professionally designed templates out of the box. Gatsby has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to JavaScript/TypeScript (React).

Which performs better, Squarespace or Gatsby?

Gatsby has the performance edge (4/5 vs 3/5). As a static site generator, Gatsby pre-renders pages for near-instant load times. Squarespace may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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