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Squarespace

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Payload CMS

Squarespace vs Payload CMS

Squarespace vs Payload CMS: which is right for your project? Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates. Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Payload CMS 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 Payload CMS for Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead.

Official docs: Squarespace Developer Docs · Payload CMS Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Squarespace	Payload CMS
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

Payload CMS

Pros

Lives inside your Next.js codebase — zero API latency
Config-as-code with full TypeScript type safety
Built-in auth, access control, and file uploads
No vendor lock-in — self-host on your own database

Cons

Tightly coupled to Next.js ecosystem
Newer platform with a smaller community and fewer plugins
Requires TypeScript/Node.js development skills
Admin UI is functional but less polished than Sanity or Contentful

Platform Details

Detail	Squarespace	Payload CMS
Language / Stack	Proprietary	TypeScript / Node.js
Type	website builder	headless cms
Pricing	$16-49/month	Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available
Open Source	No	Yes
Best For	Non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code	Next.js developers wanting a CMS that lives in their codebase with zero API overhead
Export Method	Built-in XML export (limited to blog posts and pages)	REST API, GraphQL, or direct database access

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 Payload CMS if…

You need next.js developers wanting a cms that lives in their codebase with zero api overhead
Your team is comfortable with TypeScript / Node.js
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / cloud plans available

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Squarespace and Payload CMS 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 Payload CMS is a headless cms built with TypeScript / Node.js. 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, Payload CMS is open-source (Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available), 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 Payload CMS?

Payload CMS scores higher overall (23/30 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 Payload CMS?

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

What are the main differences between Squarespace and Payload CMS?

Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates, while Payload CMS is typescript-first headless cms that lives in your next.js app. Key differences: ease of use (Squarespace: 5/5, Payload CMS: 3/5), pricing ($16-49/month vs Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available), and scalability (Squarespace: 2/5, Payload CMS: 4/5).

How much does Squarespace cost compared to Payload CMS?

Squarespace: $16-49/month. Payload CMS: Free (self-hosted) / Cloud plans available. Payload CMS is open-source and free to self-host, while Squarespace is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Squarespace or Payload CMS?

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

Which performs better, Squarespace or Payload CMS?

Payload CMS has the performance edge (5/5 vs 3/5). Payload CMS has strong performance characteristics. Squarespace may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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