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Squarespace

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Strapi

Squarespace vs Strapi

Squarespace vs Strapi: which is right for your project? Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates. Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Strapi 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 Strapi for Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control.

Official docs: Squarespace Developer Docs · Strapi Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Squarespace	Strapi
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

Strapi

Pros

Fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in
Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
Intuitive admin panel with customizable content modeling
Active open-source community with frequent updates

Cons

Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge and maintenance
Plugin ecosystem is growing but still smaller than established CMS
Large datasets can stress the default SQLite/PostgreSQL setup
Cloud hosting launched recently — less mature than competitors

Platform Details

Detail	Squarespace	Strapi
Language / Stack	Proprietary	Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
Type	website builder	headless cms
Pricing	$16-49/month	Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)
Open Source	No	Yes
Best For	Non-technical creators who want a polished site without touching code	Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control
Export Method	Built-in XML export (limited to blog posts and pages)	REST API, GraphQL API, or database export

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 Strapi if…

You need developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless cms with full control
Your team is comfortable with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (cloud)
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Squarespace and Strapi 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 Strapi is a headless cms built with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). 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, Strapi is open-source (Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)), 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 Strapi?

Strapi scores higher overall (24/30 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 Strapi?

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

What are the main differences between Squarespace and Strapi?

Squarespace is all-in-one website builder with designer templates, while Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. Key differences: ease of use (Squarespace: 5/5, Strapi: 4/5), pricing ($16-49/month vs Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)), and ecosystem size (Squarespace: 2/5, Strapi: 3/5).

How much does Squarespace cost compared to Strapi?

Squarespace: $16-49/month. Strapi: Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud). Strapi is open-source and free to self-host, while Squarespace is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Squarespace or Strapi?

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

Which performs better, Squarespace or Strapi?

Strapi has the performance edge (4/5 vs 3/5). Strapi has strong performance characteristics. Squarespace may require additional optimization for high-traffic sites.

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