Squarespace is genuinely impressive in a demo. Beautiful templates, drag-and-drop editing, everything handled under one roof. It's no wonder so many Portsmouth businesses consider it when they're first building a website. But is it the right choice for your business — or will it hold you back? Here's an honest breakdown.
What is Squarespace?
Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder — hosting, design tools, and basic eCommerce are all bundled into a monthly subscription starting around £13/month. You choose a template, customise colours and fonts, add your content, and you're live. No developers needed.
For certain businesses, that's exactly what they need. But there are real limitations that don't always show up until you're a year or two in.
What is Custom Web Design?
Custom web design means your site is built from scratch (or on a flexible platform like WordPress) specifically for your business. Your layout, functionality, and code are tailored to your goals — not constrained by what a template allows. It costs more upfront, but you own the result entirely.
Where Squarespace Wins
Speed to launch
If you need something live quickly — a portfolio, a simple service site, a placeholder while you figure out your brand — Squarespace can get you there in days rather than weeks.
Low ongoing cost
At £13–£35/month, Squarespace is affordable for very early-stage businesses. There's no developer to call when something breaks — the platform handles maintenance and security for you.
Non-technical management
Adding a new page or swapping an image is genuinely easy. If you're a solo trader without a marketing team, that independence has real value.
Where Squarespace Falls Short
SEO limitations
Squarespace has improved its SEO tools, but it still lags behind WordPress and custom builds. Page speed scores tend to be lower due to template bloat, and your ability to control technical SEO is limited. For Portsmouth businesses trying to rank locally, this matters.
You're renting, not owning
If Squarespace raises its prices, changes its terms, or discontinues your template, you have limited options. Your site, content, and design live on their platform — not yours.
Design constraints
Templates look great until every competitor in your space is using the same one. Meaningful differentiation — a unique layout, a custom interaction, a specific feature — often isn't possible without working around (or breaking) how the template was designed.
Scaling is expensive
Adding eCommerce, booking systems, membership areas, or custom integrations on Squarespace means stacking monthly app fees that can quickly exceed the cost of having had a custom site built in the first place.
The Honest Recommendation
Squarespace makes sense if: you're pre-revenue, you need a simple digital presence quickly, and your website is more of a business card than a growth tool.
Custom web design makes sense if: your website is a primary source of leads or sales, you're investing in local SEO, you need specific functionality, or you want a site that actually looks different from everyone else in your market.
Most Portsmouth businesses we speak to started on Squarespace, hit a ceiling, and came to us to rebuild. That's not a criticism of Squarespace — it's just the natural arc. If you're already thinking "we've outgrown it," you probably have.
Ready to Make the Move?
At Jazz Creative, we specialise in building websites that perform — not just ones that look good in a browser tab. If you're weighing up your options, get in touch for a free conversation. No hard sell, just honest advice.
Further reading:How much does a website cost in Portsmouth? • Signs it's time to rebuild your website