Framer vs Squarespace: Which One is Better in 2025?

When choosing a platform to build your website, Framer and Squarespace are two popular options. Both offer unique features and cater to different needs. In this article, we'll compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.

Framer: Overview and Key Features

Framer is a design tool that combines visual design with powerful code capabilities, catering to both designers and developers.

• Visual Design Interface: Framer offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to create detailed designs without coding. It supports vector editing, layout tools, and real-time collaboration.
• Interactive Prototyping: Users can build interactive prototypes with advanced animations and transitions. Framer supports gestures, scroll effects, and micro-interactions to enhance user experience.
• Code Integration: Framer allows the integration of custom code, enabling users to add JavaScript, React components, and APIs directly into their projects for more complex functionalities.
• Component Library: Framer includes a library of pre-built components such as buttons, forms, and navigation bars. These components are customizable and reusable across different projects.
• Collaboration Tools: Framer supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously. It includes version control and commenting features for team feedback.
• Responsive Design: Framer provides tools for creating responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes. Users can set breakpoints and preview designs on various devices.
• SEO Optimization: Framer includes SEO tools like meta tags, alt text for images, and customizable URLs. These features help improve search engine rankings and visibility.
• Custom Plugins: Framer supports custom plugins to extend its functionality. Examples include plugins for integrating Google Analytics, adding custom fonts, and connecting to third-party APIs.

Framer's Reviews

Overall user feedback on Framer is generally positive, highlighting its ease of use and powerful design capabilities, though some users note areas for improvement.

1. G2: 4.4/5

• "Easy to use and good default designs make it easy and fast to set up a modern-looking website. However, the pricing for companies operating out of the EU is frustrating, especially for multi-language support." - Verified User in Computer Software, 3/5
• "Creating new components and trying creative animations is easy. Best free templates available. However, different views for each display need to be created manually." - Soniya S., 4/5
• "Easy to use if familiar with Figma. Great customer support and integration with other tools. However, localization policies are expensive." - Jorge H., 5/5
• "Initially promising but caused major functionality issues like 301 redirects, destroying SEO rankings and user experience." - Güven S., 2/5
• "Easy to create and publish pages, seamless integration with Figma. However, more analytics would be helpful." - Ayush S., 4/5

Positive Aspects:

• Easy to use
• Good default designs
• Fast setup for modern-looking websites
• Great for creative animations and ideas
• Excellent customer support

Common Concerns:

• Steep pricing, especially for multi-language support
• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Major functionality issues affecting SEO and user experience
• Limited customization options

Squarespace: Overview and Key Features

Squarespace is a popular website builder known for its user-friendly interface and robust feature set.

• Template Designs: Squarespace offers a wide range of professionally designed templates. These templates are fully customizable, allowing users to adjust fonts, colors, and layouts to match their brand.
• Integrated E-commerce: Squarespace provides comprehensive e-commerce tools, including product management, inventory tracking, and customizable checkout processes. It supports various payment methods like PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay.
• SEO Tools: Squarespace includes built-in SEO features such as customizable meta tags, clean URLs, and automatic sitemaps. Users can also add alt text to images and use the platform's analytics to track SEO performance.
• Blogging Platform: Squarespace's blogging tools allow users to create, schedule, and manage blog posts. Features include multiple author support, post tagging, and integration with social media platforms for easy sharing.
• Analytics: Squarespace provides detailed analytics, including traffic sources, visitor behavior, and sales data. Users can access real-time statistics and generate custom reports to understand their audience better.
• 24/7 Customer Support: Squarespace offers round-the-clock customer support through live chat and email. The platform also has an extensive knowledge base with tutorials and guides to help users troubleshoot issues.
• Mobile Optimization: All Squarespace templates are mobile-responsive, ensuring that websites look great on any device. Users can preview and edit their site in mobile view to make necessary adjustments.

Squarespace's Reviews

Overall user feedback on Squarespace highlights its ease of use and beautiful templates, though some users note limitations in customization and occasional bugs.

1. G2: 4.4/5

• "Creating a beautiful and functional blog is easy, but it lacks some advanced features for developers." - Jerry M., 4.5/5
• "User-friendly interface and excellent customer support, but robust webpages can take a while to load." - Mirjam H., 5/5
• "Beautiful templates and helpful live chat support, though customization options are limited." - Verified User, 5/5
• "Easy to use for non-technical users, but lacks some advanced features." - Lena R., 4.5/5
• "Easy to build professional websites with great analytics, but customer support can be unhelpful at times." - Lisa M. T., 5/5

Positive Aspects:

• Ease of use
• Beautiful and professional templates
• Good customer support
• Scalability
• Seamless integration with other tools

Common Concerns:

• Limited customization options
• Occasional bugs
• Issues with domain migration
• Robust webpages can take longer to load
• Customer support can be unhelpful at times

Feature Comparison: Framer vs. Squarespace

Similarities

Despite targeting different user bases, Framer and Squarespace share several key features:

• User-Friendly Interfaces: Both platforms offer intuitive, drag-and-drop interfaces, making it easy for users to design and manage websites without coding knowledge.
• Customizable Templates: Each platform provides a variety of professionally designed templates that users can customize to fit their brand.
• SEO Tools: Both Framer and Squarespace include built-in SEO features such as customizable meta tags, clean URLs, and tools to improve search engine rankings.
• Hosting Services: Both platforms offer secure, managed hosting, ensuring users don't need to worry about server maintenance or performance optimization.
• Third-Party Integrations: Each platform supports integrations with various third-party services, enhancing functionality and allowing for more complex features.
• Responsive Design: Both Framer and Squarespace ensure that websites are mobile-responsive, providing a seamless experience across different devices.

Differences

Critical differences between Framer and Squarespace will likely influence your choice.

• Primary Focus:
  • Framer: Emphasizes design flexibility and advanced prototyping capabilities.
  • Squarespace: Focuses on providing a comprehensive website building and hosting solution.
• Customization and Design Flexibility:
  • Framer: Offers a true design canvas with extensive customization options, including animations and code integration.
  • Squarespace: Provides customizable templates with a drag-and-drop interface but less granular control over design elements.
• E-commerce Capabilities:
  • Squarespace: Includes robust e-commerce features like payment processing, shipping, and inventory management.
  • Framer: Supports e-commerce through integrations like Shopify but lacks built-in comprehensive e-commerce tools.
• Third-Party Integrations:
  • Framer: Supports various plugins for enhanced functionality, including Google Sheets and Notion.
  • Squarespace: Integrates with marketing, SEO, and social media tools, offering a more extensive range of built-in integrations.
• Support and Resources:
  • Squarespace: Provides 24/7 customer support, webinars, and a comprehensive help center.
  • Framer: Offers resources like Framer Academy and community support but lacks round-the-clock customer service.

Pricing Comparison: Framer vs. Squarespace

Framer Pricing

Framer offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different business needs. Here's a breakdown of their pricing structures:

• Startup: $75 per month (billed yearly)
  • Pages: 15,000
  • Bandwidth: 200 GB
  • CMS Collections: 20
  • Editors: 6 max, $40 per editor
  • Version History: 90 days
  • File Storage: 50 GB
  • File Uploads: 50 MB
  • Form Entries: 5,000
  • Redirects: 250
  • CDN: Global
  • Custom Proxy: $350
  • Uptime SLA: 99.99%
  • SSO for Sites: Yes
  • Locales: 5 max, $40 per locale
  • Support: Community support
  • Billing: Automated
  • Security: SOC type 2, ISO 27001
• Scaleup: $200 per month (billed yearly)
  • Pages: 30,000
  • Bandwidth: 500 GB
  • CMS Collections: 30
  • Editors: 6 max, $40 per editor
  • Version History: 120 days
  • File Storage: 100 GB
  • File Uploads: 100 MB
  • Form Entries: 10,000
  • Redirects: 500
  • CDN: Global
  • Custom Proxy: Included
  • Uptime SLA: 99.99%
  • SSO for Sites: Yes
  • Locales: 5 max, $40 per locale
  • Support: Premium support
  • Billing: Automated
  • Security: SOC type 2, ISO 27001
• Enterprise: Custom pricing and billing terms
  • Pages: Custom
  • Bandwidth: Custom
  • CMS Collections: Custom
  • Editors: Custom
  • Version History: 180 days
  • File Storage: Custom
  • File Uploads: 150 MB
  • Form Entries: Custom
  • Redirects: Unlimited
  • CDN: Premium
  • Custom Proxy: Included
  • Uptime SLA: 99.99%
  • SSO for Sites: Yes
  • Locales: Custom
  • Support: Priority support, Slack channel, dedicated product specialists, team training
  • Billing: Custom
  • Security: SOC type 2, ISO 27001

Squarespace' Pricing

Squarespace offers a variety of pricing plans to cater to different needs, from personal websites to advanced e-commerce solutions.

• Personal: $16/month (billed annually)
  • Includes a free custom domain
  • SSL security
  • Unlimited bandwidth and storage
  • SEO features for site visibility
• Business: $23/month (billed annually)
  • All features in Personal plan
  • Professional email from Google
  • Advanced website analytics
  • 3% transaction fee on sales
• Basic Commerce: $27/month (billed annually)
  • All features in Business plan
  • No transaction fees
  • Customer accounts
  • Powerful e-commerce analytics
• Advanced Commerce: $49/month (billed annually)
  • All features in Basic Commerce plan
  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • Advanced shipping
  • Advanced discounts
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
  • Custom features and support
  • Dedicated account management
  • Priority support

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Framer and Squarespace

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs with code in real-time. We offer a drag-and-drop editor that uses real components, making it easy to create pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Our platform generates clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, eliminating the need for handoff and speeding up your workflow.

Subframe's Features

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs with code in real-time. We offer a drag-and-drop editor that uses real components, making it easy to create pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Our platform generates clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, eliminating the need for handoff and speeding up your workflow.

• Component-Based Design: Subframe helps create user interfaces with real, reusable components instead of static mockups. The visual editor includes a responsive drag-and-drop canvas for building precise, production-ready layouts.
• Pre-Built UI Templates: Subframe offers a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns. Each template is built with reusable components to help speed up the design process.
• Code Export: Subframe generates clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code. Designs can be copied directly into a codebase, reducing time spent on handoff and manual CSS adjustments.
• Free to Get Started: Subframe offers free access to its visual design tools with no credit card required.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Subframe supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, enhancing team productivity.

Subframe's Pricing

Subframe pricing is designed to cater to different user needs:

• Free Plan: $0 per user/month
  • 1 project
  • Up to 3 page designs
  • Up to 3 team members
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Limited AI features
• Pro Plan: $29 per user/month
  • Up to 3 projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Unlimited team members
  • Custom components
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Full AI beta access
• Custom Plan: Custom pricing
  • Unlimited projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Integrate your components
  • Dedicated Slack support
  • Figma plugin
  • Unlimited AI

For more details, visit our Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with us to see how Subframe can transform your design workflow.

Subframe's Reviews

Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.

• "Just joined, will spend more time on it but so far it is incredible, really love it." - Laura Sinisterra
• "Great product, amazed by the accuracy of the pages generated by the AI." - Filmon Arefayne
• "Loved this product! The visual editor saves loads of time and is really a cool feature." - Raunak Shaw

Framer, Squarespace or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You

Framer excels in design flexibility and advanced prototyping, making it ideal for designers who need extensive customization and animation capabilities. Squarespace offers a comprehensive website building and hosting solution with robust e-commerce features, perfect for users seeking an all-in-one platform with beautiful templates and ease of use.

Subframe stands out by seamlessly integrating design and code, providing a visual editor that generates production-ready React and Tailwind code. This makes it the best choice for those who want both design flexibility and efficient code generation in one platform.

If you prioritize design flexibility and advanced prototyping, Framer is a great fit. For a comprehensive website building and hosting solution, Squarespace may be the better choice. But for those looking for a tool that integrates design and code seamlessly, Subframe stands out.

Get started on Subframe for free to see how it can streamline your workflow and transform your design process.