If you’ve been around One Nine Design or me for any length of time, you know I love Squarespace and that, as of right now, all of my client sites have been built on the Squarespace platform (including my own right here). The fact is, Squarespace is one of the most popular website builders out there, with more than 4.086 million subscriptions. The platform offers many features to build your website from scratch. However, you might be considering all options before settling on Squarespace or other website builders, and it’s important to me to make sure I’m informed of all the choices out there so I can help my clients make the best business decision possible. When you don’t do your research first, you’re likely to end up with a product that either doesn’t meet your needs at all or has so many bells and whistles that you are overwhelmed and unable to focus on the features that really matter.

So when some online friends invited me to look closely at Zyro as an alternative to Squarespace, I was game. They helped me assess the two tools category by category, which you‘ll see below. (If you want to head over and look at Zyro right now, this site has some great info.)

So before we get to the features, let’s revisit: what are website builders, anyway?

Website builders are online platforms that allow businesses and nonprofits to build their websites. Many website builders have beginner-friendly features and affordable pricing. For most people, it’s often the best option to kickstart their business website.

The benefits of website builders can be significant, especially for small business owners. While it’s great to have many features to choose from, choosing the best product for your business can also confuse you. That’s why it’s important to understand the features of great website builders and how they stack up against the alternatives before jumping in.

A closer look: Zyro vs. Squarespace

Let's dive deeper into the features you need to look for in website builders.

Ease of Use

When selecting a website builder, pay attention to its user-friendliness. Regardless of the website type, ease of use is one of the most important functions. It supports website builders' very purpose– to design websites faster and easier. 

Zyro's ease of use is visible through its easy-to-navigate website, from the homepage to the website builder dashboard. With fluid UI, users can accomplish their objectives better and start their website ASAP.

Squarespace's ease of use is apparent on the intuitive website builder. Aside from the main functions, Squarespace adds small details like image cropping, formatting, and a mobile preview button. Squarespace also has good uptime, making the website-building process more convenient.

Template Gallery

Although website builder templates are most of the time optimized for mobile-friendly design and have tools for editing meta data, it’s best to take your time, do thorough planning, and have clear objectives when choosing the best template.

Categorized by website types, Zyro has 29 template options to choose from. What differentiates Zyro from other website builders is the added detail to features paired with the templates. This works to fulfill both functionality and aesthetic aspects of the website.

Meanwhile, as of version 7.1.,  Squarespace, rather than offering premade templates, provides you categories and offers design suggestions. It makes for a tailored website making experience, that will need a bit more decision making but will guide you through each step.

Drag and Drop Editor 

Drag and drop function adds practicality to the website building process. It also combines aspects from the UI and UX to provide the best-looking website design. As beginners, this saves on the time needed to get used to the platform.

With the drag and drop function, Zyro provides flexibility to its users. For example, they can take their wireframe into a fully-functional website. Users can add as many menus, buttons, or boxes as they want without reducing UI quality with an intuitive grid system.

Different than Zyro, Squarespace's drag and drop function works through preset placement. Yet, the website-building process works through the navigation menu. The menu bar and page options allow users to stay organized and structured when it comes to designing. 

AI Tools

AI in website builders means you do less but gain more. It's achievable with intuitive technology within the builder. The AI tools work based on data, translate it into useful features for users, and benefit website visitors.

Zyro has plenty of AI tools to offer. They allow users to design better with clearer purposes. For example, with AI Heatmap, users can know the most appealing page to visitors. With a content generator, users gain SEO-friendly copy to include in their websites.

Unlike Zyro, Squarespace doesn't have AI Tools for the website builder. However, this is compensated by comprehensive SEO tools within the Marketing section of the builder. From SEO Checklist to including Google Search Keywords, users can implement efficient SEO.

Customer Support

Customer support for website builders is beneficial in many ways. From assisting with plan upgrades, solving issues, and answering questions, users can know the platform better and receive their money's worth – which we will cover in the next part. 

Based on Trustpilot, Zyro scores 4.7 out of 5 in customer reviews. With positive feedback on customer support, consider Zyro if you require assistance with the website builder plans. The platform also offers 24/7 customer service with a Knowledge Base page for information.

Squarespace's customer support is reachable via email and Twitter. Aside from customer support, Squarespace offers a community forum that covers many topics. Through this forum, users can obtain useful information about the platform.

Value for Money

A website builder is one of the investments you make for your business or nonprofit. Getting the value for money lies in the features and how beneficial they are. Pay attention to your long-term growth plan to get the full value for your money.

Zyro's monthly plan starts from $2.49. With the basic plan, users get the essential features to create their websites. Also, they offer four plans with unlimited bandwidth, storage and include SSL security. Zyro also has a free plan option for users.

Squarespace's monthly starts from $12. With a higher price compared to Zyro, Squarespace offers more features and perks for users. It also has four plans to choose from, with a free 14-day trial. Squarespace also provides ease in plan upgrades, providing detailed information for users.

Zyro vs. Squarespace: Which one should you choose?

After detailed comparisons between the two, now comes the time to choose. The answer depends on you. It’s important to remember as business niches differ, so do their needs for websites.

Zyro is more suitable for some small business owners and nonprofits, considering the features. Beginners can start their website quickly without putting too much effort – especially with AI tools. On top of that, Zyro has affordable pricing.

On the other hand, Squarespace focuses more on visuals and minimalistic templates. The templates support the need for beautiful and functional websites for clients focused on visual presentations (photographers, restaurants, etc.), retail shops, service providers, and more. With more costs, users get more features.

If you still have doubts, try their free trials. It gives you hands-on experience on both platforms, allowing you to make final decisions. Also, decide based on your website objectives and budgeting plans.

Zyro is clearly an alternative to Squarespace; both have pros and cons. So, the best option is to choose the most suitable platform for you.

Until next time,

Andrea

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