Squarespace vs Hostinger | TechRadar
Squarespace website builder review
Squarespace has become a top choice in the website builder world thanks to its sleek designs and easy-to-use tools. You’ve probably seen it advertised across different platforms, and for good reason—it’s hard to miss.
For
- Built-in email marketing
- Essential e-commerce features with most plans
- Lots of lovely, mobile-responsive templates
- Free trial with no credit card info required
- Helpful link in bio tool
- Free SSL certificate
- Helpful 24/7 customer support and well-supplied knowledgebase
- A solid set of features
Against
- Can’t switch templates without starting from scratch
- No telephone support
- Low level of customization
Hostinger website builder review
Hostinger is known for its easy drag-and-drop editor, built-in SEO tools, and fast hosting. With customizable templates and AI-powered design options, Hostinger makes it simple to create a professional website without breaking the bank.
For
- 24/7 live chat support
- Awesome AI-powered tools
- 7-day free trail
- All-in-one sort of solution
- Essential ecommerce tools
- Free SSL security
- Intuitive and insightful user interface
- Royalty-free image library
- Multi-language support
- Free domain (for 1-year, with annual plans)
- 30-day money back guarantee
Against
- No forever free plan
- Not fit for a membership site
- You can’t switch templates
- All ecommerce tools only on premium plan
- Most AI tools only on premium plan
Picking the right website builder for you is all about matching your needs, goals, and skills with the right platform. After all, what is right for one isn’t always right for another. But with your time already stretched and a plethora of tools and features to consider, comparing platforms can be a behemoth task.
In this guide, we stand two of the best website builders side-by-side, comparing important features including price, ecommerce features, usability, and more. We’ve dived deep into each of these areas and created a quick and easy summary, making it simple for you to get a true idea of how Squarespace and Hostinger compare.
Squarespace vs Hostinger: Pricing
With just 4 plans to pick from, Squarespace pricing is simple to understand.
The Personal plan starts at $16/month for features such as custom domains, Squarespace AI, SSL security, and unlimited bandwidth. Moving up to the Business plan at $23/month, you get additional features like website analytics, promotional pop-ups, customization with CSS and Javascript, and a 3% transaction fee on e-commerce sales.
If you’re aiming to build an online store, the Basic Commerce plan removes the transaction fees and adds perks like point of sale, product review, and more at $27/month. Meanwhile, larger stores can go with the Advanced Commerce plan. At $52/month, you’ll get additional features like advanced shipping, abandoned cart recovery, discounts, and commerce APIs.
Depending on your situation, you can save up to 50% on your Squarespace subscription by using one of the best Squarespace promo codes.
Hostinger has two budget-friendly website builder plans, starting with the Premium Website Builder plan at just $2.99/month for a 48-month term.
This plan includes a free domain worth $9.99, integration with third-party tools like Facebook Pixel, Google Analytics, WhatsApp, Adsense, and access to a Mobile website editor.
At a slightly higher cost, the Business Website Builder plan comes in at $3.99/month and includes AI tools for generating images, blog writing, heatmaps, and SEO. Plus, you can set up your online store with a 0% transaction fee.
My verdict: Hostinger clearly wins in terms of affordability with its highly competitive pricing, making it ideal for beginners or small businesses on a budget. However, if you want a more polished, design-focused website with powerful built-in tools, Squarespace’s higher price might be worth it, as it has specific plans based on your needs.
Squarespace vs Hostinger: Editor
Squarespace stands out with its intuitive and polished drag-and-drop editor, Fluid Engine. This editor features grid-based layouts and predefined content blocks. As you build your website, you can customize your template with colors, fonts, images, and content. You can see these changes in real time as you edit, and it’s easy to switch between the desktop and mobile views to make sure your site looks good on all devices. Squarespace comes with built-in tools for adding blogs, photo galleries, and online store features, which makes it easy to create different kinds of websites.
On the other hand, Hostinger’s AI brings your customizable site to life in a matter of minutes. Even if you choose a pre-made template, you can easily tweak elements using their drag-and-drop interface. While it might not be as feature-rich or as visually appealing as Squarespace, it gets the job done quickly and to a high standard. Not to mention, you can use Hostinger’s AI tools like AI Heatmap and AI Writer to optimize content and design for conversions.
My verdict: While Hostinger’s AI provides speed and simplicity to launch your site quickly, Squarespace comes out on top, with an intuitive editor that lets you experiment with different layouts. This gives you the flexibility to create beautiful designs and keep your website fresh and up-to-date.
Squarespace vs Hostinger: Ecommerce
Squarespace supports a wide variety of features for both physical and digital products, such as product variants, customer reviews, discount codes, and inventory management. It also offers point-of-sale integration, subscription-based services, and abandoned cart recovery in its Advanced Commerce plan. Squarespace further enhances your online store with SEO tools, customizable checkout pages, and the ability to connect your store with social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
From a single dashboard, Hostinger lets you set up a payment method, customize each item, add your business info for invoices, and review your shipping policies. It also offers several advanced tools, some of which are AI-powered, that can speed up store creation and product upload.
From the Store Manager section, you can set up an online store, manage inventory, create product categories, and offer discount codes. While you get insights like average order value and revenue, their ecommerce tools are not as advanced as Squarespace. Hostinger is best suited for smaller online stores that don’t need extensive ecommerce functionalities.
My verdict: Squarespace is the clear winner for users looking to build a full-fledged ecommerce website with advanced features. Hostinger is a great budget option for small businesses or individuals needing basic e-commerce capabilities.
Squarespace vs Hostinger: User experience
Squarespace focuses on giving you a visually-driven user experience. Its platform is smooth, well-organized, and packed with design-forward features that make building a website enjoyable. Whether you’re a designer or someone with minimal tech skills, Squarespace’s well-thought-out UI leverages the help of AI for intuitive recommendations. All of their templates are mobile-optimized, so your website will look great across all devices.
Hostinger’s AI builder is designed to be quick and easy. The interface is straightforward and the features are great for those with no or little website building experience. While it doesn’t have the same level of design customization as Squarespace, the simplicity of the platform makes it easier to navigate, particularly for non-designers. Plus, the platform is lightweight, which ensures fast load times and smooth browsing experiences.
My verdict: If you value design and aesthetics, Squarespace’s user experience is unparalleled. Hostinger is more focused on efficiency and speed, making it a great choice for users who prioritize simplicity over complex design options.
Squarespace vs Hostinger: Support
Squarespace comes with 24/7 email support and live chat during business hours. Additionally, they have an extensive knowledge base, video tutorials, forum, and webinars to help you get the most out of their platform. If you need professional assistance, you can hire a Squarespace Expert to help set up your site. While Squarespace support is highly regarded, the lack of direct phone support may be a drawback for some users.
Similarly, despite a lack of phone support, Hostinger’s customer support team functions well with 24/7 customer support via live chat and email. Like Squarespace, it features a knowledge base with step-by-step guides, articles, and tutorials. What sets Hostinger apart is its Hostinger Academy YouTube channel, which has over 550 videos, run by industry experts.
My verdict: It’s almost a tie, since both Squarespace and Hostinger offer good resources, though neither has phone support. Squarespace comes with live chat, tutorials, and expert help, while Hostinger is known for quick responses and its highly valuable YouTube channel.
Squarespace vs Hostinger: Final Verdict
If you’re after aesthetics, design flexibility, and advanced e-commerce tools, Squarespace is the better choice. However, if you’re on a tight budget and need a quick, no-fuss website builder, Hostinger delivers excellent value for money.
Either way, it’s best to put these builders to the test with a free trial. Where Squarespace has a 14-day free trial, Hostinger’s trial only lasts up to 7 days, although you can get a 30-day money-back guarantee with a paid plan. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your specific needs and priorities, so take advantage of these trials to find the best fit for your website goals.