Comparison, checked September 24, 2026
Squarespace vs a custom-built website: an honest comparison
- Author
- By the Redenn team
- Published
- Published
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed
The short answer
Squarespace is a strong choice for a portfolio, studio or restaurant site where the owner values polished templates and wants to update photos and menus weekly on a modest subscription. A custom-built Redenn site is the better choice when the website has to generate and track leads, connect to a CRM and automation, and be handed over to you once paid, with package prices published in CAD and optional Redenn hosting.
Side by side
| Squarespace | Custom-built (Redenn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Monthly or yearly subscription; features gated by plan; varies | Launch CA$99 (template-based starter), Starter CA$299, Business CA$499, Business Plus CA$799, Growth System from CA$1,299 |
| Scope | Design templates, pages, galleries and platform features within plan limits | Written scope: pages, forms, booking, blog, CRM integration, chat; custom features quoted |
| Ownership (code, content, domain, accounts) | You own your content and a domain in your name; the site design and features run only on Squarespace | Domain (Cloudflare Registrar) in your name from the start; once the project is paid, the code and content we create are yours, with the code and every login handed over to you, or the accounts managed for you on a paid plan |
| Support | Platform help resources and support channels; varies | Email support on all hosting plans; priority on Pro Managed; website changes as a service |
| Hosting | Included in the subscription; not portable | Your choice of host, or Redenn hosting on Vercel's CDN: Lite CA$99/year, Business CA$199/year, Dynamic CA$49/month plus provider usage |
| SEO capability | Built-in basics such as page titles and descriptions; configured by the owner | Search Setup CA$99: metadata, sitemap, robots, structured data; Local Search Foundation CA$199; Search + AI Foundation CA$299 |
| Development capability | Limited custom code; features come from the platform | Full Next.js, React, TypeScript and Node.js development |
| CRM | Platform contact tools and third-party integrations; varies | CRM integration from CA$99; CRM Setup from CA$299 |
| Automation | Platform features and connectors; varies | Lead Follow-Up Automation from CA$149; appointment reminder and Google review request workflows from CA$149 each; with message usage billed by each provider directly to your own account; other email automation quoted |
| AI features | Platform-provided AI assistance where offered; varies | AI Website Chat from CA$99/month and AI Receptionist from CA$149/month (usage such as AI, call minutes, SMS and email is billed by each provider directly to your own account, and none is included) |
| Maintenance burden | Platform maintained; owner does all content and design upkeep | Monthly dependency updates included from Redenn Business hosting; you request content and design changes |
| Right choice when | Portfolio, studio, restaurant or event site the owner edits often, on a small budget | Service business that needs inquiries, tracking, CRM and automation on a site it owns |
Prices are in Canadian dollars and exclude taxes. Any tax that applies is shown separately on your invoice.
Our verdict
Squarespace is a genuinely good product for portfolios, studios, restaurants and event sites where the owner wants design polish and will keep the content fresh. A custom Redenn build is the better choice when the website must generate and track inquiries, connect to a CRM and automation, and be handed over to you once paid; Business is CA$499 once, plus the domain and, if Redenn hosts it, Redenn Business hosting at CA$199/year. If you would edit the site every week and never need integrations, stay with Squarespace. If the site is a sales channel, build one you own.
What Squarespace does well
Squarespace has earned its reputation with photographers, designers, restaurants and small studios. The templates look good without a designer, image handling is strong, and the owner can change a menu, a gallery or an event listing in minutes. For a business whose website is mainly a visual brochure, that is most of the job.
Ownership and lock-in
With Squarespace you own your content and your domain if it is registered in your name. What you cannot do is take the site somewhere else; the templates and features belong to the platform, and portable content is limited to what Squarespace's export tools allow. With Redenn, your domain is registered in your name from the start, at Cloudflare Registrar. Once the project is paid, the code and content we create are yours: at handover you get the code and every login, or we keep managing the accounts for you on a paid plan. Any developer working in Next.js can maintain the site, which is the real test of ownership.
Total cost over three years
Squarespace is a subscription whose features depend on the plan (see Squarespace's pricing page), and the right plan depends on your needs, so it is shown as varies. The Redenn column uses the Business package, which bundles five pages, a contact form, analytics, Search Console, the Search Setup foundation and a Google Business Profile link-up.
Prices are in Canadian dollars and exclude taxes. Any tax that applies is shown separately on your invoice.
| Item | Squarespace | Custom-built (Redenn) |
|---|---|---|
| Build | your own hours | Business CA$499 |
| Hosting, three years | subscription; varies | Redenn Business CA$199/year for three years, CA$597, if Redenn hosts it |
| Domain | registrar price; varies | Registrar's live price, plus a CA$9.99/year management fee if Redenn manages it |
| Booking and blog | plan-dependent; varies | Included in Business Plus CA$799 instead, or add Booking CA$99 and Blog / CMS from CA$49; a site that takes bookings fits Redenn Dynamic hosting |
| Three-year total | varies | CA$1,096 for Business and three years of Redenn Business hosting, plus the registrar's live domain price and, only if Redenn manages the domain, CA$29.97 in management fees |
When to choose Squarespace
Choose Squarespace when:
- The site is a portfolio, menu or event page you will update yourself every week.
- Design polish matters more than lead tracking or integrations.
- Your budget is a small monthly fee and no developer time.
- You do not need a CRM, automation or custom features.
Pros
- Attractive templates with strong image handling
- Owner-friendly editor and hosting in one place
- Quick to launch
Cons
- The site cannot be moved off the platform
- Custom features and integrations are limited
- The subscription continues for as long as the site exists
When to choose a custom-built website (Redenn)
Choose a Redenn build when the website has to produce inquiries you can track. Business at CA$499 ships in 8 to 12 business days after content is received; Business Plus at CA$799 adds booking and a blog; Growth System from CA$1,299 wires in CRM, chat and the Search + AI Foundation. Redenn has also built websites for Canadian service businesses such as Empire Framing Inc. and Jagbir Transport, a Toronto trucking company.
Pros
- One-time price with a delivery window
- Domain in your name; code and every login handed over once paid
- Search foundation, CRM and automation included or added when ready
Cons
- Design changes go through Redenn or a developer
- Content must be supplied, inserted (CA$29/page) or written (from CA$99/page)
- Less suited to weekly visual redesigns
Questions
Can Squarespace handle bookings and a blog?
Squarespace offers scheduling and blogging features on its platform; what is included depends on plan and changes over time, so check the current plan details. A Redenn Business Plus site at CA$799 includes booking and a blog or CMS.
Is Squarespace or a custom site better for SEO?
Squarespace covers the basics and works well for many small sites. A custom Next.js build gives full control over metadata, structured data, speed and crawler policy. Neither can guarantee rankings; SEO has evolved and depends on content and consistency.
Can I keep my Squarespace domain if I move to Redenn?
Yes. A domain registered in your name can be pointed at the new site or transferred to Cloudflare Registrar. Redenn manages it only if you ask, for CA$9.99/year on top of the registrar's price.
How long does a custom site take compared with Squarespace?
Squarespace can be live the same day if you do the work. Redenn's template-based Launch page takes 3 to 5 business days, Starter 5 to 8, and Business takes 8 to 12 business days after content is received.
Will I be able to make my own updates on a Redenn site?
Blog posts and CMS content, yes, on Business Plus and Growth System or with the Blog / CMS add-on. Design and layout changes are handled through the website changes service.
Sources
- Exporting your site, Squarespace Help Center. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Squarespace pricing, Squarespace. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- AI features and your website, Google Search Central. Accessed 2026-09-24.
Related
Services
- Website DesignFast, mobile-first design from a tested component system, priced by page count rather than by the hour.
- Website DevelopmentNext.js, React and TypeScript builds deployed to Vercel, with the search foundation included from the Business package up.
- Booking SystemsCustomers pick a service and time, it lands in your calendar, both sides get a confirmation.
- Local SearchGoogle Business Profile, local pages, a review workflow and monthly reporting for one location.
- Website ChangesEach change priced before work starts and approved on a staging link.
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