Choosing the right website builder in 2024 can be a bit overwhelming with so many options out there that promise to be the right fit for you and your business. If you have been doing your homework, you probably know by now that two of the top contenders are Divi and Squarespace. But which one is best for your needs? In this guide, we’re going to break down the major differences between Divi and Squarespace, helping you figure out which one will fit your project like a glove. We’ll look at things like ease of use, customization, performance, and pricing, so by the end, you’ll know exactly which builder works best for your website goals.
Overview of Divi and Squarespace:
Divi Overview
Divi is all about giving you control. It’s a WordPress page builder that offers a drag-and-drop design, which is great if you want the freedom to make your website look exactly how you want. If you’re into tweaking things and would love a trustworthy builder for you and your team, Divi could be your go-to.
- Why people like Divi: It’s highly customizable, so you can really go to town with your design. Plus, there’s an option to pay once and use it forever, which is a huge bonus if you’re aiming to keep recurring costs low.
- What you need to know: Divi isn’t the easiest tool for beginners. If you’re new to WordPress or website design, expect a bit of a learning curve. Also, if you don’t optimize your site, Divi can slow things down.
Squarespace Overview
If Divi is all about freedom and flexibility, then Squarespace is all about simplicity. It’s an all-in-one platform, meaning you won’t need to worry about hosting, plugins, or any of the technical stuff. Squarespace is perfect if you want to get a stylish website up and running fast without any fuss and with little to no issues.
- Why people like Squarespace: It’s easy to use, even for beginners. Everything’s built-in, so you don’t have to deal with extra tools, and the templates look great out of the box.
- What you need to know: While Squarespace is user-friendly, it doesn’t offer the same level of customization that Divi does. And since it’s a subscription-based service, you’ll need to budget for ongoing costs.
Divi vs. Squarespace at a Glance
| Feature | Divi | Squarespace |
| Ease of Use | Best for advanced users with WordPress skills | Super beginner-friendly, no coding required |
| Customization | Highly customizable, full design control | Limited customization, focuses on simplicity |
| Performance | Depends on hosting and optimization | Optimized out of the box |
| Pricing | One-time payment option | Subscription-based |
| Ideal For | Designers, developers, agencies | Small businesses, personal sites, beginners |
Divi vs Squarespace – User Interface and Ease of Use
Divi User Interface and Ease of Use
Divi’s interface gives you tons of options to play with. The drag-and-drop builder lets you arrange your site exactly how you want, but it can feel a bit overwhelming if you’re not familiar with WordPress. The floating icons and customization windows can be confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, Divi offers a lot of design freedom. So, if you are considering this option, take into account that you will have to spend some time learning your way around it.
Squarespace Interface and Ease of Use
Squarespace is the opposite—it’s designed for people who just want to build a beautiful website without any hassle. The interface is clean and straightforward, and you won’t need to touch any code or worry about extra tools. It’s all there in one package, so you can focus on creating your content and let Squarespace handle the rest. If you’re looking for a quick and easy setup, Squarespace wins hands down.
Which Builder is Easier for Beginners?
Squarespace is the clear winner if ease of use is your top priority. It’s built for people who want a no-fuss solution that doesn’t require any technical knowledge. Divi is better for users who have some experience with WordPress or want the flexibility to customize their site in detail. If you’re up for learning, Divi offers more control, but Squarespace is perfect if you’re just getting started.
Now that we’ve looked at how easy these platforms are to use, let’s dive into how much design freedom each one gives you. Whether you want complete control or prefer a simple setup, customization is where these two really start to differ.
Customization and Design Features
Divi Customization
If you’re the kind of person who loves to tweak every part of your website’s design, Divi is going to feel like a playground. You can control everything—from the layout and fonts to CSS and custom code. There’s a huge library of templates, and you can use global styles to keep your design consistent across the entire site. If you know your way around code, you can go even deeper and build a truly custom website.
Squarespace Customization
Squarespace keeps things simple when it comes to customization. You can choose from their professionally designed templates and make some basic adjustments, like changing colors or fonts. If you want more control, Squarespace does offer a Developer Mode, but it’s not nearly as flexible as what you’d get with Divi. For most users, the built-in options are enough to create a clean, professional-looking site without too much effort.
Which Builder Offers Better Customization?
Divi is the winner here. If you’re after full control over every aspect of your site’s look and feel, Divi gives you the tools to do it. Squarespace is better for users who want to keep things simple and don’t need all the bells and whistles.
Performance and Speed
Performance can make or break a website, especially if you’re hoping to rank well on search engines or have visitors stick around. Let’s compare how Divi and Squarespace handle speed and performance.
Divi Performance
With Divi, your site’s performance will depend on how you set things up. Since it’s built on WordPress, you’ll need to choose a good hosting provider and use caching and optimization plugins to keep your site running smoothly. The more customizations you add, the more work you’ll need to put into optimizing the site.
Squarespace Performance
Squarespace takes the guesswork out of performance. Since it’s a hosted platform, Squarespace manages optimization behind the scenes. You won’t have to worry about hosting or caching plugins—it’s all handled for you. This means you’ll get reliable, consistent performance right out of the box, although you won’t have much control over the finer details.
Which Builder Has Better Performance?
As a business owner probably looking for something that works well without any extra effort, Squarespace is the better option for you based on performance. Divi can be just as fast, but it requires some work on your part to make sure it’s fully optimized.
Divi vs Squarespace: Extensibility and Add-ons
When it comes to adding extra features to your website, both Divi and Squarespace take different approaches. Let's see how they compare in terms of add-ons and flexibility.
Divi Add-ons
Since Divi is part of the WordPress ecosystem, you get access to an enormous library of plugins. Need to add an online store? No problem, you can integrate WooCommerce. Want better SEO? Install Yoast SEO or Rank Math. Divi’s flexibility means you can pretty much add anything you want to your site through WordPress plugins. Plus, there’s an active community of developers creating third-party tools specifically for Divi.
Squarespace Add-ons
Squarespace keeps things simpler. It has built-in integrations for essential tools like Mailchimp for newsletters, Google Analytics for tracking, and PayPal for payments. These built-in tools work great for most users who need basic functionality, but if you’re looking for a specific or niche feature, you might find Squarespace's options limited compared to WordPress.
Which Builder Has Better Support for Add-ons?
The answer is pretty simple: If you want to endlessly customize your site and have access to a vast library of add-ons, Divi is the clear winner thanks to WordPress. Squarespace is perfect if you only need a few core tools without the complexity of dealing with too many plugins.
Divi vs Squarespace: Pricing Plans
Pricing is a big factor for most people, so let’s break down how Divi and Squarespace charge for their services and what kind of value you can expect from each.
Divi Pricing
Divi is pretty straightforward when it comes to pricing. You have two options:
- Yearly Access: $89/year, which gives you access to Divi for unlimited sites.
- Lifetime Access: $249 one-time payment for lifetime access and updates, again for unlimited sites.
This makes Divi a fantastic option if you plan to build multiple sites or manage websites for clients. The lifetime option, in particular, offers amazing value if you're looking for a long-term solution.
Squarespace Pricing
Squarespace operates on a subscription model, which means you'll pay either monthly or yearly. Here’s a look at the main plans:
- Personal Plan: $16/month ($144/year).
- Business Plan: $26/month ($216/year).
The Personal Plan is great if you're just running a simple website or blog, while the Business Plan offers more features, such as e-commerce support. While Squarespace is ideal for single-site users who prefer a subscription model, it can get pricey if you’re running multiple websites over time.
Which Builder Offers More Value?
To put it simply, it all comes down to your needs. Squarespace might be a more convenient option in case you are looking for something more straightforward and a clean design. But if you're in it for the long haul or managing multiple sites, Divi’s lifetime pricing offers much better value.
Comparative Table: Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Divi | Squarespace |
| Basic Pricing | $89/year | $16/month (Personal) |
| Lifetime Option | $249 one-time payment | Not available |
| Best For | Agencies, designers with multiple sites | Single-site users |
Divi vs Squarespace: SEO and Marketing Features
SEO and marketing are key to getting your website noticed. Let’s see how Divi and Squarespace stack up when it comes to helping your site rank in search engines and grow your audience.
Divi SEO Capabilities
With Divi, you’re working within WordPress, which means you have access to powerful SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math. These tools give you complete control over your site’s SEO, from managing meta tags to creating XML sitemaps. However, you’ll need to install these plugins separately, and it’s up to you to make sure everything is set up correctly.
Squarespace SEO Capabilities
Squarespace comes with built-in SEO tools, which are easy to use, especially for beginners. You can manage your site’s SEO settings without the need for plugins. While these tools are user-friendly, they’re not as advanced as what WordPress offers through plugins. For most small business owners or personal sites, Squarespace's built-in features will be enough, but advanced users may find them limiting.
Which Builder Is Better for SEO and Marketing?
For more advanced SEO control, Divi is the better choice since it works with powerful WordPress plugins. But if you want something simple and straightforward that works out of the box, Squarespace makes SEO much easier for beginners.
Divi vs Squarespace: Who Is It For?
Choosing between Divi and Squarespace depends largely on your needs, experience, and long-term goals. Here’s a breakdown of who would benefit most from each platform.
Divi Is Best Suited For:
- Designers and developers who want full control over their websites.
- Users familiar with WordPress or willing to learn it to unlock more customization.
- Agencies or freelancers managing multiple websites (Divi’s lifetime plan is perfect for this).
Squarespace Is Best Suited For:
- Beginners or anyone looking for a simple, all-in-one solution.
- Small business owners who need a professional-looking website without technical headaches.
- Single-site users who prefer a subscription-based model for ease of use and maintenance.
Which Is a Better Website Builder Between Divi and Squarespace?
So, after comparing Divi and Squarespace, which one should you go for? It really comes down to what you need from a website builder.
- Divi is perfect if you want full control, advanced customization, and the ability to manage multiple websites. It’s more suited for users who are comfortable with WordPress or want the flexibility to design their site exactly how they want it.
- Squarespace, on the other hand, is ideal if you want something quick and easy. It’s a great option for beginners or small businesses looking for a stylish website with minimal setup and ongoing maintenance.
Both platforms have their strengths, so it’s a good idea to try them out and see which one feels right for your specific project. And if neither of them quite fits your needs, there are always other options like Breakdance, which offer their own unique features.