Squarespace vs GoDaddy (2024): 4 Key Differences Explained
GoDaddy is well known for affordable website domains – we’ve all seen the ads on TV!
However, did you know you can also build and host a website using it too?
Nearly five million websites worldwide use GoDaddy’s website builder, so it must be doing something right.
However, is it the right choice for you? In this article we’ll compare Squarespace and GoDaddy, looking at what they have in common and how they differ.
Squarespace vs GoDaddy, which will win? Read on to find out!
GoDaddy vs Squarespace: How they’re different
1.GoDaddy is cheaper
GoDaddy offers four pricing tiers, ranging from $9.99 to $16.99 a month. This makes it an affordable option for businesses that have a small budget or want to see if there’s demand for its products and services.
While Squarespace also offers four pricing tiers, it is slightly more expensive, with prices ranging from $16 to $52 a month.
However, while GoDaddy is cheaper, you have to pay for a year upfront, meaning you’re locked in for 12 months. Squarespace lets you pay monthly if you prefer, giving you more flexibility (although you get a better deal if you pay yearly).
With Squarespace, there are discount codes you can use to save extra money. While GoDaddy occasionally offers renewal codes, they’re quite rare and typically reserved for people who already use the platform.
It’s important to note that it’s not always about the price but the features you get for the money you spend. Keep reading to see which features both platforms offer.
2. Squarespace looks nicer
GoDaddy offers over 200 templates you can use for free.
However the general consensus is that these templates are old-fashioned, very corporate-looking, and don’t give you much creative freedom. You can change out the images and text, and that’s pretty much it.
While Squarespace offers fewer templates (just under 200), these templates are all professionally designed, easy to amend, and look stunning.
They’re perfect if design is a significant part of your brand, for example, if you’re a photographer or graphic designer.
There are also more typography options on Squarespace. GoDaddy lets you choose from just over 50 fonts. Squarespace has over 6,000!
On both websites, you’re not tied to the templates on offer. GoDaddy offers a website design service, while on Squarespace you can use a premium template or hire a designer to create a custom theme for you.
(Top tip: if you use a designer who’s a member of Squarespace Circle, you might get a discount on your subscription!)
3. GoDaddy is easy to use
One of the main advantages of GoDaddy is how easy it is to get started on. As it’s very minimalist, you can get up and running in minutes.
Plus, as GoDaddy also deals with domains, you can get this sorted at the same time too!
Another benefit of GoDaddy is that it automatically saves changes to your website. You need to remember to hit the save button in Squarespace (although Squarespace does prompt you to save your work if you try to leave without saving.)
However, while GoDaddy is simple to use, Squarespace is still easy to work your way around. Fluid Engine means you can effortlessly line up elements on your site, you can easily add content with the block system, and you can set up a blog in five minutes flat.
(Plus there are lots of cool tutorials for making the most of your Squarespace website on the Spark Plugin blog!)
4. Squarespace has more integrations
One of the reasons why we love Squarespace is the features it offers – it has everything you need to build a website that fulfils your goals and gets your visitors to convert.
For example, you can offer online memberships, sell courses, and even use AI to write your content.
There are also integrations and extensions for translating your website, calculating your taxes, and managing your inventory across multiple sales channels.
And of course, you get access to Spark Plugin, which has over 150 fantastic customizations to transform how your site looks and feels.
While Squarespace does offer more in the way of features, GoDaddy does provide some brilliant functionality that Squarespace doesn’t.
For example, GoDaddy offers an inbuilt live chat feature across all tiers – you have to download an integration to get this on Squarespace.
There’s also a feature called “bring your own blog,” where you can link an existing blog on another platform to your GoDaddy site. This is ideal if you already have a well-established blog on another platform like WordPress.
GoDaddy also offers free email marketing, which allows you to send between 500 and 25,000 email blasts a month. While Squarespace also provides email marketing, you get a free trial and then have to pay.
Do Squarespace and GoDaddy have anything in common?
Yes – for all their differences, the two platforms have a lot of similarities too. For example:
Both platforms are cloud-based, meaning you can edit your site from anywhere
Both platforms are mobile-responsive
Both use PayPal, Stripe, and Square to accept payments
Both update your site automatically, protecting you from security issues
Both let you connect your social media platforms to your website
Both allow you to arrange appointments through your website
Both platforms offer free SSL certificates
Both offer 24/7 customer support (GoDaddy provides phone support while Squarespace doesn’t, but Squarespace offers email support while GoDaddy doesn’t)
Both allow you to upload HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to customize your site
Both offer eCommerce functionality and let you sell digital products
Both offer a free professional email for the first year (terms and conditions apply)
Squarespace vs GoDaddy – which is best?
So GoDaddy or Squarespace – which should you go for?
Both platforms have their pros and cons. While GoDaddy is more affordable and is easy to get started on, it’s pretty basic and doesn’t have a wide range of features. For example, while it offers SEO tools and eCommerce, you can’t get these on the lower-level tiers.
Conversely, while Squarespace is a little more expensive, it’s packed with features, is extremely customizable, and has several professionally designed templates to get started with.
So which is right for you? It depends on your budget, skill level, and what your ultimate goals are.
If you want a cheap and cheerful website you can get started with right away, GoDaddy is the perfect choice. If you want a website with lots of awesome features that you can adapt to your specific needs, give Squarespace a try.
Both websites offer a free trial so you can try before you buy. Why not give both a go and see which you prefer?
GoDaddy vs Squarespace FAQ
Still not sure whether to choose Squarespace or GoDaddy? You’ll find the answers here.
Do Squarespace and GoDaddy have free plans?
No – all plans are paid. However, you can access a free trial on both platforms.
Squarespace or GoDaddy — which is best for SEO?
Both platforms have easy-to-use tools you can use to enhance your site’s search engine optimization (SEO) and rank higher in Google. For example, GoDaddy has an SEO wizard to help you optimize your site, while you can connect your Google Search Console on Squarespace.
However, GoDaddy’s SEO wizard is only available on the Standard plan upwards.
Can I sell on both Squarespace and GoDaddy?
Yes – both platforms offer eCommerce functionality. Squarespace offers this on the Business and Commerce tiers, while GoDaddy offers it on the eCommerce plan.
Can I blog on both Squarespace and GoDaddy?
Yes – both platforms offer blogging tools, although, in our experience, Squarespace’s blog platform has more functionality.
Are there any alternatives to GoDaddy or Squarespace?
Yes – there are lots of different website platforms out there. Here are some links to our previous comparison articles:
Now you know everything there is to know about the differences between Squarespace and GoDaddy. Which one will you use to create your website?
