Founder of Goodspeed
For startups, a website isn’t just a digital storefront—it’s a powerful tool for branding, growth, and user engagement. While Squarespace offers a user-friendly platform with pre-designed templates, its rigid structure, limited customisation, and slower performance can hold startups back. As businesses scale, they need a high-performance, flexible, and SEO-friendly solution—this is where Framer outshines Squarespace.
Framer provides unmatched design freedom, faster load speeds, and seamless integration capabilities, empowering startups to build highly interactive, conversion-driven websites.
This guide explores- why migrate from Squarespace to Framer? If you're considering the switch, explore our Framer migration services designed to help startups move seamlessly from Squarespace to Framer with zero disruption.
(If you’ve already decided to move from Squarespace to Framer, check out this detailed guide- Migrating from Squarespace to Framer: A Step-by-Step Process.)
1. Design Flexibility & Customisation
Pre-built templates may speed up website creation, but they also limit creative expression. Framer gives startups the freedom to craft unique, high-impact digital experiences.
1.1 Template Limitations vs. Creative Freedom
Squarespace relies heavily on pre-designed templates, which, while visually appealing, restrict brand uniqueness. Customising layouts often requires workarounds or additional CSS, making it difficult for non-developers to achieve the exact look they want.
In contrast, Framer provides full creative control, enabling startups to design from scratch, implement interactive elements, and tailor their site’s visual identity without limitations. With advanced layout tools, businesses can create bespoke landing pages, immersive storytelling experiences, and dynamic user interfaces that reflect their brand vision.
1.2 Advanced Motion Graphics & Interactions
In today’s competitive digital space, static websites no longer capture attention. User engagement increases significantly with scroll-triggered animations, interactive UI elements, and micro-interactions—features that are difficult to achieve with Squarespace’s built-in tools.
Framer is built for modern, dynamic web experiences, offering drag-and-drop motion design, fluid animations, and no-code interactivity. Startups can create visually stunning product showcases, animated landing pages, and high-converting call-to-action sections without needing a developer.
2. Performance & Loading Speed
Website speed is a make-or-break factor for online success. Slow loading times drive users away, reduce conversions, and negatively impact SEO rankings. Framer’s lightweight, optimised architecture ensures faster page loads and improved user retention.
2.1 Squarespace’s Performance Constraints
Although Squarespace provides an all-in-one hosting solution, its templated structure and heavy backend scripts often result in slower load speeds. Prebuilt themes come with non-removable code bloat, which can cause longer rendering times and delayed interactivity—especially on mobile devices.
Speed is more than just a convenience; it directly affects revenue. If a page takes more than three seconds to load, 40% of users will abandon the site. For startups focused on growth, these lost conversions can add up significantly.
2.2 Framer’s Optimised Architecture
Framer is built on cutting-edge web technologies that prioritise speed. Its pre-rendered pages reduce load times, while HTTP/3 integration improves page load time by 55%, ensuring a seamless, high-performance browsing experience.
With Framer’s built-in optimisation, startups can expect:
Faster page loads (no unnecessary scripts slowing things down).
Better mobile performance (automatically responsive and lightweight).
Higher engagement rates (users stay longer and interact more).
This makes a Framer site migration a strategic move for startups aiming to enhance speed, user experience, and SEO rankings.
Want to boost your site speed even further? Read our guide on Optimising Your Framer Template for Speed and Performance.
3. SEO Capabilities: Driving Organic Growth
Startups rely on organic search traffic to scale efficiently. Framer offers advanced SEO tools that give businesses more control over their rankings, outperforming Squarespace’s basic SEO setup.
3.1 SEO Limitations on Squarespace
While Squarespace offers basic on-page SEO features like meta descriptions and alt text, it falls short in customisation, URL structuring, and advanced optimisation techniques. Its template-based nature results in slower page speeds, negatively impacting Core Web Vitals, which Google considers a key ranking factor.
Additionally, Squarespace restricts structured data implementation, making it harder for businesses to use rich snippets and schema markup to enhance search visibility. These limitations can prevent startups from reaching their full SEO potential, especially in competitive industries.
If you want to dive deeper on how to maintain SEO while migrating from Squarespace, read this article- How to Maintain SEO During Your Migration from Squarespace to Framer.
3.2 Enhanced SEO with Framer
Framer gives startups complete control over SEO, allowing them to:
Customise URLs, meta tags, and schema markup for better search rankings.
Leverage built-in speed optimisations that improve Core Web Vitals.
Create SEO-friendly, fast-loading pages that outperform traditional CMS platforms.
A Financial Services Site that partnered with Goodspeed, ranked #1 on Google using Framer leading to 100% more leads. Thanks to Framer’s fast load times and optimised structure.
Ensure your site is fully optimised for search engines with our Guide on SEO Best Practices for Framer Templates.
4. Integration & Code Dependency
Startups need websites that integrate seamlessly with modern tools while minimising technical overhead. Framer makes third-party integrations effortless while reducing the need for complex coding.
4.1 Integration Constraints & Code Reliance on Squarespace
While Squarespace does support third-party tools, adding complex functionalities often requires manual coding or external workarounds. For startups looking to integrate advanced analytics, automation tools, or custom marketing features, Squarespace’s limited API access can become a bottleneck.
For example, setting up dynamic content or personalised user experiences often requires custom JavaScript embeds, making maintenance difficult for non-technical teams. As a result, startups may need a developer to implement and troubleshoot advanced features, adding to operational costs.
4.2 Framer’s Flexible, Code-Optional Environment
Framer, on the other hand, provides a code-optional environment where startups can:
Seamlessly integrate third-party tools like CRM platforms, automation services, and analytics dashboards without writing a single line of code.
Use pre-built, drag-and-drop integrations for marketing tools, eCommerce platforms, and data tracking.
Implement custom functionalities when needed using Framer’s flexible API support—without compromising performance.
For startups struggling with integration limitations on Squarespace, a switch to Framer ensures effortless API access, eliminating the need for costly developer workarounds.
Learn how to enhance your website’s functionality with our guide: Integrating Third-Party Tools with Your Framer Template for Enhanced Functionality.
5. Editing Ease & Collaborative Workflow
Fast-moving startups need a platform that supports real-time collaboration and seamless content updates. Framer’s modern editing experience keeps teams aligned.
5.1 Editing & Collaboration Limitations on Squarespace
Squarespace’s editor, while simple, is not designed for real-time multi-user collaboration. If multiple team members need to work on a page simultaneously, they often face:
Version conflicts, requiring manual refreshes to see recent changes.
Limited permission settings, restricting who can edit what.
Delayed updates, slowing down content rollouts and marketing campaigns.
For startups that rely on rapid iterations, these limitations can make site management inefficient—especially when multiple stakeholders, such as designers, developers, and marketers, are involved.
5.2 Real-Time Collaborative Editing in Framer
Framer eliminates these bottlenecks by offering real-time editing, allowing teams to work on pages simultaneously without interruptions. Its collaborative environment enables:
Instant content updates, ensuring all changes are live and visible immediately.
Role-based access controls, making it easy to manage permissions.
Seamless workflow integration, allowing marketing teams to update copy while designers refine layouts in real-time.
Framer supports unlimited real-time collaborators, making it ideal for agile teams that need a fluid content management experience.
The real-time collaboration helped Goodspeed deliver a smooth development experience to a FinTech Company. The Project Manager has this to say about our performance- "Everything was delivered on time, and all of our questions were answered almost instantly!"
6. Pricing & Long-Term Value
Cost-effectiveness isn’t just about upfront pricing—it’s about long-term value. While Squarespace may seem budget-friendly, Framer provides greater scalability and flexibility at a better overall cost.
6.1 Squarespace’s Pricing Structure
Squarespace is often seen as an affordable option for startups, with its all-in-one pricing model. However, as businesses grow, hidden costs start to accumulate, including:
Additional fees for advanced features, such as eCommerce tools or premium integrations.
Limited flexibility in choosing third-party hosting providers, leading to higher long-term hosting expenses.
Developer costs for workarounds on integrations, animations, or performance improvements.
For startups that outgrow Sqaurespace’s rigid framework, switching platforms later can be a costly and time-consuming process.
6.2 Framer’s Investment for Future-Proofing
Framer may have a slightly higher upfront cost, but it delivers long-term savings and scalability by offering:
More built-in functionalities, reducing the need for paid add-ons.
Flexible integrations, cutting developer costs on custom solutions.
Optimised hosting and security, ensuring lower operational expenses over time.
Framer’s pricing starts at $5/month, compared to Webflow’s $14/month, making it a cost-effective alternative for growing startups with advanced development requirements.
Also, while the initial cost of migration may seem higher, the long-term savings make it a worthwhile investment—especially when working with a specialised Framer agency that knows how to scale digital experiences for startups.
7. Security, Mobile Responsiveness & Customer Support
Startups need a platform that not only prioritises security and performance but also ensures a seamless mobile experience and reliable support. Framer excels in all three areas.
7.1 Security & Updates
Squarespace operates within a closed ecosystem, which ensures managed security but limits customisation and flexibility. While it provides SSL certificates and regular system updates, businesses have little control over advanced security configurations—a crucial aspect for startups handling sensitive customer data.
Framer, on the other hand, offers:
Enterprise-grade security with built-in SSL encryption and DDoS protection.
Automated security updates, ensuring that sites remain protected against vulnerabilities.
Greater flexibility to implement custom security measures, making it ideal for startups that require additional layers of protection.
7.2 Mobile Responsiveness & Adaptive Design
With over half of global website traffic coming from mobile devices, startups can’t afford to compromise on mobile responsiveness.
Squarespace offers mobile-friendly templates, but its rigid structure limits customisation, making it difficult to optimise layouts for different screen sizes. This can lead to:
Poor user experience on smaller screens, reducing engagement.
Inconsistent formatting, requiring manual adjustments for each device.
For startups struggling with Squarespace’s limited mobile customisation, a switch to Framer ensures a fully adaptive, high-performance design across all devices.
Framer solves this issue by providing:
Fully customisable mobile design, allowing startups to fine-tune every detail for different screen sizes.
Adaptive breakpoints, ensuring a seamless experience across all devices.
Lightweight, high-performance rendering, reducing load times for mobile users.
83% of mobile users expect a seamless experience across all devices, highlighting the importance of mobile-optimised layouts.
7.3 Customer Support & Community Resources
Squarespace provides generalised customer support, which is suitable for beginners but lacks depth for startups requiring advanced customisations.
Framer, however, offers:
Real-time specialised support, tailored for startups and design teams.
An active community of designers and developers, offering collaborative problem-solving.
Regular product updates and webinars, ensuring users stay ahead of the latest features.
Framer has hosted 83 global meetups in 26 countries, fostering a strong supportive community for its users.
Engage with other Framer users with our Guide to Resources for Template Users.
8. Quick Comparison Table
Feature | Squarespace | Framer |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | Lower upfront, hidden scaling | Higher initial cost, better |
SEO | Limited control over metadata, | Full customisation for |
Performance | Slower load times due to template | Optimised for speed with |
Collaboration | Limited real-time features | Multi-user real-time editing |
Mobile Optimisation | Restricted customisation | Fully adaptive design |
Security & Updates | Managed security, but limited | Robust security features |
Integration Ease | Supports integrations, but advanced | Seamless, code-optional |
Customer Support | Broad but generalised support | Specialised real-time |
9. FAQs for Startups Switching from Squarespace
Many startups hesitate to migrate due to uncertainty about performance, SEO, and long-term viability. Below, we answer the most common concerns.
Will my SEO be affected during migration?
With proper 301 redirects and content mapping, your SEO rankings will remain stable. In fact, many businesses that migrate to Framer see an improvement in SEO due to better site speed and structured data implementation. Formula Bot jumped from 6th to 2nd rank on Google after switching to Framer with Goodspeed.
Do I need a developer to manage Framer?
No! Framer’s intuitive, code-optional interface allows non-technical users to make updates with ease. However, if you want advanced customisations, Framer also supports developer-friendly integrations.
Is Framer suitable for content-heavy or eCommerce sites?
Absolutely. Framer supports scalable content structures and integrates seamlessly with third-party eCommerce solutions, making it ideal for both product and content-driven businesses.
How long does it take to migrate from Squarespace to Framer?
A well-executed migration can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of your site and the level of customisation required.
What are the hidden costs of staying with Squarespace?
While Squarespace seems affordable upfront, hidden costs arise when scaling. Premium features, third-party integrations, and developer workarounds often increase long-term expenses.
Empower Your Startup with Framer
Startups today face rapidly evolving digital demands. While Squarespace provides an easy starting point, it lacks the flexibility, speed, and scalability needed for long-term growth. In contrast, Framer offers a future-proof solution that allows startups to build high-performing, visually engaging, and SEO-optimised websites with seamless integrations and real-time collaboration.
If you’re still wondering- “why migrate from Squarespace to Framer?”, key benefits for startups go beyond aesthetics- Framer unlocks:
Full creative freedom with no template constraints.
Faster loading speeds and enhanced performance.
Stronger SEO capabilities for sustained organic growth.
Seamless integrations without code-heavy dependencies.
Real-time, multi-user editing for streamlined collaboration.
Ready to take your website to the next level? Download our migration checklist today or book a free consultation.
Written By
Founder of Goodspeed
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