Squarespace vs Showit: Which one is right for you (2024 edition!)
A very light (good natured) roast of Showit. And why you might still want it!
5 min read
Rounding out our Squarespace vs series (at least for the moment I’m sure other contenders will surface!) is Showit.
Another popular drag-and-drop website builder.
“But Nadine! This sounds and looks just like Wix and you’ve already reviewed that!”
Yes, but Showit has some specific issues with its functionality that I want to point out that frankly Wix doesn't.
Squarespace vs Showit: Builder
As we all know, me as an exclusive Squarespace designer and you having landed on this page, Squarespace is known for its user-friendly, static builder which uses a grid system.
A grid system is like a framework made up of horizontal and vertical lines that you can align your items on a webpage. Think of this like guiding lines to make it easier to create a well-organized layout where everything looks neat and aligned.
Showit on the other hand is a non-linear builder, this is both a blessing and a curse.
A non-linear editor means there is no easy grid system you can use to align things. You have to do it all item by item. This is fine if you have a great eye and are good with using the build in alignment tools, but it does add an extra layer of effort and detail that you have to be aware of.
On top of this, you will have to check and make sure that it looks good on all the different types of screens that could access your website because things look different on tablet vs mobile vs desktop.
You’ll have to do this with both builders, but I find Squarespace infinitely easier. You simply click the toggle button in the top right hand corner of their builder to switch between desktop and mobile views.
Squarespace vs Showit: Plugins
When it comes to plugins we are really talking about functionality. Squarespace natively has a ton of functionality that Showit simply doesn't.
Here is what Squarespace offers natively in the browser:
Blog
Instagram feed
Pinterest pins
Booking scheduler
Buy a domain
Pop-ups
Sell products & services
Customer accounts
Email marketing
Forms
Stock images
Anti-spam software
Analytics
Course pages
Member area
And here is what Showit offers in theirs:
Instagram feed
Forms
SEO settings
That is it.
Kinda crazy right?
If you even want a simple blog you have to use WordPress. (See my Squarespace vs WordPress post for more details).
Showit relies heavily on third-party plugins to extend its uses. And, as you know from my past posts, I do not recommend plugins for beginners or even intermediate techies.
The biggest problem with plugins is not so much integrating them into Showit but integrating them with each other! Every plugin will be made from a different person or company and that means that there is no guarantee that they will work seamlessly together.
In fact, I would bet really REALLY good money that they won’t. You’ll have broken systems and spend so much time figuring out what is wrong, trying to talk with the plugin developers, and fixing things.
It’s honestly not worth it in my opinion. If you want the design freedom Showit offers, I’d recommend Wix instead.
Squarespace vs Showit: Pricing
The final point I want to make is that Showit tends to be more expensive.
As of the writing of this post in March of 2024, both Showit and Squarespace both have their middle tier plan priced at $24 USD per month (when purchased annualy). But the thing to note, is that Squarespace has way more built in native functionality at that pricepoint. This is a huge plus to me. It’s an all in one solution and I only have 1 payment/subscription to keep track of.
The additional costs and having to keep track of any additional plugins for a Showit site are very off-putting to me. I don’t like to sell my services to a client and then have to tell them they will have to pay MORE money than I initially quoted for an indefinite period of time for what would be included had I just made their site on Squarespace.
More expensive with less functionality? No thanks.
Final Thoughts
I really didn’t mean to knock Showit as much as it might seem like I am.
It can create beautiful sites. Truly stunning.
I just think it is a buyer-beware situation.
It has less functionality than Squarespace by a mile and then some. If you only want a static site to showcase your portfolio that doesn’t need many updates, it might be the perfect solution for you. I encourage you to take a poke around it and see if it speaks to you! But then again, if you want a website builder that has more freedom than Squarespace, I’d personally choose Wix over Showit.
For me, I like the all-in-one solution Squarespace offers and the ability to troubleshoot any issues through one avenue vs juggling plugins and email chains with several different companies. Plus the ease of the grid system just makes sense from a design perspective.
I don’t want to accidentally move something, not notice, and have my site look wonky and unprofessional!
So for me, Squarespace is the clear winner.
