Common Ninja vs Spark Plugin: The Best Squarespace Widgets?
Want a Squarespace website that stands out from the rest?
You need a customization tool!
Just add a code snippet to your website, and you’ll gain access to a suite of customizations you can use to transform the look and feel of your site.
Two popular customization tools for Squarespace are Spark Plugin and Common Ninja (often stylized as CommonNinja). But… Which is the best one?
Let’s find out!
The takeaway
Common Ninja and Spark Plugin are customization tools you can use to enhance how your Squarespace website looks and functions
Spark Plugin offers over 100 high-quality customizations, while Custom Ninja has a library of over 220
Custom Ninja is ideal if you want one or two customizations to add to your site, while Spark Plugin is best if you want a complete approach to customization
There are other customization tools available if you prefer
Spark Plugin or Common Ninja: Which is best?
Factor #1: Ease of use
Both tools are easy to get started with. Upload a small piece of code to your site, and you’re ready to go!
However when it comes to simplicity, Spark Plugin has the edge. You only have to add your code once to access all the customizations in the Spark Plugin library, while with Common Ninja, you have to add a piece of code for every customization you want to use.
Winner: Spark Plugin, as you only have to add one piece of code to your website!
Factor #2: Animations
Animations are a fantastic way of making your site more dynamic and getting visitors’ attention… But which customization offers the most, and the best, animations?
While Common Ninja has lots of customizations on offer, a lot of them aren’t animated. Of the ones that are, our favorite is probably the progress bars, which visualize user’s goals in a highly engaging way.
Spark Plugin makes it possible to animate every element of your website, from images and text to backgrounds and blocks. You can even add an animated loading screen to your site!
Winner: Spark Plugin
Factor #3: Design features
You want the customization tool you choose to not only be easy to use, but also intuitive.
Spark Plugin gets bonus points as it works directly within your Squarespace website. Just click on the icon and access the customizations through the user-friendly menu.
With Common Ninja, you must access your customizations through the Common Ninja website, adding an extra step to the process if you want to make any changes.
Winner: Spark Plugin
Factor #4: Customization options
Both tools offer a hefty range of customization options – Spark Plugin has over 100 while Common Ninja has a staggering 223 to choose from!
While there is some overlap, both tools have some unique customizations that make them stand out.
Common Ninja is particularly good if you want to embed social media platforms into your web pages, while Spark Plugin is fantastic if you want to change how blocks look and function.
Winner: It’s a draw! (Take a look at both tools and see which customizations are right for your website!)
Factor #5: Support
Both Common Ninja and Spark Plugin are easy to use, but there’s lots of help and support available if you need it.
Common Ninja has a help center to answer any frequently asked questions, and you can always submit a support request if you need to speak to someone. There’s also a collaborative space where you can share insights with other Common Ninja users.
While we’re not as big as Common Ninja, we’re still dedicated to providing the best support possible at Spark Plugin, and our skilled team is only an email away if you have any questions.
Winner: It’s a draw!
Factor #6: Pricing
Common Ninja offers three pricing tiers with different levels of access and flexibility. If you want to use five widgets, the cost ranges from $7 to $26 a month.
There’s also a free version which lets you use one widget and is valid for up to 200 monthly pageviews—ideal if you want to try it out.
Spark Plugin is a little more expensive, starting from $11 a month. However, it provides incredible value for money, and if you’re on the Agency plan, you can take advantage of permanent design changes!
Winner: Common Ninja (but Spark Plugin is still a great choice!)
Common Ninja vs Spark Plugin: Which one wins out?
We’re massive fans of Spark Plugin, as you might expect! However, Common Ninja does give it a run for its money.
The key benefit of Spark Plugin is that you only have to install it once, and then you get access to over 100 amazing customizations. With Common Ninja, you have to install a code snippet for every customization you want to use.
On the other hand, Common Ninja has some great customizations that Spark Plugin doesn’t, like size charts and carousels for social media platforms like Bluesky, Vimeo, and LinkedIn.
Why not try both platforms out and see which one is right for you?
Common Ninja widgets: Frequently asked questions
Do Common Ninja and Spark Plugin offer free trials?
Spark Plugin offers a free 14-day trial, no credit card required.
Common Ninja doesn’t offer a free trial, but it does have a limited free version so you can try before you buy.
Can I use both Spark Plugin and Common Ninja on my website?
Yes, there’s nothing to stop you from using both customization tools on your website if one tool offers a customization that the other doesn’t.
Are there any other alternatives to Common Ninja?
Yes, there are lots of alternative customization tools on the market!
Check out some of our reviews:
Common Ninja or Spark Plugin, which one will you use to transform your Squarespace website?
