Squarespace vs Google Sites 2025: What’s the Best Builder?

Squarespace vs Google Sites - main image

We’re all used to using Google to search, answer our questions using AI, and create documents in the cloud, but did you know you can use it to create websites too?

Google Sites is a free website builder that you can access with a Google account. However, how does it stack up next to Squarespace?

Google Sites vs Squarespace, which wins the battle of the website builders? Let’s take a look!

Summary:

  • Google Sites and Squarespace are two platforms you can use to build and host your own website

  • Google Sites is free to use but has limited functionality and no dedicated online support

  • You have to pay for Squarespace, but it has a lot more features and you can customize it the way you want. You can also contact Squarespace by email or live chat if you have any issues

  • In our opinion, Google Sites is fine if you want a small personal website, but Squarespace is the better option if you’re serious about your online presence

Google Sites vs Squarespace: Which is best?

Let’s check out five factors which will determine whether Google Sites or Squarespace is the best option for your new website.

Factor #1: Pricing

Google Sites is free to use. All you need to pay for (and this is entirely optional) is a domain name.

Squarespace is a paid-for platform. There are four pricing tiers ranging from $16 to $72 a month, depending on the tier you choose and whether you pay monthly or annually.

Squarespace pricing plan

There is a free 14-day trial though, so you can see if Squarespace is right for you before you commit. Plus, Squarespace often offers discounts for new customers, meaning you can save money.

Winner: Google Sites (although bear in mind that a free website platform isn’t necessarily the best option!)

Factor #2: Templates

Google Sites only offers a handful of simple templates. This means you’re highly likely to have a website that’s similar to someone else’s.

Google Sites templates

Alternatively you can build your own template from scratch, or ask a designer to create one for you.

Squarespace has nearly 200 professionally designed templates, many of which are built for specific industries like real estate and photography.

You can also use Blueprint AI to build your own bespoke template, or upload a template created by a designer.

Blueprint AI homepage

Winner: Squarespace

Factor #3: Ease of use

Both Squarespace and Google Sites are easy to use, and you don’t need to know code to use them.

They both use a similar drag-and-drop technology, where you specify what element you want to add to your site, and move it around your page.

Google Sites layout

However, Squarespace has something that Google Sites does not – Fluid Engine.

Fluid Engine in Squarespace

You can use Fluid Engine to manage your elements with laser precision, even using it to layer text and images for a professional, modern look.

Winner: Squarespace

Factor #4: Features

Google Sites is pretty basic and doesn’t have many features. You may find it useful if you do a lot of work in Google though, as you can embed a Google Calendar, as well as Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Forms.

Options in Google Sites

Squarespace has a lot more functionality. You can use e-commerce to sell your products, implement marketing features like emails, create online communities and courses, and set up a dedicated blogging space.

Email campaigns in Squarespace

(While you can blog using Google Sites, there aren’t any specialist blogging features.)

Another benefit of Squarespace? You can use Spark Plugin to transform the look and feel of your site even further!

Winner: Squarespace

Factor #5: Support

In our experience, free platforms tend not to have much going in the way of direct support, and this is the case with Google Sites. There is a help section though, and you can reach out to the Google community if you have any specific questions.

Google Sites support

Squarespace has a dedicated help center where you can speak to customer support through live chat and email, as well as a community forum.

Winner: Squarespace

Squarespace vs Google Sites: Which should you go for?

Google Sites is ideal if you want a simple one-page website. For example, if you want to promote your resume to prospective employees or create a site for an event you’re hosting.

However, it’s very limited in what you can do.

While Squarespace isn’t free like Google Sites, it offers a wide range of professionally designed templates and additional features like e-commerce functionality and blogging.

If you want a unique site that looks fantastic and provides a wide range of features to keep your visitors interested, Squarespace is the way to go.

Squarespace vs Google Sites FAQ

What is Google Sites?

Google Sites is a free tool for building simple websites, operated by Google. You need a Google account to use it.

Is Google Sites owned by Squarespace?

No – Squarespace acquired Google Domains in 2023, but Google Sites is still owned by Google.

Are Google Sites and Squarespace free?

Google Sites is free to use, but you have to pay for a custom domain. Otherwise your web address will include the sites.google.com domain.

Squarespace isn’t free, although you can take advantage of a 14-day trial first – no credit card needed.

What other web platforms are there?

Not sure which platform is right for you? Here are some of our most popular comparison articles to help you decide!


Squarespace vs Google Sites – which one will you use to create your next website?

Kate Ingham-Smith

Spark Plugin’s resident copywriter, Kate has over 15 years of digital marketing experience, specializing in web design, UX, and UI.

https://sparkplugin.com
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