Showit vs. Squarespace: Why I Returned to Squarespace After Trying Showit
When I first started designing websites, Squarespace was my go-to. It was simple, intuitive, and had everything my clients—photographers and wedding pros—needed, all in one place. No tech headaches, no piecing together different platforms. Just clean, modern designs that worked.
But as I got deeper into web design, I started hearing the buzz about Showit. People raved about the creative freedom—no rigid templates, no design limits. As a designer, that sounded like a dream. So, I took the leap and switched.
At first, it was exciting. But over time, I started to feel... stuck. The platform that was supposed to give me freedom ended up slowing me down. And eventually? I found myself right back where I started—on Squarespace.
Here’s why.
Modern, Elegant, Feminine Website Template for Photographers, Event Planner, Wedding Pros and Creatives
My First Love: Squarespace
When I first started designing websites, Squarespace felt like a no-brainer. It was easy to use, reliable, and offered everything my clients needed in one place. Its all-in-one structure—hosting, templates, and features like SEO tools and email marketing—meant I could focus on designing beautiful sites rather than piecing together different services.
What I loved about Squarespace:
Ease of Use: Everything felt intuitive, even for my clients who weren’t tech-savvy.
Design Options: Sleek, modern templates made it easy to create professional-looking sites quickly.
Built-In Tools: Squarespace offered built-in analytics, SEO features, and hosting, simplifying the process for me and my clients.
For photographers and wedding pros, Squarespace was perfect for showcasing portfolios with beautiful galleries and offering a seamless user experience.
Why I Tried Showit
Then, I kept hearing about Showit. The idea of complete creative freedom was tempting—no restrictions, no layout limitations, just endless design possibilities.
What initially drew me in:
Creative Freedom: Showit’s drag-and-drop editor felt limitless compared to Squarespace.
Integration with WordPress: For blogging, Showit uses WordPress, known for its powerful blogging tools.
Unique Designs: The platform allowed for designs that didn’t look like anything else out there.
Where Showit Fell Short
While Showit delivered on its promise of creative freedom, I quickly realized it came with some significant downsides—especially for small businesses.
Steep Learning Curve: The creative freedom was great, but it also made the platform overwhelming. Designing took much longer than it did with Squarespace, because every single element had to be built out manually. Without prior design knowledge or templates, starting completely from scratch could be a lot trickier.
Cost: Showit requires separate hosting for WordPress, which added to the overall expense.
No Built-In Tools: Unlike Squarespace, Showit doesn’t have built-in email marketing, e-commerce, or analytics tools. This meant clients needed to manage multiple platforms.
Performance Issues: Because of its heavy reliance on custom designs, Showit sites often needed extra work to load quickly and perform well.
For my clients, it felt like too much work for too little payoff. Instead of making their lives easier, Showit often added extra steps and more expenses.
Why I Returned to Squarespace
After months of trying to make Showit work, I realized I didn’t need unlimited creative freedom—I needed efficiency. And more importantly, my clients needed a platform that was simple and intuitive enough so they could easily manage on their own. Showit could be quite overwhelming and confusing if you’re not a designer or have some prior knowledge.
Here’s why I came back:
Simplicity Matters: Squarespace’s straightforward interface means less time spent troubleshooting and more time focusing on running my business.
All-in-One Solution: Hosting, SEO, e-commerce, and marketing, all included (which is super convenient!).
Speed and Performance: Squarespace sites load faster, which is crucial for user experience and SEO rankings.
Client-Friendly: My clients appreciated the ease of updating their own sites without needing constant help from me.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
Why Squarespace Wins for Small Businesses
If you’re a photographer or wedding professional starting your business, you need a website that’s:
Easy to Use: You don’t want to spend hours figuring out how to edit your site.
Reliable: Your site should perform well and look professional, without extra hassle.
Affordable: Squarespace offers everything you need without hidden costs or the need for extra tools.
While Showit has its perks, Squarespace’s simplicity, reliability, and all-in-one nature make it the better choice for most wedding pros.
Ready to Build Your Site?
Starting your website doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With Squarespace, you can create a beautiful, professional site that showcases your work and helps you attract your dream clients.
If you’d like help customizing a Squarespace template to match your style, I’d love to help :) Shop my Squarespace templates here
