Squarespace or Custom Website? Let’s Talk Strategy.

At Merge, we build websites two ways: using platforms like Squarespace, or fully custom from the ground up. Clients often ask which is better.
The short answer? It depends on your goals, your timeline, and how far you want your site to take you.

We love Squarespace for what it is: fast, affordable, and visually polished. It's great when you need to get to market quickly and check a lot of boxes right out of the gate.

But when the ambition gets bigger, the platform can start to feel small. Here’s how we break it down:

We sometimes recommend Squarespace because it's:
• Quick to launch with lower up-front costs
• Beautiful, responsive design templates
• Built-in features like blogs, ecommerce, calendars, and SEO
• Easy for clients to manage themselves
• Hosting, updates, and security included

But here are the tradeoffs:
• Limited control over layout and performance
• Slower load times for content-heavy sites
• Harder to scale or integrate third-party tools
• You're tied to their ecosystem and pricing
• You don’t own the code

When do we build custom? One of our developers put it perfectly:
“Custom sites give you complete flexibility. You own the code, control the data, and scale on your terms. It’s about future-proofing.”

Advantages of a custom build:
• Total design and feature flexibility
• Full control over user data and SEO
• Built to scale with your business
• You own the code, with no platform lock-in
• No ongoing subscription fees

What to consider:
• Longer build timeline
• Higher up-front investment
• Ongoing support needs

At Merge, we don't push platforms. We build what’s right for your brand.
Whether it's a fast Squarespace site or a custom solution built for growth, we deliver results that are smart, scalable, and unmistakably yours.
Not sure which path is right for you?
Let’s talk it through.