Squarespace Just Doesn’t Cut it Anymore.

So this isn’t technically “post-production” or “production” however it’s something that I’ve been wanting to write about for a while. I love web development. From building Microsoft Frontpage sites in elementary school to custom server-hosted private clouds powered by PHP later in life. My software skills have been self-taught and the results… have been great! The Post Flow site you are currently reading and the website for my production company, CWBY Creative, are evidence of my design skills.

I know there are a lot of users who browse this site and already have personal sites or sites for their company. And for that, I congratulate you. It’s not easy making a site and a lot of work goes into it. But maybe… perhaps it’s time for a refresh? And for those who are just beginning their web development journey, you’ve come to the right place :).

Now, I believe Squarespace has its place. It’s super easy to use and “just works” most of the time. Believe it or not, I use it for my personal portfolio. What makes Squarespace great is that it’s just that… easy. But for those who really want to take their site to the next level without going for a full-on custom-developed $15,000 website… Using a WordPress front-end, with a Kinsta backend, and a beautiful theme from ThemeForest is something you literally can’t go wrong with.

Fun fact, this site used to be run on Squarespace but just making the switch to WordPress tripled my views and made it much more engaging.

I mean, look at the CWBY Creative website. It’s beautiful (if I do say so myself). And all that was made for a total of $50 plus hosting of $35 a month.

Why (and when) you should use Squarespace.

I don’t hate Squarespace at all. It’s a fantastic all-in-one package that takes care of a lot of the headaches of web development. If you are not particularly tech-savvy and just want a simple website to showcase your sick edits (or photos, or camera skills)… and you also don’t want something that’s crazily customizable… then you really can’t go wrong.

My only warning though is to try to avoid any crazy customization via those “Squarespace devs” on Fiverr. Honestly, a fast, simple, minimal website is always better than a heavy and bloated but pretty site.

If you go with Squarespace, keep it chill, find a fun pre-made theme, and call it a day. There are a ton to choose from on the Squarespace site.

Why I made the switch to WordPress.

WordPress has been around for a longggg time. So long in fact that over 45% of websites on the internet are made on WordPress. Isn’t that wild? 45%?! The reason WordPress is so great is that when it is paired with a lightweight theme from ThemeForest, you get a site that looks like a million bucks while only costing you anywhere from $30-$60.

For a site like CWBY Creative, I used the amazing Ohio Theme. Spent a few days moving things around using Elementor (a powerful visual editor for WordPress), optimized it for mobile, and then voila! A finished site.

In the past, I have tried custom developments with Squarespace but have never really been impressed… it still looked like a “Squarespace site” and as mentioned earlier… bloated and slow. I basically bit the bullet and learned how to use WordPress. It can be confusing at first, but after a few days you get the hang of it and can never go back. Not to mention, you are literally saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the short and long term. How much you save comes down to your hosting platform, though.

Let’s clear up the difference between hosting and site builders.

I see a lot of people who get confused understanding the difference between All-in-one platforms like Squarespace and hosting platforms like Kinsta.

To make it brief… with Squarespace, you can only use their own website editor. And with Kinsta, you can bring whatever website editor (like WordPress) or code you like… what they provide is a crazy high-quality backend to run it on.

Kinsta vs other hosting platforms.

Kinsta is my favorite. It’s pricier than the ever-popular SiteGround, but I think it’s well worth the cost.

The site you’re reading right now runs on Kinsta, and the reason I pay for it is speed. It’s managed WordPress hosting, so backups and updates are handled for me, but what I notice every day is how fast The Post Flow loads… even on pages stuffed with images. Yes, it costs more than your average host. If the site is part of how you make money, that’s the one bill I wouldn’t try to shave.

SiteGround, on the other hand… is where I send people who aren’t ready to spend Kinsta money yet. It’s a lot cheaper, and the reason I trust it at that price is the support. You get a real person quickly when something breaks, which is all you care about when it’s your site that’s down. SiteGround is WordPress-optimized and includes daily backups and a free SSL certificate, so you aren’t paying extra for the basics.

Kinsta if the site is already making you money, SiteGround if it isn’t yet. Either way you’re on real hosting instead of a site builder, and that is where the speed difference comes from.

Learn more about both here: Kinsta and SiteGround.

Choosing a theme for your portfolio or company.

Once you’ve settled on a hosting platform, navigate to ThemeForest, and choose an awesome well-rated WordPress theme for your site. Here are a few themes that I’ve used in the past and personally love:

Ohio

Super clean, and it’s what the CWBY Creative site is based on.

View the Ohio Theme

Obsius

Love the design elements here. Very edgy and modern.

View the Obsius Theme

Most

Very clean and highly responsive. Been a fan of this one for just how light and responsive it is.

View the Most Theme

In Conclusion

So, was the move worth it? For me, absolutely. I started on Squarespace like a lot of us do, and it got me online in a weekend. But once the site became the business, I kept hitting its walls. The switch to WordPress gave me back control of every part of the site, and the jump from Squarespace to WordPress only worked as smoothly as it did because I put the site on proper hosting with Kinsta from day one.

Hosting is the part people cheap out on, and the part you feel every single day. Kinsta costs more, and after years on it I’ll defend every dollar: it’s fast, it doesn’t fall over, and support answers with actual engineers. If the budget isn’t there yet, SiteGround is the cheaper host I’d still trust while you get started.

The theme is the last piece. You want one that looks right and navigates cleanly, and ThemeForest is the only place I buy mine. Thousands of options, real reviews, and you can see demos before you spend a dime.

And that’s really the whole formula: WordPress on good hosting, a theme you like, and your own taste doing the rest. If Squarespace still covers what your business needs, stay put and spend the time on your work instead. But the day you start fighting your website builder instead of building, you’ll know it’s time. Mine took a few tries to get right… so don’t stress if yours does too.

I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.