Webbys vs Squarespace: which fits your business?
The short version: Squarespace is the design-lover's builder — polished templates you customize yourself, with no free plan (a trial, as of mid-2026). Webbys builds the site for you — AI generation, chat editing, booking included, free plan available. Portfolios and brand-heavy sites lean Squarespace; local service businesses lean Webbys.
| Webbys | Squarespace | |
|---|---|---|
| How the site gets built | AI generates it from your description in ~2 minutes | You customize a designer template yourself (AI assist available) |
| How you edit | Chat — no editor to learn | Visual editor; polished but yours to operate |
| Appointment booking | Built into every plan, free included | Via Acuity Scheduling, typically an add-on, as of mid-2026 |
| Free plan | Yes, publish free with a badge | No — free trial, then paid, as of mid-2026 |
| Design character | Generated to fit your trade; refined by feedback | Signature minimal, editorial aesthetic |
| Best for | Trades and local services that need bookings | Portfolios, studios, brand-led businesses |
The real difference: designed-by-you vs generated-for-you
Squarespace's reputation comes from its templates — genuinely beautiful, editorial, consistent. But a template is a starting point, not a site: the photography, copywriting, and arranging are still your project, and Squarespace sites look their best in the hands of people with an eye for design.
Webbys assumes you'd rather not be the designer. Describe the business; get a complete site — layout, writing, trade-appropriate photos, booking — then art-direct it by chat. A salon owner can say "more elegant, black and gold, show the balayage work" and watch it happen without touching an editor.
When Squarespace is genuinely the better choice
- Your business is visual and brand-led — photographer with a curated portfolio, boutique studio, restaurant with serious brand identity — and you (or your designer) will invest in making it perfect.
- You want that specific editorial look Squarespace templates are known for, and you have the photography to fill it.
- Content is your engine: long-running blogs and editorial sites are a Squarespace strength.
When Webbys is the better choice
- Bookings are the point. Webbys includes scheduling on every plan; on Squarespace, booking typically means the Acuity add-on at extra cost, as of mid-2026.
- You want to start free — publish today, pay only when you want your own domain. Squarespace has no free plan to test against your real business.
- You don't have professional photos yet: Webbys generates appropriate images for your trade so the site never looks empty. More on what a service site needs.