Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to Squarespace in 2025
As Squarespace continues to be a popular choice for website building, you might be looking for open-source alternatives that offer greater flexibility, customization, or simply a different set of features. This article explores the top 10 open-source alternatives to Squarespace in 2025, comparing them based on key data points.
Boost Your SEO by Getting Featured in Our Blogs and get a backlink.
We publish content about startups, education, tech, funding, etc. that ranks well not only in Google but also in Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok and other AI tools.
👉 Get featured now!
1. WordPress.org
- Description: A highly popular, versatile, open-source CMS (Content Management System) known for its flexibility and extensive plugin/theme ecosystem.
- Key Features:
- Beginner-friendly with a block editor.
- Thousands of free and premium themes.
- Vast library of plugins for added functionality.
- Strong SEO capabilities.
- Suitable for blogs, e-commerce, and complex websites.
- Data Points:
- Ease of Use: Beginner-friendly.
- Customization: High, via plugins and themes.
- Scalability: Suitable for various website sizes.
- SEO: Strong SEO capabilities, customizable meta tags, clean URLs.
- Community: Large, active community.
- Explore WordPress.org
2. Drupal
- Description: A powerful open-source CMS favored for complex, high-traffic, and multilingual websites.
- Key Features:
- Advanced user management and access control.
- Robust for large-scale applications.
- Highly customizable architecture.
- Strong security features.
- Designed for complex content structures.
- Data Points:
- Complexity: Best for complex websites.
- Scalability: Good for high-traffic sites.
- Customization: Highly customizable.
- Security: Strong security measures.
- Target User: Developers and large organizations.
- Explore Drupal
Get your FREE Landing Page Analysis!
Insert your landing page link and get a super useful analysis and easy fixes to get more clicks!
👉 Get Your Analysis Here!
3. Joomla
- Description: An open-source CMS with a robust set of features suitable for e-commerce and large websites.
- Key Features:
- Extensive features for advanced e-commerce.
- Built-in multi-language support.
- Thousands of extensions available.
- Strong user and content management.
- Built-in two-factor authentication system.
- Data Points:
- E-commerce: Good for advanced e-commerce.
- Customization: Highly customizable via extensions.
- Target User: Suited for large sites.
- Community: Active global community.
- Security: Built-in security measures.
- Explore Joomla
4. Webstudio
- Description: An open-source website builder that focuses on providing the best front-end experience with the ability to connect to any backend.
- Key Features:
- Full CSS control in a visual tool.
- Frontend can connect to any HTTP API.
- Reusable styles without classes.
- Responsive design with custom breakpoints.
- No hosting lock-in.
- Data Points:
- Customization: Full CSS control.
- Flexibility: Connects to any backend.
- Hosting: No lock-in.
- Licensing: AGPL-3.0.
- Free Tier: Yes, on cloud version.
- Explore Webstudio
5. Microweber
- Description: A free, open-source website builder with a focus on ease of use and flexibility, suitable for beginners and professionals.
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop interface for customization.
- Large array of free templates.
- Active community support.
- Flexibility in design.
- Cost-effective for beginners.
- Data Points:
- Ease of Use: Drag-and-drop interface.
- Cost: Free.
- Customization: Flexible customization.
- Community: Active support community.
- Templates: Wide selection of free templates.
- Explore Microweber
Validate your startup idea with the unique borrowed authority approach: we publish articles about your product in our blog and you get traffic and testers for your MVP
- Prove Market Demand: See real organic traffic and waitlist conversions
- Unlock High-Potential Keywords: Receive a curated list of top-performing keywords directly from Google Search Console data.
- Estimate Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Gain financial foresight with an estimated CAC based on real keyword performance data.
🔗 Start validating your startup now
6. Strapi
- Description: An open-source, self-hosted headless CMS that offers great customization for developers, with full control over APIs and content models.
- Key Features:
- Full control over content models and APIs.
- Self-hosted.
- Customizable plugins.
- Good choice for small to mid-sized businesses.
- GraphQL support.
- Data Points:
- Customization: High degree of customization.
- Hosting: Self-hosted.
- Target User: Developers.
- Plugins: Wide array of plugin options.
- APIs: Full control over APIs.
- Explore Strapi
7. Grav
- Description: A fast and simple open-source CMS that does not require a database.
- Key Features:
- Fast performance.
- Easy to deploy.
- No database required.
- Unique approach to speed and simplicity.
- Suitable for simpler sites.
- Data Points:
- Performance: Fast performance.
- Simplicity: Easy to deploy.
- Database: No database required.
- Plugins: Limited plugins.
- Scale: May not be suitable for large applications.
- Explore Grav
8. Concrete CMS
- Description: An Open Source Content Management System with in-context editing suitable for teams.
- Key Features:
- In-context editing.
- User-friendly.
- Open source.
- Marketplace of themes and add-ons.
- Secure website framework.
- Data Points:
- Ease of use: Simple to use as a word processor.
- Target User: Good for teams.
- Customization: Theme marketplace.
- Open Source: Open Source framework.
- Security: Secure website platform.
- Explore Concrete CMS
9. Symfony
- Description: A PHP framework used by developers for web projects.
- Key Features:
- Flexible architecture.
- Reusable code.
- Scalable applications.
- Strong community support.
- Designed for complex projects.
- Data Points:
- Flexibility: Highly flexible and scalable.
- Scalability: Good for complex applications.
- Developer focused: Suited for developers.
- Community: Strong community support.
- Customization: Very customizable.
- Explore Symfony
10. GrapesJS
- Description: An open-source framework for creating website builders.
- Key Features:
- Highly customizable.
- Flexible for web design projects.
- Designed for creating custom builders.
- Offers intuitive interfaces.
- Good for advanced customisations.
- Data Points:
- Customization: Highly customizable.
- Flexibility: Designed for custom web builders.
- Target User: Good for developers.
- Intuitive: Intuitive interfaces.
- Advanced: For advanced customizations.
- Explore GrapesJS
Join ElonaHunt (like ProductHunt but for women) and explore the coolest women-focused startups out there!
Discover your next big inspiration and connect with like-minded female entrepreneurs!
👉 Join the Hunt Here
FAQ
1. What is WordPress.org best for?
WordPress.org is highly versatile and ideal for a range of websites from blogs to complex e-commerce sites, thanks to its extensive plugin and theme ecosystem. Learn more about WordPress.org
2. Who should use Drupal?
Drupal is best suited for developers and large organizations that require complex, high-traffic, and multilingual websites due to its advanced user management and robust architecture. Explore Drupal
3. What makes Joomla a good alternative to Squarespace?
Joomla is excellent for e-commerce and large websites due to its built-in multi-language support, extensive extensions, and robust user and content management. Discover Joomla
4. Is Webstudio suitable for developers?
Yes, Webstudio is designed for developers with its full CSS control, the ability to connect to any backend API, and responsive design features. Learn more about Webstudio
5. How user-friendly is Microweber?
Microweber is very user-friendly with its drag-and-drop interface and wide selection of free templates, making it suitable even for beginners. Discover Microweber
6. Why choose Strapi as a CMS?
Strapi offers extensive customization for developers, with full control over APIs and content models, making it ideal for small to mid-sized businesses. Explore Strapi
7. What kind of websites is Grav suitable for?
Grav is perfect for simple, fast websites that do not require a database, with its unique approach to speed and simplicity. Learn more about Grav
8. What are the benefits of using Concrete CMS?
Concrete CMS offers in-context editing, making it as easy to use as a word processor, along with a secure framework and a marketplace of themes and add-ons. Discover Concrete CMS
9. Who should use Symfony?
Symfony is suitable for developers working on complex web projects due to its flexible architecture, reusable code, and scalability. Explore Symfony
10. What type of projects is GrapesJS best for?
GrapesJS is designed for creating custom website builders and is ideal for web design projects that require high customization and advanced functionalities. Discover GrapesJS
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.