Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Squarespace · 🧱 website builders
Squarespace vs Microweber
Drag-and-drop pages, blogging and ecommerce without a licence bill; hosting and updates move in with you. Here is how Microweber ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Squarespace ($25/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Microweber
$0.00/mo · MIT
Squarespace vs Microweber Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Squarespace (Paid) | Microweber (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $25 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $300 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $300) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,500 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,500) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $3,000 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $3,000) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source MIT |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 3.4k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Squarespace to Microweber
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Microweber gives up Squarespace's consistently polished templates, managed infrastructure and one-vendor support.
How to deploy Microweber
Hosted signup, or upload the PHP package to a web host and complete its browser installer
What it takes to run
Self-hosting needs compatible PHP extensions, URL rewriting, a database and correct filesystem permissions
Where your data lives
Site content and settings in a supported SQL database; images and other uploads in server storage
Why fork Microweber instead of vibe-coding a Squarespace clone?
A portfolio or marketing site is easy to build, but Squarespace's paid value is templates, editor, hosting, commerce/forms, domains, and support.
Squarespace vs Microweber FAQ
Is Microweber a good free alternative to Squarespace?+
Yes. Microweber is a verified open-source (MIT) replacement for Squarespace. Drag-and-drop pages, blogging and ecommerce without a licence bill; hosting and updates move in with you.
What is the catch when switching from Squarespace to Microweber?+
Microweber gives up Squarespace's consistently polished templates, managed infrastructure and one-vendor support.
How much do you save switching from Squarespace to Microweber?+
Squarespace costs $25/mo ($300/yr) per seat, whereas Microweber is $0/mo. Switching saves $300/yr for a solo user, $1,500/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,000/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Microweber instead of Squarespace?+
Install: Hosted signup, or upload the PHP package to a web host and complete its browser installer. Setup: Self-hosting needs compatible PHP extensions, URL rewriting, a database and correct filesystem permissions
