CONTACT

RMCM VS SQUARESPACE

SQUARESPACE LOOKS POLISHED. IT JUST DOESN'T RANK.

Squarespace's templates are polished and the page builder is genuinely easy. The trade-off is a hard ceiling on search performance: their JavaScript framework drags load times, schema markup costs extra to add, and your design stays locked to their system.

GET A FREE AUDIT SEE WEB DESIGN

SIDE BY SIDE

HOW THEY ACTUALLY COMPARE.

Feature RMCM Custom Site Squarespace
SEO control Full: custom metadata, schema, Core Web Vitals Basic fields only: technical architecture is platform-controlled
Page speed Optimized: built to pass Core Web Vitals 40–60 PageSpeed typical: framework JS loads on every page
Code ownership Yes: GitHub repo, yours outright at launch No, you rent the template, the design stays theirs
Monthly hosting cost $0: Vercel free tier covers typical small business traffic $16–$49/month, forever
Build timeline 5–7 days from kickoff to launch Weeks to customize meaningfully past the template
Structured data Built in from day one: schema, FAQPage, local signals Requires Business plan + manual code injection to add
Can you leave? Yes: port to any host, code is yours Content exports as XML. The design stays behind, so a rebuild is required

THE REAL COST

THE TEMPLATE LOOKS GREAT. YOUR RANKINGS DON'T.

The subscription cost adds up

At $192 to $588 per year, three years on Squarespace costs between $576 and $1,764. That's the price of a custom site paid in subscriptions, with nothing to show for it and no code you own.

Their JS framework runs on every page

Squarespace ships its own JavaScript and CSS bundle with every page load. You cannot remove it. The result is PageSpeed scores in the 40–60 range by default. Google treats slow pages as lower-quality results.

Schema markup costs extra and is hard to add

Custom JSON-LD schema requires Squarespace's Business plan and manual code block injection. On lower plans, it's not available at all. Without it, Google has no structured signal for what your business does or where you serve.

Leaving means rebuilding your design from scratch

Squarespace exports your text content as XML. Your layout, styling, template customizations, and URL structure do not transfer. When you're ready to move on, and most businesses are within a few years, everything gets rebuilt anyway.

IS THIS A FIT?

CLEAR ABOUT WHO RMCM IS BUILT FOR.

Choose RMCM if

  • You're on Squarespace and ranking for nothing beyond your business name
  • You want to own your site outright with no monthly platform lock-in
  • You need local SEO and schema built in, not bolted on after the fact
  • You're ready for a professional build shipped in 5–7 days

Stay on Squarespace if

  • You need a polished portfolio with no ranking ambitions
  • You're pre-revenue and not yet ready to invest in a professional build
  • Drag-and-drop daily updates matter more than search performance

RECENT RESULTS

52 90
Magic At My Door
Site health score
31 90
E&M Equipment
Site health score
5 7
Days to ship
most redesigns
See the full case studies →

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can't I just use Squarespace's built-in SEO tools?
Squarespace includes basic SEO fields like meta titles, descriptions, and alt text. But these are surface-level controls. Custom JSON-LD schema requires a Business plan and manual code injection. Page speed and Core Web Vitals come from the platform's infrastructure and you can't change either. The ranking ceiling is Squarespace's, not yours.
Why is my Squarespace site not ranking on Google?
Most Squarespace sites rank well for the business name and poorly for anything competitive. The platform's JavaScript framework causes slow load times that hurt Core Web Vitals. Without custom schema, Google has no structured signal for what your business does or where you serve. That gap shows up in local pack rankings.
Will I lose my content if I switch from Squarespace?
Your text content can be exported as XML. Your design, template layout, custom CSS, and URL structure do not transfer. A proper rebuild migrates your content and sets up 301 redirects for any changed paths. Most clients see ranking improvements within 4 to 8 weeks of launch.
How much does Squarespace actually cost over time?
Squarespace plans run $192 to $588 per year depending on the tier. Over three years that is $576 to $1,764 with no equity in the site and no ownership of the code. An RMCM project typically falls between $1,000 and $2,000, paid once. Do the math over three years and a custom site almost always costs less. And you own it outright.
Do I need technical skills to switch to a custom site?
No. Your site ships with a content guide for text and image updates. Simple edits are straightforward file changes and RMCM is available for support. You don't have to touch code or server settings. You can also compare RMCM against Wix and GoDaddy.