Squarespace vs. Readymag:

Which One Is Right for Your Project?

Both platforms offer beautiful design, but they serve very different goals. Here's how I think about them when helping clients choose the right fit.

Squarespace is ideal for polished, professional websites that need to be easy to update, look great on mobile, and support things like SEO, e-commerce, and long-term client ownership. It's great for artists, studios, consultants, and small businesses who want a strong web presence that doesn't require a developer to maintain.

Readymag, on the other hand, is a creative playground. It's more like a digital publishing tool than a traditional website builder. Think: animated editorial spreads, digital magazines, portfolio experiments, or interactive storytelling. It's best suited to one-off projects, immersive experiences, or personal creative work where discoverability and scalability aren't top priorities.

Design Flexibility

  • Squarespace: Grid-based, structured, predictable. Easier to create consistency across pages. Clean design without needing custom code.

  • Readymag: Freeform canvas with nearly unlimited layout possibilities. Great for layered type, animation, and out-of-the-box visuals. But it can be easy to over-design or lose structure.

Ease of Editing

  • Squarespace: Designed with clients in mind. Once I build the structure, you can update text, swap images, or post news without breaking the layout.

  • Readymag: Not built for ongoing edits. There's no CMS. It’s more of a designer’s tool than a client-friendly one.

SEO & Performance

  • Squarespace: Solid SEO tools, good mobile optimization, and reliable performance across devices.

  • Readymag: Not SEO-friendly. Sites can be slow to load and aren’t designed for indexing or discoverability. That’s often fine for portfolios or art pieces that live more like publications than websites.

When to Use Squarespace:

  • You want a long-term home for your work, business, or offerings

  • You plan to update the site regularly

  • You care about search engines, mobile experience, and performance

When to Use Readymag:

  • You want to create a one-of-a-kind digital experience

  • You’re okay with lower discoverability in exchange for more creative freedom

  • You’re making a one-off project, microsite, or digital publication

My Take: I love Readymag, but I treat it like a publishing platform, not a long-term website solution. It’s perfect for digital storytelling, pitch decks, or immersive experiences. But if your site needs to grow with you, or be found, Squarespace is usually the smarter choice.