# Format vs Squarespace

Source: https://nachonacho.com/compare/format-vs-squarespace

Choose Format if your website is primarily a creative portfolio and you need tools for delivering work to clients; choose Squarespace if you need a more general-purpose site with a larger store, blog, or broader business tools. Both provide hosted, no-code websites and a 14-day trial, but their published plans differ substantially in portfolio limits, selling fees, and integrations.

## At a glance

| | Format | Squarespace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primary focus | Creative portfolios and client workflows | Websites, stores, portfolios, and blogs |
| Client workflow | Client galleries and file transfers | Invoicing and project management tools |
| Store catalog limit | 15 products on Pro; 1,000 on Pro Plus | Unlimited products on paid plans |
| Online store transaction fee | No Format store commission | 2% on Basic; 0% on Core and higher |
| Integrations | Adobe Lightroom Classic publishing plugin | Mailchimp and Zapier on Core and higher |
| Plans and annual price | Basic, Pro, Pro Plus; from $10/month billed annually | Basic, Core, Plus, Advanced; from $19/month billed annually |
| Pages and images | Basic: 10 pages, 70 images; Pro: unlimited pages, 1,500 images | Up to 1,000 pages; image count not published |
| Hosted video | 15 minutes on Pro; 120 minutes on Pro Plus | 30 minutes on Basic; unlimited on Advanced |
| Mobile apps | Free mobile app | iOS and Android app |
| Hosting and domain | Hosting included; first-year domain on annual Pro and Pro Plus | Hosting included; first-year domain on annual plans |
| Free trial | 14 days; no credit card required | 14 days; no credit card required |
| Support | Human support seven days a week; Pro Plus priority | 24/7 email; live chat during posted hours |

## Which to choose

### Choose Format if

- Photographers delivering images through client galleries
- Creatives publishing from Adobe Lightroom Classic
- Studios that need built-in client file transfers
- Portfolio owners who want a commission-free Format store

### Choose Squarespace if

- Businesses selling more than Format’s 1,000-product maximum
- Teams that need unlimited site contributors on Core or higher
- Creators selling courses, memberships, or subscriptions
- Sites that need Mailchimp or Zapier integration on Core or higher

## Verdict

The deciding factor is what your website needs to do after someone sees your work. Format is the better fit for photographers and other creatives who will use client galleries, file transfers, and a Lightroom Classic publishing workflow. Squarespace is the better fit for businesses that need to sell a large catalog or combine a portfolio with blogging, subscriptions, and other site content. Check the plan-specific limits and fees before subscribing.

## Questions

### Should a photographer choose Format or Squarespace?

Format is the better fit when client galleries, file transfers, or publishing from Adobe Lightroom Classic are central to the job. Squarespace is worth considering when the photography portfolio is one part of a broader website or store.

### Which costs less to start?

Format advertises Basic from $10 per month billed annually. Squarespace advertises Basic from $19 per month billed annually. Those are website-plan prices, not a comparison of every plan or any additional services.

### Can I sell products on both?

Yes. Format’s Pro plan lists up to 15 store products and Pro Plus lists up to 1,000; its Basic plan does not include store products. Squarespace lists unlimited products on its paid website plans.

### Do Format and Squarespace charge the same selling fees?

No. Format describes its online store as commission-free. Squarespace lists a 2% online store transaction fee on Basic and 0% on Core and higher. Other fees, including payment processing and fees for digital products, can differ.

### Which has more room for a large portfolio?

Format’s Basic plan allows 10 pages and 70 high-resolution images; Pro allows unlimited pages and 1,500 images; Pro Plus allows unlimited pages and images. Squarespace publishes a limit of up to 1,000 pages but does not publish a comparable image-count limit.

### Can I use integrations with either builder?

Format publishes an Adobe Lightroom Classic plugin for adding images to portfolio and client galleries. Squarespace lists Mailchimp and Zapier integrations on Core and higher, along with third-party Squarespace Extensions.

### Do I need to buy hosting or a domain separately?

Both Format and Squarespace include website hosting. Format offers first-year domain registration with annual Pro and Pro Plus plans; Squarespace offers a first-year domain with eligible annual website plans. Domain renewal costs extra.

### Can I try Format and Squarespace before paying?

Yes. Both Format and Squarespace publish a 14-day website trial that does not require a credit card.

## Product pages

- Format: https://nachonacho.com/product/Format
- Squarespace: https://nachonacho.com/product/squarespace