Custom vs Squarespace — Platform Benchmark

51.8

Custom

254 sites

56.2

Squarespace

436 sites

WINNER

Score Summary

Avg AI Readability

52.2 76.7

Avg Security

37.2 56.5

Avg Efficiency

56.6 50.2

Avg Total Score

51.8 56.2

Avg Structure

47.1 73.6

Avg Load Complexity

67.6 41.9

Avg Lighthouse

54.9 32.6

Best Site Score

87.6 71.1

Worst Site Score

15.7 36.6

Custom Squarespace

Performance by Industry

Average total score for each platform within shared industries.

Industry	Custom	Squarespace
Architecture	52.4 6 sites	58.2 18 sites
Content Creation	54.1 6 sites	55.8 3 sites
Corporate-personal	47.3 86 sites	56.9 29 sites
Design	66.2 3 sites	57.7 7 sites
Film & Video	—	57.1 4 sites
Photography	53.9 153 sites	56.1 375 sites

Comparison Insights

Overall Verdict

Squarespace holds a modest 4.5-point lead over Custom. The difference is real but not decisive.

Dimension Edge

Custom leads in: Efficiency, Load Complexity, Lighthouse. Squarespace leads in: AI Readability, Security, Structure. Each platform has distinct strengths in different dimensions.

Opportunities for improvement

Custom could target AI Readability, Security, Structure to close the gap.
Squarespace could target Efficiency, Load Complexity, Lighthouse to improve.

Industry-by-Industry Results

Squarespace wins in 4 of 6 shared industries - its overall lead holds across verticals.