If you’re a designer thinking about selling website templates, one of the first big questions is:
Should I design for Showit or Squarespace?
Both platforms are popular, both are beginner-friendly, and both can produce beautiful websites — but they’re very different when it comes to selling templates.
After designing and selling templates for years, I’ve worked with both, and I can tell you: the best choice depends on your goals, your style, and your audience.
Let’s break it all down so you can pick the right platform for your template shop.
What’s the Difference Between Showit and Squarespace?
Before we compare, here’s a quick overview:
- Showit is a fully drag-and-drop website builder that gives total creative control. It integrates with WordPress for blogging and is super flexible for custom design layouts.
- Squarespace is a structured website builder with preset grids and layouts. It’s more “locked in,” but it’s fast, easy, and beginner-friendly.
Both platforms can produce gorgeous sites — but how they handle design freedom and template resale is what really separates them.
Why Designers Love Showit Templates
If you’re creative and love customizing every little detail, Showit is a dream.
Total Creative Freedom
Showit lets you design exactly how you want — move elements anywhere, layer photos and text, or create totally unique layouts without code.
That means your templates can look custom-made, not cookie-cutter.
Easier for Buyers to Customize
Your customers can easily edit text, colors, and images without needing design skills. Everything is visual and intuitive.
When your buyers feel confident using your product, they’re more likely to recommend it — which means more sales for you.
Works Great for Selling Premium Templates
Because Showit allows so much flexibility, it attracts business owners who care about strong branding — coaches, photographers, and creatives who want a high-end look.
That’s why Showit templates often sell for higher prices than templates made on other platforms.
Share Keys = Simple Delivery
Showit makes selling templates easy with share keys. You can give buyers a unique code that instantly imports your design into their account — no complicated setup.
It’s perfect for running a seamless, automated shop.
Why Squarespace Templates Still Have a Place
Squarespace templates are great if your target audience values simplicity over customization.
Easy Setup for Buyers
Squarespace users love how fast they can go live. If your buyers are small business owners or beginners who want plug-and-play simplicity, this can be a selling point.
Built-In Features
Squarespace includes blogging, email marketing, and eCommerce tools in one place. So it’s a solid option if your buyers want everything under one login.
Lower Learning Curve
It’s more structured, which means fewer ways to mess things up. That can be comforting for tech-shy users — but limiting for designers.
The Downsides of Each Platform
No platform is perfect. Here’s a quick reality check:
Showit cons:
- Slight learning curve for new users
- Requires a separate WordPress blog setup
- Monthly subscription can be higher
Squarespace cons:
- Limited design flexibility
- Harder to make unique, premium-looking templates
- No built-in way to sell templates directly through share keys
Which Platform Helps You Sell Templates Easier?
If your goal is to build a profitable design shop, Showit wins by a mile.
Here’s why:
- It’s easier to create original, high-end designs that stand out.
- Templates are easier to deliver with share keys.
- The buyers who use Showit are often willing to spend more for quality.
Squarespace is great for offering done-for-you sites or semi-custom client work — but if you want to sell templates as digital products, Showit gives you more freedom and scalability.
Who Should Choose Showit
You’ll love Showit if:
- You want to design freely without grid limitations.
- You plan to build a brand around your template shop.
- You want to serve creative business owners (coaches, photographers, etc.).
- You want to eventually scale to six figures or more.
That’s the exact model I followed to grow my own shop.
Who Should Choose Squarespace
You might prefer Squarespace if:
- You want to design simple templates for beginners or local businesses.
- You prefer a faster workflow with less tech setup.
- You’re not planning to make template sales your main business.
It’s a great stepping stone, but long-term, most designers outgrow it once they want more creative freedom.
The Bottom Line
Both platforms can work — but Showit gives designers more creative freedom, easier delivery, and a more profitable customer base.
That’s why I teach Showit specifically inside my course, Build + Scale Your Six-Figure Showit Template Shop.
Inside the course, you’ll learn how to:
- Design and launch Showit templates that actually sell
- Set up your shop and automate delivery
- Market your products using Pinterest and SEO
- Build a six-figure business around your templates
If you’re serious about turning your designs into income, Showit is the best place to start — and I’ll show you exactly how to do it.
Final Thoughts
Squarespace is great for simple websites. But if you want to create templates that sell and grow a scalable business, Showit is where you’ll shine.
You get full creative freedom, higher perceived value, and a loyal customer base that loves design.
So if you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing your own profitable template shop, take a look at my course:
👉 Build + Scale Your Six-Figure Showit Template Shop


Melissa Lunt is the founder of Superhero Design, a template shop specializing in high-converting Showit website templates for coaches, photographers, and creative entrepreneurs. With over 10 years of experience designing brands and websites, she helps business owners launch beautiful, strategic sites without the designer price tag or tech stress. Melissa is passionate about creating handcrafted templates that don’t just look custom—they actually book clients. When she’s not designing, you’ll find her drinking coffee, spending time with family and exploring the outdoors.
Explore Showit templates and launch resources at superherodesign.co.




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