What users are saying about
55 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 7.4 out of 100
Based on 55 reviews and ratings
Top Rated
261 Ratings
<a href='https://www.trustradius.com/static/about-trustradius-scoring' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'>trScore algorithm: Learn more.</a>Score 8.3 out of 100
Based on 261 reviews and ratings
Feature Set Ratings
- Squarespace ranks higher in 4 feature sets: Security, Platform & Infrastructure, Web Content Creation, Web Content Management
Security

8.0
Cascade Server
80%
8.6
Squarespace
86%
Squarespace ranks higher in 1/1 features
Squarespace ranks higher in 1/1 features
Role-based user permissions

8.0
80%
19 Ratings
8.6
86%
57 Ratings
Platform & Infrastructure

7.1
Cascade Server
71%
7.8
Squarespace
78%
Squarespace ranks higher in 2/2 features
Squarespace ranks higher in 2/2 features
API

7.0
70%
12 Ratings
7.7
77%
42 Ratings
Internationalization / multi-language

7.3
73%
7 Ratings
7.8
78%
30 Ratings
Web Content Creation

7.1
Cascade Server
71%
8.5
Squarespace
85%
Squarespace ranks higher in 6/8 features
Squarespace ranks higher in 6/8 features
WYSIWYG editor

6.1
61%
19 Ratings
8.6
86%
74 Ratings
Code quality / cleanliness

6.0
60%
18 Ratings
8.7
87%
66 Ratings
Admin section

8.0
80%
19 Ratings
8.5
85%
84 Ratings
Page templates

9.0
90%
17 Ratings
8.9
89%
85 Ratings
Library of website themes

5.5
55%
2 Ratings
8.1
81%
83 Ratings
Mobile optimization / responsive design

7.0
70%
15 Ratings
8.6
86%
81 Ratings
Publishing workflow

9.0
90%
19 Ratings
8.5
85%
73 Ratings
Form generator

6.4
64%
7 Ratings
8.3
83%
67 Ratings
Web Content Management

6.9
Cascade Server
69%
8.0
Squarespace
80%
Squarespace ranks higher in 4/5 features
Squarespace ranks higher in 4/5 features
Content taxonomy

8.0
80%
13 Ratings
8.3
83%
65 Ratings
SEO support

7.0
70%
14 Ratings
8.4
84%
70 Ratings
Bulk management

9.0
90%
14 Ratings
7.7
77%
43 Ratings
Availability / breadth of extensions

6.0
60%
11 Ratings
7.6
76%
57 Ratings
Community / comment management

4.8
48%
5 Ratings
7.9
79%
57 Ratings
Attribute Ratings
- Cascade Server is rated higher in 1 area: Likelihood to Recommend
- Squarespace is rated higher in 3 areas: Likelihood to Renew, Usability, Support Rating
Likelihood to Recommend

9.9
Cascade Server
99%
44 Ratings
8.4
Squarespace
84%
85 Ratings
Likelihood to Renew

9.1
Cascade Server
91%
26 Ratings
10.0
Squarespace
100%
4 Ratings
Usability

9.1
Cascade Server
91%
4 Ratings
10.0
Squarespace
100%
4 Ratings
Availability

6.7
Cascade Server
67%
8 Ratings
Squarespace
N/A
0 Ratings
Performance

8.0
Cascade Server
80%
2 Ratings
Squarespace
N/A
0 Ratings
Support Rating

9.1
Cascade Server
91%
10 Ratings
10.0
Squarespace
100%
4 Ratings
In-Person Training

7.0
Cascade Server
70%
1 Rating
Squarespace
N/A
0 Ratings
Online Training

5.0
Cascade Server
50%
1 Rating
Squarespace
N/A
0 Ratings
Implementation Rating

9.1
Cascade Server
91%
8 Ratings
Squarespace
N/A
0 Ratings
Product Scalability

5.0
Cascade Server
50%
1 Rating
Squarespace
N/A
0 Ratings
Likelihood to Recommend
Cascade Server
Cascade Server is well suited with it's WYSIWYG editor being better than most editors that I have used in other systems. In context, editing makes adding content easy compared to the last CMS I used where you had to wing it and view the page outside of the CMS to see if it was correct. The ability mix HTML, CSS, and the Script of your choice anywhere and with ease.
The scenarios were Cascade Server is less appropriate would be in the use of compilers or programs like Visual studio. You need to go out of Cascade Server and go to other environments to perform tasks and then copy the result to Cascade Server. You can write directly in Cascade Server, but it's easier to do in and editor that is specific to a function.

Verified User
Professional in Other
Higher Education Company, 201-500 employeesSquarespace
I have a gorgeous website that I made myself, thanks to Squarespace. I'm able to integrate marketing emails, SEO, analytics, online carts, pretty much instantly. If you want to get started fast, it's really great. I think if you want to customize square space and you're having trouble, it would be most helpful to hire a square space designer. That's what I would have done in retrospect.
Art Advisor
Self-EmployedArts and Crafts, 1-10 employees
Pros
Cascade Server
- Cascade CMS makes no assumptions about your content. Templates control how the content gets displayed.
- Workflows are intuitive and allow for one or more people to review content before it is published.
- The published site is static (no database connection) which allows for faster page loads and reduced risk of attack.
Web & New Media Specialist
Cleveland State Community CollegeHigher Education, 201-500 employees
Squarespace
- Stupid simple to use. I know very creative people who cannot code and this is probably the easiest ever platform for them!
- Pretty website templates and great functionality with showing off portfolios.
- They've already figured out what are the problems that non-coding people have when creating websites and they've figured out a simple solution for all of it.
Owner
Isabel Azalia Portrait DesignArts & Crafts, 1-10 employees
Cons
Cascade Server
- Cascade CMS is not an out-of-the-box pre-built system that you can install, turn on and expect to be serving sites and pages on day one. It's not a blogging system like WordPress, or a drag-and-drop system like SquareSpace (both of which I've used for their own purposes). You need to have someone tasked with management and system administration – and if you implement the on-premise self-hosted version, you ought to have several people. We have the university's IT shop handling infrastructure (server hardware, containers, clustering, operating systems, load-balancing, DNS, database servers, NAS/SAN drives), our Web & Design team managing Cascade CMS (system settings, sites, templates, permissions) and managers coordinating each respective academic unit (A&S, business, education, law, marine science).
Senior Web Architect
William & MaryHigher Education, 1001-5000 employees
Squarespace
- As a wine company it would really love it if Squarespace had an easy plugin for wine club subscriptions.
- Squarespace would be awesome if it could automatically take your photos that you upload on the site and optimize them for the web and for the website.
- I do wish we could have more than two contributors for the basic website costs.
Owner
Project M Productions LLCWine and Spirits, 1-10 employees
Pricing Details
Cascade Server
General
Free Trial
Yes
Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Yes
Entry-level set up fee?
Optional
Starting Price
—Squarespace
General
Free Trial
—Free/Freemium Version
—Premium Consulting/Integration Services
—Entry-level set up fee?
No
Starting Price
$12 per month
Likelihood to Renew
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 9.1
Based on 26 answers
Changing systems would require too much effort. Our institution is using Cascade Server, WordPress and Drupal but we only serve 2200 students so we have 1 too many content management systems. Reflecting on current technical resources we would like to drop down to 2. This effort hasn't moved forward because of the extensive work required to migrate content and train users in a new system.
Associate Director of Web Communications
Union CollegeHigher Education, 501-1000 employees
Squarespace
Squarespace 10.0
Based on 4 answers
Unless our website requires significantly more functionality in the future, I can't see us terminating our contract
Chief Operations Officer
Sapper Consulting, LLCMarketing and Advertising, 51-200 employees
Usability
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 9.1
Based on 4 answers
Cascade CMS is completely usable on mobile devices, we can train our content editors in a single 2-hour session, and we support 1,000 users with a very small team.
There is a level of complexity for the system administrators, site managers and web programmers who implement templates and content types. But the complexity is neither arbitrary nor inconsistent – and once learned provides a powerful environment within which we can develop robust sites that are beautiful and powerful, yet easy for our content editors to manage.
Senior Web Architect
William & MaryHigher Education, 1001-5000 employees
Squarespace
Squarespace 10.0
Based on 4 answers
It's simple to use for someone who is really good with computers as well as those who are not. I've been using my personal squarespace for years and have also helped clients build a starting page which they are later able to manage theirselves.
Graphic Designer
Miss Mandible DesignsHealth, Wellness and Fitness, 1-10 employees
Reliability and Availability
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 6.7
Based on 8 answers
Amazing customer service and VERY customizable.
Webmaster
Jacksonville State UniversityHigher Education, 1001-5000 employees
Squarespace
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Performance
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 8.0
Based on 2 answers
Does a great job.
Web Administrator
True Value CompanyInformation Technology and Services, 51-200 employees
Squarespace
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 9.1
Based on 10 answers
They have always regarded any question or problem we encountered as very important. We have never felt that they ignore or downplay any issue and not once has anything been left unresolved. They also hold an annual conference where users are invited to attend and share their experiences and wisdom with the entire Cascade community. And with the care and support the provide, we all feel a part of that community.
Manager, Campus Web Technology
SUNY Upstate Medical UniversityHospital & Health Care, 5001-10,000 employees
Squarespace
Squarespace 10.0
Based on 4 answers
Help is available directly from the back end and uses full sentence searching to find answers to questions others may have asked before. With a ton of articles and support questions documents, it is very likely that your question has been answered. If not each page has the ability to open a direct email to support. Each case has a number and can be followed. Responses are often quick and have links and directions clearly stated
Director of Graphics and Marketing
Concrete Results, IncGlass, Ceramics & Concrete, 1-10 employees
In-Person Training
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 7.0
Based on 1 answer
Training was helpful.
Web Administrator
True Value CompanyInformation Technology and Services, 51-200 employees
Squarespace
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Online Training
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 5.0
Based on 1 answer
Still needed that physical help
Web Administrator
True Value CompanyInformation Technology and Services, 51-200 employees
Squarespace
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 9.1
Based on 8 answers
The key to any CMS implementation is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Proper planning with Cascade can increase your satisfaction exponentially once the site migration/creation is complete. When all is said and done, your implementation can make your site run like a Yugo or Maserati. Be smart and deliberate in your decisions. Drive the Maserati. It is already paid for.
Marketing Manager
HCC Medical Insurance ServicesInsurance, 51-200 employees
Squarespace
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Cascade Server
We selected Cascade server seven years ago, and the CMS environment at the time was clearly different than it is today. We decided to go with a vendor solution rather than a free solution because the long term cost in hosting a free solution is not, in fact, free; we've found Cascade to have been an excellent choice for us.

Verified User
Manager in Information Technology
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employeesSquarespace
Overall, as a designer, it makes perfect sense for small to large businesses to use a site such as SquareSpace. Costs are relatively reasonable with the ability to go in and do custom code.
The issue is certain aspects of it, depending on the plan, you can't do. So, if you want to do API to the site, you need to use the top-tier program to do so. Even at custom code, you won't have access to the API section.
As well, like all templates and themes, everybody is using the same style too.
Learning Experience Designer / Graphic Designer
ULearn.techE-Learning, 1-10 employees
Scalability
Cascade Server
Cascade Server 5.0
Based on 1 answer
I used it only a few times.
Web Administrator
True Value CompanyInformation Technology and Services, 51-200 employees
Squarespace
No score
No answers yet
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Cascade Server
- Initially, ROI was positive - because we completely redesigned the website when we implemented Cascade.
- Over time, the inability to keep up with the latest interactive tools has reduced visitors time on site.
- Also over time, the difficulty of use has led to less buy-in by backend users, leading to outdated pages, little timely information, and lower visitors.

Verified User
Professional in Marketing
Higher Education Company, 51-200 employeesSquarespace
- The key positive impact on my overall business objectives is how simple Squarespace sites are to implement new information. Whenever our services change, we can quickly update pages or even change how the website flows, in a very short window of time. This allows me to get back to more urgent work sooner.
- Our Squarespace site for Club Swim Show helped present our web series to potential partners; Club Swim Show went on to partner with a popular swimming magazine and reach a larger audience through that magazine's hosting thanks to the professional design of our original website.
- Squarespace does not bring in customers to my storefront, which is fine for me, since I sell things infrequently and it is not my main business, but might work against someone who is expecting a Shopify or Etsy level connection with buyer markets.
Distribution Producer
Club Swim ShowMotion Pictures & Film, 11-50 employees