The creative economy is worth over $985 billion and this growth is showing an upward trajectory. Pltaform tools like Behance and Squarespace redefine work by providing accessible platforms for showcasing creativity and creative works online.
Behance’s dedicated creative community fosters collaboration, but Squarespace, though versatile, lacks this built-in interconnectedness.
Behance’s specialization in creative showcase and networking contributes significantly to the industry’s digital transformation, a factor where Squarespace, with its broader approach, falls slightly behind.
The main difference is that Behance is a dedicated creative showcase platform with built-in networking, fostering a global creative community. Squarespace, while versatile, lacks the specialized showcase emphasis and built-in community, offering a broader website-building approach adaptable to various creative needs.
Behance vs. Squarespace: Key Features Overview
Here’s a quick summary of the core features of these creative platforms:
| Features | Behance | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Creative Showcase | ✔️ (Specialized) | ❌ (General Website Building) |
| Global Creative Community | ✔️ (Extensive) | ❌ (Limited) |
| Portfolio Networking | ✔️ (Built-in) | ❌ (External Networking) |
| E-commerce Integration | ❌ (Limited) | ✔️ |
| Versatility for Diverse Portfolios | ❌ (Limited) | ✔️ |
Personal Note: Behance stands out as a dedicated platform for global creative networking and showcase. Squarespace, while versatile, provides a broader canvas for creative individuals to build customized online spaces.
What is Behance and Who is it for?
Behance is a platform dedicated to creative professionals, offering a space to showcase portfolios and connect with a global creative community. It serves as a hub for designers, artists, and creatives seeking to display their work and discover inspiration.
Pros of Behance:
- Behance specializes in providing a platform for creative professionals to showcase their work.
- The platform offers extensive networking opportunities within the global creative community.
- Behance integrates portfolio networking directly into its platform, streamlining connections.
Cons:
- Behance may have limited features for those looking to integrate e-commerce into their portfolios.
- Behance is specialized for creative portfolios, limiting its adaptability for diverse website needs.
What is Squarespace and Who is it for?
Squarespace is an all-in-one website-building platform suitable for a broad creative audience. It empowers individuals, including creatives, to create personalized online spaces without the need for extensive coding or design skills.
Pros of Squarespace:
- Squarespace provides a versatile platform for building websites catering to various creative industries.
- The platform excels in integrating e-commerce features, allowing users to sell products and services.
- While not built-in, Squarespace offers opportunities for external networking through its versatile features.
Cons:
- Squarespace’s versatility might mean a less specialized creative showcase compared to dedicated platforms like Behance.
- Unlike Behance, Squarespace relies on external networking efforts for creative professionals.
6 Key Features of Behance that Wins Over Squarespace:
- Dedicated Creative Showcase: Behance focuses exclusively on showcasing creative portfolios, offering specialized features for optimal presentation.
- Global Creative Community: The platform provides extensive networking opportunities within a global creative community, fostering collaboration and inspiration.
- Built-in Portfolio Networking: Behance streamlines portfolio networking, allowing professionals to connect directly within the platform.
6 Key Features of Squarespace that Wins Over Behance:
- Versatile Website Building: Squarespace offers a versatile platform adaptable to various creative needs, beyond the exclusive focus on creative portfolios.
- E-commerce Integration: The platform excels in integrating e-commerce features, allowing users to sell products and services seamlessly.
- External Networking Possibilities: While not built-in, Squarespace provides opportunities for external networking through its versatile features.
Use Cases for Behance:
- Showcasing Visual Portfolios: Behance is ideal for visual artists, designers, and creatives looking to display their work in a visually compelling manner.
- Connecting with a Global Audience: The platform serves as a global hub for creative professionals to connect, collaborate, and gain exposure.
What Behance Can’t Be Used For
While Behance is excellent for creative showcases and networking, it may not be the optimal choice for those seeking a versatile website-building solution for various purposes outside the creative sphere.
Use Cases for Squarespace:
- Creating Versatile Creative Portfolios: Squarespace is suitable for creatives wanting a versatile platform to showcase various types of work, not limited to a specific creative niche.
- Selling Creative Products or Services: The platform’s robust e-commerce integration makes it ideal for creatives looking to sell products or services alongside their portfolios.
What Squarespace Can’t Be Used For
While Squarespace offers a broad range of creative possibilities, it may not provide the same specialized creative showcase experience as platforms dedicated solely to creative portfolios, like Behance.
Behance Pricing:
Behance is free to use for basic features, allowing users to create a portfolio and connect with the creative community. However, Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers have additional benefits, such as increased visibility and access to Adobe Portfolio.
Squarespace Pricing:
Squarespace offers various pricing plans suitable for different needs:
- Personal: $12.00 per month (billed annually) – Basic features for personal portfolios
- Business: $18.00 per month (billed annually) – Additional features for business portfolios
- Commerce: $26.00 per month (billed annually) – Advanced features, including e-commerce capabilities
What to Consider When Choosing Between Behance and Squarespace
Keep these factors in mind when choosing a platform to showcase your creative work:
Specialization vs. Versatility:
- Consider whether you prioritize a platform exclusively focused on showcasing creative work (Behance) or a versatile solution catering to various creative industries (Squarespace).
Networking Opportunities:
- Assess the importance of built-in networking features (Behance) versus external networking possibilities (Squarespace) for your professional goals.
E-commerce Needs:
- Evaluate the e-commerce features of both platforms, especially if selling creative products or services is a key aspect of your portfolio strategy.
Global Exposure vs. Personalized Showcase:
- Decide whether global exposure within a dedicated creative community (Behance) or a more personalized and adaptable showcase (Squarespace) aligns better with your objectives.
Budget Considerations:
- Consider the pricing plans of both platforms in relation to your budget and the features essential for your creative and professional needs.
Comprehensive Feature Comparison: Behance vs. Squarespace
In this section, we’ll place both platforms side-by-side and compare the core features to help you make wise decisions.
1. Dedicated Creative Showcase:
Behance excels in providing a dedicated platform exclusively designed for creative professionals to showcase their portfolios.
Its interface is crafted to highlight visual elements, enabling artists, designers, and creatives to present their work in a visually compelling manner.
Behance offers specialized features, such as project categorization, project views, and appreciation metrics, enhancing the showcase experience.
While Squarespace is versatile, its strength lies in providing a platform adaptable to various creative needs rather than offering a specialized creative showcase.
It offers customizable templates that cater to different industries, allowing users to create portfolios, business websites, or blogs. However, the emphasis on versatility might result in a less specialized showcase compared to Behance.
Verdict: Behance wins in providing a dedicated and specialized creative showcase, offering features tailored specifically for presenting creative work.
2. Global Creative Community:
Behance stands out for its extensive global creative community, connecting professionals worldwide. Artists and designers can interact, collaborate, and gain exposure within this community.
The platform facilitates networking opportunities, fostering a sense of belonging and inspiration among creatives globally.
Squarespace, while allowing external networking possibilities, lacks the built-in community aspect that Behance offers. It provides features for creating a personalized online space but may not offer the same level of interconnectedness within a dedicated creative community.
Verdict: Behance wins with its built-in global creative community, providing a collaborative and inspiring environment for creatives.
3. Built-in Portfolio Networking:
Behance integrates portfolio networking directly into its platform, streamlining connections among creative professionals. This built-in networking feature enables users to discover, appreciate, and follow each other’s work seamlessly within the Behance ecosystem.
Squarespace, while offering opportunities for external networking, does not have a built-in portfolio networking system as robust as Behance. Networking on Squarespace may rely more on external efforts and connections.
Verdict: Behance wins in providing a cohesive and integrated portfolio networking experience within the platform.
4. E-commerce Integration:
Behance is not designed for e-commerce integration. While it excels in showcasing creative work, it may not be the optimal choice for creatives looking to sell products or services alongside their portfolios.
Squarespace excels in integrating e-commerce features, allowing users to seamlessly sell products or services alongside their portfolios. Its robust e-commerce capabilities make it a suitable choice for creatives seeking monetization opportunities.
Verdict: Squarespace wins with its comprehensive e-commerce integration, providing a valuable feature for creatives looking to sell products or services.
5. Versatility for Diverse Portfolios:
Behance, being specialized for creative portfolios, may have limitations when it comes to creating diverse types of websites beyond the creative showcase. Its strength lies in offering a dedicated space for visual artists and designers.
Squarespace excels in providing versatility, allowing users to create diverse types of websites, including portfolios, business sites, blogs, and more. It caters to a broader range of creative needs beyond a specific niche.
Verdict: Squarespace wins for its versatility, offering a platform adaptable to various creative industries and purposes.
6. External Networking Possibilities:
While Behance has a built-in community, it also provides opportunities for external networking. Creatives can share their Behance portfolios across other social media platforms or professional networks to broaden their reach.
Squarespace offers external networking possibilities, allowing users to share their websites and portfolios on different platforms. However, it lacks the built-in community aspect found on Behance.
Verdict: It’s a tie. Both Behance and Squarespace offer external networking possibilities, depending on the user’s preference and outreach strategy.
7. Personalized Website Building:
Behance focuses on providing a standardized and specialized showcase experience, limiting the extent of personalized website building compared to Squarespace. Users have less flexibility in tailoring the overall look and feel of their online space.
Squarespace shines in offering a personalized website-building experience. Users can customize templates, layouts, and design elements, tailoring their online spaces to match their individual creative visions.
Verdict: Squarespace wins for its emphasis on personalized website building, providing users with extensive customization options.
FAQs
Let’s answer some common questions right now.
1. Is Behance suitable for non-creative industries?
- Behance is primarily designed for creative professionals to showcase their work. While it can be used by various industries, its features cater specifically to creative showcases.
2. Can I sell products on Behance?
- Behance is not built for e-commerce. Creatives looking to sell products may find Squarespace’s e-commerce integration more suitable.
3. How does Squarespace’s e-commerce integration benefit creatives?
- Squarespace’s robust e-commerce features enable creatives to sell products or services alongside their portfolios, expanding monetization opportunities.
4. Which platform offers a more personalized website-building experience?
- Squarespace provides a more personalized website-building experience, allowing users to tailor their online spaces to diverse creative needs.
5. Does Behance offer a free plan?
- Behance is free to use for basic features, but Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers receive additional benefits.
Is Behance Better Than Squarespace? Takeaway
In summary, the choice between Behance and Squarespace depends on your specific goals and the nature of your creative work.
If you prioritize a dedicated platform for showcasing creative portfolios and connecting within a global creative community, Behance stands out.
However, if you seek a versatile website-building solution adaptable to various creative industries and the option to integrate e-commerce seamlessly, Squarespace provides a comprehensive and customizable solution.