Ranking Squarespace mobile page speed against competitors

Why This Matters

Mobile site speed influences whether your next potential client stays on your page or leaves before seeing your homepage. Picture a would-be customer flicking through their phone on the train, searching for a service like yours. They click your link. The seconds drag on. They tap away, none the wiser, as your beautifully designed site sits unviewed in the netherworld of slow connections.

We all know Google rewards faster websites in its search results. And as everyone is glued to their mobiles, your loading speed determines whether you earn a coveted spot on page one or end up kayaking through the lonely waters of page three. If you want more traffic, more leads, and fewer head-scratching technical headaches, the performance of your mobile site is the ground floor, not the roof.

Among Squarespace users, there’s longstanding muttering in designer circles (often at 11 p.m. when the coffee runs out) that Squarespace sites are slow on mobile, especially compared to platforms like WordPress or Wix. But instead of relying on hearsay, let’s apply some Pixelhaze honesty to the debate to see how Squarespace compares, what actually works, and what you can do to get your mobile site running quickly.

Common Pitfalls

A major mistake is assuming every CMS (content management system) is much the same, and speed is mostly a “developer problem.” I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard: “Oh, it’s Squarespace, so I can just build and go!” So you upload your shiny 5MB homepage video, a gallery of high-res images, some jazzy fonts, and a fistful of plugins. A week later, your bounce rate has doubled and your SEO tools are gently weeping.

There’s also a weird inverse logic at work: “Squarespace isn’t as complex as WordPress, so surely it’ll be faster on mobile?” Ignoring the platform’s technical strengths or limitations leads to sluggish sites, bad rankings, and frustrated users.

Another common misstep is trying to fix everything with one of those “all-in-one speed plugins” promoted by forums and affiliate blogs. Most don’t play well with Squarespace’s architecture. You end up chasing your tail instead of addressing what’s really slowing things down.

Step-by-Step Fix

Here’s your practical, battle-tested process for getting your Squarespace site purring on mobile even when the competition’s bar is high. Every suggestion below is rooted in real work we do for clients at Pixelhaze. No fluff, no hand-waving, no drama.

Step 1: Run a Baseline Speed Test on Mobile

Before you muck about with settings, you need reliable data. Otherwise you’re guessing between “fast-ish” and “oh dear.” Open your site on a real mobile (not just resizing your desktop window). Then, head to Google PageSpeed Insights and drop in your homepage URL. Make sure to check the “Mobile” tab.

Take note of the Core Web Vitals:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
• First Input Delay (FID)
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Also, skim the Opportunity suggestions (e.g., “Properly size images”). If you see the words “Remove unused JavaScript” and feel a cold sweat, you’re not alone. We’ll come to that.

Step 2: Optimise Images Aggressively

Squarespace handles image compression for you (and it does a respectable job), but nothing beats a human eye. Your DSLR photos uploaded straight from the SD card? Instant speed killer.

Before you even upload:

• Resize hero images for the block they’re intended for (usually 2000 pixels wide is overkill for most mobile layouts; try 1200 or less)
• Export as JPG for photos, PNG for graphics/logos, and use SVG sparingly for icons
• Run images through a free tool like TinyPNG or Squoosh to squeeze every spare KB

Once they’re onboard, let Squarespace handle any adaptive cropping or responsive loading. But remember: if you feed it bloated images, bloated images you shall get. Every unnecessary byte adds up.

Step 3: Use Built-In Lazy Loading and Keep Blocks Lean

The latest Squarespace versions use lazy loading for images automatically, but double-check your block settings. Avoid stacking galleries or portfolios with dozens of images “above the fold.” For blog posts, limit the use of high-res hero images, especially if you publish regularly.

Keep your page structure simple, as every extra block, fancy font, or animation brings its own morsel of code for the browser to chew through. Consider whether each block needs to load first on mobile or can be deferred.

Step 4: Prune Widgets, Trackers, and Third-Party Code

A common Squarespace site issue is excessive loading from every chat bubble, analytics tracker, and Instagram feed you embed from another server. Third-party code can block your content from appearing quickly and is mostly invisible to the casual eye until your mobile score drops.

Audit your site regularly:

• Remove any old marketing pixels, pop-ups, or social plugins you don’t absolutely need
• Where possible, use Squarespace’s own analytics tools instead of multiple external trackers
• If you use custom code, test each script’s impact by disabling it temporarily and re-running the speed test

A rule we share with clients: “If you can’t explain what a script does in a single sentence, you probably don’t need it.”

Step 5: Choose Your Template Wisely and Keep It Updated

Squarespace templates are not all the same. Some legacy Template Families (like Brine, Bedford, or Five) carry extra visual features or legacy code from pre-mobile eras. Newer templates in Squarespace 7.1 are designed for modern devices and receive performance updates from Squarespace regularly.

If your site was built years ago, test it against a clean install on a latest-generation template. The improvement in speed can be dramatic. Migrating is a hassle, but the long-term payoff is worthwhile, especially if SEO and conversions matter to you.

Step 6: Regularly Monitor and Adjust

Web performance benefits from regular checks. Use Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or your own observations at least once a month. Don’t panic over every drop in score; aim for steady improvement instead of perfection.

Track mobile bounce rates in Squarespace Analytics. If you see a sudden spike after a design tweak, revisit your changes with a critical eye.

If you sell via Squarespace Commerce, test your checkout process on a slow mobile network. If anything takes more than a few seconds to load or requires pin-point accuracy, you’re probably losing buyers.

What Most People Miss

Few people mention this in Facebook groups: Platform does not guarantee good or bad results. Although there is some complaining, Squarespace actually ranks near the top for mobile speed among major CMS platforms when someone builds and manages a site with care.

Backlinko’s research (the one that started me down this rabbit hole after a tipoff from our in-house code wizard Rebecca Harpain) showed that Squarespace and Weebly consistently outperformed Wix and WordPress for median mobile speed. However, the difference was not dramatic. User error (not CMS limitations) remains the real culprit.

A well-optimised Squarespace site outpaces a bloated WordPress or Wix build every time. The keyword is “optimised.” Square peg, square hole. Or something like that.

The Bigger Picture

Consider the broader context. You didn’t get into business to troubleshoot mobile rendering issues. However, your mobile site frequently creates the first impression for customers, clients, and Google’s search bots.

Investing a bit of effort in your mobile speed brings measurable results: better SEO positions, happier users, fewer lost leads, and less late-night panic when the latest algorithm update hits. The platform you choose matters, but the way you build and maintain the site is what puts you ahead.

With Squarespace’s recent upgrades and speed-focused tools, the “slow on mobile” excuse no longer stands up. Many Squarespace sites achieve excellent mobile performance without sacrificing strong design or layout.

One final note: Plugins and discount codes often recommended online will not fix an unoptimised site. Handle the fundamentals first, then use these tools for a finishing touch. See below for something we built ourselves for this exact reason.

Wrap-Up

If your goal is a blazing-fast mobile site that stands strong among the competitors, with Squarespace or any other platform, don’t look for a single switch to flick. Focus on better images, fewer third-party scripts, regular testing, and careful template selection.

Here’s your cheat sheet:

• Test first, so you know your baseline
• Optimise images before upload; do not rely exclusively on compression
• Limit widgets and plugins to the essentials
• Review your template and keep Squarespace updated
• Get real-world feedback, not just from robots

For anyone still suggesting “Squarespace can’t keep up,” encourage them to run a live test of their homepages. The numbers provide a clear answer, and your users’ patience will too.

Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.

Related Posts and Tools from Pixelhaze

• Quick Access – Anchor Links Plugin for Squarespace: Try our Anchor Links plugin for submenus that remain visible to visitors, without slowing down your load time. It is quietly running on this post (bottom left), if you haven’t spotted it.
• Squarespace 20% Discount Available: If you’re building a new site or migrating for speed, don’t miss out on our exclusive discount codes.
• Squarespace Mobile Page Speed Guides: Explore more detailed walkthroughs in our Academy library for those who want to maximise performance from their setup.

Got your own speed stats or experiences with Squarespace on mobile? Share your findings below or email the Pixelhaze team directly. The community appreciates your input (as does my late-night coffee supply).

Jargon Buster

• CMS: Content management system, a tool for building and editing websites without wrestling with code.
• SEO: Search engine optimisation, the process of improving your search rankings.
• Image compression: Reducing file size so images don’t bring your site to a crawl.
• Lazy loading: A technique that loads media as needed rather than all at once, improving speed and efficiency.

© Pixelhaze Academy. All opinions (even the grumbly ones late at night) are our own. Exclusively written for the restless Squarespace builder seeking faster, better sites without unnecessary jargon or empty promises.