I recently started using Squarespace and HubSpot, and I’m exploring how to handle forms on my site. I have two options to consider: embedding HubSpot forms directly into my Squarespace website or using the Squarespace form builder and linking it to HubSpot through Zapier.
I’d like to know which option is better regarding ease of use, reliability, and any potential advantages. Since I’m still getting accustomed to both platforms, I’d appreciate any insights.
Has anyone here experienced both methods? What are their benefits and drawbacks? Your advice would be greatly appreciated to help me set this up correctly.
I’ve used both setups with clients, and honestly? Start with Squarespace forms + Zapier if you’re new to this stuff. Way easier learning curve since you can build forms in Squarespace without fighting HubSpot’s form builder right off the bat. Plus the styling matches your site automatically - bigger deal for conversions than people think. Yeah, there’s a small delay transferring data, but unless you need instant follow-up automation, who cares? Zapier’s pretty solid once you set it up right, and the monthly tasks are enough for most small-medium sites. You can always switch to native HubSpot forms later when you know the platform better. This way you focus on getting good leads instead of getting stuck in technical headaches from day one.
I faced this same choice 8 months ago when building my consulting site. Tested both options extensively and stuck with native HubSpot forms. Here’s why. Yeah, HubSpot forms don’t always match Squarespace’s design perfectly, and that bugged me at first. But the trade-off’s worth it. You get instant contact creation, automatic lead scoring, and proper attribution tracking - no delays or sync failures. Squarespace forms look cleaner, so the Zapier route tempted me. But I hit sync delays during traffic spikes and bumped into Zapier’s task limits on the free plan. Plus troubleshooting gets messy with three platforms instead of two. Go with HubSpot’s native forms and spend time tweaking the CSS to match your site better. The reliability and direct integration beat the styling issues every time.
Budget matters too. Zapier gets pricey fast with decent traffic - hit 2000+ monthly tasks and learned that lesson. HubSpot’s native forms are free but styling sucks. I switched to HubSpot forms with custom CSS since I was sick of Zapier fees. Works great once you nail the code.