Is Squarespace Legit? The Honest Truth About This Website Builder

Short answer: Yes, Squarespace is a legitimate company. It's been around since 2003, has over 4 million subscriptions, went public on the NYSE in 2021, and was acquired by private equity firm Permira for $7.2 billion in 2024. This isn't some fly-by-night operation.

But "legit" doesn't mean "perfect." There are real issues with Squarespace you should know about before handing over your credit card. Let me break down exactly what you're getting into.

Squarespace Company Background

Anthony Casalena founded Squarespace in 2003 while he was a student at the University of Maryland. He built it in his dorm room with a $30,000 investment from his father and ran the company solo until it hit $1 million in revenue in 2006.

Since then, it's grown to over 1,760 employees. The company has raised $591 million in funding and generates over $1 billion in annual revenue. These aren't the numbers of a scam operation—this is a real, substantial business.

For context: Squarespace has celebrity endorsements from the likes of Zendaya, Idris Elba, and Keanu Reeves. They've run Super Bowl ads. They've acquired other legitimate companies like Acuity Scheduling and Tock (a hospitality management platform they bought for $400+ million).

What Squarespace Actually Does Well

Let's give credit where it's due. Squarespace has some genuine strengths:

Templates That Actually Look Professional

Squarespace offers 180+ templates, and they're legitimately beautiful. Multiple review sites rate Squarespace as having the best-looking templates in the industry. If you're a photographer, artist, designer, or anyone in a visual field, Squarespace templates will make you look good without hiring a designer.

All-In-One Platform

Everything's included in your subscription: hosting, SSL security, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited storage. You don't have to piece together hosting, plugins, and a CMS like you would with WordPress.

Solid for Blogging

Squarespace is one of the few website builders that can actually compete with WordPress on blogging features. If you're starting a content-focused site, it's a legitimate option.

Decent E-Commerce

You can sell products on any plan now (this is new). The platform integrates with Stripe and PayPal, offers customer accounts, gift cards, and abandoned cart recovery on higher-tier plans.

The Real Problems With Squarespace

Here's where things get less rosy. These are the issues that show up consistently across user reviews:

Customer Support Is a Sore Spot

Squarespace has no phone support. Period. You get email and live chat (during limited hours). The BBB has logged over 100 complaints against Squarespace in the last three years, and a significant portion are about support issues.

On Trustpilot, Squarespace has a 2.9 out of 5 rating with over 2,000 reviews. Common complaints include:

The BBB gives Squarespace an A+ rating, but they're also not BBB accredited—which means they haven't agreed to BBB's standards or vetting process.

The Learning Curve Is Real

Multiple reviewers note that Squarespace isn't as intuitive as it looks. The editor can feel slow, requiring too many clicks for simple actions. The Fluid Engine (their drag-and-drop editor) requires you to style desktop and mobile versions separately, which trips up a lot of users.

One reviewer described it well: "Squarespace can have a learning curve. Occasionally you'll have to discover the 'Squarespace way' of doing something."

Limited Third-Party Integrations

Squarespace only offers about 49 "Extensions" (their version of apps/plugins). Compare that to Wix or WordPress, where you have thousands of options. If you need specific marketing tools beyond Mailchimp, or want advanced forum features, you'll hit walls fast.

Pricing Gets Expensive Quick

The entry price looks reasonable, but the moment you need more features, costs jump. The Advanced plan runs $99/month (billed annually) or $139/month if you pay monthly. That's not cheap for a website builder.

Current Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace rolled out new pricing plans in early 2025. Here's what you're looking at (all prices billed annually):

Monthly billing is more expensive—you'll pay anywhere from 28% to 36% more compared to annual billing.

Additional costs to watch for:

For a deeper dive into what you'll actually pay, check out our Squarespace pricing breakdown and grab a Squarespace coupon while you're at it.

Who Should Actually Use Squarespace

Squarespace makes sense for:

Squarespace is NOT ideal for:

Squarespace vs. Alternatives

If you're still on the fence, here's how Squarespace stacks up:

Looking for other options entirely? Check out our list of Squarespace alternatives.

The Bottom Line: Is Squarespace Legit?

Yes, Squarespace is 100% legitimate. It's a real company with a 20+ year track record, billions in valuation, and millions of users. You're not going to get scammed.

But "legit" doesn't mean "right for you." The platform has real weaknesses—especially around customer support, limited integrations, and pricing that escalates quickly. The Google Domains migration has created headaches for many users who didn't choose Squarespace but ended up there anyway.

If you value beautiful design, want an all-in-one solution, and can live without phone support, Squarespace is a solid choice. Use the 14-day free trial to build your site before committing—no credit card required.

Try Squarespace's 14-day free trial →

Just go in with realistic expectations. Read our full Squarespace reviews and Squarespace tutorial before you commit. And if you're not ready for a paid plan, explore our guide to free website builder software to see what else is out there.