Is Squarespace Worth It? An Honest Look at the Costs, Limitations, and When It Actually Makes Sense

Squarespace runs a lot of podcast ads and Super Bowl commercials, which is great for brand awareness but doesn't really answer the question: should you actually use it for your business?

I've spent time in the platform and researched how it stacks up. Here's the real answer: Squarespace is worth it for small businesses, creatives, and service providers who want a polished website without hiring a developer—but it's not the right choice for everyone.

Let me break down exactly when Squarespace makes sense, when it doesn't, and what you'll actually pay.

Squarespace Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

Squarespace recently rolled out a new four-tier pricing structure. Here's what the plans cost on annual billing (you'll save 25-40% versus monthly):

If you pay monthly, expect to shell out $25, $36, $56, or $139 respectively. The annual discount is significant enough that I'd recommend committing to a year if you're serious about using the platform.

Hidden costs to factor in:

For a detailed breakdown of all the numbers, check out our Squarespace pricing guide and total cost analysis.

What Squarespace Actually Does Well

Let's start with where Squarespace genuinely shines:

Templates That Don't Look Like Templates

Squarespace offers over 180 templates, and they're genuinely well-designed. Unlike some competitors where templates feel dated or generic, Squarespace templates look modern and professional out of the box. For creatives, photographers, and service businesses, this is a huge selling point.

The Fluid Engine editor lets you drag and drop elements while keeping designs clean. It's not as freeform as Wix (which lets you place elements anywhere), but that constraint actually helps beginners avoid making design disasters.

All-In-One Hosting and Security

One thing Squarespace handles well is the technical stuff you don't want to think about. Hosting is included, SSL certificates are automatic, and the platform monitors your site 24/7 with automatic backups. You're not juggling separate hosting accounts, security plugins, or update schedules.

For business owners who want to focus on their actual business instead of website maintenance, this is genuinely valuable.

Solid Blogging Capabilities

Squarespace is actually one of the few website builders that can compete with WordPress on blogging features. You get post scheduling, multiple authors, categories and tags, and even podcast hosting with RSS feeds for iTunes syndication. If content marketing is part of your strategy, Squarespace can handle it.

Built-In Ecommerce (That Actually Works)

You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, gift cards, and memberships on any Squarespace plan. The Core plan and above removes transaction fees and adds ecommerce analytics. The checkout experience is clean and professional.

If you're comparing Squarespace to dedicated ecommerce platforms, check out our Squarespace vs Shopify comparison.

Where Squarespace Falls Short

Now for the honest part—where Squarespace will frustrate you:

Limited Customization (Really)

Squarespace templates look great, but you're working within predefined structures. If you have a specific design vision that doesn't fit their templates, you're going to struggle. CSS and JavaScript editing is available on Core plans and above, but even then you're limited compared to platforms like WordPress or Webflow.

One common complaint: "it's hard to make Squarespace websites not look like a Squarespace website." That sameness can be a problem if brand differentiation matters to you.

No Autosave (Seriously)

This one drives people crazy. Squarespace doesn't automatically save your changes. If your browser crashes, your laptop dies, or you accidentally close a tab, you could lose hours of work. You have to manually save constantly. It's an annoying oversight for a platform at this price point.

Limited Third-Party Integrations

Squarespace Extensions only offers about 45 apps—many focused on ecommerce and accounting. If you want to integrate email marketing tools beyond Mailchimp, specific CRM systems, or other business tools, you may hit a wall. Competitors like Wix have much larger app marketplaces.

Basic Plan Restrictions Are Harsh

On the $16/month Basic plan, you can't use custom CSS or JavaScript, can't access key integrations like Zapier, ChowNow, or OpenTable, can't add a Facebook pixel, and can't use promotional pop-ups or announcement bars. That's a lot of marketing functionality locked behind the Core plan.

Navigation Is Too Simple for Complex Sites

Squarespace only supports two levels of navigation. If you need a complex site structure with deep menus—say, a large resource library or multi-department business—this is a dealbreaker. The platform is designed for "flat" sites with simple navigation.

No Version History

Unlike WordPress and Wix, Squarespace doesn't keep a history of changes to your website. If you accidentally delete a page or make a mistake, you can't restore a previous version. This is particularly risky if you have multiple team members editing the site.

Mixed SEO Performance

Squarespace includes basic SEO tools—meta titles, descriptions, alt text, 301 redirects—but it lacks advanced SEO capabilities. There's no native keyword research tools, limited control over page speed, and sometimes Google indexes internal "ugly" URLs before your real domain gets priority. It's adequate for basic SEO but serious content marketers may find it limiting.

For more platform comparisons, see our Squarespace vs WordPress, Squarespace vs Wix, and Squarespace vs Webflow guides.

Who Should Use Squarespace

Squarespace is a good fit if you're:

Who Should NOT Use Squarespace

Look elsewhere if you're:

The Bottom Line: Is Squarespace Worth $192-$1,188 Per Year?

For the right user, yes. Squarespace earns its price tag if you value design quality, don't want to deal with hosting and security headaches, and need a professional-looking site quickly.

The Core plan at $23/month ($276/year) hits the sweet spot for most small businesses. You get zero transaction fees on products, access to marketing tools like pop-ups and announcement bars, custom code injection, and premium integrations. It's more than basic but not overkill.

Skip the Plus and Advanced plans unless you're doing serious ecommerce volume—the main difference is reduced card processing rates, which only pay off at higher sales volumes.

If you're still on the fence, Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial. Build your site, test the editor, and see if the limitations bother you before committing.

Try Squarespace free for 14 days →

You can also save with a Squarespace coupon code or check free trial details before committing.

Looking for alternatives? Our best website builders for small business and Squarespace alternatives guides cover your other options.