Squarespace Coupon Codes: Every Way to Save (Tested)
Looking for a Squarespace coupon code? Here's what actually works-and what's overpromised clickbait from other sites.
The short version: Use code GIMME10 at checkout for 10% off your first payment. If you're a student, you can get 50% off. If you're a web designer, the Circle program gets you 20% off. And if you're not in a rush, wait for Squarespace to run one of their periodic 20% off promotions.
Let's break down every discount option so you can pick the best one for your situation.
Working Squarespace Coupon Codes Right Now
Here are the promo codes that consistently work:
GIMME10 - 10% Off (Always Available)
This is Squarespace's standard promo code that's available year-round. It gives you 10% off your first payment on any plan-monthly or annual.
Important limitations:
- Only applies to your first payment (not recurring charges)
- Works on new subscriptions only-no luck if you're an existing customer
- Can be stacked with annual billing savings for maximum discount
To use it: During checkout on the Review Order page, you'll see an area to enter your promo code. Enter GIMME10, click apply, and the discount shows instantly.
Alternative codes like WBE10, SBR10, and WIRED10 also provide 10% off. These are affiliate-specific codes from website builder review sites, but they all provide the same 10% discount on your first purchase. Pick whichever one you come across first-the savings are identical.
20% Off Limited-Time Promotions
Squarespace regularly cycles through 20% off promotions that appear in the announcement bar on their pricing page. These aren't tied to specific promo codes that you can share-instead, the code is displayed directly on their site when active.
These promotions change frequently, sometimes every few weeks. If you visit Squarespace's pricing page and see a 20% off banner, grab that code immediately. The 20% discount is significantly better than the standard 10% GIMME10 code.
Pro tip: If you don't see a promotion when you visit, try checking back in a week or two. Squarespace seems to run these campaigns almost monthly, though the exact timing varies.
Squarespace Student Discount - 50% Off
This is hands-down the best Squarespace discount available. If you're a college or university student at an eligible school, you can get 50% off your first year on any annual plan.
How to get it:
- Check if your school is eligible on Squarespace's school search
- Sign up for Squarespace using your .edu email address
- Verify through Student Beans
- Select an annual plan and the discount applies automatically
The discount can save you anywhere from $72 to $228 depending on which plan you choose. After your first year, it reverts to full price.
NONPROFIT - 10% Off for Nonprofits
If you're running a nonprofit organization, enter the code NONPROFIT at checkout for 10% off your first payment. Same limitations as GIMME10-first payment only.
While Squarespace doesn't advertise this widely, the nonprofit code has been consistently available for organizations looking to establish an online presence on a budget.
Squarespace Student Discount: Complete Guide
The student discount deserves its own deep dive because it's genuinely the best deal Squarespace offers-50% off is massive savings that can make professional web design affordable for students building portfolios, personal brands, or side hustles.
Who Qualifies for the Student Discount?
To be eligible for Squarespace's 50% student discount, you must:
- Be currently enrolled as a full-time student at an eligible college or university
- Have a valid school email address (typically ending in .edu)
- Be able to verify your status through Student Beans
Important: High school students, part-time students, alumni, faculty, and staff do NOT qualify. This discount is exclusively for current full-time college and university students.
How Student Beans Verification Works
Squarespace partners with Student Beans, a third-party verification service, to confirm your student status. Here's the verification process:
- Visit the Student Beans website and create an account
- Provide your school email address
- Complete the verification process (this can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours)
- Once verified, you'll receive a unique discount code
Student Beans uses multiple verification methods. You might be asked to:
- Confirm via your school email
- Log in to your school's student portal
- Upload documentation like a student ID, enrollment letter, or transcript
The verification method depends on your school and what information Student Beans can access.
Student Discount Code Details
Your student discount code from Student Beans is:
- Single-use only-you can't share it with friends
- Valid until the end of the calendar year it was issued
- Renewable-you can get a new code every 12 months by re-verifying
- Only works on annual plans (monthly plans are not eligible)
If you accidentally subscribe without using your student discount code, don't panic. Squarespace offers retroactive discounts if you contact support within your first billing cycle. You'll need to provide your Student Beans code and explain the situation.
Calculating Your Student Savings
Let's break down exactly what you save with the student discount on each plan:
| Plan | Regular Annual Price | With 50% Student Discount | Your Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $192/year | $96/year | $96 |
| Core | $276/year | $138/year | $138 |
| Plus | $468/year | $234/year | $234 |
| Advanced | $1,188/year | $594/year | $594 |
For most students, the Core plan at $138 for the first year represents incredible value. You get full ecommerce capabilities, analytics, and all the tools you need to build a professional portfolio or side business.
What Happens After Year One?
After your first year with the student discount, your plan will auto-renew at full price. You'll pay the standard annual rate for whichever plan you selected.
However, if you're still a student when renewal time comes, you have options:
- Get a new student discount code from Student Beans (they refresh annually)
- Cancel your current subscription and create a new site with a fresh student code
- Contact Squarespace support to see if they can apply a new student code to your renewal
The third option isn't officially documented, but some users report success when reaching out to customer support before their renewal date.
Squarespace Circle Membership - Professional Designer Program
If you're a web designer or developer who builds Squarespace sites for clients, the Circle program is a no-brainer.
Requirements: You need to have contributed to at least three active Squarespace websites.
Benefits:
- 20% off new website subscriptions
- 6-month extended free trial (instead of 14 days)
- Priority customer support
- Referral commissions on subscription sales
- Access to members-only forum and exclusive content
The 20% discount alone makes this worthwhile if you're building multiple sites. And the 6-month trial is huge for client work-plenty of time to build and launch without rushing.
What is Squarespace Circle?
Squarespace Circle is a free partner program for professionals who use Squarespace to build websites for clients or manage multiple sites. It's designed to support designers, developers, and agencies with exclusive benefits, discounts, and resources.
The program operates on a tiered system with three membership levels based on your activity and contribution to the Squarespace community.
Circle Membership Tiers Explained
Circle Member (Standard)
This is the entry-level tier available once you've contributed to three active Squarespace sites.
Standard benefits include:
- 10% discount on new annual website subscriptions
- 3-month extended free trial for new websites
- Priority email support
- Access to exclusive content and weekly product updates
- Access to the Circle forum
- Circle webinar invitations
Circle Gold Partner
Gold status is earned through higher levels of activity and contribution to the Squarespace ecosystem.
Gold benefits include everything in the standard tier, plus:
- 20% discount on new annual subscriptions (double the standard discount)
- 6-month extended free trial
- Enhanced priority support
- Invitations to in-person Circle events
- Early access to new features and product betas
- Eligibility for Circle referral payments
Circle Platinum Partner
Platinum status is reserved for the most active and successful Squarespace professionals, typically agencies building dozens of sites annually.
Platinum benefits include everything in Gold, plus:
- 25% discount on new annual subscriptions
- 12-month extended free trial
- Dedicated account representative
- VIP support queue
- Priority access to Circle Day events
- Maximum visibility in the Squarespace Marketplace
How to Join Squarespace Circle
To become a Circle member, you need to:
- Create or significantly contribute to at least three active Squarespace websites
- Apply through the Squarespace Circle application page
- Provide examples of your work and Squarespace experience
- Wait for approval (typically takes 1-2 weeks)
Contribution can include being a contributor, administrator, or billing contact on client sites. You don't necessarily need to own all three sites-working on client projects counts.
Circle Referral Payments
Gold and Platinum Circle members can earn referral payments for bringing new clients to Squarespace through the Circle referral program.
Referral payment highlights:
- Earn commissions on qualifying new subscriptions you initiate
- Additional bonuses for clients who add Email Campaigns, Domains, and other services
- Payments range from $25-$200 depending on plan type and add-ons
- Must start the trial yourself to receive credit
- Payments processed monthly through the Impact partnership platform
For agencies building multiple sites per month, referral payments can add up to significant additional revenue on top of your design fees.
Should You Join Circle?
Join Circle if you:
- Build or manage at least 2-3 Squarespace sites per year
- Want extended trial periods for client work
- Need priority support for faster turnaround times
- Want to stay current on Squarespace updates and features
Even at the standard level, the 3-month trial and 10% discount provide immediate value. There's no cost to join, and the benefits increase as you build more sites.
Annual Billing Discount - Up to 36% Off
This isn't technically a coupon code, but it's the biggest automatic discount available. When you choose annual billing instead of monthly, you save significantly:
- Basic: $16/month (annual) vs $25/month (monthly) - 36% savings
- Core: $23/month (annual) vs $33/month (monthly) - 30% savings
- Plus: $39/month (annual) vs $56/month (monthly) - 30% savings
- Advanced: $99/month (annual) vs $139/month (monthly) - 28% savings
Annual plans also include a free custom domain for your first year, which typically costs $20-70 depending on the extension.
The smart play: Combine annual billing (up to 36% off) with a promo code like GIMME10 (10% off) for maximum first-year savings.
Why Annual Billing Saves More Than Just Money
Beyond the obvious cost savings, annual billing offers several advantages:
Free Domain Registration
Annual plans include a free custom domain for the first year. This includes:
- Standard .com, .org, .net domains (normally $20/year)
- Built-in WHOIS privacy protection
- Automatic DNS configuration
- Simplified domain management within Squarespace
Simplified Budgeting
One annual payment is easier to budget than 12 monthly charges. You know your exact website cost for the year upfront, making financial planning simpler for businesses.
No Monthly Payment Hassles
Eliminate the risk of failed monthly payments, expired credit cards, or accidental subscription lapses that could take your site offline at the worst possible moment.
Better ROI on Your Website Investment
When you commit to annual billing, you're more likely to fully invest in building and maintaining your site. Monthly billing can lead to try-and-quit behavior that prevents you from seeing real results.
Annual vs Monthly: When Monthly Makes Sense
While annual billing offers better value, monthly billing is appropriate for:
- Testing Squarespace for a short-term project or event
- Trying out higher-tier plans before committing
- Cash flow constraints that make large upfront payments difficult
- Seasonal businesses that only need a website during specific months
Important: Monthly plans don't include the free domain, so you'll need to factor in an additional $20+ for domain registration if you go monthly.
Limited-Time Promotional Discounts
Squarespace periodically runs promotional discounts beyond the standard 10% code. Here's what to watch for:
20% Off Promotions
Squarespace regularly runs 20% off promotions that appear in their announcement bar on the pricing page. These happen almost every month but change frequently. If you see one, jump on it-20% off is rare for Squarespace.
Recent example: In December, Squarespace ran a 20% off promotion with the code that brought prices down to:
- Basic: $12.80/month
- Core: $18.40/month
- Plus: $31.20/month
- Advanced: $79.20/month
These promotions typically last 2-4 weeks before being replaced by a different offer or reverting to the standard 10% code.
Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Historically, Squarespace has offered discounts of 20-30% during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, they don't always run special holiday promotions-some years the regular annual discount is the best you'll get.
If you can wait until November, it's worth checking. But don't hold your breath for anything dramatically better than their standard 20% off promotions.
Based on historical patterns, Black Friday deals have ranged from 20-30% off, but these aren't guaranteed every year. The takeaway: Black Friday might offer savings, but Squarespace's regular 20% promotions throughout the year are often equivalent.
Promotional Code Rotation Strategy
Some deal-savvy users have noticed that if you start a free trial but don't convert, Squarespace sometimes emails you a promotional code (often 20% off) to encourage you to subscribe.
This isn't guaranteed and seems to be part of automated marketing campaigns, but it's worth noting: if you're considering Squarespace but not ready to commit, starting a trial and waiting might result in a discount offer via email.
What Doesn't Work: Fake Coupon Codes Exposed
Let me save you some time. These coupons you'll find on deal sites are mostly garbage:
- 50% off codes (unless you're a student): Fake. The 50% discount is only available through the verified student program.
- 60% off codes: Complete fiction. I've never seen Squarespace go above 50% off, and that's only for students.
- Free plan codes: Squarespace doesn't have a free plan. Period. They have a 14-day free trial, but you can't unlock a permanent free tier with any code.
- Renewal discounts: Most Squarespace coupons only work for new customers on their first payment. Existing customers are largely out of luck.
The Coupon Site Problem
Coupon aggregation sites often list expired, fake, or misleading Squarespace codes. Here's why:
Outdated Codes
Many coupon sites don't regularly verify their codes. You'll find promotions from years ago that haven't worked in ages but remain listed to generate affiliate commission clicks.
Impossible Discounts
Headlines like 70% Off Squarespace drive clicks but link to standard 10% codes or annual billing discounts misrepresented as special deals.
Competitor Codes That Don't Work
Some sites claim you can use Wix or WordPress codes on Squarespace. This is false-each platform has its own unique promo code system.
Expired Seasonal Promotions
Last year's Black Friday code won't work this year, but many sites don't remove old seasonal codes from their listings.
How to Spot Fake Coupon Codes
Before wasting time trying codes you find online, check for these red flags:
- No date stamp on when the code was last verified
- Discount percentage higher than 50% (not available outside student discount)
- Codes that claim to combine multiple discounts (not possible-one code per order)
- Sites that require you to complete surveys or offers before revealing the code
- Codes promising lifetime free access or similar impossible claims
Stick with codes from official Squarespace pages, verified Circle members, or reputable review sites that actively test codes.
Squarespace Pricing Breakdown
Before you stress about finding the perfect coupon, here's what you're actually looking at cost-wise. Check out our full Squarespace pricing guide for more details.
| Plan | Monthly Billing | Annual Billing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $25/month | $16/month | Portfolios, blogs, simple sites |
| Core | $33/month | $23/month | Small businesses, basic ecommerce |
| Plus | $56/month | $39/month | Growing online stores |
| Advanced | $139/month | $99/month | High-volume ecommerce |
Key differences: The Core plan removes transaction fees on physical product sales and adds ecommerce analytics. The Plus plan adds customer accounts and checkout customization. Advanced gets you the lowest credit card processing rates.
For most small businesses, the Core plan at $23/month (annual) hits the sweet spot. See our Squarespace vs Wix and Squarespace vs WordPress comparisons if you're still deciding on a platform.
Understanding Transaction Fees by Plan
One often-overlooked aspect of Squarespace pricing is transaction fees, which vary dramatically by plan and product type:
Basic Plan Transaction Fees:
- Physical products: 2% transaction fee
- Digital products: 7% transaction fee
- Services and appointments: 2% transaction fee
Core Plan Transaction Fees:
- Physical products: 0% transaction fee
- Digital products: 5% transaction fee
- Services and appointments: 0% transaction fee
Plus Plan Transaction Fees:
- Physical products: 0% transaction fee
- Digital products: 1% transaction fee
- Services and appointments: 0% transaction fee
Advanced Plan Transaction Fees:
- Physical products: 0% transaction fee
- Digital products: 0% transaction fee
- Services and appointments: 0% transaction fee
Note: These are Squarespace's platform fees. Credit card processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) still apply on all plans.
When to Upgrade Plans: Break-Even Analysis
If you're currently on Basic and selling products, here's when upgrading to Core makes financial sense:
Annual billing: Core costs $7/month more than Basic. With Basic's 2% physical product fee, you break even at approximately $4,200/year in sales (roughly $350/month).
If you're selling $350+ per month in physical products, the Core plan saves you money despite the higher base price.
For digital products, the math is even more compelling. The 7% fee on Basic vs 5% on Core means you break even at much lower revenue levels.
Complete Feature Comparison by Plan
Understanding what you get at each pricing tier helps you choose the right plan:
Basic Plan Features:
- Unlimited pages and galleries
- Mobile-optimized website
- Free SSL security
- SEO features
- Limited CSS customization
- Unlimited bandwidth and storage
- Website metrics
- Sell unlimited products
- Accept donations
- 2 contributors
Core Plan Adds:
- Everything in Basic
- 0% transaction fee on physical products
- Professional email from Google
- Advanced website analytics
- $100 Google Ads credit
- Promotional pop-up
- Selling tools and checkout on your domain
- Customer accounts
- Point of Sale
- 3 contributors
Plus Plan Adds:
- Everything in Core
- Advanced ecommerce analytics
- Advanced merchandising tools
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Advanced discount options
- Subscription selling
- Gift cards
- Shipping labels
- Sell on Instagram
- Unlimited contributors
Advanced Plan Adds:
- Everything in Plus
- Advanced shipping
- Flexible discount combinations
- Automated sales tax
- Priority support
- Commerce API access
- Subscriptions in Member Areas
How to Apply a Squarespace Promo Code
- Start your free 14-day trial (no credit card required)
- Build your site and explore features
- When ready to subscribe, click to choose a plan
- Select annual or monthly billing
- On the Review Order page, look for the promo code field
- Enter your code (like GIMME10) and click Apply
- Verify the discount appears before completing checkout
If a code doesn't work, double-check you're a new customer (most codes don't work for existing accounts) and that the code hasn't expired.
Common Promo Code Problems and Solutions
Problem: This code is invalid or expired
Solutions:
- Verify you're entering the code exactly as shown (all caps usually required)
- Check the expiration date on promotional codes from Student Beans or time-limited offers
- Ensure you're applying the code to a new subscription, not a renewal
- Try an alternative code (GIMME10, WBE10, or SBR10 should all work)
Problem: This code cannot be combined with other offers
Squarespace only allows one promo code per transaction. If you've already applied annual billing (which is technically a discount), that's not the issue-annual savings apply automatically. However, you can't use two promo codes simultaneously.
Pick the single best code available: Student discount (50%) beats limited-time promotion (usually 20%) beats standard codes (10%)
Problem: Discount applies but shows wrong amount
Most codes only apply to your first payment, not the entire year. If you see a smaller-than-expected discount, check whether it's applying to just the first billing cycle.
For example, GIMME10 on an annual Core plan ($276/year) gives you $27.60 off, bringing your first year to $248.40.
Promo Code Stacking: What Actually Works
While Squarespace doesn't allow multiple promo codes, you can combine:
- Promo code (10-50% off) + Annual billing discount (up to 36% off)
- Promo code + Free domain (included with annual plans)
- Circle member discount + Client site benefits
What you CANNOT combine:
- Two promo codes (GIMME10 + student code won't work)
- Promo code + renewal discounts (renewals don't accept promo codes)
- Promo code on previous purchases or plan upgrades
Maximizing Your Squarespace Savings
Here's the strategy for getting the lowest possible price:
- Start with the 14-day free trial - No credit card needed. Build your entire site first.
- Choose annual billing - Locks in up to 36% savings
- Apply a promo code - GIMME10 for 10%, or watch for 20% promotions
- Claim your free domain - Included with annual plans
Example: On the Core plan, monthly billing costs $396/year. Annual billing brings that to $276. Add the GIMME10 code and you pay $248.40 for your first year. That's $147.60 in savings.
If you're a student, the math gets even better. 50% off the annual Core plan means you're paying just $138 for your first year.
Advanced Money-Saving Strategies
Strategy 1: Time Your Purchase
Monitor Squarespace's pricing page for a week or two before subscribing. Promotional codes rotate regularly, and waiting might land you a 20% code instead of the standard 10%.
Strategy 2: Start Multiple Trials
Squarespace allows you to run free trials on multiple site ideas. If you're testing different concepts, start trials for each. Once you decide which to pursue, you can let the others expire without cost.
This is especially useful if you're a Circle member, as your extended trial periods give you massive flexibility.
Strategy 3: Downgrade Strategically
If you start with a higher-tier plan but realize you don't need all the features, you can downgrade. Squarespace provides prorated refunds when you switch to a lower-tier plan mid-cycle.
Start with Core to test ecommerce features, then downgrade to Basic if you realize you're just blogging.
Strategy 4: Consider Domain Costs Long-Term
While Squarespace's free first-year domain is great, renewal costs ($20-70/year) can be higher than third-party registrars like Namecheap or Google Domains.
Consider registering your domain elsewhere and connecting it to Squarespace, especially if you're planning to use the site long-term. You maintain domain ownership independence while still using Squarespace for hosting.
Hidden Costs and Add-Ons to Consider
Beyond the base plan price, here are additional costs you might encounter:
Domain Renewal Fees
Your first year's domain is free with annual plans, but renewals vary:
- Standard .com/.org/.net: $20/year
- Premium extensions (.design, .store, .tech): $30-70/year
- Country-specific domains: Varies by country
Tip: Set a calendar reminder before your domain renewal date to shop around for better rates at other registrars if needed.
Email Marketing (Squarespace Email Campaigns)
Squarespace offers integrated email marketing starting at $7/month for up to 500 subscribers. Pricing tiers:
- Starter: $7/month (500 subscribers, 500 emails/month)
- Core: $12/month (1,000 subscribers, 5,000 emails/month)
- Pro: $24/month (10,000 subscribers, unlimited emails)
- Max: $68/month (50,000 subscribers, unlimited emails)
Alternative: Many businesses prefer connecting Squarespace to dedicated email platforms like AWeber or Lemlist for more advanced automation features.
Acuity Scheduling
For service-based businesses, Acuity Scheduling integrates with Squarespace for appointment booking:
- Emerging: $14/month (up to 4 appointment types)
- Growing: $23/month (unlimited appointment types)
- Powerhouse: $45/month (advanced features, multiple calendars)
Some Squarespace plans include basic scheduling, but Acuity provides much more robust features.
Squarespace Extensions
Third-party extensions add functionality but come with additional monthly fees:
- Inventory management tools: $10-50/month
- Advanced shipping calculators: $15-30/month
- Language translation tools: $10-25/month
- Product review systems: $5-20/month
Always check if the functionality you need is built into a higher Squarespace tier before paying for extensions.
Payment Processing Fees
Credit card processing fees aren't optional and vary by plan:
- Basic/Core: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Plus: 2.8% + $0.30 per transaction
- Advanced: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction
On $10,000 in annual sales, the difference between Basic and Advanced processing fees is $40/year-not huge, but worth considering at higher volumes.
Comparing Squarespace to Competitors: When to Choose What
Squarespace vs Wix
Wix offers a free plan (with ads and limited features) and more flexible design options, but Squarespace wins on:
- Template quality and professional aesthetics
- Cleaner, less cluttered interface
- Better built-in SEO structure
- Superior blogging features
Choose Wix if: You need maximum design flexibility and don't mind a steeper learning curve. Or if budget is extremely tight (Wix's free plan works for basic use).
Choose Squarespace if: You want professional results fast without design expertise, or you're a content creator/blogger who needs robust publishing tools.
See our complete Squarespace vs Wix comparison.
Squarespace vs WordPress
WordPress.org (self-hosted) offers unlimited flexibility and customization but requires:
- Separate hosting ($5-100+/month)
- Domain registration ($10-20/year)
- Security measures and updates (ongoing maintenance)
- Technical knowledge or developer costs
Total real cost of WordPress: $500-2,000+ per year when you factor in quality hosting, premium themes, essential plugins, and occasional developer help.
Choose WordPress if: You need complete control, plan to heavily customize, or want to own your entire infrastructure.
Choose Squarespace if: You want an all-in-one solution that just works without technical overhead or maintenance hassles.
See our detailed Squarespace vs WordPress comparison.
Squarespace vs Shopify
For serious ecommerce, Shopify is purpose-built for online stores with:
- More advanced inventory management
- Better multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, social media)
- Larger app ecosystem for ecommerce
- More scalable for high-volume sales
However, Squarespace beats Shopify for businesses that also need:
- Strong content marketing and blogging
- Beautiful image-heavy portfolios alongside a shop
- Service businesses with appointment booking
- Simpler interface for non-technical users
Choose Shopify if: Ecommerce is your primary business model and you're planning to scale to thousands of products or high transaction volumes.
Choose Squarespace if: You're a creative selling products alongside services, or you need a hybrid content plus commerce site.
Should You Wait for a Better Deal?
Honest answer: probably not.
Squarespace's pricing is pretty stable. The 10% off GIMME10 code is always available. The annual billing discount is always available. Occasional 20% promotions come and go.
If you see a 20% off deal, take it. Otherwise, don't wait months hoping for something better-the 10% code plus annual billing is a solid deal.
The exception: If Black Friday is less than a month away and you're not in a rush, it might be worth waiting to see if they run a special promotion.
The Cost of Waiting
Consider what delaying your website launch actually costs you:
- Missed sales opportunities if you're in ecommerce
- Lost freelance opportunities if you're building a portfolio
- Delayed brand building and SEO growth
- Extended use of inferior solutions
For most people, the difference between a 10% and 20% discount (about $2-5/month) pales in comparison to the value of having your professional website live and working for you now.
Squarespace Refund Policy: Know Before You Buy
Understanding refunds is crucial before committing to annual billing:
14-Day Refund Window
Squarespace offers full refunds on annual plans if you cancel within 14 days of purchase. This applies to:
- New annual subscriptions
- Upgrades to higher-tier plans
- Switches from monthly to annual billing
After 14 days, annual plans are non-refundable, though you can still cancel to prevent future renewal charges.
Monthly Plan Cancellation
Monthly plans are not refundable at all-you're charged for the current month, and canceling prevents future charges but doesn't refund the current billing cycle.
Prorated Credits When Changing Plans
If you change plans mid-cycle, Squarespace handles it as follows:
- Upgrading: You pay the prorated difference immediately and get access to new features
- Downgrading: You receive a prorated credit applied to your next billing cycle
This flexibility allows you to adjust your plan as your needs change without losing money.
Expert Tips from Web Designers
After building hundreds of Squarespace sites, here's what professional designers wish they'd known about pricing:
Tip 1: Always Start with Annual Billing
The free domain alone justifies annual billing. If you're at all serious about your website, monthly billing is false economy-you pay more and get less.
Tip 2: Core Plan is the Sweet Spot
For 95% of users, Core provides everything needed. Basic is too limited once you start growing, and Plus/Advanced are overkill until you're doing significant ecommerce volume.
Tip 3: Use Trial Period Fully
Don't rush to convert your trial. Use all 14 days to build your complete site. Only subscribe once everything's ready to launch.
This prevents paying for months while you're still in development.
Tip 4: Connect External Tools Before Upgrading
Test integrations with email marketing, CRM, and other essential tools during your free trial. Discovering incompatibilities after paying is frustrating.
Tip 5: Downgrade Later If Needed
If you're unsure between two plans, start with the higher tier. You can always downgrade and get prorated credit. Going up requires immediate payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple promo codes on one purchase?
No. Squarespace allows only one promo code per transaction. Choose the highest-value code available: student discount (50%) beats everything, then limited-time promotions (often 20%), then standard codes (10%).
Do promo codes work on domain registration?
Most Squarespace promo codes apply to website plans, not standalone domain purchases. However, the free domain included with annual plans is your best discount on domain costs.
Can existing customers use promo codes?
Generally no. Most promo codes explicitly state new customers only and won't work on renewals, upgrades, or existing subscriptions. Circle member discounts are the exception-they apply to new site subscriptions even if you're already a customer.
How often does Squarespace run 20% promotions?
Based on tracking, Squarespace runs 20% off promotions roughly every 4-6 weeks. They don't follow a predictable schedule, so check the pricing page regularly if you're waiting for one.
Will my promo code discount apply to renewals?
No. Promo codes apply only to your first payment. When your annual plan renews, you'll pay the full standard rate for your chosen plan.
Can I get a student discount if I graduated recently?
Officially, no. The student discount requires current enrollment. Some recent graduates within 6 months may still verify through Student Beans, but this isn't guaranteed.
Is there a nonprofit discount beyond the 10% code?
The NONPROFIT code provides 10% off, matching the standard new customer discount. Squarespace doesn't currently offer deeper nonprofit discounts.
Can I transfer my discount to a different site?
No. Discounts apply to specific subscriptions and can't be transferred between sites. Each Squarespace site requires its own subscription and promo code application.
What happens if I cancel and resubscribe?
Squarespace's system tracks whether you've previously used new customer promo codes. Creating a new site after canceling doesn't make you eligible again for first-purchase discounts on the same account.
Do Black Friday discounts stack with annual billing?
Black Friday promotional codes work the same as other promo codes-they apply to your first payment and yes, you can combine them with annual billing savings for maximum discount.
Real User Cost Scenarios
Let's look at what Squarespace actually costs different types of users over time:
Scenario 1: Student Portfolio
Sarah is a design student building a portfolio to land internships.
- Year 1: Core plan with 50% student discount = $138
- Year 2: Full price Core plan = $276
- Year 3: Transitions to professional work, stays on Core = $276
Three-year total: $690
Average monthly cost: $19.17
Scenario 2: Small Business Owner
Mike runs a local consulting business and needs a professional web presence.
- Year 1: Core plan with GIMME10 code = $248.40
- Year 2-3: Standard Core plan = $276/year
- Added: Email Campaigns Starter = $84/year
Three-year total: $884.40
Average monthly cost: $24.57
Scenario 3: Growing Online Store
Jenny sells handmade jewelry and starts seeing traction.
- Year 1: Core plan with 20% promo = $220.80
- Year 2: Upgrades to Plus mid-year = approximately $400
- Year 3: Plus plan = $468
- Added: Email Campaigns Pro = $288/year (years 2-3)
Three-year total: $1,664.80
Average monthly cost: $46.24
But with $50,000 in sales by year 3, the 0% transaction fee on Plus saves her $500-1,000 compared to Basic plan fees.
Scenario 4: Circle Member Designer
Alex builds 5-10 client sites per year as a freelance designer.
- Achieves Gold Circle status
- 20% discount on all new client sites
- 6-month extended trials eliminate time pressure
- Referral payments earn $200-500/year additional income
Net impact: Client sites cost $220.80/year (Core with 20% off), and referral income offsets personal site costs entirely.
Understanding Squarespace's All-In-One Value
When comparing Squarespace pricing to competitors, consider what's included in every plan:
Built-In Features That Cost Extra Elsewhere
Web Hosting
Squarespace includes unlimited bandwidth and storage. With traditional hosting, you'd pay $5-50/month for equivalent service.
SSL Security Certificate
Free SSL encryption on all sites. Purchasing separately costs $50-200/year.
Mobile Optimization
All templates are mobile-responsive. Custom responsive development costs $500-2,000.
CDN (Content Delivery Network)
Fast global loading through integrated CDN. Standalone CDN services cost $10-100/month.
DDoS Protection
Built-in security against attacks. Enterprise DDoS protection costs $50-500/month.
Automatic Updates
No manual security patches or software updates needed. Maintenance services cost $50-200/month.
Customer Support
24/7 email support included (chat and priority options on higher tiers). Technical support retainers cost $100-500/month.
Total Cost of Ownership Comparison
Squarespace Core Plan Annual Cost: $276/year
DIY WordPress Equivalent Cost:
- Quality hosting: $120/year
- Domain: $20/year
- Premium theme: $60/year
- Essential plugins: $100/year
- SSL certificate: Included with hosting
- Security plugin: $50/year
- Backup solution: $60/year
- CDN service: $100/year
WordPress Total: $510/year minimum (not including time spent on maintenance, updates, troubleshooting, or occasional developer help)
The Squarespace premium makes sense when you value simplicity, support, and time savings.
When to Choose Each Squarespace Plan
Choose Basic Plan If:
- You're building a simple portfolio or personal blog
- You won't be selling products or services
- Budget is extremely limited
- You don't need ecommerce features
- You're testing Squarespace before committing to higher tiers
Best for: Photographers, artists, writers, personal brands, hobby blogs
Choose Core Plan If:
- You want to sell products without transaction fees
- You need professional email through Google Workspace
- You want access to analytics and customer data
- You're running a small business or side hustle
- You need point-of-sale functionality
Best for: Small businesses, service providers, consultants, coaches, small online stores (under 100 transactions/month)
Choose Plus Plan If:
- Your online store is growing beyond 100 transactions/month
- You want abandoned cart recovery to reduce lost sales
- You need customer account functionality
- You're selling subscriptions or recurring products
- You want to sell on Instagram
Best for: Established online stores, subscription businesses, digital product sellers, growing ecommerce brands
Choose Advanced Plan If:
- You process thousands of transactions monthly
- Lower credit card processing rates (2.5% vs 2.9%) justify the cost
- You need advanced shipping automation
- You require Commerce API access for custom integrations
- You want priority support for mission-critical operations
Best for: High-volume ecommerce stores, enterprises, agencies managing multiple storefronts
Squarespace for Different Business Types
For Freelancers and Consultants
Recommended plan: Core ($23/month annual)
Key features you'll use:
- Professional portfolio galleries
- Contact forms and lead capture
- Blog for content marketing
- Basic scheduling and booking
- Service sales without transaction fees
Additional tools to integrate:
- Close CRM for managing client relationships
- AWeber for email newsletters
- Calendly or Acuity for appointment scheduling
For Online Stores
Recommended plan: Core for starting, Plus for scaling
Start with Core if:
- You're just launching your store
- You have fewer than 50 products
- Monthly sales are under $5,000
Upgrade to Plus when:
- Sales exceed $5,000/month consistently
- You need abandoned cart recovery
- Customer accounts become important
- You're selling subscriptions
Additional tools to integrate:
- ShipStation for advanced shipping
- QuickBooks for accounting
- Lemlist for customer reactivation campaigns
For Content Creators and Bloggers
Recommended plan: Basic ($16/month annual) or Core if monetizing
Key features you'll use:
- Unlimited blog posts and pages
- Beautiful image galleries
- Built-in SEO tools
- Social media integration
- Email capture forms
Additional tools to integrate:
- Tweet Hunter for Twitter growth
- Taplio for LinkedIn content
- AWeber for building your email list
For Service-Based Businesses
Recommended plan: Core ($23/month annual)
Key features you'll use:
- Service pages with detailed descriptions
- Appointment booking and scheduling
- Customer testimonials and reviews
- Payment processing for deposits
- Lead capture and contact forms
Additional tools to integrate:
- Acuity Scheduling for advanced booking
- Close CRM for client management
- SmartLead for automated follow-ups
Ready to Build Your Site?
Start your Squarespace free trial to test everything out. You've got 14 days to build your site before deciding on a plan, and you can apply your coupon code when you're ready to pay.
For more Squarespace resources, check out our Squarespace tutorial, Squarespace reviews, and Squarespace alternatives if you want to compare options.
Additional B2B Tools to Grow Your Business
Once your Squarespace site is live, consider these tools to scale your business operations:
Email Marketing and Outreach
Your website needs an email strategy. Consider:
- AWeber - Reliable email marketing with excellent deliverability
- Lemlist - Personalized cold email outreach at scale
- SmartLead - AI-powered email warmup and deliverability
- Instantly - Unlimited email accounts for outbound campaigns
Lead Generation and Data
Find and connect with potential customers:
- Findymail - Email finding and verification tool
- Clay - Enrich lead data and automate outreach
- RocketReach - Contact database for decision-makers
- Lusha - B2B contact information and prospecting
CRM and Sales Tools
Manage customer relationships effectively:
- Close - CRM built for startups and small sales teams
- Monday.com - Project management and CRM hybrid
- Capsule - Simple CRM for small businesses
Social Media Management
Promote your new website across channels:
- Tweet Hunter - Twitter/X content and growth tool
- Taplio - LinkedIn personal branding and content
Design and Content Creation
Create professional visuals and videos:
- Canva - Graphic design for social media and marketing
- Screen Studio - Beautiful screen recordings for demos
- Descript - Video editing with AI transcription
Final Thoughts: Making Your Decision
Squarespace pricing is straightforward compared to most platforms. Here's your action plan:
- Determine if you qualify for the student discount (50% off) - this beats everything
- If not, start your free trial and watch for 20% promotions during your trial period
- Minimum: Use GIMME10 for 10% off your first payment
- Always choose annual billing for maximum savings and the free domain
- Pick Core plan for most use cases-it's the best value
Stop overthinking it. The difference between various coupon codes is usually $20-30 for your first year. Your website's ability to generate value (sales, leads, opportunities) will vastly exceed the small savings difference between discount codes.
The best time to start your Squarespace site was months ago. The second best time is today.
Remember: Every day without a professional website is a day your competitors are building their online presence, ranking in search engines, and connecting with your potential customers. A few dollars in discount hunting isn't worth weeks of delay.
Use GIMME10, choose annual billing, pick the Core plan, and get building. Your business will thank you.