Squarespace Pros and Cons: What You Actually Need to Know

Squarespace has positioned itself as the go-to website builder for people who want beautiful sites without touching code. And to be fair, they deliver on that promise—their templates look genuinely polished out of the box.

But here's the thing: "pretty templates" doesn't tell you whether Squarespace will actually work for your business. After digging through real user experiences and testing the platform ourselves, here's the breakdown of what's actually good and what's going to frustrate you.

The Pros: Where Squarespace Actually Delivers

1. Templates That Actually Look Professional

Squarespace offers around 190 templates, and unlike some competitors, they're all genuinely well-designed. On version 7.1 (what you'll get if you sign up today), all sites share the same template family, meaning you get access to every design feature regardless of which template you start with.

The Fluid Engine editor lets you customize layouts with drag-and-drop functionality. It's not as flexible as something like Webflow, but for most small business owners, it hits the sweet spot between customization and ease of use.

2. All-in-One Platform

Squarespace bundles hosting, SSL certificates, and website management into one package. You're not juggling separate hosting bills, security plugins, or server maintenance. Every plan includes unlimited bandwidth and storage for files and images—though video hosting is capped at 30 minutes on the Basic plan.

They also offer built-in tools for email campaigns (starting at $7/month), scheduling through Acuity, and basic ecommerce. It's convenient if you want everything under one roof.

3. Solid Support

Squarespace offers 24/7 support via ticket system and live chat. In testing, their support team was responsive and helpful—they've even been known to record quick screencasts showing you exactly how to solve issues. The knowledge base is comprehensive enough that you can usually find answers without waiting.

4. Decent Blogging Features

If you're planning to blog, Squarespace's blogging tools are genuinely robust. You get multi-author functionality, post scheduling, AMP support, and a feature-rich commenting system. You can even host a podcast directly on the platform. For content-focused sites, this is a real strength.

5. Mobile-Responsive Out of the Box

Every template is designed to look good on mobile devices automatically. All templates have built-in responsive design that scales to fit different devices and screen sizes without extra work on your end.

The Cons: Where Squarespace Falls Short

1. Limited Third-Party Integrations

This is the big one. Squarespace only offers about 45 apps through their Extensions marketplace—and many are ecommerce or accounting focused. If you need to integrate a specific email marketing provider (besides Mailchimp), CRM, or marketing tool, you might be out of luck.

Want to add a Facebook pixel on the Basic plan? Can't do it. Need Zapier integration? That's locked to Core and above. For businesses that rely on a tech stack of connected tools, this is a dealbreaker.

2. Ecommerce Limitations for Serious Sellers

Squarespace's ecommerce features work fine for small stores, but they fall short for serious sellers. Key pain points include:

If ecommerce is your primary focus, platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce offer significantly more functionality. Squarespace works if you're selling a few products alongside services, but it's not built for product-first businesses.

3. No Custom CSS/JavaScript on Basic Plan

Want to go beyond Squarespace's standard visuals? On the Basic plan at $16/month (annually), you can't add custom CSS or JavaScript. That means no advanced design tweaks, no custom tracking pixels, and no adding your own features through code.

You need the Core plan at $23/month or higher to unlock code injection. For comparison, competitors like Shopify and BigCommerce give you full access to CSS and HTML on all plans.

4. Can't Switch Templates on 7.1

Here's something that catches people off guard: on Squarespace 7.1, you can't switch templates after you've started building. All 7.1 templates share the same underlying system, so technically you're not "locked in," but if you want a completely different look, you might need to rebuild significant portions of your site.

5. SEO Has Some Quirks

Squarespace offers basic SEO features—customizable page titles, meta descriptions, alt tags, and Google Analytics integration. But there are known issues:

For basic SEO, Squarespace is fine. For advanced optimization, you'll hit walls. WordPress with proper SEO plugins will always give you more control.

6. No Backup Feature

Squarespace doesn't provide a backup feature beyond exporting product and blog data. If something goes wrong with your site, there's no easy restore button. Competitors like Wix offer more robust backup solutions.

7. Pricing Climbs Quickly

The Basic plan at $16/month (annual) looks reasonable, but it's missing key features. Most businesses need at least Core at $23/month. The Advanced plan jumps to $99/month annually—or $139/month-to-month.

Also worth noting: Squarespace previously honored your sign-up rate indefinitely, but they've since changed this policy. Be prepared for pricing increases at renewal.

Squarespace Pricing Breakdown

Here's what you're actually looking at (prices are for annual billing):

PlanMonthly Price (Annual)Key FeaturesTransaction Fees
Basic$16Unlimited pages, basic ecommerce, no code injection2% on store sales
Core$23Custom code, premium integrations, pop-ups, 5 hours video0% (5% on digital products)
Plus$39Customer accounts, advanced ecommerce0% (1% on digital products)
Advanced$99Abandoned cart, subscriptions, API access0%

Monthly billing adds roughly 30-40% to these prices. All annual plans include a free custom domain for the first year (renewals are typically $10-20/year).

For most small businesses, the Core plan is the sweet spot. It removes transaction fees on physical products and unlocks the integrations and customization options you'll actually need.

For detailed pricing analysis, check out our full Squarespace pricing breakdown and see if there's a Squarespace coupon available.

Who Should Use Squarespace

Squarespace makes sense for:

Who Should Skip Squarespace

Look elsewhere if you:

Squarespace vs. Alternatives

Not sure if Squarespace is right for you? Here's how it compares:

Looking for more options? Check out our roundup of the best website builders for small business or browse Squarespace alternatives.

The Bottom Line

Squarespace is a solid website builder for people who prioritize design and simplicity over flexibility and advanced features. The templates genuinely look professional, the all-in-one approach reduces headaches, and for the right use case, it's worth the price.

But it's not for everyone. If you need serious ecommerce, extensive integrations, or advanced SEO control, you'll bump into limitations quickly. The platform is modern and easy to use for beginners, but it can feel restrictive as your needs grow.

The 14-day free trial lets you test everything before committing. Start there, build out a few pages, and see if the limitations matter for your specific situation.

Try Squarespace Free for 14 Days →

Already tried Squarespace? Read our full Squarespace review from actual users, or check out the Squarespace tutorial to see if the platform fits your workflow.