Squarespace Reviews: An Honest Look at What Works and What Doesn't

Squarespace has built its reputation on gorgeous templates and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Keanu Reeves and Zendaya. But does the product live up to the marketing?

After digging through thousands of user reviews, testing the platform ourselves, and analyzing what actual business owners say, here's our take on whether Squarespace is right for you.

Quick Verdict: Who Should Use Squarespace?

Squarespace is best for: Creative professionals, portfolios, small service businesses, bloggers, photographers, and anyone who prioritizes design over advanced customization.

Skip Squarespace if: You need a large-scale ecommerce operation, require extensive third-party integrations, or want granular control over every aspect of your site.

Try Squarespace Free for 14 Days →

Squarespace Pricing Breakdown

Squarespace rolled out a new four-plan pricing model in early 2026, replacing the old Personal, Business, and Commerce plans with Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced tiers. Here's what you'll actually pay:

Understanding Squarespace Transaction Fees

A few important notes on pricing:

• Transaction fees on Basic: The Basic plan charges a 2% fee on all online store sales and 7% on digital products. If you make $3,200 annually through your online store, upgrading to Core could save you money by eliminating these fees.
• Payment processing: With Squarespace Payments (powered by Stripe), you'll pay card processing fees of 2.5% + 30¢ to 2.9% + 30¢ depending on your plan. The Advanced plan offers the lowest rates at 2.5% + 30¢.
• Digital products: Selling courses, memberships, or digital downloads incurs additional transaction fees of 1-7% unless you're on the Advanced plan, which removes all transaction fees on digital content and memberships.
• Free domain: All annual plans include a free custom domain for the first year. After that, expect to pay $20-$70/year depending on the extension (.com domains typically renew at $20/year, while specialty domains like .store or .design can cost $30-$70+).

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Basic ($16/month): Perfect for hobbyists, bloggers, or simple portfolios. You get unlimited bandwidth and storage, 30 minutes of video storage, and SSL security. However, if you're selling products, the 2% transaction fee adds up quickly.

Core ($23/month): The sweet spot for most users. This plan removes transaction fees on physical goods, adds advanced analytics, unlimited contributors, and custom code injection. If you're running a small business or selling products, this is your minimum starting point.

Plus ($39/month): Designed for growing online stores. You get customer accounts, checkout on your domain, promotional pop-ups and banners, and lower card processing fees. Ideal if you're processing multiple orders daily and need abandoned cart recovery.

Advanced ($99/month): For serious ecommerce operations. Includes abandoned cart recovery, subscriptions, advanced shipping options with real-time carrier rates, API access, unlimited video storage, and zero transaction fees on all products including digital goods and memberships.

For a deeper dive into costs, check out our Squarespace pricing guide and Squarespace cost breakdown.

Squarespace Blueprint AI: Build Your Site in Minutes

One of Squarespace's most significant recent innovations is Blueprint AI, their proprietary AI-powered website builder. Unlike traditional template selection, Blueprint AI creates a custom website tailored specifically to your brand through an interactive guided process.

How Blueprint AI Works

Blueprint AI asks you a series of questions about your business, goals, and aesthetic preferences, then generates a complete website in minutes. The process includes:

1. Site title and brand personality: Choose from seven brand personalities (Professional, Playful, Sophisticated, Friendly, Bold, Quirky, or Innovative) that affect colors, fonts, and content tone.
2. Homepage sections: Select from recommended sections like featured content, products, social media, contact forms, and testimonials.
3. Additional pages: Add pages like About, Services, Contact, or Blog based on your needs.
4. Color palette: Choose from professionally curated color palettes matched to your brand personality.
5. Font selection: Pick from expertly paired font combinations that complement your chosen aesthetic.

The result is a fully populated website with AI-generated text and curated imagery that you can customize using Squarespace's Fluid Engine editor.

Blueprint AI vs. Traditional Templates

Blueprint AI is excellent if you want a customized website right from the start with tailored design suggestions and pre-filled content. Traditional templates work better if you have a very specific vision and find a template that perfectly matches your style.

Both approaches give you access to the same powerful editing tools once your site is created, so you're not locked into your initial choice.

What Users Actually Like About Squarespace

Templates That Don't Look Like Templates

This is Squarespace's bread and butter. The platform currently offers 194 templates in version 7.1 (and around 110 legacy templates in version 7.0), all professionally designed and grouped into categories like photography, entertainment, restaurants, and ecommerce.

The key advantage of Squarespace 7.1 templates is that they all share the same underlying system. Unlike older 7.0 templates with locked structures, any 7.1 template can be completely customized to look like any other. Your starting template is essentially a design suggestion, not a permanent commitment.

With version 7.1, you can extensively customize templates using the Fluid Engine editor-a drag-and-drop system that gives you precise control over layouts. The templates are minimalistic, mobile-optimized, and genuinely look high-end right out of the box.

The catch? You need to style desktop and mobile versions separately, which adds some complexity. But the trade-off is worth it for the level of control you get.

Easy for Beginners

Multiple reviewers and testing teams consistently rank Squarespace as one of the easiest website builders to use. The onboarding process asks about your goals before template selection, and the interface is intuitive enough that most people can build a decent site in an afternoon.

The Fluid Engine editor lets you place elements exactly where you want them with pixel-perfect precision, yet it's simple enough for beginners to grasp quickly. There's no coding required, though advanced users can inject custom CSS, JavaScript, and HTML on Core plans and above.

Squarespace also offers extensive documentation, video tutorials, webinars, and a community forum where users share tips and solutions.

Built-in Booking System (Acuity Scheduling)

Squarespace acquired Acuity Scheduling in 2019, and the integration is seamless. The booking and scheduling features are genuinely robust-you can create customized booking pages, set availability for different staff across multiple locations, send automated reminders, create invoices, accept payments, and sync with Google Calendar or Outlook.

The system supports various appointment types, buffer times between bookings, intake forms for new clients, and even package and membership options. For service businesses like salons, consultants, fitness studios, therapists, and restaurants, this alone might justify choosing Squarespace over competitors.

Acuity starts at $14/month as a standalone product, but it's included free with some Squarespace plans, making it an exceptional value.

All-in-One Reliability

Unlike WordPress, you don't need to juggle separate hosting, plugins, security updates, or backups. Squarespace handles hosting, SSL certificates, security patches, and maintenance automatically. Your site runs on Squarespace's infrastructure, which includes:

• Unlimited bandwidth and storage (except video storage, which varies by plan)
• Automatic SSL certificates for secure HTTPS connections
• Free hosting with every plan
• 99.9%+ uptime reliability
• Automatic backups and version history
• DDoS protection and security monitoring

For people who don't want to think about the technical side of running a website, this simplicity has real value. You can focus on your content and business rather than server configuration or plugin compatibility issues.

Strong SEO Fundamentals

Squarespace includes built-in SEO features that cover the basics well:

• Automatic sitemaps that update as you add content
• Clean, crawlable HTML structure
• Mobile-responsive designs (crucial for Google rankings)
• Fast page loading with optimized image delivery
• Customizable page titles, meta descriptions, and URL slugs
• Alt text fields for images
• 301 redirects for changed URLs
• AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) support for blog posts
• Integration with Google Search Console

While Squarespace doesn't have advanced SEO plugins like WordPress's Yoast or Rank Math, the platform handles the technical SEO foundation automatically. You won't need to worry about broken links, duplicate content issues, or mobile optimization-it's built into the system.

Integrated Email Marketing

Squarespace Email Campaigns lets you design beautiful newsletters that match your website's aesthetic. The email builder uses the same design system as your website, ensuring brand consistency.

Pricing starts at $5/month for up to 500 subscribers, scaling up to $68/month for larger lists. Features include:

• Drag-and-drop email editor
• Mobile-responsive templates
• Automatic contact syncing from your website
• Detailed analytics (open rates, click rates, conversions)
• Abandoned cart emails for ecommerce stores
• A/B testing capabilities
• Automation workflows

While not as feature-rich as dedicated platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit, the tight integration with your Squarespace site makes it a convenient option for businesses just starting with email marketing.

What Squarespace Gets Wrong

Limited Ecommerce Features

Here's where Squarespace shows its weaknesses. If you're serious about ecommerce, the platform has some notable gaps:

• Limited payment gateways: Squarespace supports Squarespace Payments (powered by Stripe), PayPal, and Square. That's it. You can't use other payment processors like Authorize.net or integrate with regional payment methods popular in Europe (iDEAL, Bancontact, Mollie) or other international markets.
• No multi-currency display: While Squarespace supports 31 currencies, your store can only display one currency at a time. International customers won't see their local currency until checkout, creating confusion and increasing cart abandonment. Shopify handles this much better.
• Basic international features: There's no built-in support for multiple languages, making it difficult to create a truly international store without workarounds.
• Product limits: While version 7.1 supports up to 10,000 products per page (up from 200 in 7.0), the platform isn't optimized for stores with massive inventories. The search functionality is also limited-customers may struggle to find products in large catalogs.
• Limited shipping options: If you're based outside the US, you can't automatically calculate shipping rates at checkout using carrier rates. You must pre-calculate costs and add fixed amounts based on weight. US merchants have access to carrier-calculated shipping, but it uses full retail rates-you can't connect your discounted carrier rates.
• No advanced inventory management: Features like low-stock alerts, bulk editing, and inventory forecasting are minimal compared to dedicated ecommerce platforms.
• Basic POS: The point-of-sale functionality is available through the Square integration, but it's limited to the mobile app. You can't set up advanced retail hardware like Shopify allows.

For comparison, see our Squarespace vs Shopify breakdown.

Customer Support Issues

This is where things get ugly. Squarespace's average user rating on Trustpilot hovers around 3.0-3.8 out of 5 from over 2,000 reviews-and the low scores are heavily driven by customer support complaints.

No phone support: Squarespace explicitly doesn't offer phone support and has no plans to add it. Support is available only through email (24/7) and live chat (during business hours, typically Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM CET or Eastern Time depending on your region).

Common grievances include:

• Slow response times for complex issues (email responses can take 12+ hours)
• Domain migration problems, especially for users who came from Google Domains, which Squarespace acquired in 2023
• Difficulty getting help with custom code or advanced customization (officially unsupported)
• Limited support for third-party integrations
• Chat disconnections and long wait times during peak hours
• Frustrating experiences resolving billing or refund issues

The support team does sometimes record screencasts to walk you through solutions, which is a nice touch. And the comprehensive help center, video tutorials, and community forum provide self-service options. But if you need immediate help with a critical issue-say, your site goes down on a Friday evening-you may be frustrated.

Squarespace also doesn't provide support for:

• Custom code modifications (you'll need to hire a Squarespace Expert or post in the forum)
• SEO strategy advice (they'll help with technical implementation but not marketing tactics)
• Tax advice (consult a tax professional)
• Most third-party service issues

Limited Third-Party Integrations

Squarespace's philosophy is to rely on native tools rather than extensive third-party integrations. This ensures stability and simplicity but limits flexibility.

The platform integrates with some popular services like Mailchimp, Zapier, ShipStation, Printful, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and various social media platforms. Core plans and above unlock more integration options, but the ecosystem is nowhere near as open as WordPress or even Wix.

Custom code injection (for analytics pixels, chat widgets, tracking scripts) is only available on Core plans and above, which is frustrating if you want to add these tools on a Basic plan.

If your business depends on specific software integrations-say, a particular CRM, advanced marketing automation, or specialized tools-verify that Squarespace supports them before committing. The limited app ecosystem means you might hit walls that WordPress or Shopify users never encounter.

Site Speed Could Be Better

Some independent testing shows Squarespace sites load slower than competitors like Wix. The platform generally performs adequately, but it's not the fastest option available.

For most small business sites with modest traffic, this won't be noticeable. But if you're building a large site, prioritizing SEO (where page speed is a ranking factor), or expecting high traffic volumes, it's worth considering.

You have limited control over performance optimization. Unlike WordPress, where you can install caching plugins and fine-tune performance settings, Squarespace handles all optimization on their end. This is convenient but means you're at the mercy of their infrastructure.

Version 7.1 Can't Switch Templates

In older Squarespace 7.0, you could switch your template entirely if you wanted a different design. In 7.1, that option is gone because all templates use the same underlying system.

This isn't necessarily a limitation-since all 7.1 templates are equally customizable, you can redesign your site to look like any template. But it does require manual work rather than a one-click switch. If you're not comfortable with design, this could be frustrating.

Search Functionality Limitations

The built-in search feature is weak, particularly for ecommerce sites. Search results are poorly formatted, and visitors may struggle to find products in your store. If you need robust search and filtering, you'll need to purchase third-party plugins like Universal Filter from Squarewebsites.

Squarespace vs. The Competition

How does Squarespace stack up against alternatives?

Squarespace vs. Wix

Wix offers more creative freedom with its drag-and-drop editor, faster site speeds, a free plan (though limited), and a larger app market with thousands of add-ons. Squarespace has more polished, design-forward templates and stronger built-in ecommerce tools without needing apps.

For pure website building flexibility, Wix edges ahead. For aesthetic quality and professional design, Squarespace wins. If you value templates that look expensive right out of the box, go with Squarespace. If you want maximum customization freedom and don't mind a steeper learning curve, try Wix.

See our full Squarespace vs Wix comparison →

Squarespace vs. WordPress

WordPress offers unlimited customization, a massive plugin ecosystem (60,000+ plugins), and complete control over your site's code and hosting. But it requires more technical knowledge, ongoing maintenance, separate hosting costs, security management, and plugin updates.

Squarespace is the better choice if you want simplicity without sacrificing design quality. WordPress is better if you need ultimate flexibility, want full code access, or plan to build a highly custom site with specific functionality.

WordPress self-hosted (WordPress.org) is free software, but you'll pay for hosting ($3-100+/month), premium themes ($30-200), and plugins ($0-300+/year). Total cost can exceed Squarespace quickly, plus you need to factor in time spent on maintenance.

Full Squarespace vs WordPress breakdown here →

Squarespace vs. Shopify

For serious ecommerce, Shopify wins hands down. It's purpose-built for online stores with advanced features like multi-channel selling, extensive shipping options, thousands of ecommerce apps, support for unlimited product variants, abandoned cart recovery at lower tiers, and superior international selling capabilities.

Squarespace is better for content-first businesses that also sell some products on the side-think bloggers selling merchandise, photographers offering prints, consultants selling digital products, or service businesses with online booking.

Shopify starts at $29/month (Basic plan) and scales up to $299/month (Advanced). When you factor in apps and transaction fees, Shopify can get expensive quickly. Squarespace's all-in-one pricing is more predictable.

Detailed Squarespace vs Shopify comparison →

Squarespace vs. Webflow

Webflow offers more design control for web professionals and is closer to a visual development platform than a website builder. It has a steeper learning curve but provides incredible flexibility for custom designs.

Squarespace is easier for non-designers and non-developers. If you're a designer or developer who wants to build highly custom, code-like designs visually, Webflow is better. If you want beautiful results without the complexity, choose Squarespace.

Webflow's pricing structure is also more complex, with separate site plans and account plans. Squarespace's straightforward pricing is simpler to understand.

See the full Squarespace vs Webflow comparison →

Real User Feedback: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Here's what actual Squarespace users say across review platforms like Trustpilot, Reddit, and industry forums:

Positive Feedback Themes

• "Templates are beautiful and professional, making my business look legitimate immediately"
• "Easy enough for someone with no tech background-I built my site in a weekend"
• "The all-in-one approach saves time and eliminates the headache of managing hosting, security, and updates separately"
• "Scheduling tools are excellent for my service business, replacing Calendly and saving me money"
• "Customer support, when you do get through, is genuinely helpful and patient"
• "The blogging features are robust with multi-author support, categories, tags, and scheduling"
• "Mobile optimization happens automatically-I don't have to design two versions"
• "The email marketing integration makes newsletters easy without learning a new platform"

Negative Feedback Themes

• "Support takes forever to respond, and there's no phone option for urgent issues"
• "Domain migration from Google Domains was a nightmare-my site was down for days"
• "Can't customize as much as I expected-some design limitations are frustrating"
• "Ecommerce features are too basic for my growing store-had to migrate to Shopify"
• "The platform is expensive compared to Wix or WordPress with similar features"
• "Search functionality is terrible-customers can't find products in my store"
• "Site speed is slower than competitors, affecting my SEO rankings"
• "Limited payment gateway options-I can't use my preferred payment processor"
• "No multi-currency support makes international selling difficult"
• "Transaction fees on lower plans eat into profits quickly"

Common Complaints About Google Domains Migration

When Squarespace acquired Google Domains in 2023, many users experienced transition problems. Common issues included:

• Email configuration problems with Google Workspace accounts
• DNS propagation delays causing site downtime
• Confusion about domain renewal costs and processes
• Difficulty accessing domain settings during the transition period
• Support overwhelmed with migration-related tickets

If you were a Google Domains customer who was migrated to Squarespace, be aware that domain management works differently. Squarespace owns your domain, and you'll pay renewal fees through them. Make sure to mark domain renewal dates in your calendar-if you don't renew within 15 days of expiration, your site can go down and your email will stop working.

Squarespace Ecommerce: Deep Dive

Since ecommerce is a major use case for Squarespace, let's dive deeper into what you can and can't do.

What You Can Sell

Squarespace supports selling:

• Physical products: Unlimited products with variants (size, color, etc.), inventory tracking, and product photos
• Digital products: Downloadable files like ebooks, music, software, templates, or photos
• Services: Book appointments, consultations, or service packages through Acuity integration
• Subscriptions: Recurring payments for membership sites, subscription boxes, or ongoing services (Advanced plan only)
• Gift cards: Sell gift cards for your store
• Donations: Accept donations for nonprofits or fundraising campaigns
• Courses: Sell online courses with Squarespace Courses (additional fee)

Ecommerce Features by Plan

Basic Plan ($16/month):

• Sell unlimited products
• Accept donations
• Basic inventory management
• 2% transaction fee on physical goods
• 7% transaction fee on digital products
• Limited analytics

Core Plan ($23/month):

• All Basic features
• 0% transaction fee on physical goods
• 3% transaction fee on digital products and memberships
• Enhanced analytics (sales, traffic, conversions)
• Business integrations (Mailchimp, Zapier, social media)

Plus Plan ($39/month):

• All Core features
• 0% transaction fee on physical goods
• 1% transaction fee on digital products and memberships
• Customer accounts (order history, saved addresses)
• Checkout on your domain (not Squarespace's checkout page)
• Promotional pop-ups and banners
• Instagram product integration
• Point of Sale (POS) app
• Advanced ecommerce analytics

Advanced Plan ($99/month):

• All Plus features
• 0% transaction fee on everything (physical, digital, memberships)
• Abandoned cart recovery emails
• Advanced discount options
• Subscriptions support
• Real-time carrier shipping rates (US only)
• Advanced shipping rules
• API access
• Lowest card processing fees (2.5% + 30¢)
• Unlimited video storage
• Unlimited contributors

Abandoned Cart Recovery

One of the most valuable ecommerce features, abandoned cart recovery is only available on the Advanced plan ($99/month). This automatically sends emails to customers who add products to their cart but don't complete checkout.

For comparison, Shopify includes abandoned cart recovery starting at their $79/month plan. If this feature is critical to your business, factor it into your cost comparison.

Product Reviews

Squarespace includes a built-in product review system. When enabled, review requests are automatically emailed to customers two weeks after purchase. Reviews display on product pages and can help build trust and improve conversions.

Gift Cards

You can sell digital gift cards that customers can purchase and apply at checkout. This is a nice feature for holidays and special occasions.

Flexible Shipping Options

Squarespace supports various shipping options including flat rate, weight-based, price-based, free shipping, local pickup, and local delivery. You can configure "fulfillment profiles" for individual products or groups of products.

However, the shipping options are limited compared to Shopify, especially for international sellers. If you need complex shipping rules, regional carriers, or integration with fulfillment services, Squarespace may feel restrictive.

Integrations for Ecommerce

Squarespace integrates with several ecommerce services:

• Fulfillment: ShipStation, ShipBob
• Print-on-demand: Printful, Printify
• Payment processing: Stripe, PayPal, Square
• Shipping: USPS, UPS, FedEx (US only, retail rates)
• Marketing: Facebook, Instagram, Google, Mailchimp

Notable absences include AliExpress, Amazon Fulfillment, eBay integration, and most regional payment methods outside the US.

Squarespace for Specific Industries

Squarespace for Photographers

Squarespace excels for photographers thanks to:

• Stunning gallery layouts (grid, slideshow, carousel, masonry)
• Lightbox feature for full-screen image viewing
• Client proofing galleries where clients can select favorites
• Print sales integration
• Portfolio templates designed specifically for visual work
• High-resolution image support
• Watermarking options

Popular templates for photographers include Matsuya, Talva, and Montclaire.

Squarespace for Restaurants

Restaurants benefit from:

• Menu page templates with customizable layouts
• Reservation integration through OpenTable or Resy
• Online ordering capabilities (through third-party apps)
• Location pages with maps and hours
• Photo galleries to showcase dishes and ambiance

The Tantillo template is specifically designed for restaurants with menu displays and booking functionality.

Squarespace for Consultants and Coaches

Service-based professionals get:

• Acuity Scheduling for booking consultations
• Payment collection for services
• Client portal functionality
• Testimonial displays
• Blog for thought leadership content
• Email marketing to nurture leads
• Contact forms and intake questionnaires

Squarespace for Nonprofits

Nonprofits can leverage:

• Donation pages with recurring giving options
• Event pages with RSVP functionality
• Member Areas for supporter communities
• Email campaigns for fundraising appeals
• Impact stories through blog posts
• Volunteer sign-up forms

Squarespace offers discounted pricing for verified nonprofits, though it's not as generous as WordPress.org's free offering.

Squarespace for Bloggers

Blogging features include:

• Multi-author support with different permission levels
• Categories and tags for organization
• Scheduling posts for future publication
• RSS feeds for subscribers
• Comment management
• AMP support for mobile-optimized articles
• Social media auto-sharing
• Newsletter Block for building email lists
• Podcast hosting (audio player and RSS feed for podcast directories)

For serious bloggers who need advanced monetization options, WordPress might be better. But for bloggers who prioritize beautiful design and simplicity, Squarespace is excellent.

Squarespace for Artists and Creatives

Visual artists appreciate:

• Portfolio-focused templates
• Full-screen galleries
• E-commerce for selling artwork
• Commission request forms
• Exhibition/event listings
• Artist statement and bio sections

Squarespace for Podcasters

Podcasting features include:

• Audio player blocks for embedded episodes
• RSS feed generation for podcast directories
• Episode pages with show notes
• Transcript hosting
• Subscription options for premium content

While not as podcast-specific as platforms like Buzzsprout or Podbean, Squarespace can handle basic podcasting needs alongside your website.

Squarespace SEO: What You Need to Know

Squarespace handles technical SEO well, but there are limitations to understand.

What Squarespace Does Well for SEO

• Automatic XML sitemaps that update as you add content
• Clean, semantic HTML structure that search engines can crawl
• Mobile-responsive designs (mobile-friendliness is a ranking factor)
• Fast-enough page loading with CDN delivery
• SSL certificates included (HTTPS is a ranking signal)
• Customizable page titles and meta descriptions
• Alt text fields for all images
• Heading tag hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) properly structured
• 301 redirects for changed URLs
• AMP support for blog posts

SEO Limitations

• No built-in SEO scoring or recommendations (unlike Yoast or Rank Math)
• Limited schema markup compared to WordPress plugins
• Can't create custom XML sitemaps with priority settings
• No advanced breadcrumb customization
• Limited control over robots.txt
• Can't optimize for multiple languages easily

Third-Party SEO Tools

You can integrate Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, and Facebook Pixel. On Core plans and above, you can also inject custom code for advanced tracking tools.

For keyword research and rank tracking, you'll need external tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console-Squarespace doesn't have built-in keyword tools.

Who Squarespace is Perfect For

• Photographers and artists: The portfolio templates are unmatched, with stunning galleries and image-focused designs
• Service businesses: Acuity Scheduling makes booking consultations, appointments, and services a breeze
• Bloggers and content creators: Strong blogging tools with multi-author support, scheduling, categories, and even podcast hosting
• Small ecommerce businesses: If you're selling 10-500 products and prioritize beautiful design over advanced features
• Restaurants and cafes: Menu displays, reservation systems, and location pages work well
• Event planners and wedding sites: RSVP functionality, event calendars, and elegant templates
• Consultants and coaches: Professional presentation with booking and payment capabilities
• Course creators: Squarespace Courses launched for selling educational content
• Nonprofits: Donation pages, event management, and volunteer coordination
• Design-conscious entrepreneurs: Anyone who wants a professional website without hiring a designer

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Large ecommerce operations: If you're selling 500+ products, need multi-currency, or require advanced inventory management, check out Shopify
• Developers who want full control: WordPress or Webflow offer unlimited customization
• Businesses needing extensive integrations: If you rely on specific CRM, marketing, or business software, verify compatibility or choose Wix or WordPress
• Anyone needing phone support: Squarespace doesn't offer it and has no plans to add it
• International sellers: Multi-currency display and regional payment methods are limited
• Budget-conscious startups: Wix's free plan or WordPress.com's free tier might be better starting points
• High-traffic sites prioritizing speed: Consider platforms with better performance optimization
• Membership sites with complex requirements: WordPress with MemberPress or similar plugins offers more flexibility

Hidden Costs to Consider

Beyond the monthly subscription, factor in these potential expenses:

Domain Renewal

After your first free year, domains renew at $20-$70/year depending on the extension. Standard .com domains typically cost $20/year, while specialty domains (.store, .design, .io) can cost $30-$70+.

Email Marketing

Squarespace Email Campaigns costs $5-$68/month depending on your subscriber count and sending volume. If you have a large list, this adds up quickly.

Premium Extensions

While many extensions are free, premium ones can cost $5-$50+/month. Examples include advanced scheduling features, marketing tools, or enhanced analytics.

Google Workspace

If you want professional email ([email protected]), Google Workspace starts at $6/user/month. After the first year, you'll need to pay this separately.

Squarespace Courses

If you want to sell online courses, Squarespace Courses is an additional subscription ($8-49/month depending on features).

Member Areas

Creating membership sites with gated content requires the Member Areas add-on, which costs extra beyond your base plan.

Expert Help

If you get stuck or want custom design work, hiring a Squarespace Expert costs $2,500-$10,000+ depending on project scope. Template customization typically runs $500-$2,500.

How to Get Started with Squarespace

If Squarespace sounds like a fit, here's the path forward:

Step 1: Start with the 14-Day Free Trial

No credit card required. Build your site, test features, and see how it feels. You can create a full website during the trial-nothing is locked.

Start Your Free Squarespace Trial →

Step 2: Choose Your Starting Point

Decide between:

• Blueprint AI Builder: Answer questions and let AI create a custom site
• Traditional Templates: Browse 194 templates and pick one that matches your style
• Blueprint AI Templates: Select your site topic from the dropdown menu and review AI-generated template suggestions

Step 3: Customize Your Design

Replace placeholder content with your own:

• Upload your logo and brand images
• Adjust colors to match your brand palette
• Customize fonts to fit your aesthetic
• Add your written content, photos, and videos
• Configure navigation and menu structure

Step 4: Set Up Business Features

Depending on your needs:

• Configure ecommerce (add products, shipping, payment processors)
• Set up Acuity Scheduling for bookings
• Connect social media accounts
• Add contact forms and newsletter signup
• Install analytics tracking

Step 5: Optimize for SEO

Before launching:

• Write unique page titles and meta descriptions
• Add alt text to all images
• Create descriptive URL slugs
• Set up Google Analytics and Search Console
• Submit your sitemap to search engines

Step 6: Choose Your Plan and Launch

Start on the Basic or Core plan for most sites. You can always upgrade later as your needs grow.

Use annual billing to save 25-40% compared to monthly billing and get a free domain for the first year.

Squarespace Alternatives Worth Considering

If Squarespace doesn't feel quite right, here are alternatives:

Wix

Best for: Maximum design flexibility and extensive app ecosystem

Pricing: Free plan available; premium plans $17-$159/month

Pros: More creative control, faster loading, larger app market

Cons: Can feel cluttered, templates not as polished

Shopify

Best for: Serious ecommerce operations

Pricing: $29-$299/month

Pros: Unmatched ecommerce features, massive app ecosystem, multi-channel selling

Cons: More expensive, overkill for simple sites, apps add up

WordPress

Best for: Ultimate flexibility and customization

Pricing: Free software; hosting $3-$100+/month; themes $0-$200; plugins $0-$300+/year

Pros: Unlimited customization, 60,000+ plugins, full code access

Cons: Requires maintenance, learning curve, security responsibility

Webflow

Best for: Designers and developers who want visual code-like control

Pricing: $14-$212/month

Pros: Advanced design capabilities, clean code output, CMS flexibility

Cons: Steep learning curve, complex pricing structure

GoDaddy Website Builder

Best for: Absolute beginners on a budget

Pricing: $10-$25/month

Pros: Very simple, affordable, quick setup

Cons: Limited design options, basic features, less professional appearance

For more options, check out our guide to website builders for small business and Squarespace alternatives.

Tips for Success on Squarespace

Design Best Practices

• Keep it simple: Don't overcrowd pages with too many elements
• Use white space: Let your content breathe
• Maintain brand consistency: Use the same fonts, colors, and style throughout
• Optimize images: Compress images before uploading to maintain speed
• Test mobile experience: View your site on actual phones, not just the preview

Content Strategy

• Write for humans first: Don't over-optimize for search engines
• Use clear headlines: Make it obvious what each page offers
• Include calls-to-action: Tell visitors what you want them to do next
• Add social proof: Include testimonials, reviews, and case studies
• Update regularly: Fresh content signals an active business

Technical Tips

• Set up 301 redirects: If you're migrating from another platform
• Enable AMP: For faster mobile blog loading
• Use video sparingly: Large video files can slow your site
• Configure backups: Download site exports periodically
• Monitor analytics: Make data-driven improvements

Common Squarespace Mistakes to Avoid

1. Starting with the wrong plan: Don't pay for Advanced if you're just testing. Start small and upgrade.
2. Ignoring mobile design: Over 60% of web traffic is mobile-always check mobile layouts.
3. Overusing stock photos: Replace AI-generated or stock images with authentic photos of your business.
4. Neglecting SEO basics: Fill in page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text from day one.
5. Not backing up content: Download exports of your site periodically in case you need to migrate.
6. Choosing style over substance: A beautiful site with poor content won't convert.
7. Forgetting to test checkout: If selling products, complete test purchases to verify everything works.
8. Not setting up analytics: You can't improve what you don't measure.
9. Skipping domain migration testing: If transferring a domain, verify DNS settings carefully.
10. Ignoring load times: Compress images and minimize video to keep pages fast.

Squarespace Pros and Cons Summary

Pros

• Beautiful, professional templates that look expensive
• Easy to use for beginners with no coding required
• All-in-one solution (hosting, SSL, security included)
• Excellent for portfolios and visual content
• Strong blogging features
• Robust Acuity Scheduling integration
• Mobile-responsive designs automatically
• Blueprint AI for custom site generation
• Reliable hosting with good uptime
• Clean, intuitive interface
• Good basic SEO features

Cons

• No phone support
• Limited ecommerce features for large stores
• Weak multi-currency and international support
• Limited third-party integrations
• More expensive than some competitors
• Site speed slower than some alternatives
• Restrictive for power users
• Basic search functionality
• Limited payment gateway options
• Can't switch templates easily in 7.1
• Transaction fees on lower plans

Bottom Line: Is Squarespace Worth It?

Squarespace is a solid website builder that delivers on its core promise: beautiful, professional-looking websites without needing to code. The templates are genuinely impressive, the learning curve is gentle, and the all-in-one approach removes a lot of headaches.

The platform particularly excels for creative professionals, service businesses, bloggers, and small ecommerce operations (under 500 products). If you prioritize design aesthetics, want a site up quickly, and don't need extensive customization or third-party integrations, Squarespace is an excellent choice.

But it's not perfect. Ecommerce capabilities lag behind dedicated platforms like Shopify, customer support can be frustrating (especially the lack of phone support), and power users may feel constrained by limited customization options. The platform is also more expensive than some competitors like Wix or self-hosted WordPress.

Our rating: 4 out of 5

For portfolios, service businesses, bloggers, and content-focused sites, Squarespace remains one of the best options available. For serious ecommerce (500+ products), highly custom sites, or businesses requiring extensive integrations, look elsewhere.

The recent addition of Blueprint AI makes getting started even easier, and the platform continues to evolve with new features. If you're on the fence, take advantage of the 14-day free trial to test drive the platform risk-free.

Start Your Free Squarespace Trial →

Looking for a discount? Check out our Squarespace coupon codes and Squarespace discount page. We also have guides to maximizing your Squarespace free trial and understanding Squarespace pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Squarespace

Is Squarespace good for beginners?

Yes. Squarespace is consistently rated as one of the easiest website builders to use. The intuitive interface, drag-and-drop editor, and professional templates make it accessible for people with no technical background. You can build a professional site in an afternoon.

Can I sell products on Squarespace?

Yes. All Squarespace plans support ecommerce, though the Basic plan charges transaction fees. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, subscriptions, and gift cards. However, for large ecommerce operations (500+ products), Shopify is better.

Does Squarespace include hosting?

Yes. Hosting is included with every Squarespace plan, along with SSL certificates, unlimited bandwidth, and automatic backups. You don't need to purchase separate hosting.

Can I use my own domain?

Yes. You can either purchase a domain through Squarespace (free for the first year on annual plans) or connect an existing domain from another registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap.

Does Squarespace offer email hosting?

Squarespace doesn't host email directly, but they offer Google Workspace integration for professional email addresses ([email protected]). Google Workspace starts at $6/user/month after any promotional period.

Is Squarespace good for SEO?

Squarespace handles technical SEO well with clean code, mobile responsiveness, SSL certificates, and customizable meta tags. However, it lacks advanced SEO plugins like WordPress's Yoast. For basic to intermediate SEO needs, it's sufficient.

Can I migrate from WordPress to Squarespace?

Yes, but it requires manual work. Squarespace can import WordPress blog posts, but you'll need to rebuild your site design and manually transfer other content. Consider hiring a Squarespace Expert if you have a complex site.

Does Squarespace have a free plan?

No. Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required), but you must subscribe to a paid plan to publish your site. Plans start at $16/month with annual billing.

Can I cancel my Squarespace subscription?

Yes. You can cancel anytime. If you cancel within 14 days of your initial purchase on an annual plan, you can request a refund. After that, refunds are not provided, but you can cancel to prevent future charges. Monthly subscriptions are not refunded.

What happens if I don't renew my domain?

If you don't renew your Squarespace domain within 15 days of expiration, your website will be archived and no longer accessible. Your email (if hosted through Google Workspace connected to that domain) will also stop working.