IS SQUARESPACE FREE?

HOW MUCH IS SQUARESPACE?

At Lillian Purge, we specialise in Local SEO Services and break down Is Squarespace Free? How Much is Squarespace so you understand your options before launching a new website.

Squarespace is not a free website builder. Unlike platforms such as WordPress.com or Wix that offer free tiers with limitations, Squarespace operates on a paid subscription model. However, it does provide a 14-day free trial that allows you to explore the platform, build your website, and test features before committing to a paid plan.

During the trial, you can design pages, upload content, and test layouts without entering payment details. But your site won’t go live on a public domain until you upgrade to a paid plan. Once the trial ends, Squarespace will prompt you to subscribe if you want to continue editing or publish your site online.

Why Squarespace Doesn’t Offer a Free Plan

Squarespace’s approach focuses on quality, performance, and design flexibility rather than providing a basic free version. Every plan includes premium hosting, templates, and security features. Offering only paid plans ensures consistency across websites, better performance, and no adverts or watermarks on your site.

This gives users a professional, ad-free experience, which is particularly important for businesses or freelancers who want to present a strong brand image from day one.

Squarespace Pricing Overview

Squarespace pricing varies depending on the plan you choose and whether you pay monthly or annually. Annual billing offers a lower cost per month and includes a free custom domain for the first year.

As of the latest pricing, Squarespace offers four main plans:

  1. Personal Plan – £12 per month (when billed annually)
    Best for individuals, freelancers, or small projects that need a simple but professional website.

  2. Business Plan – £17 per month (when billed annually)
    Ideal for small businesses that want to add forms, analytics, and basic ecommerce functionality.

  3. Basic Commerce Plan – £23 per month (when billed annually)
    Designed for businesses selling products online, with full ecommerce features and no transaction fees.

  4. Advanced Commerce Plan – £35 per month (when billed annually)
    Suitable for growing online stores that need advanced tools such as abandoned cart recovery and subscriptions.

If you choose monthly billing, the prices increase slightly, so most users save money by committing to a yearly plan.

What’s Included in Each Plan

All Squarespace plans come with essential website features:

  • Free custom domain (with annual payment)

  • SSL security certificate

  • Mobile-responsive templates

  • Website analytics

  • 24/7 customer support

  • Built-in SEO tools

  • Unlimited bandwidth and storage

The main differences between plans come down to ecommerce capability, integrations, and marketing tools.

Personal Plan

This is the most affordable option, perfect for blogs, portfolios, or personal websites. It includes professional templates, design tools, and basic analytics but no advanced commerce options or promotional pop-ups.

Business Plan

The Business Plan adds more flexibility with access to custom CSS and JavaScript, premium integrations, and basic ecommerce tools. You can sell products or services but will pay a small transaction fee on each sale.

It also allows marketing features like promotional banners, pop-ups, and professional email campaigns through Squarespace Email Marketing.

Basic Commerce Plan

This plan removes transaction fees and adds more robust ecommerce tools such as customer accounts, secure checkout on your domain, and detailed analytics for orders and inventory.

It’s the best option for small to mid-sized online shops that want an all-in-one platform to sell products and manage their store efficiently.

Advanced Commerce Plan

The Advanced Commerce Plan is built for larger online stores or brands with higher order volumes. It includes all features from lower tiers plus abandoned cart recovery, advanced discounts, gift cards, and subscription-based selling.

It also offers advanced shipping and API access for more complex setups or third-party integrations.

Extra Costs to Consider

While Squarespace pricing is straightforward, there are some optional costs to keep in mind:

  • Domain renewals: The free domain lasts one year, after which renewal costs apply (typically around £15–£20 annually).

  • Email accounts: Professional email through Google Workspace is billed separately, starting at around £4 per user per month.

  • Third-party apps: While most functionality is built-in, connecting external apps or plugins may come with additional fees.

  • Custom design or developer work: If you hire a designer to customise your site, costs will vary based on complexity.

These are typical expenses for most website platforms, but it’s worth factoring them in when comparing Squarespace to alternatives.

Squarespace Ecommerce Fees

For ecommerce users, it’s important to note that the Business Plan includes a 3% transaction fee on each sale, while the Basic and Advanced Commerce plans do not charge transaction fees.

You’ll still pay standard payment processing fees to Stripe, PayPal, or other gateways, typically around 2–3% per transaction, depending on your region.

Squarespace vs Free Website Builders

Free website builders like WordPress.com, Wix, or Weebly might seem appealing initially, but they often come with limitations. Free versions usually include platform branding, limited storage, and no access to custom domains.

Squarespace’s paid plans provide a professional, fully managed hosting experience without technical headaches. You get control over design, content, and domain, which is crucial for businesses that want credibility and full ownership of their brand presence.

While Squarespace isn’t free, its value lies in the simplicity and quality of what you get. Everything from templates to SEO features is built into one platform, eliminating the need for plugins or additional services.

Who Should Use Squarespace?

Squarespace is ideal for:

  • Small business owners who want a professional, easy-to-manage website.

  • Freelancers and creatives looking to showcase their portfolio.

  • Ecommerce sellers who want an integrated online shop.

  • Service-based businesses that need appointment scheduling and contact forms.

If you’re looking for flexibility and minimal maintenance, Squarespace provides a polished experience with minimal setup.

Is Squarespace Worth the Price?

Squarespace may not be the cheapest option, but it offers excellent value for the quality of its design tools, templates, and support. Its all-in-one nature saves time and eliminates the need to manage hosting or security separately.

The key advantage is that your website looks professional and functions smoothly without needing technical expertise. For most small businesses, the benefits of reliability, aesthetics, and simplicity outweigh the subscription cost.

Final Thoughts

Squarespace isn’t free, but its transparent pricing and professional-grade features make it one of the best website builders for businesses that value design and functionality. With four clear plans, built-in tools, and a 14-day trial, it allows you to create a high-quality site that performs well on search engines and appeals to customers.

At Lillian Purge, we help clients not only build stunning Squarespace websites but also optimise them for local search visibility and performance. Choosing the right platform is just the first step what you do with it next determines your success online.

We have also written in depth articles on What is Squarespace? and Should I use Wordpress or Squarespace? as well as our Squarespace Hub to give you further guidance.