How Much Does Squarespace Cost in 2024? A Complete Guide
Building a website in 2024 is easier than ever, thanks to website builders like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress. But with so many options available, choosing the right platform for your needs can be overwhelming. One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Squarespace is, "How much does Squarespace cost?" In this guide, we’ll break down the pricing, compare Squarespace’s plans to its competitors, and help you decide if Squarespace is the right platform for you.
Let’s dive in!
What Is Squarespace?
Squarespace is a website builder that allows users to create beautiful, fully functional websites with minimal effort. Whether you're building a blog, a portfolio, an e-commerce store, or a business website, Squarespace offers a variety of templates, tools, and features to meet your needs. The platform is known for its visually stunning templates, intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and all-in-one solution that covers hosting, design, and website management.
Unlike platforms like WordPress, which requires third-party hosting, Squarespace takes care of all the technical details, allowing you to focus on creating and managing your site. It’s particularly popular with small business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs who need a user-friendly solution without compromising on design quality.
Squarespace Pricing Plans for 2024
When considering Squarespace as a website builder, it's essential to understand the pricing structure. Squarespace offers several pricing plans to accommodate different types of users and businesses. In late 2024, Squarespace released four new plans that include:
Basic Plan – $16/month
The Basic Plan is ideal for individuals or small businesses that don’t require advanced features like e-commerce capabilities, though Squarespace did just add basic e-commerce functionality to the Basic Plan. At $16 per month (billed annually), this plan provides:
E-commerce capabilities (but with a 2% transaction fee)
Credit card processing rates of 2.9% + $0.30
A free custom domain for the first year
Up to 2 contributors
Unlimited bandwidth and storage
24/7 customer support
Access to Squarespace’s range of templates
This plan is perfect for those who want a simple website to showcase their portfolio, blog, or personal site without the need for online sales.
Core Plan – $23/month
The Core Plan, priced at $23 per month (billed annually), is designed for users who need more functionality, especially for small businesses. In addition to all the features of the Basic Plan, this plan includes:
0% transaction fees
Credit card processing rates of 2.9% + $0.30
Advanced website analytics
Customization capabilities with CSS and Javascript
Professional email with Google Workspace
Access to advanced shipping options and discounts
This plan is great for businesses that need to sell a few products or services and want to begin building an online presence.
Plus Plan – $39/month
For those focused entirely on e-commerce, the Plus Plan is an excellent choice at $39 per month (billed annually). This plan includes:
0% transaction fees
Credit card processing rates of 2.7% + $0.30
Ability to connect API integrations for advanced sales functionality
If you plan to run an online store with a moderate catalog of products, the Plus Plan is perfect.
Advanced Plan – $99/month
The Advanced Plan, priced at $99 per month (billed annually), is Squarespace’s most feature-rich plan. It includes everything in the Plus Plan, plus:
Lowest credit card processing rates of 2.5% + $0.30
No fees for digital products
Unlimited video storage
This plan is ideal for established businesses or those with high sales volume that need a comprehensive e-commerce solution and want the lowest credit card processing fees.
Squarespace Pricing vs. Competitors
When it comes to pricing, Squarespace is relatively competitive compared to other website builders like Wix and WordPress. Let’s take a look at how Squarespace stacks up against these competitors in 2024.
Wix Pricing vs. Squarespace
Wix is another popular website builder that offers similar features. Wix's pricing starts at $14 per month for the Light Plan, which is similar to Squarespace’s Basic Plan. However, Wix's free plan allows users to build a website without paying, though it comes with limitations such as displaying ads and restricted features.
Wix's premium plans, such as the Unlimited Plan, cost about the same as Squarespace’s Core Plan, but Wix includes more flexibility with third-party apps and integrations. However, Squarespace is often praised for its superior design quality and customer support.
WordPress Pricing vs. Squarespace
WordPress, the world’s most popular website platform, offers a free plan with self-hosting or paid plans through WordPress.com. However, it’s essential to note that WordPress is more complex and requires you to manage hosting and security, which Squarespace takes care of for you.
Squarespace’s all-in-one approach makes it easier for users who prefer not to deal with the technical side of website building.
Template Costs
When building a website on Squarespace, templates are a critical starting point for shaping the design and functionality of your site. Squarespace offers a variety of options, from free templates included with every plan to premium templates available for purchase through template shops like ours. Let’s explore these options and their associated costs to help you decide which is right for you.
Squarespace’s Free Templates
Squarespace provides a library of free templates with every subscription plan, catering to various industries and design preferences. These templates are fully customizable, allowing users to tailor them to their brand. Whether you’re running a personal blog, a portfolio, or an e-commerce site, there’s likely a free template that can serve as a starting point.
Pros of Squarespace’s Free Templates:
Included with Subscription: You don’t need to spend extra money to use these templates, as they’re part of your Squarespace plan.
Professional Designs: Squarespace templates are known for their clean, modern aesthetics.
Responsive and Mobile-Friendly: All templates are designed to work seamlessly on desktop and mobile devices.
Easy to Switch: You can change templates anytime without losing content.
Limitations of Free Templates: While the free templates are versatile, they might lack the unique design elements or specialized layouts that some businesses or personal brands need to stand out. Customizing these templates to achieve a truly unique look can sometimes require more effort or additional design skills.
Premium Templates: A Step Up in Style and Functionality
For those looking to elevate their website design, premium templates are an excellent investment. These templates are often created by independent designers or specialized template shops (like ours!) and provide advanced features, unique layouts, and stunning visuals tailored to specific industries or niches.
Why Choose a Premium Template?
Exclusive Design: Premium templates are crafted with extra attention to detail, offering one-of-a-kind layouts and creative features.
Industry-Specific Features: Many premium templates include pre-designed modules tailored for industries like photography, e-commerce, or coaching.
Time-Saving Customization: Premium templates often come with built-in customization options, so you can achieve a polished look faster.
Cost of Premium Templates: Premium templates can range from $75 to $300 or more, depending on the designer and the complexity of the template. At Station Seven, we offer a curated selection of premium Squarespace templates designed to make your website stand out while keeping ease of use in mind.
Why Choose a Station Seven Template?
When you choose a premium template from Station Seven, you’re not just getting a design—you’re getting a solution. Our templates are crafted to help businesses and creators launch their websites quickly and effectively while maintaining a professional, polished appearance.
What Sets Our Templates Apart?
Ease of Use: We design with Squarespace’s drag-and-drop functionality in mind, ensuring our templates are easy to customize.
Comprehensive Guides: Each purchase includes a step-by-step Template Guide to help you set up, customize, and launch your site confidently.
Industry-Specific Options: From creative portfolios to online shops, our templates cater to a variety of needs.
Explore Our Premium Templates
We’ve made it easy to explore our collection. Below, you’ll find a selection of our most popular templates, showcased in a dynamic Squarespace Summary Block. Click on any template to view its details and see how it can transform your Squarespace site.
Making the Choice: Free vs. Premium
Ultimately, the decision between a free Squarespace template and a premium option depends on your needs, budget, and goals. If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective solution, a free template may suffice. However, if you want a website that stands out and supports your brand’s unique requirements, investing in a premium template is worth considering.
No matter what you choose, your Squarespace website can serve as a beautiful, functional representation of your brand. If you’re ready to explore our premium templates, visit our shop and discover the perfect design for your next website.
Maintenance: Keeping Your Squarespace Website Up to Date
One of the standout benefits of building your website on Squarespace is the platform's built-in maintenance capabilities. Unlike platforms like WordPress, where users must manage updates for plugins, themes, and software manually, Squarespace takes care of all backend updates automatically. This means you can focus on your website’s content and design without worrying about technical upkeep.
Automatic Updates and Built-In Security
Squarespace handles all updates and security patches on their servers, ensuring your website is always running smoothly with the latest features. These automatic updates are seamless and included in your subscription plan, so there are no additional costs or disruptions to worry about.
Benefits of Squarespace’s Automatic Maintenance:
No Manual Updates: Forget about the hassle of updating plugins or themes—it’s all managed by Squarespace.
Enhanced Security: Squarespace ensures that your site is protected with regular security patches.
Optimized Performance: Updates are rolled out to improve performance and introduce new features.
Maintenance Plans for Squarespace Websites
While Squarespace takes care of the technical side, you may still need occasional updates to your website’s content, such as adding new photos, products, blog posts, or making copy changes. If you’ve had a Squarespace expert design your site, they may offer a maintenance plan to handle these updates for you.
At Station Seven, we offer flexible maintenance plans for websites we design and build. These plans are perfect for businesses that want to ensure their site stays fresh, accurate, and aligned with their evolving needs.
What Does a Maintenance Plan Include?
Our maintenance services cover:
Content Updates: Adding new blog posts, updating product listings, or revising copy.
Photo Updates: Replacing outdated images or uploading new galleries.
Feature Additions: Implementing new pages or features as your business grows.
Regular Check-Ins: Ensuring your website stays visually consistent and functional.
Do You Need a Maintenance Plan?
Not every Squarespace user will require a maintenance plan. If you’re comfortable handling basic updates through Squarespace’s intuitive interface, you may be able to manage without one. However, for busy business owners or those with more complex sites, entrusting updates to a professional can save time and ensure quality.
Why Choose Station Seven for Maintenance?
When you work with Station Seven, you gain a partner who understands your website inside and out. Our maintenance plans are tailored to the specific needs of the websites we build, ensuring every update aligns with your brand and goals.
Ready to simplify your website updates? Contact us to learn more about our the services we offer and our maintenance plans, and how we can support your Squarespace site once it is built.
Additional Costs and Fees
While Squarespace’s pricing plans are transparent, there are a few additional costs and fees to consider when building your website.
E-Commerce Transaction Fees
One notable fee is the 2% transaction fee for users on the Basic Plan. This fee is waived for those on the Core, Plus, and Advanced plans.
Custom Domain Name
Squarespace offers a free custom domain for the first year with any annual plan. After that, the domain renewal cost is typically around $20 per year.
Email and Other Add-Ons
Squarespace offers Email Campaigns and marketing tools, which are available starting at $7 per month for the Starter plan. You can also purchase third-party integrations like Google Workspace.
Discounts and Special Offers
Squarespace often provides discounts for long-term commitments and special groups.
Annual Payment Discounts
If you pay annually instead of monthly, Squarespace offers a 10-30% discount depending on the plan.
Template Shop Discounts
If you purchase a premium template from a Squarespace template shop like ours, you will receive a 20% discount for the first year if you pay annually (on top of the discount you will already receive for choosing to pay annually over monthly).
Student Discounts
Students can get up to 50% off their first year on Squarespace, making it a great option for those starting their website journey on a budget.
Promo Codes and Special Offers
From time to time, Squarespace runs promotions that provide additional savings on subscription plans.
Which Squarespace Plan Should You Choose?
Choosing the right Squarespace plan depends largely on your specific needs. Here's a quick breakdown:
Basic Plan: Best for bloggers or personal websites with no need for e-commerce.
Core Plan: Ideal for small businesses looking for basic e-commerce functionality.
Plus Plan: Great for e-commerce businesses that need robust selling tools but don’t require advanced features.
Advanced Plan: Perfect for large businesses with high sales volume needing full e-commerce functionality and marketing tools.
Recommendations Based on Business Needs
If you’re a freelancer or artist looking for a portfolio website, the Basic Plan is perfect.
For small businesses looking to expand online, the Core Plan provides everything you need to get started with selling online.
For established e-commerce businesses, consider the Plus or Advanced Plans, depending on the scale of your store.
FAQs
What does Squarespace cost?
Squarespace’s plans range from $16/month to $99/month, depending on the features you need.
Is Squarespace completely free?
Squarespace does not offer a completely free plan. However, you can use a free trial for 14 days to explore its features. If you purchase a premium Squarespace template from a template shop like Station Seven, you will receive a 180-day free trial to build out your site in the draft mode before you have to begin paying.
How much is a domain per year on Squarespace?
Squarespace offers a free domain for the first year with a new website. After the first year, a custom domain on Squarespace is going to cost you around $20 per year. Most domains are going to fall in the $20 range, though some may cost more depending on the top-level domains (TLDs).
How much does it cost to hire someone to build a website on Squarespace?
Hiring a web designer to build your Squarespace site can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000+, depending on the complexity. We have three different Services that we offer that range from $1,800 to $10,000+.
Does Squarespace charge hidden fees?
No, Squarespace is transparent with its pricing. Additional costs may include add-ons like email campaigns and third-party services.
Can I switch to a different Squarespace plan?
Yes, Squarespace allows you to upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time.
Final Thoughts
Building a website on Squarespace offers a balance of affordability, functionality, and professional design. With transparent pricing plans, a variety of templates to suit different needs, and hassle-free maintenance, Squarespace is an excellent choice for many businesses and creators. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your online presence, Squarespace provides the tools to make it happen.
If you're ready to elevate your website, explore our premium Squarespace templates or Services page to learn more about our design and maintenance services. We're here to help you create a website that not only looks amazing but works seamlessly for your goals.