Squarespace Review: Is Squarespace a Good Website Builder?

Last Updated:Friday, June 16, 2023
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Squarespace has made a name for itself as a great choice for new website owners and professionals. And as you will read in this comprehensive Squarespace review, it’s quite popular for a good reason.

Many people trust Squarespace with their first blog, business website, online store, and bio site because it’s loaded with many useful features, such as a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, marketing tools, and more.

However, Squarespace has some downsides, which we will discuss below, so let’s dive right in.

 

Squarespace Review 2023: Is Squarespace a Good Website Builder?

You’ve read many Squarespace reviews but still wonder: how good is Squarespace? You’re lucky because we’ve carefully reviewed this platform. And after looking into what you get for the price, even for the basic plan, we can confidently say it’s ideal for people who want a professional-looking website but don't have technical skills.

Firstly, Squarespace has a user-friendly interface that makes website building a breeze. With drag-and-drop functionality and various customizable templates, Squarespace is a great option for beginners and experienced users.

Moreover, Squarespace offers powerful e-commerce tools so users can create and manage their online store in one spot. Impressive features include customizable product listings, integrated payment processing, and more.

Overall, it’s perfect for small businesses and individuals who want to sell their products online. Squarespace also has many SEO tools which help users optimize their content for search engines. This can help to improve visibility and drive more traffic.

Finally, Squarespace has excellent customer support with 24/7 email and live chat help. Whether you encounter technical issues or need help customizing your first website, the support team is always ready to help.

Overall, Squarespace is a good website builder for small business owners but also larger businesses as well, with many powerful features and tools for creating professional-looking websites. So, it’s worth considering for anyone looking to build a website quickly and easily.

 

Review of Squarespace Website Builder Pricing Plans

First of all, how much does Squarespace cost? Let’s first review Squarespace prices:

Squarespace Plans

Monthly Price

Annual Price

Check Current Squarespace Price

Personal

$16 (If you pay annually; otherwise, $23)

$192 (If you pay annually; otherwise, $276)

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Business

$23 (If you pay annually; otherwise, $33)

$276 (if you pay annually; otherwise, $396)

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Commerce Basic

$27 (If you pay annually; otherwise, $36)

$324 (if you pay annually; otherwise, $432)

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Commerce Advanced

$49 (If you pay annually; otherwise, $65)

$588 (if you pay annually; otherwise, $780)

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How Much Does Squarespace Website Building Cost for Nonprofits?

You will get a 10% discount regardless of which plan you choose. Unlike some website builders, Squarespace doesn’t have a free basic option.

Moreover, Squarespace’s pricing plans range from $16 to $49 per month, depending on the features and capabilities the nonprofit organization requires.

They can either pay monthly or annually to save on the pricing. Additionally, nonprofits can apply the NONPROFIT code at checkout to receive 10% off their first payment.

For more information on Squarespace’s nonprofit pricing and features, nonprofits can visit the Squarespace website or contact their customer support.

 

Are There Any Squarespace Coupon Codes or Promo Discount Vouchers?

Squarespace occasionally offers coupon codes and promo discount vouchers. They’re typically intended for new users and can provide discounts on subscription fees for a limited time.

To find Squarespace coupon codes and promo discount vouchers, users can search online or sign up for Squarespace’s email newsletter. You can also find promotional offers on Squarespace’s FB or Twitter.

 

Squarespace Free vs Paid: What’s the Difference?

Squarespace offers various plans to suit different needs and budgets but doesn’t have a free plan. While Squarespace doesn’t offer a free plan, it provides a 14-day free trial. If you sign up for the free trial, you will gain access to Squarespace’s premium features.

If you like Squarespace’s features, you can proceed with one of the paid plans after the trial period. Here’s a comparison of the Squarespace plans in great detail:

Personal Plan

If you choose the personal plan, you will get customizable, top-notch templates to craft a modern, mobile-optimized website. The wide range of templates makes finding one that matches your brand’s vibe easy.

You will also get a free custom domain for the first year. This plan starts at $16/month when billed annually. It’s perfect for small businesses and individuals needing a basic and functional website.

Business Plan

If you want to grow your business and start taking payments, consider the business plan by Squarespace. It starts at $23/month when billed annually and offers various features for businesses.

Some of those features include customizable templates, mobile-optimized websites, a free custom domain name for the first year, advanced website analytics, fully integrated e-commerce, a 3% transaction fee, and checkout on your domain.

Commerce Basic Plan

The commerce business plan has no transaction fees and can help you grow your new business fast. It starts at only $27/month when billed annually and includes the following tools:

  • Mobile optimized websites

  • Templates to fit every need

  • Free custom domain

  • Advanced website analytics

  • Fully integrated e-commerce

  • 0% transaction fee

  • Checkout on your domain

  • Powerful merchandising

It’s ideal for those who want to sell their products online and increase profits with the 0% transaction fee, powerful merchandising tools, and checkout on the user’s domain.

Commerce Advanced Plan

If the Commerce Basic plan doesn’t meet your business needs, consider the advanced one. It also has no transaction fees but offers more business features than the previous one. Here’s what you get with the advanced Squarespace e-commerce plan besides the basic features:

  • Mobile optimized websites

  • Templates to fit every need

  • Free custom domain

  • Advanced Google analytics

  • Fully integrated e-commerce

  • 0% transaction fee

  • Checkout on your domain

  • Powerful merchandising

  • Advanced shipping

  • Advanced discounting

  • Sell subscriptions

  • Other add-ons

The Commerce Advanced plan is the most expensive plan offered by Squarespace and is priced at $49/month when billed annually.

This plan includes all the features of the Commerce Basic plan, plus advanced shipping and discounting options, the ability to sell subscriptions, and other advanced features.

Overall, the main difference between the plans is the level of e-commerce functionality they offer.

The Personal and Business plans can help you craft basic websites, so they’re perfect for small businesses that don’t require e-commerce features.

On the other hand, the Commerce Basic and Commerce Advanced plans make a great option for users who want to sell products online and need more advanced e-commerce functionality.

In summary, Squarespace offers a range of plans to suit different needs, and users can choose the one that best fits their requirements. While there’s no free plan, you can test all premium features before committing to a plan with the free trial.

 

Squarespace Overview: What is Squarespace & What is Squarespace Used for?

Why use Squarespace? Well, the popular platform has conquered website-building because it’s user-friendly and feature-rich. Anyone can create a stunning website with Squarespace, even without technical skills. It’s that simple!

But what does Squarespace do exactly? If you sign up for a free trial, you will find out. The 14-day free trial gives you access to premium features, but you can easily create a professional-looking blog or website even with the basic features.

You will get over 100 customizable templates to play with and express your creativity, advanced design tools, powerful e-commerce tools, and more. It’s versatile and perfect for individuals, companies, and nonprofits.

The simple drag-and-drop features and many design options allow users to craft simple yet functional and modern websites, including personal blogs, online stores, portfolios, and business websites.

If you own a small business, you can use Squarespace’s e-commerce tools to sell your products or services online.

This e-commerce platform provides integrated payment processing, product listings you can customize, and inventory management tools.

Moreover, Squarespace has many SEO tools that can help you optimize your content for search engines, such as meta tags, sitemaps, advanced analytics, and more.

These tools can improve your website’s visibility and attract new visitors.

Finally, users can easily reach the platform’s support team via email and live chat 24/7. Whether they encounter issues, have questions, or need help customizing their website, Squarespace’s customer support can help.

In conclusion, Squarespace is a versatile and user-friendly website builder that offers a range of powerful features and tools for creating professional-looking websites. It’s great for individuals, businesses, and organizations alike.

 

How Does Squarespace Work?

Squarespace isn’t hard to use! On the contrary, it’s beginner-friendly. So, anyone can create professional-looking websites. Here’s how Squarespace works:

1. Choose a Template

The Squarespace platform offers a range of customizable templates, including designs for portfolios, online stores, blogs, and business websites.

So, you can choose a template that fits your needs and customize it according to your preferences.

2. Customize the Design

You can also customize your chosen template by adding or removing elements and changing fonts, colors, and layouts. Moreover, you can add logos, images, and videos to personalize your new website.

3. Add Content

Additionally, you can add text, images, videos, and other content to your website using Squarespace’s drag-and-drop interface.

Furthermore, you can integrate social media accounts and add contact forms, galleries, and other interactive elements.

4. Sell Your Products or Services

Squarespace has many e-commerce tools. So, you can sell your products or services online. You can create a product catalog, manage orders, and accept payments.

5. Optimize Your Content

Squarespace also has many SEO tools, including meta tags, sitemaps, and advanced analytics. These tools can help you optimize your website’s content for search engines and drive more traffic.

6. Publish!

Once you have completed your website, just publish and manage it through the user-friendly interface. Finally, if you encounter any issues or have questions about the tools, you can contact customer support via email and live chat anytime.

 

Squarespace Features List

Many individuals and small businesses prefer Squarespace’s website builder over other options on the market because it’s feature-rich and user-friendly.

And when we say feature-rich, we aren’t exaggerating. It has many features for creating websites, online stores, portfolios, blogs, and bio sites. You can create a unique website and express your creativity through the platform in just minutes.

Here’s a summary of the main features of Squarespace’s website builder:

  • Squarespace templates

  • Pre-built layouts

  • Customizable page and content layouts

  • Content type

  • Duplicate pages and content

  • Design tools

  • Universal asset uploading

  • Asset picker

  • Upload photos from mobile

  • Custom CSS

  • Commenting system

  • Multiple contributors and access levels

  • Passwords and page locks

  • Custom redirects

  • Built-in mobile websites

  • Squarespace app

Now, let’s discuss these features in detail.
 

1. Squarespace Templates

The expert design team at Squarespace has created each template design to fit your brand. So, you can easily customize every template design, including all major content types, such as pages, galleries, blogs, commerce, calendars, and more.

They’re all designed with modern browsers and mobile devices in mind and employ the latest HTML, CSS, and Javascript techniques.

You can easily create a custom look by adding or removing blocks and using pre-built layouts for specific purposes, such as Contact, About, Blog, Portfolio, Products, and more.
 

2. Pre-Built Layouts

The pre-designed structures help you create professional layouts that showcase your content. Moreover, they’re optimized for specific purposes, and you can add or remove blocks to create a custom look.
 

3. Customizable Page and Content Layouts

You can easily manage and insert various content types, such as photos, text, videos, galleries, audio, products, appointments, newsletter sign-ups, tour dates, reservations, calendars, maps, links, menus, etc.
 

4. Duplicate Pages and Content

You can duplicate pages and other content to test or speed up website-building.
 

5. Design Tools

Squarespace has many design tools, including flexible layouts, custom color palettes, Google and TypeKit fonts, and free high-quality images through Unsplash.

You will also get built-in photo editing capabilities, video and background banners, and animation options.
 

6. Universal Asset Uploading

You can upload new assets or replace old ones anywhere on your site with the same flow.
 

7. Asset Picker

Pull assets from the same place to show on your site, emails, and product pages. With the Squarespace app, you can also upload photos from your mobile device directly to your site.
 

8. Custom CSS

Apply custom CSS to any site through the built-in custom CSS editor, which provides image and font file storage for CSS assets.
 

9. Commenting System

The integrated commenting system supports threaded comments with an individual like counts.

It includes content moderation, community management, bulk comment management, reader feedback to flag spam or trolls, powerful abuse filters, and customizable settings, like automatically disabling comments after a cut-off date.
 

10. Multiple Contributors and Access Levels

You can give contributors selective access to your site depending on their permissions.

Access levels include Administrator, Website Editor, Billing, Analytics, Scheduling Editor, Reporting, Email Campaigns Editor, Comment Moderator, Viewer, and Store Manager.

You can also manage multiple Squarespace sites with a single login.
 

11. Passwords & Page Locks

You can lock your entire website with a password while under construction or lock individual pages behind a password to create private areas.

You can also customize the page that displays to visitors whenever a website or page is password-protected.
 

12. Custom Redirects

Create custom 301 and 302 redirects directly from the interface to enable shortcuts or remap old content to new places.
 

13. Custom Site Search Engine

Squarespace’s robust internal search engine provides your visitors with accurate search results.
 

14. Built-in Mobile Websites

Every design automatically includes a unique mobile experience that matches the overall style of your website. Your content will look great on every device, every time.
 

15. Squarespace App

The app is available on Android and iOS and allows you to manage your website on the go.

You can add and edit new pages, add new images to galleries, write and edit new blog posts, make style changes, manage your store, and review recently updated pages and traffic analytics.

Here’s a summary of the key features that Squarespace offers for various needs:

Features for Portfolios:

  • Customizable Layouts

  • Workflow

  • Markdown Support

  • Scheduled Posts

  • Podcast Support

  • Email Campaign Integration

  • Excerpt and Source URLs

  • AMP Integration

  • RSS Syndication

  • RSS Blocks

  • Category/Tag Support

  • External Link Options

  • Customizable URLs

  • Multiple Author Support
     

Features for Commerce:

  • Free Trial

  • Checking Your Eligibility

  • Creating Your Store

  • Styling Your Store Page

  • Customizing Checkout

  • Customizing Customer Email Notifications

  • Marketing Your Products

  • Measuring Results and Conversions (Abandoned Cart Recovery)

  • Selling in Person With a Point of Sale

  • Enhancing Your Store
     

Features for Bio Sites:

  • Multiple Bio Sites

  • Animated Backgrounds

  • Add Unlimited Links

  • Tipping

  • Crowdfunding
     

Features for Marketing:

  • Email marketing Campaigns

  • Profiles

  • Squarespace Video Studio App

  • Instant Marketing Content

  • Mailing Lists

  • Social Selling

  • Banners, Promotions, and Pop-Ups

  • Custom Favicon

  • Form Blocks

  • Marketing Analytics
     

Features for Analytics:

  • Analytics Overview

  • Commerce Analytics

  • Acquisition Analytics

  • Engagement Analytics

  • Analytics in the Squarespace App

  • Other metrics
     

Features for Scheduling:

  • Multiple Calendars

  • Calendar Syncing

  • Custom Payment Settings

  • Automatic Email Reminders

  • SMS/Text Reminders

  • Custom Intake Forms

  • Packages, Gift Certificates, and Subscriptions

  • Social Selling

  • Multiple Time Zones for Staff/Locations

  • Video Conferencing

  • Custom API & CSS

  • HIPAA (BAA)

  • Invoicing

  • Scheduling Mobile App
     

Features for Domains:

  • Purchasing Domains

  • Seamless Domain Registration

  • Connected Third-Party Domains

  • Free Domain

  • Transferred Domains

  • Google Workspace Integration

  • Security and Privacy

 

Squarespace Pros and Cons

Squarespace has various features and benefits. However, like any platform, it also has pros and cons.

Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of using Squarespace:
 

Squarespace Advantages

  • Ease of use: One of the biggest benefits of Squarespace is that it’s user-friendly. So, if you’re looking for a simple website builder, look no further than this one.

  • You can easily customize templates: Squarespace has many templates you can choose from and customize to create something unique. Moreover, all plans come with unlimited bandwidth.

  • Squarespace page limit: You can add up to 1000 pages on any of the plans, but the platform limits the number of products you can add to a store page, so keep that in mind.

  • You can sell your products or services online without much effort: The e-commerce tools of Squarespace enable individuals and small businesses to list and sell anything online without spending too much time crafting their stores.

  • Your website will rank: You can easily optimize your website’s content to help your website rank and reach a new audience.

  • Mobile-friendly: Your website will look good on any device, including tablets and smartphones, because of the mobile-responsive templates.

  • If you encounter any issues, you can always get help: Squarespace’s team is always available via email and live chat. So, if you face any issues or need help building your first website, just contact customer support, and someone will help you.
     

Squarespace Disadvantages

  • No free plan: If you’re wondering why Squarespace is bad for people and small businesses on a budget, this is your answer. The absence of a free plan is one of the biggest cons of Squarespace.

  • A limited number of pages: If you get the message: “Squarespace maximum number of enabled pages reached,” you’ve reached the limit of 12 pages you can add to your site, which isn’t great for those with advanced website needs.

  • Squarespace storage limits: Squarespace doesn’t have unlimited storage. You will get 2 GB per site. And if you exceed this limit, you won’t be able to save new content to your site.

  • Limited Squarespace extensions: This platform has a limited selection of third-party integration. This makes extending the website’s functionality beyond Squarespace’s built-in features hard.

  • Limited design flexibility: Squarespace has customizable templates, but users say they have limited flexibility when making significant design changes.

  • Not the best option for bloggers: Squarespace’s blogging features aren’t as good as other platforms. So, it’s not the best option for bloggers.

Squarespace offers a range of benefits, including a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, e-commerce capabilities, marketing tools, SEO tools, and more.

However, it has limitations, such as limited third-party integrations, no free plan, limited design flexibility, and limited blogging features.

Overall, it’s great for individuals and small businesses looking to create a professional-looking website quickly and easily, but it’s not the best option for everyone.

 

Squarespace Builder Complaints & Praise (Squarespace.com Reviews From Real Customers)

Squarespace is used by millions worldwide, and while it offers many benefits, it has a fair share of drawbacks, according to real Squarespace website reviews.

Complaints

The most common negative Squarespace website builder review is associated with the limited customization options. Users have found that this platform’s templates aren’t as flexible as other website builders. In other words, you can’t make crazy design changes.

This can be a deal-breaker for individuals who want to craft a website that presents and works exactly as they envision.

Other people complain about Squarespace’s pricing. The plans aren’t affordable. In fact, they’re more expensive than what other site builders offer. And there’s no free plan.

This can be a barrier for people or small businesses on a tight budget.

Praise

Despite these drawbacks, many users praise Squarespace’s drag-and-drop builder with a small learning curve. Users can create and edit their websites without technical skills.

Squarespace also has many aesthetically pleasing and customizable templates that can be tailored to fit any brand or style, which many users like.

Users also praise Squarespace’s e-commerce capabilities because they can easily sell their products or services online.

Moreover, Squarespace has mobile-responsive templates only, so individuals and small business owners don’t have to worry about optimizing their websites for various screen sizes.

Finally, many users praise Squarespace’s excellent customer support, available 24/7 via email and live chat. This feature has received high marks from users encountering issues while using the platform.
 

Review of Squarespace Website Builder Support

When building a website on a platform like Squarespace, having access to reliable and responsive customer support is essential. And Squarespace knows this. That’s why the platform offers live chat, email, and phone support.

Additionally, as a Squarespace user, you can access the platform’s knowledge base to learn how to use Squarespace independently.

Squarespace regularly uploads updated articles, videos, and tutorials on various topics so that users can get the latest updates.

However, you can submit a support request anytime if you have zero technical skills and don’t want to risk ruining your website. A representative will likely respond within a few hours if you reach out via email. For pressing concerns, try the live chat.

Many users have reported that the support team at Squarespace provides helpful and detailed answers every single time, so you can rest assured knowing someone always has your back.

Finally, Squarespace has a community forum where users can connect and exchange information, experience, and resources. The forum is monitored and regulated by staff at Squarespace, so you can rest assured you’re getting accurate information.

Now, let’s discuss the few downsides of Squarespace’s customer support.

While most people have only nice words for Squarespace’s support team, some have reported having a bad exchange with some of the staff at Squarespace.

Moreover, some people have reported longer wait times for live chat during peak hours, which is somewhat understandable but still a bummer.

Additionally, some new users have reported difficulty finding specific information in the knowledge base because it’s loaded with so much content.

Generally, Squarespace has a good customer support system.

In our opinion, the positive feedback outweighs the negative one. So, Squarespace is a great choice for those who value reliable customer support.

 

Is Squarespace Worth it? Key Takeaways

After looking at all this platform offers for individuals and small businesses, we can confidently say Squarespace is worth it. It’s more expensive than other site builders but also loaded with features that can improve your business.

You might still be wondering: “Should I use Squarespace?” And our answer is yes! As we’ve learned, Squarespace provides sleek design templates, SEO features, a user-friendly interface, etc. The best part? You don’t have to be good at website design or coding to create a website.

However, what makes Squarespace stand out is the commerce plan. The platform has two e-commerce plans with similar features.

The premium plan makes a better choice for business owners that want to grow their ecommerce site further. However, choose the basic one if you have basic commerce needs.

Whichever you pick, you will get product listings, shopping carts, payment processing, and more. So, it’s perfect for small businesses and passionate entrepreneurs who want to sell their products online.

Also, if you don’t know how to optimize your website for search engines, Squarespace has SEO tools to help your website rank. These tools can help improve your business visibility and attract new visitors.

Finally, Squarespace has great customer support. Users get 24/7 support via email and live chat, so they can get help with any technical issues they encounter.

In a nutshell, Squarespace is a great choice for anyone looking to build a professional-looking website. It’s not the right fit for everyone, but it’s worth considering if you want a simple yet functional website.

If this platform doesn’t meet your needs, consider other Squarespace alternatives, such as Wix, Shopify, Weebly, GoDaddy, Mailchimp, etc.
 

Our Final Squarespace Rating

We would give Squarespace a 4.9 out of 5.

 

Squarespace FAQs

Is Squarespace the Best Website Builder?

We can’t say Squarespace is the best website builder because there’s a wide range of excellent website builders on the market. But it’s definitely one of the best because it’s packed with useful features for individuals and smaller businesses. It’s more expensive than other alternatives but provides great value for the money.

So, consider Squarespace if you value design, user experience, and modern websites. Also, if you want to set up a store and sell your products or services online, this platform has some of the best commerce plans.

However, if you prioritize WordPress, consider other options. WordPress provides more flexibility and customization than Squarespace.
 

Is Squarespace Easy to Use?

Absolutely! Squarespace is one of the best website builders for people and businesses without technical skills and experience in website building. Some beginner-friendly tools include a drag-and-drop feature, customizable templates, intuitive design, etc.

Moreover, Squarespace has a very extensive knowledge base and excellent customer support 24/7. So, new users can rest assured knowing they can always get help if they encounter issues or have questions.
 

Is Squarespace Safe to Use?

Yes! Squarespace is one of the most popular platforms, and it’s secure and safe to use. In fact, Squarespace uses SSL encryption, so you can rest assured knowing your data is encrypted and secure.

However, Squarespace plans don’t include a free SSL certificate.

Squarespace also has safety features like two-factor authentication and brute force protection. Additionally, Squarespace complies with industry data protection and privacy standards, such as GDPR and CCPA.
 

How Many Templates Does Squarespace Have?

Squarespace has over 100 professionally-designed and customizable templates, so you can easily find the one that fits your needs. The best part? You can change their colors, fonts, and layouts. Additionally, Squarespace regularly adds new templates, so you can occasionally refresh your website’s outlook.

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