What You Need to Know About Squarespace Pricing in 2025

Written By Rebekah Forsey

Creating a website can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with a range of pricing plans and features. Squarespace, known for its sleek templates and user-friendly platform, remains a popular choice in 2025. But what is the real price for Squarespace? In this guide, we’ll break down Squarespace’s pricing, compare plans, and help you determine the right fit for your needs.

Building a website is more accessible than ever, thanks to platforms like Squarespace. But with plans ranging from $16/month to $99/month (before discounts), how do you pick the right one? In this article, we’ll answer common questions like:

  • How much does a Squarespace website cost?

  • Are there hidden fees?

  • Is Squarespace worth the price?

This updated version replaces our previous blog to reflect the most current Squarespace pricing structure for 2025.

Squarespace now offers four main plans:

Feature Basic Core Plus Advanced Best For
Price (Annual) $16/month $23/month $39/month $99/month See breakdown below
Online Store Fee 2% 0% 0% 0% —
Digital Product Fee 7% 5% 1% 0% —
Credit Card Fee 2.9% + 30¢ 2.9% + 30¢ 2.7% + 30¢ 2.5% + 30¢ —

Each plan includes mobile-optimized templates, a free custom domain for the first year, SSL security, and 24/7 customer support. The differences lie in transaction fees, customization tools, and advanced analytics.

💡 Pro Tip: As a Platinum Squarespace Circle Member, we can get you 25% off your first year—just for working with us!

We’ve outlined each plan below to help you find the best match.

Best for: Hobbyists, bloggers, or simple websites.

  • Up to 2 contributors

  • Drag-and-drop editor

  • Basic SEO tools

  • Free domain for 1 year

  • 2% online store fee

  • 7% digital content fee

Best for: Small business owners.

  • Unlimited contributors

  • Advanced analytics

  • CSS & JS customization

  • Google Workspace integration (optional)

  • 0% online store fee

  • 5% digital content fee

Best for: E-commerce startups.

  • Lower processing fees (2.7%)

  • 1% digital content fee

  • More robust commerce tools

Advanced Plan - $99/month

Best for: Growing online stores or high-volume sellers.

  • 2.5% payment processing

  • 0% digital content fees

  • Most powerful e-commerce features

  • Go with Basic if you're launching a portfolio, blog, or event site.

  • Upgrade to Core if you need analytics, customization, or basic e-commerce.

  • Choose Plus if you're building a store with digital or subscription products.

  • Invest in Advanced if you're scaling up and want the lowest fees.

💡 Don’t forget: you’re not locked in. You can upgrade or downgrade anytime. Unused credit is applied to your new plan.

When deciding on a website builder, it’s essential to weigh your options. Squarespace is a popular choice for its elegant templates and all-in-one platform, but it’s not the only contender in the market. Platforms like Wix, Shopify, GoDaddy, and WordPress each offer unique strengths and weaknesses that may better suit certain projects or priorities.

In this section, we’ll compare Squarespace with its competitors to help you understand how it stacks up in terms of pricing, features, ease of use, and flexibility. Whether you’re a creative professional, a business owner, or an e-commerce entrepreneur, this breakdown will clarify which platform is the best fit for your needs.

Here’s how Squarespace stacks up against popular alternatives:

Feature Squarespace Wix Shopify GoDaddy WordPress
Best For Designers Flexibility E-commerce Budget Sites Advanced Users
Starting Price (Annually) $16/month $14/month $29/month $10/month Free (hosting varies)
E-commerce Fee 0%-3% 2.9% + $0.30 2.9% + $0.30 2.9% + $0.30 Depends on plugin
Templates 140+ 500+ Limited 100+ Customizable

Squarespace is pretty transparent, but here are a few extra costs to plan for:

  • Domain Renewal: $20–$70/year after the first year

  • Email Hosting: Starts at $6/month via Google Workspace

  • Transaction Fees: Vary by plan (see table above)

  • Third-Party Extensions: Some add-ons may have their own monthly fees

Pay annually to save up to 36%

  • Use affiliate or student discounts for additional savings

  • Get 25% off your first year by working with us (Platinum Circle perks!)

💡 Want the Core Plan for just $17.25/month? That’s what you’ll pay after your 25% discount.

  • Squarespace pricing starts at $16/month (billed annually) for the Basic Plan and goes up to $99/month for the Advanced Plan. If you work with a Platinum Circle Member like us, you’ll save 25% off your first year.

  • Not exactly. Squarespace offers a free 14-day trial so you can build your site before committing—but publishing it live requires a paid plan.

  • If you're referring to using Square (the payment processor), Squarespace uses Squarespace Payments (powered by Stripe) for credit card transactions. Fees range from 2.5% to 2.9% + 30¢ depending on your plan.

  • After your first free year, Squarespace domain renewals typically cost between $20–$70 per year, depending on the domain extension (e.g. .com vs .studio).

  • While Squarespace domains cost more than some registrars, the price includes built-in privacy protection, DNS setup, and support—so it’s a simpler, all-in-one experience.

  • Wix offers more design flexibility and features for power users. But for most people, Squarespace’s templates, ease of use, and polished UX make it the better choice—especially for creatives and service-based businesses.

  • Yes. Squarespace acquired Google Domains in 2023. If you previously purchased your domain through Google Domains, your domain is now managed by Squarespace.

  • You can build your site for free during the 14-day trial, but to publish and access full features, you’ll need a paid plan.

  • Yes. Squarespace is an all-in-one platform with a user-friendly editor and built-in hosting. WordPress is more customizable, but it often requires plugins, manual updates, and some technical knowledge.

    1. Plugin Dependency:
      WordPress relies heavily on third-party plugins for features like SEO, e-commerce, and security. Managing these plugins can be time-consuming, as they require frequent updates to stay functional and secure.

    2. Maintenance Overhead:
      WordPress sites require ongoing upkeep, including updates to the core platform, themes, and plugins. Without consistent maintenance, your site may face compatibility issues or become vulnerable to cyberattacks.

    3. Recent Issues:
      WordPress has experienced increasing compatibility challenges and security vulnerabilities due to its open-source nature and reliance on plugins. While some businesses appreciate its flexibility, these issues can frustrate users who lack technical expertise.

    Squarespace eliminates these concerns by offering a fully managed platform where updates and security are handled for you. This makes it a more reliable choice for users who prefer simplicity and peace of mind.

  • Absolutely. You can either purchase a domain through Squarespace or connect one you already own from a third-party registrar.

  • Squarespace includes built-in SEO tools at no additional cost, such as customizable meta tags, automatic sitemaps, and mobile-friendly designs. For advanced SEO or targeted strategies, you may need to hire an expert, which typically costs $500–$5,000+ depending on the scope.

The Price (and Benefits) of Working with an Expert Web Designer

While Squarespace’s user-friendly interface makes it appealing for DIY website builders, working with an expert web designer can elevate your site’s functionality, design, and performance. Here’s a breakdown of costs and benefits to help you decide if hiring a professional is right for you.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Web Designer?

Web design costs can vary widely depending on the designer’s experience and the complexity of your project. Here’s a general range to consider:

Experience Level Estimated Cost What You Get
Junior Designer $1,000–$2,500 A basic Squarespace site with some customization and a clean, professional look.
Intermediate Designer $2,500–$5,000 Custom layouts, advanced SEO setup, optimized templates, and integration of third-party tools.
Expert Designer $5,000–$15,000+ Highly personalized designs, advanced functionality, detailed analytics, and ongoing support.

Benefits of Hiring a Squarespace Expert

  1. Time Savings: Building a website, even on a platform as straightforward as Squarespace, can be time-consuming. An expert can launch a polished site faster, allowing you to focus on other priorities.

  2. Professional Customization: Designers can go beyond the standard templates, creating unique layouts, custom graphics, and seamless user experiences that align with your brand.

  3. Improved Functionality: Need advanced features like e-commerce, subscription services, or complex forms? An experienced designer can implement these efficiently.

  4. SEO Optimization: Many experts include on-page SEO as part of their service, ensuring your site ranks higher on search engines and attracts your target audience.

  5. Long-Term ROI: A professionally designed website can attract more visitors, increase conversions, and build credibility, ultimately paying for itself in the long run.

  6. Ongoing Support: Some designers offer post-launch support to handle updates, troubleshoot issues, or optimize your site as your business grows.

Should You Hire an Expert?

If you have a simple personal project, the DIY route might work. However, for businesses or those who want a standout site, investing in a designer ensures your website meets professional standards and functions optimally.

At Known Creative, we specialize in creating customized Squarespace websites that combine aesthetic appeal with high performance. Whether you’re launching a portfolio, an online store, or a company website, we help you get the most out of Squarespace—so you don’t have to worry about the details.

By including a web designer in your budget, you can amplify Squarespace’s strengths and avoid potential pitfalls, ensuring your website reflects your vision and stands out in a competitive digital landscape.

Squarespace provides a range of pricing tiers to meet different needs—from bloggers to growing e-commerce brands. The recent pricing updates make it even more important to stay informed and choose the right plan.

✅ Work with Known Creative and get 25% off your first year.
✅ Get a beautifully designed site that actually converts.
✅ Save time, avoid overwhelm, and launch with confidence.

Let’s build something great together. Book A Call with us today

Rebekah Forsey
Previous

Should I Hire a Web Designer for My Squarespace Website?
Next

Maximizing Your Online Presence