Squarespace

Overview

Squarespace is an all-in-one website building platform used by over 2.9 million active websites worldwide. It pairs designer-quality templates with AI-powered tools like Blueprint AI and Beacon AI to help you create, manage, and grow a professional online presence. Whether you need a portfolio, online store, blog, or booking site, Squarespace handles design, hosting, domains, payments, SEO, email marketing, and analytics in a single dashboard, so you can skip the patchwork of plugins and tools.

Key Features

Blueprint AI Website Builder: Answer a few questions about your business and style, and AI assembles a full custom website in minutes, complete with relevant copy, images, and layout. More than half of new Squarespace users now start with Blueprint.
Beacon AI Business Assistant: An AI-powered partner that scans your site for SEO issues, broken links, and AI visibility across platforms like ChatGPT, then provides one-click fixes and growth recommendations.
Fluid Engine Editor: A drag-and-drop grid editor that gives you full creative control over page layouts without writing code. Includes block animations, transformations, and saved sections you can reuse across pages.
Built-In E-commerce: Sell physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, services, and memberships. Includes inventory management, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, gift cards, and point-of-sale integration.
Acuity Scheduling: Integrated appointment booking with automated reminders, deposits, tipping, and a style editor that matches your website branding.
SEO & AI Visibility Tools: Customizable meta tags, automatic sitemaps, 301 redirects, Google Search Console integration, plus an AIO Scanner that tracks how your site appears in AI search results.
Email Marketing & Automations: Create AI-generated email campaigns in your brand voice, set up automated triggers based on visitor actions, and connect social media accounts for multi-channel selling.
Invoicing & Proposals: Send recurring invoices, schedule billing, and create professional proposals, estimates, and contracts directly from the platform.

Pros

Beautiful and Professional Design: Over 180 high-quality templates and an AI builder that consistently produces polished results. Rated best-in-design among 12 website builders tested.
True All-in-One Platform: Website, store, blog, scheduling, email marketing, invoicing, and analytics live under one roof with no essential plugins to manage.
Accessibility for Non-Technical Users:: The guided setup and drag-and-drop editor make it accessible to people with zero coding experience. Blueprint AI can generate a full site from just a few prompts.
Strong Mobile Optimization: Every template is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices out of the box.
Reliable Uptime and Security: The platform maintains 99.98% uptime with SSL certificates included on all sites.
No Transaction Fees on Higher Plans: The Core plan and above eliminate Squarespace's own transaction fees on physical product sales.

Cons

No Free Plan Available: Unlike Wix or WordPress.com, Squarespace only offers a 14-day free trial. You must pay to publish.
Limited Customization Depth: The section-based editor keeps things structured but can feel restrictive if you need highly custom layouts or functionality beyond what templates allow.
Smaller App and Integration Ecosystem: Compared to WordPress or Shopify, third-party extensions are limited. If you rely on niche integrations, you may hit walls.
Not Built for Large-Scale E-commerce: Managing hundreds or thousands of products, complex shipping rules, or multi-currency selling is better handled by dedicated platforms like Shopify.

Use Cases

Creative Portfolios: Photographers, designers, and artists can showcase their work with visually striking galleries and layouts. Squarespace's design-first approach means your portfolio looks polished without hiring a developer.
Small Business Websites: Service providers like consultants, therapists, coaches, and law firms can build a credible online presence with booking, contact forms, and SEO tools built in. No IT department needed.
Online Stores for Curated Brands: Fashion labels, artisan goods, and DTC brands can sell products with beautiful product pages, abandoned cart recovery, and social media integration. Brands like Rodarte and Brew Tea Company run their stores on Squarespace.
Restaurants and Hospitality: Cafes, restaurants, and spas can display menus, take reservations through Tock integration, sell gift cards, and manage bookings through Acuity Scheduling.
Content Creators and Bloggers: Writers, podcasters, and influencers can monetize through memberships, gated content, bio sites, and email newsletters, all managed from a single platform.
Non-Profits and Organizations: Groups like the YWCA and Tony Hawk's Foundation use Squarespace to build accessible, professional sites for fundraising, events, and community engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Squarespace good for beginners?

Yes. Squarespace is consistently rated as one of the easiest website builders available. The Blueprint AI builder walks you through setup in about 5-10 minutes, and the drag-and-drop Fluid Engine editor requires no coding knowledge. If you can use a word processor, you can build a Squarespace site.

How much does Squarespace cost?

Squarespace offers four paid plans when billed annually: Basic at A$17/month, Core at A$28/month, Plus at A$49/month, and Advanced at A$109/month. All plans include website building tools, hosting, and the ability to accept payments and sell products or services. As you upgrade, you unlock more advanced business features, lower transaction fees, and better ecommerce capabilities. There is no free plan, but Squarespace provides a 14-day free trial, so you can test the platform before paying.

Can I build an online store with Squarespace?

Yes. Starting from the Core plan, you can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, subscriptions, and memberships with zero Squarespace transaction fees on physical goods. Features include inventory management, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, gift cards, and point-of-sale support.

Does Squarespace have AI tools?

Squarespace includes several AI-powered features. Blueprint AI generates a full custom website from a few prompts. Beacon AI acts as a business assistant that audits your SEO, tracks AI visibility, and catches site errors. Additional AI tools help write product descriptions, compose emails, and generate FAQ content.

Can I use my own domain with Squarespace?

Yes. You can register a new domain through Squarespace with over 400 TLDs available, including .ai, .nyc, and .link. You can also transfer or connect an existing domain from another registrar. Annual plans include one free domain for the first year.

Is Squarespace good for SEO?

Squarespace includes solid built-in SEO tools. Every page gets customizable title tags, meta descriptions, and URL slugs. The platform generates clean HTML, automatic sitemaps, supports 301 redirects, and connects directly to Google Search Console. The newer AIO Scanner also tracks your visibility in AI-powered search engines.

How does Squarespace compare to Shopify for e-commerce?

Squarespace is better suited for small to mid-sized stores where visual presentation matters most. Shopify is the stronger choice if you need to manage large product catalogs, multi-currency selling, complex shipping rules, or extensive third-party app integrations. Squarespace shines for curated, design-forward storefronts.