Squarespace Website Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown
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When you're ready to build a professional website for your business, one of the first questions you probably ask is: "How much my Squarespace website cost?"
The short answer? It depends. But a more helpful answer is this: Squarespace offers one of the most transparent and affordable website solutions available today, without the hidden costs that plague other platforms.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down exactly what you'll pay for a Squarespace website in 2025, compare it with competitors, and help you understand whether Squarespace is the right investment for your business. Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or creative professional, you'll find clarity on the real costs involved.
Squarespace Pricing Plans: What You Actually Pay
Squarespace offers four main pricing plans, each designed for different needs and business sizes. Let's examine what's included in each tier:
1. Personal Plan: $16 (11EUR)/month (Annual Billing)
Monthly billing: $25 (15EUR)/month
The Personal plan is Squarespace's entry-level option, perfect for personal portfolios, blogs, and small hobby websites.
What's Included:
Unlimited bandwidth and storage
Mobile-responsive design
Free custom domain for the first year
SSL security certificate (for HTTPS)
SEO tools and features
24/7 customer support
Social media integration
Email signup forms
Backup and recovery
What's NOT Included:
E-commerce/online store capabilities
Limited customization options
Basic analytics only
Real Cost:
Annual billing: $192/year ($16/month)
Monthly billing: $300/year ($25/month)
Difference: $108/year between billing options
Best For: Bloggers, photographers with portfolio needs, freelancers showcasing work, and personal brands without sales needs.
2. Business Plan: $23 (17EUR)/month (Annual Billing)
Monthly billing: $36 (24EUR)/month
The Business plan adds professional features for growing businesses that need more customization and integration capabilities.
What's Included:
Everything from Personal plan, plus:
Professional email from Google (up to 100 accounts)
Premium integrations and advanced blocks
Advanced customization with CSS and JavaScript
Basic e-commerce (products with 3% transaction fee)
$100 Google Ads credit
Advanced analytics and reporting
Team collaboration features
Real Cost:
Annual billing: $276/year ($23/month)
Monthly billing: $432/year ($36/month)
Difference: $156/year between billing options
Best For: Small service-based businesses, consulting, agencies, and businesses wanting to sell a few products with moderate customization needs.
3. Commerce Basic Plan: $28 (24EUR)/month (Annual Billing)
Monthly billing: $40 (28EUR)/month
The Commerce Basic plan is designed for serious e-commerce operations with full online store capabilities.
What's Included:
Everything from Business plan, plus:
NO transaction fees (this is huge!)
Full e-commerce capabilities
Unlimited products and inventory
Professional checkout on your domain
Customer accounts and login
Point of Sale integration
E-commerce analytics dashboard
Product variants and SKU tracking
Instagram product integration
Shipping calculator and integration
Real Cost:
Annual billing: $336/year ($28/month)
Monthly billing: $480/year ($40/month)
Difference: $144/year between billing options
Best For: Online retailers, e-commerce businesses, subscription box services, and businesses with significant product sales.
4. Commerce Advanced Plan: $52 (36EUR)/month (Annual Billing)
Monthly billing: $72 (42EUR)/month
The Commerce Advanced plan is Squarespace's premium tier for high-volume e-commerce operations and enterprise needs.
What's Included:
Everything from Commerce Basic, plus:
Abandoned cart recovery automation
Advanced shipping with calculated rates
Advanced discount and promotion builder
Commerce API access
Subscription products and recurring billing
Priority support
Advanced customer insights
Wholesale/B2B capabilities
Limited availability product labels
Real Cost:
Annual billing: $624/year ($52/month)
Monthly billing: $864/year ($72/month)
Difference: $240/year between billing options
Best For: High-volume online stores, enterprise retailers, subscription businesses, and operations needing advanced automation and API access.
The Hidden Costs You Need to Know About
While Squarespace is known for transparent pricing, there are some additional costs to factor into your budget of your Squarespace website cost beyond the monthly subscription.
1. Domain Registration ($20/year)
After the First Year of Free Domain
Squarespace includes a free custom domain for the first year. After that, you'll pay approximately $20/year for domain renewal. This is actually competitive compared to other registrars.
Important Note: If you already own a domain elsewhere, you can connect it to Squarespace for free—no additional charge.
2. Email Hosting (Optional)
Google Workspace Integration: $6-12/user/month
If you want professional email addresses (@yourdomain.com), you'll need Google Workspace. This starts at $6/month for basic email and goes up to $12/month for advanced features. The Business plan includes the ability to set up email, but doesn't include the cost of Google Workspace itself.
If you use the Personal or Commerce plans, you can still add Google Workspace, but it's an optional add-on.
3. Premium Apps and Integrations (Optional)
Variable: $5-50+/month
Squarespace has a built-in App Marketplace where you can add specialized functionality:
Advanced booking systems: $10-30/month
Email marketing integrations: $0-50/month (depending on subscriber count)
Advanced analytics tools: $5-20/month
Appointment scheduling apps: $10-50/month
Most basic functionality is built-in (email signup, basic forms, social integration), but specialized apps cost extra.
4. Premium Template Selection (No Additional Cost)
One of the best features of Squarespace: all templates are included with any plan. Unlike some platforms, you don't pay extra for "premium" templates.
5. E-commerce Transaction Fees (Plan Dependent)
This is critical for online retailers:
Personal Plan: No e-commerce capabilities
Business Plan: 3% transaction fee on all sales
Example: A $100 sale costs you $3 in platform fees
Commerce Basic & Advanced Plans: 0% transaction fee!
You still pay payment processor fees, but NOT the Squarespace fees!
This is where Commerce plans save serious money:
At $10,000 in monthly sales on Business plan: $200/month in Squarespace fees alone
At $10,000 in monthly sales on Commerce plan: $0 Squarespace fees.
Monthly savings: $200 just in transaction fees
Squarespace vs. Competitors: Real Cost Comparison
To give you context, let's compare Squarespace with other popular website platforms. Here's what it actually costs to build and maintain a website on each platform, including all necessary add-ons.
Squarespace vs. WordPress
WordPress (Self-Hosted)
WordPress itself is free, but you need:
Hosting: $5-30/month depending on traffic
Theme: $0-100 (one-time or annual)
Essential plugins: $0-200+/month (security, backup, SEO, forms, e-commerce)
Maintenance & updates: Your time or $50-150/month
SSL certificate: Usually included with hosting, but sometimes $50-100/year
Domain: $12-19/year
Real Annual Cost for Small Business WordPress Site:
Hosting: $20/month minimum = $240/year. You can use our AdSYMBOL cpanel hosting service, Wordpress included - our server located in Germany - at 116 EUR/year. Contact us for details, using contact form.
Plugins/maintenance: $50/month = $600/year
SSL: $50/year
Domain: $15/year
Total: $900/year minimum
And you get: Unlimited customization but requires technical knowledge or developer help.
Squarespace (Commerce Basic Plan)
Platform: $39/month = $468/year
Domain: Included 1st year, $20/year after
Email: Optional, $72/year (included in Business+ plans)
Professional email: Optional
SSL: Included
Support: Included
Real Annual Cost for Squarespace E-commerce Site:
$468/year (first year) or $488/year (after first year)
Squarespace wins on cost by $430/year while providing built-in security, regular updates, and 24/7 support. NO stress with untested upgrades!
Squarespace vs. Shopify
Shopify E-commerce Pricing
Shopify is designed specifically for e-commerce and starts at a higher price point:
Basic Plan: $29/month
Shopify Plan: $79/month
Advanced Plan: $299/month
Shopify Plus: $2,300+/month
Shopify Transaction Fees (on ALL plans):
Basic Plan: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Shopify Plan: 2.6% + $0.30 per transaction
Advanced Plan: 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction
Real Annual Cost for Shopify Basic E-commerce Site:
Platform: $29/month = $348/year
Domain: $14/year
Payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.30 (variable, let's calculate for $5,000/month sales)
Monthly transaction fees on $5,000: ($5,000 × 2.9%) + ($0.30 × average 50 transactions) = $145 + $15 = $160/month
Annual transaction fees: $1,920/year
Shopify Total Annual Cost: $348 + $14 + $1,920 = $2,282/year
Compare with Squarespace Commerce Basic:
Platform: $39/month = $468/year
Domain: Included
Payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.30 (same as Shopify basic)
Annual transaction fees on $5,000/month: $1,920/year
Squarespace Total: $2,388/year
Verdict: Squarespace and Shopify are comparable for basic e-commerce, BUT Squarespace charges $0 transaction fees on Commerce plans, making it cheaper for higher-volume sellers.
Squarespace vs. Wix
Wix Pricing Structure
Wix offers a similar plan structure to Squarespace:
Starter: $16/month (same as Squarespace Personal)
Basic: $27/month (similar to Squarespace Business)
Standard: $32/month (e-commerce option)
Business Basic: $49/month (advanced e-commerce)
Business Unlimited: $72/month
Wix Transaction Fees:
2.9% + $0.30 on most plans (no plans without transaction fees)
Real Annual Cost for Wix E-commerce Site:
Basic plan: $27/month = $324/year
Domain: $18/year (after first year)
Transaction fees on $5,000/month: $1,920/year
Wix Total: $2,262/year
Key Difference: Wix doesn't offer plans without transaction fees, making Squarespace Commerce plans more cost-effective for high-volume sellers. Also the designing options on Wix are not at Squarespace levels.
Professional Design Services: The Real Investment
While Squarespace's platform is affordable, many businesses opt for professional design help. This is where the real investment happens.
DIY Squarespace Website
Cost: $192-468/year (depending on plan)
Time Investment: 40-100 hours
Skills Required: Basic to intermediate design, technical knowledge
Best for: Technical business owners, designers, and those with spare time.
Template-Customized Squarespace Website
Cost: $1,000-6,000 (one-time service fee + monthly platform cost)
Platform cost: $468-564/year
Time Investment: 20-40 hours (professional designer's time)
Includes:
Custom color scheme and branding
Professional layout and organization
Content optimization
SEO setup
Mobile optimization
Training on how to update
Best for: Most small businesses wanting professional appearance without custom coding.
Fully Custom Squarespace Website
Cost: $4,000-15,000+ (one-time service fee + monthly platform cost)
Platform cost: $468-1,188/year
Time Investment: 80-200+ hours (professional designer/developer)
Includes:
Bespoke design aligned to brand
Advanced customization with CSS/JavaScript
Third-party integrations
E-commerce optimization
Advanced animations and interactions
Conversion rate optimization
Strategy consultation
Ongoing support
Best for: Businesses needing unique, conversion-focused sites or complex functionality.
Cost Breakdown Examples: Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Local Service Business (Plumber, Electrician, Consultant)
Website Needs:
Portfolio of work
Service descriptions
Appointment booking
Contact form
Google integration
Cost Breakdown:
Squarespace Business Plan: $23/month × 12 = $276/year
Domain (after 1st year): $20/year
Professional design service: $3,100 (2750 EUR) (one-time)
Google Workspace email: $72/year (optional)
Year 1 Total: $3,468
Year 2+ Total: $368/year
Our offer: Gold Package - Website in 2 Weeks
Scenario 2: E-commerce Store (20-500 products)
Website Needs:
Product catalog
Secure checkout
Inventory management
Email marketing integration
Shipping calculator
Cost Breakdown:
Squarespace Commerce Basic: $39/month × 12 = $468/year
Domain: Included 1st year, $20/year after
Professional design/setup: $4,500 (3950 EUR) (one-time)
Email marketing tool: $50-300/year (optional, depends on subscriber count)
Shipping integrations: Usually free
Year 1 Total: $5,088
Our offer: Platinum Package - Website in 3 Weeks
Scenario 3: Content Creator/Photographer Portfolio
Website Needs:
Large image galleries
Blog for content
Social media integration
Email signup forms
Merchandise sales (optional)
Cost Breakdown:
Squarespace Personal: $16/month × 12 = $192/year
Domain: Included 1st year, $20/year after
Professional design service: $1,670 (1450 EUR) (one-time)
Professional email: Optional
Year 1 Total: $1,892
Our offer: Platinum Silver - Website in 1 Weeks
Ways to Save Money on Squarespace
1. Annual Billing Saves 30-35%
Never pay monthly billing if you can afford annual payment upfront. The difference is substantial:
Personal: $25/month vs. $16/month = $108/year savings
Business: $36/month vs. $23/month = $156/year savings
Commerce Basic: $28/month vs. $40/month = $144/year savings
2. Join the Squarespace Circle Program
If you're a designer or agency working with Squarespace, the Circle membership offers:
15-25% discount on client projects
Exclusive resources and training
Referral commissions
Early access to new features
3. Use Squarespace's Built-In Features Instead of Apps
Many features you might think require paid add-ons are already included:
Email signup forms (included)
Contact forms (included)
Social media integration (included)
Basic SEO tools (included)
Google Analytics integration (included)
Email announcement list (included)
4. Leverage the Free Year of Domain Registration
Take advantage of the free custom domain in your first year. This saves $20 compared to purchasing externally.
5. Start with a Lower Plan and Upgrade Later
You can always upgrade your Squarespace plan as your business grows. There's no penalty for upgrading, and you'll only pay the prorated difference.
6. Take Advantage of Promotional Offers
Squarespace regularly offers:
First month discount fees for new customers
Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals
Seasonal promotions
Is Squarespace Worth the Cost?
The simple answer: Yes, for most small businesses, Squarespace offers exceptional value.
Why Squarespace Is Worth It:
✅ No Hidden Costs – Transparent pricing with no surprise fees
✅ Included Security – SSL certificates, automatic backups, and security monitoring included
✅ Regular Updates – Automatic updates without manual intervention or additional cost
✅ 24/7 Support – Professional customer support included on all plans
✅ Mobile Optimization – All templates are fully responsive by default
✅ SEO-Ready – Built-in SEO tools without expensive plugins
✅ Scalability – Easy to upgrade plans as your business grows
✅ No Transaction Fees on Commerce Plans – Save thousands compared to competitors
✅ Time Savings – Intuitive interface means you don't need a developer for basic updates
✅ Professional Results – Beautiful templates rival custom-designed sites
When Squarespace Might NOT Be the Best Choice:
❌ If you need unlimited customization with custom coding
❌ If you're building a massive marketplace with thousands of vendors
❌ If you have extremely specific, niche requirements
❌ If you require hosting in specific geographic locations for compliance
However, these scenarios apply to less than 5% of small businesses.
Making Your Decision: Final Thoughts
When evaluating whether Squarespace is right for you, ask yourself these questions:
Do I want professional results without technical knowledge? → Squarespace is ideal
Do I need to minimize ongoing costs? → Squarespace's all-inclusive approach beats competitors
Will I sell products online? → Squarespace Commerce plans have zero transaction fees, saving significant money
Do I want reliable support when I need help? → Squarespace's 24/7 support is included
Do I need to scale over time? → Squarespace plans grow with your business
If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, Squarespace's cost is a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself through increased customer conversions and professional brand image.
Get Expert Help With Your Squarespace Website
While Squarespace is affordable and user-friendly, working with a professional Squarespace designer can multiply your results.
At AdSYMBOL design studio, we specialize in creating conversion-focused Squarespace websites that help businesses attract more customers. We handle everything from design and customization to SEO optimization and advanced integrations—allowing you to focus on running your business.
Our Squarespace services include:
Custom website design from 1450 EUR
E-commerce store setup
SEO optimization
Website migration/redesign from WordPress or other platforms
Professional copywriting
Ongoing maintenance and support
Ready to get started? Contact me to discuss your project, timeline, and budget.
Conclusion
Squarespace's pricing is transparent, affordable, and scales with your business. Whether you're starting a blog, creating a portfolio, or running a full e-commerce store, Squarespace offers excellent value compared to competitors.
The real cost of a Squarespace website depends on your needs:
DIY website: $192-468/year
Template-customized website: $1,500-5,000 + $468-564/year
Professional custom design: $4,000-15,000+ + $468-1,188/year
Most importantly, Squarespace's transparent pricing means no surprises—you get exactly what you pay for, with built-in security, support, and regular updates included.
The question isn't whether Squarespace is affordable (it is), but whether the investment in a professional website will pay for itself through increased customer conversions and business growth. For most businesses, the answer is absolutely yes.