Squarespace Pricing Plans 2020 Are Website Costs Worth it

Squarespace Pricing Plans 2020 Are Website Costs Worth it Last Updated on March 18, 2020I’m glad the site builder and eCommerce services out there are competitive now. Sure, the likes of Shopify, Wix and Weebly have their place and make Squarespace earn its value, but the pricing for Squarespace needs some focus.With four different plans on offerâ€"two being for site building and two for eCommerceâ€"how do you know which one suits you best? Disclosure As an independent review site, we get compensated if you purchase through the referral links or coupon codes on this page â€" at no additional cost to you. Dismiss alert It’s simple…Check out my Squarespace pricing plans comparison below.Even if you’re a complete beginner to site building, the user-friendly back-end utilizes a simple drag and drop style of functionality. Even my cat could work it out (she couldn’t reallyâ€"she’s blind).There’s something for everyone with Squarespace, so be sure to work your way through the different options below carefully.Ready.Set. Join the F REE TrainingDo You Want To Learn How To Build 6 Figures Authority Sites?Join This Free Training To...Finally have a proven method to finding profitable nichesGet access to a foolproof keyword research methodLearn how to outsource quality contentLearn how to build white hat links to your site without headaches Go!You might also like: Squarespace review Table of Contents Squarespace pricing plans: all there is to knowMonthly pricing for Squarespace costs moreSquarespace transaction feesSquarespace Commerce plans: Basic Commerce vs advanced CommerceSquarespace email pricingSquarespace pricing vs competitors pricingSquarespace pricing vs Wix and WeeblySquarespace student discount price (50% cheaper!)Squarespace nonprofit pricingSquarespace store pricing: key takeawaysFAQs on Squarespace website costsSquarespace pricing plans: all there is to know Squarespace plan Annual Cost if Paid Monthly Annual Cost if Paid Annually Saving Per YearPersonal$192$144$48 (25%)Business$312$216$96 ( 31%)Basic Commerce$360$312$48 (13%)Advanced Commerce$552$480$72 (13%) Check current pricing This is all well and good, but what do you actually get for the packages?Whatever you do, don’t go in blind and sign up for the Business Squarespace plan without checking out the below comparison.Squarespace Personal plan price: $12 per month billed annually Squarespace Business plan price: $18 per month billed annuallyThese are the basic offerings of the Squarespace Personal plan:SSL securityUnlimited bandwidthUnlimited storageReady-to-go templatesSEO basic supportSites optimized for mobile devicesSite metricsThird-party extensions24/7 customer supportMaximum of two contributor accountsSome of these may sound super flashy but do bear in mind that they’re the basics. For example, the templates are just standard templates for your site, but they do still look good.Also, the SEO support is nothing to write home about; it’s just some basics to ensure the search engines pick up your page s correctly and understand your site structure.That said, it’s good to see the SSL certificate and unlimited bandwidth and storage there as standard. Comparison packages have unmetered bandwidth, which isn’t the same thing, and definitely isn't as good.The great thing about Squarespace sites is that they look darn good, and are super easy to build. If you like the idea of dragging and dropping widgets to design your site, this makes up for the basic offerings here.Consider the personal plan if you’re a blogger starting out on your journey.With the Business plan, you get everything the Personal plan has to offer, plus:Premium Gmail accountPremium apps and widgetsCSS and Javascript customizationUnlimited contributors… as well as the following marketing features:Advanced analyticsGoogle Ads creditsâ€"$100Promotional banners and pop-ups… PLUS these eCommerce features:Integrated eCommerceUncapped selling limitsAccept donationsThere’s a clear step up here between the two packa ges but that doesn’t mean you need all of the above.Sure, a premium Gmail and G Suite account are nice to have, but they’re not going to turn your blog from a hobby to a ranking authority site. Besides, you can pick up a G Suite account for about $5/mo yourself here.The same applies to the ability to customize your site through CSS and Javascript. If you have that ability anyway, you’d already be heading down the WordPress/WooCommerce vs Squarespace debate.I feel the Business plan is a medium between the Personal option and the shift over to the eCommerce plans. Check current pricing Bear in mind that if you don’t have a domain yet, you can get one for free with Squarespace if you pay for one of the packages a year in advance, but it’s only the first year that’s free.Think of the Business plan as a hybrid between a personal blog and shifting into eCommerce. It may suit you if you’re looking to monetize your website some more, need some more customization options wit h the banners and extra contributor accounts, while also being able to target your traffic with the analytics.That said, you should consider leaping from Personal into one of the below eCommerce packages if you need an online store, as well as all the customizability that goes with that.Squarespace transaction feesThe stand-out thing for me with the Squarespace transaction fees is that Squarespace will charge you 3% of your eCommerce transactions on the Squarespace Business plan, and that includes shipping costs. For $5 extra a month on the Basic Commerce plan (if paid upfront annually, remember), there’s no fee.This is pretty darn good when you consider that Shopifyâ€"as one of the best eCommerce optionsâ€"charges a transaction cost across all of its plans  (apart from Shopify Lite).Want to find out more on the Squarespace Commerce plans?As if by magic Check current transaction fees Squarespace Commerce plans: Basic Commerce vs advanced CommerceWith the Squarespace Commerce pl ans, you get everything the website plans above have to offer, plus the extras in this Squarespace basic vs advanced website hosting comparison:Squarespace Basic Commerce price: $20 per month billed annually Squarespace Advanced Commerce Price: $30 per month billed annuallyOn top of all transaction fees being wiped (3% charge on the final checkout amount), you gain access to the following features:Point of sale appCustomer account creationSecure checkouteCommerce analyticsMerchandise toolsInstagram synchronizationWe’re clearly in the realms of full eCommerce now, but do keep in mind that Squarespace will still charge you for credit card transactions; it just doesn’t charge you for other payment methods.While you now have access to a basic commercial website suite, it’s everything you need to manage customers, inventory and accept payments, which is through Square.Your customers will also be able to create accounts, which means targeted promotions, better analytics and an excel lent opportunity to establish brand identity with them.The merchandising tools are also quite handy; you know those “related products” banners and promotions you see when you’re Christmas shopping and suddenly you’ve spent more than you needed? The Squarespace Basic Commerce package can do that for you. Neat-O!The Advanced Commerce package is the pinnacle that Squarespace has to offer. You get everything I’ve mentioned so far, plus these additional features:A kitchen sink…JOKING!These are the extras:Gift cardsSubscription packagesAdvanced shippingSmart shopping cart optionsAdvanced discountingCustom APIsLimited availability labelingAs you can tell, none of those are needed to get your eCommerce site off the ground, so are targeted to the top-end of commercial sites.You’ll find all of the above features on the online stores you frequent, even if you’ve never noticed them.The ability to offer subscription packages is the only one that would tilt me toward going for thi s package before being “ready” to do so, for it can really extend your business model. Check current prices If you were just starting out with an online store and business, I would err on the side of caution and go with the Basic Commerce package. The great thing about Squarespace is that you can upgrade or downgrade at any time and receive a pro-rated refund or charge when doing so.$30 a month is nothing to a site converting thousands of customers per month, but it is for a start-up without a market-rested range of products.In my view, baby steps are the way forward.Squarespace email pricingBut wait, there’s more. Squarespaces talent dont just include site builders and eCommerce platforms, no, no, no…The current Squarespace email pricing and packages are as follows: Squarespace features Starter Core Pro MaxPrice (Monthly / Annually)$7 / $60$14 / $120$34 / $288$68 / $576Blast campaigns/mo3520UnlimitedList sizeUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedSends per month5005,00050,0 00250,000Squarespace footer branding?YesNoNoNoCampaign automation?NoYesYesYes Check current packages If you don’t feel that the email campaign rates are worth it, think how many times you’ve grabbed what you thought was a bargain via an email, or felt connected to a brand, company or product because of an enticing email.More often than you realize, I bet!Building a list is massive for online businesses since it can’t be taken away from you, and is now considered the modern rolodex. By a customer sharing their name and email address with you and agreeing to receive your newsletter, you’ve just exploded your marketing campaign.If you’re already thinking of grabbing one of the Squarespace packages, to me, it makes to think about the Squarespace plan pricing for email, too. Ok, so three blast campaigns per month on the Starter package isn’t huge, but the campaign automation and 5,000 sends per month is much more attractive with the Core email price plan..Food for thoughtS quarespace pricing vs competitors pricing Company Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3 Plan 4 Official site Squarespace$12 (Personal)$18 (Business)$26 (Basic Commerce)$40 (Advanced Commerce) Current price Wix$13 (Combo)$17 (Unlimited)$22 (Pro)$39 (VIP) Current price Weebly$0 (Free)$7 (Personal)$15 (Professional)$30 (Performance) Current price Shopify$9 (Shopify Lite)$29.29 (Basic Shopify)$79.79 (Shopify)$299.29 (Advanced Shopify) Current price Webflow$12 (Basic)$16 (CMS)$36 (Business) Current price BigCommerce$29.95 (Standard)$79.95 (Plus)$299.95 (Pro) Current price WooCommerce$0 (Free)$0 (Free)$0 (Free)$0 (Free) Learn more Volusion$29 (Personal)$79 (Professional)$299 (Business)$? (Custom pricing available) Current price 3DCart$9.50 (Startup)$14.50 (Basic)$39.50 (Plus)$114.50 (Pro) Current price PrestaShop$22.74 (PrestaShop Ready) Current price Square$0 (Free but has transaction fees)$0 (Free but has transaction fees)$0 (Free but has transaction fees)$0 (Free but has transaction fees) Current price Keep in mind that the above prices are all if you paid annually.So, as you can see, Squarespace holds up pretty well, right? While there’s no free option, the pricing is very competitive across all plans, and has more variety than many others.Squarespace pricing vs Wix and WeeblyIt’s tough to compare Squarespace with other site builders and eCommerce platforms because they don’t all do what Squarespace does and offer that broad spectrum and catch-all type of services.I wanted to zero in on the two W’s, though, since they crop up a lot in conversations when talking about website buildersâ€" Wix and Weebly.I’ll be honest, though, both Wix and Weebly kind of make me cringe. I’m not saying they aren’t high-qualityâ€"they areâ€"but I don’t feel they’re as good as Squarespace.Weebly does have a free pricing plan, which is a definite positive if you’re risk averse, but you’re heavily limited with what you can do, have to accept Weebly’s branding, and only get 500MB of storage.Wix doesn’t offer a free option, and is $1 more expensive than Squarespace’s basic price plan. However, you’re limited to 2GB of bandwidth and 3GB of storage, whereas Squarespace’s basic plan is cheaper and has unlimited bandwidth and storage.Of course, it’s not as simple a comparison as that, but if you’re looking for basic functionality and don’t want to be capped, Squarespace is the place to be.Squarespace student discount price (50% cheaper!)I knew that would get your attention!Squarespace is awesome if you were to only focus on its Education Program alone. Your school needs to be registered with their program for you to qualify. If it is, and you have a school email address, the Squarespace student discount price is as much as 50% lower for your first year.Note that this has to be for a new account, but applies to any of the plans you take out. For example, if you went for the Basic Commerce plan, you’d pay $156 instead of $312. View current student discounts Squarespace nonprofit pricingThe Squarespace nonprofit pricing is the same as the regular plans, unfortunately. However, Squarespace is still a great choice for nonprofit ventures, especially since the templates and eCommerce features are an excellent way to keep nonprofit stakeholders engaged and onboard, especially with the ability for your site to accept donations.Squarespace also has a section on its site dedicated toward the best way to build your nonprofit site. I highly recommend you check this out.Squarespace store pricing: key takeawaysYou can remove a lot of headaches early on by deciding whether you want to sell through your site. If you do, start by looking at the website builder options. The Squarespace store pricing for these are either $12 or $18 per month if you pay annually, or $16 or $26 per month if you monthly.If you know that you want to sell products through your site and need a checkout, discounts, customer accounts, inventory management, and other top-notch eCommerce options, focus on the Squarespace eCommerce pricing plans of Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce. These will cost you $26 or $40 per month if you pay annually and $30 or $46 per month if you pay annually.Critics will say that Squarespace should offer a free option, but your site will look nowhere near as good, nor will it load as fast as with the basic Squarespace pricing package. If anything, the free trial is worth it to see if you like the methodology of putting your site together through the interface.The excellent thing with the Squarespace pricing plans is that you can move between them when you need to, without incurring a financial penalty.If you’re looking for a high-quality and reliable website builder and/or eCommerce option, Squarespace is a good choice.FAQs on Squarespace website costs Is Squarespace free?No, Squarespace isn’t free. However, it does have a 14-day free trial to whet your appetite. By not being free, though, Squarespace sets itself in a different market away from the likes of Weebly, which does offer a free package. Is Squarespace expensive?No, Squarespace isn’t expensive. For as little as $12 per month you can get started with the Personal plan, if you pay annually. The most expensive package is $46 per month for the Advanced Commerce package. Squarespace prices are competitive, neither being expensive nor cheap. Which Squarespace plan is best?For casual bloggers, the Basic website package is the best to get you started. If you need some more business-related features, then go for the Business package. The eCommerce options are a must-have if you need to manage inventory and operate a checkout on your site. Can I upgrade my Squarespace plan?Yes, you can upgrade your Squarespace plan any time you need to in your account management. Doing so will trigger either a pro-rata charge or refund. This is one of the stand-out features of Squarespace, and is a great option if you’ve paid for a pla n you don’t need. What happens when the Squarespace trial ends?When the Squarespace trial ends, the good news is you won’t be charged and put on a default plan. The bad news is that all of your content will be flagged for removal, and your site won’t be visible to the public. Is Squarespace worth it?Yes, Squarespace is worth it if you want a no-nonsense, intuitive and high-quality website builder or eCommerce option. Squarespace is well-known for its user-friendly drag and drop tools and stunning pre-made website templates. If you’re looking for a free option, take a look at something like Weebly. Does Squarespace take a percentage of sales?Yes, Squarespace does take a percentage of sales if you are on the business plan but this can be stopped by upgrading to either Basic Commerce or Advanced Commerd plans. What percentage does Squarespace take?If you’re on the Business plan, Squarespace will take 3% of every sale. All fees apart from credit card fees are w aived if you upgrade to one of the two Squarespace eCommerce packagesâ€"Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce. Aside from the monthly cost, these are the only charges. What are the Squarepace hosting costs?Currently, Squarespace hosting costs are as follows:Personal: $12 per monthBusiness: $18 per monthBasic Commerce: $26 per monthAdvanced Commerce: $40 per monthBut discounts are available for some groups. How much do Squarespace domains cost?If you take an annual plan, you can register one custom domain for free, otherwise Squarespace domains cost between $20 and $70 depending on the TLD. You may also have to pay state and or local tax on a domain name also. Should I buy my domain through Squarespace?No, you probably shouldn’t buy your domain through Squarespace, it is much cheaper to use a third party registrar such as NameCheap for domain names and point it at Squarespace. Squarespace vs HostGator