Does Squarespace Own My Domain?

What Is the Difference Between Domain Owner and Domain Registrar?

Understanding this distinction eliminates all confusion about domain ownership on Squarespace.

Domain Owner (Registrant) - That Is You

The domain owner (also called the registrant) is the person or organization listed as the owner in the domain's WHOIS records. When you register a domain through Squarespace, your name and contact information go into the WHOIS database as the owner. You decide what happens to the domain - where it points, when it renews, and whether to transfer it.

Domain Registrar - That Is Squarespace

The registrar is the company authorized to process domain registrations with the domain registry (like Verisign for .com domains). Squarespace is an ICANN-accredited registrar. They handle the technical registration process, DNS management interface, and billing. They do not own your domain - they provide the service of registering and managing it on your behalf.

Think of it like a car dealership. The dealership sells you the car and may service it, but they do not own your car after the purchase. You can take it to any mechanic, sell it, or park it wherever you want.

What Do You Control as the Domain Owner?

DNS records. You control where your domain points - to Squarespace, another hosting provider, or anywhere else. Configure A records, CNAME records, MX records, and TXT records through Settings > Domains > DNS Settings.

Domain transfer. You can transfer your domain to any other registrar at any time. Squarespace cannot block or prevent a transfer. Unlock the domain, request an authorization code, and initiate the transfer at your new registrar. For transfer details, our guide on domain transfer eligibility covers the process.

Renewal decisions. You choose whether to renew your domain or let it expire. Enable auto-renewal to prevent accidental expiration, or manually renew before the expiration date.

Contact information. You control the registrant contact information associated with your domain. Update it through your Squarespace domain settings.

What Does Squarespace Control?

Billing and renewal processing. Squarespace handles the payment processing for domain registration and renewal fees. Domain pricing is set by Squarespace based on the TLD.

DNS management interface. You manage your DNS records through Squarespace's dashboard. The interface is Squarespace's, but the records are yours to configure.

WHOIS privacy. Squarespace provides free WHOIS privacy, hiding your personal information from public WHOIS lookups. This is a service - not a claim of ownership.

Technical infrastructure. Squarespace maintains the systems that keep your domain resolving correctly. If you transfer the domain away, this responsibility moves to your new registrar.

What Happens to Your Domain If You Cancel Squarespace?

Canceling your Squarespace website subscription does not affect your domain registration. These are separate services.

Domain stays active. Your domain registration continues until its expiration date regardless of your website subscription status. If you cancel your website plan, the domain keeps working - it just will not point to a Squarespace-hosted site anymore (unless you set it up that way).

You can still manage it. Log in to Squarespace to manage DNS settings, renew the domain, or initiate a transfer - even without an active website plan.

Auto-renewal continues. If auto-renewal is enabled, your domain renews automatically on its expiration date. Disable auto-renewal if you want to let the domain expire.

How to Transfer Your Domain Away from Squarespace

If you want to move your domain to another registrar - whether or not you keep your Squarespace website - the process is straightforward.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Domains in your Squarespace dashboard. Click the domain you want to transfer.

Step 2: Unlock the domain. Look for the Transfer Lock or Domain Lock setting and disable it.

Step 3: Request an authorization code (EPP code). Squarespace provides this in your domain settings or via email.

Step 4: Go to your new registrar and initiate the transfer using the authorization code. The transfer typically takes 1-7 days.

Squarespace cannot refuse or delay a legitimate transfer request. ICANN regulations protect your right to move your domain freely between registrars. For registration options, our guide on registering a domain with Squarespace covers what is included. For building your complete online presence, our guide to site creation and branding on Squarespace covers aligning your domain with your brand identity.

How to Protect Your Domain Ownership

Enable auto-renewal. The biggest risk to domain ownership is accidental expiration. Enable auto-renewal and keep your payment method current. An expired domain can be registered by someone else.

Keep contact information updated. Ensure the email address on your domain registration is one you actively monitor. Renewal notices, transfer confirmations, and security alerts go to this address.

Enable WHOIS privacy. Squarespace includes this free. It prevents spammers, scammers, and competitors from seeing your personal details in public WHOIS records.

Use a strong account password. Your Squarespace account controls your domain settings. Use a unique, strong password and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.

Your Domain, Your Control

Squarespace does not own your domain - you do. Squarespace is the registrar, not the owner. You can transfer your domain away, point it to another platform, or let it expire. Keep auto-renewal enabled, your contact information updated, and your account secure to maintain uninterrupted ownership.