How Much Does Squarespace Cost?

Keep in mind that a brand-new domain will not rank well on Google right away. Google applies a "sandbox" effect on fresh domains that typically lasts 3 to 6 months. During that window, focus on creating quality content and using solid SEO practices so your site is ready to climb once that initial period passes.

Squarespace Plans and Pricing (2026)

Squarespace offers four plans. Each one builds on the features of the plan below it. Prices listed are per month; the first number is the annual billing rate and the second is the month-to-month rate.

Personal - $16/month (annual) or $25/month (monthly)

The Personal plan is the entry-level option. It includes a free custom domain for the first year on annual billing, SSL security, access to every Squarespace template, and the full website editor. You can add up to two contributors. This plan works best for portfolios, personal blogs, and simple informational sites that do not need e-commerce or advanced marketing tools.

Business - $23/month (annual) or $33/month (monthly)

The Business plan adds unlimited contributors, professional email from Google Workspace, premium integrations and blocks, full CSS and JavaScript customization, and built-in marketing tools like pop-ups and announcement bars. One important note: the Business plan charges a 3% transaction fee on every sale made through your site. For most online stores, that fee adds up quickly, which is why sellers usually move to a Commerce plan instead.

Commerce Basic - $28/month (annual) or $40/month (monthly)

Commerce Basic removes the 3% transaction fee entirely. On top of everything in the Business plan, you get customer accounts, checkout on your own domain, point-of-sale capability, and product merchandising tools. If you plan to sell physical or digital products, this is the starting point that makes financial sense.

Commerce Advanced - $52/month (annual) or $72/month (monthly)

The top-tier plan adds subscription selling, abandoned cart recovery emails, advanced shipping rules, flexible discount options, and commerce APIs. Abandoned cart recovery alone can recoup the price difference between this plan and Commerce Basic for most stores with consistent traffic.

For those looking to sell online, our guide to Squarespace plans and pricing breaks down each tier in more detail.

Annual vs Monthly Billing: How Much You Save

Squarespace gives a significant discount when you pay annually instead of month to month. Here is exactly how much you save per year on each plan:

• Personal: $16/month annual vs $25/month = $108 saved per year (36% off)
• Business: $23/month annual vs $33/month = $120 saved per year (30% off)
• Commerce Basic: $28/month annual vs $40/month = $144 saved per year (30% off)
• Commerce Advanced: $52/month annual vs $72/month = $240 saved per year (28% off)

Annual plans also include a free custom domain for the first year, which is worth roughly $20 depending on the extension you choose. If you are confident you will stick with Squarespace for at least a year, annual billing is the better deal every time.

Hidden Costs Most People Miss

The plan price is not the only expense. Here are the extra costs that catch people off guard:

Domain Renewal After Year One

Your first year of a custom domain is free on annual plans. After that, Squarespace charges $20 to $70 per year for domain renewal depending on the extension (.com, .shop, .design, etc.). You can also use a domain registered elsewhere and point it to Squarespace, which may be cheaper long term.

Payment Processing Fees

Squarespace uses Stripe and PayPal for payment processing. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the US. These fees apply on every Commerce and Business plan and are separate from Squarespace's own transaction fee on the Business plan.

Transaction Fee on the Business Plan

If you sell products on the Business plan instead of a Commerce plan, Squarespace adds a 3% transaction fee on top of the payment processor's fee. On a $100 sale, that means you lose $3 to Squarespace plus about $3.20 to Stripe. Upgrading to Commerce Basic at $5/month more removes that 3% fee entirely.

Email Campaigns

Squarespace Email Campaigns is a separate add-on starting at $7/month for up to 500 subscribers. If you need email marketing built into the same platform, factor this into your monthly budget. Third-party tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit may offer better value at higher subscriber counts.

Scheduling (Acuity)

Squarespace includes Acuity Scheduling, but only the free tier. Paid Acuity plans range from $16 to $49/month if you need features like calendar syncing, automated reminders, or multiple staff calendars.

Third-Party Extensions

Some Squarespace extensions from their marketplace are free, but many charge monthly fees ranging from $5 to $30+. If you rely on several paid extensions, those costs can add $50 or more per month to your total.

Which Plan Should You Choose?

The right plan depends on what you are building and whether you need to sell anything. Here is a quick guide:

Choose Personal If...

• You need a portfolio, resume site, or personal blog
• You do not plan to sell products or services online
• You have one or two people managing the site
• You want the lowest possible monthly cost

Choose Business If...

• You need full CSS/JavaScript customization
• You want pop-ups, announcement bars, and marketing tools
• You have a team that needs unlimited contributor access
• You only sell occasionally and can absorb the 3% transaction fee

Choose Commerce Basic If...

• You sell products regularly and want 0% Squarespace transaction fees
• You need customer accounts and checkout on your domain
• You want point-of-sale for in-person events or retail

Choose Commerce Advanced If...

• You run a subscription-based business
• You want abandoned cart recovery to win back lost sales
• You need advanced shipping rules or flexible discount structures
• Your store generates enough revenue that the extra features pay for themselves

Is Squarespace Worth the Cost?

Squarespace bundles hosting, SSL, a CDN, templates, and a visual editor into one monthly fee. Compared to building a similar site on WordPress with premium hosting, a paid theme, and security plugins, the total cost is often comparable or lower, especially when you factor in the time saved.

The platform also handles all software updates and security patches automatically. You never need to worry about plugin conflicts, PHP version upgrades, or server maintenance. For business owners who want to focus on their business rather than their website's backend, that peace of mind has real value.

Where Squarespace becomes expensive is when you stack add-ons. If you need email campaigns, scheduling, and several paid extensions, your effective monthly cost can double. Before committing, list out every feature you need and price the add-ons separately so you know your true all-in cost.