A common question we get from budget-conscious founders and artists is: “Are Squarespace sites free?”
The short answer is No. Squarespace does not offer a “Free Forever” plan like Wix or Weebly. But there is a very specific, brand-focused reason for that. In this guide, we will break down the true costs, the trial period, and why paying for a builder is always better for your business.
Key Takeaways
- No Free Tier: There is no permanent free plan available.
- 14-Day Trial: You can design your site completely for free for 14 days without entering a credit card.
- Premium Brand Image: Squarespace forces a premium experience by eliminating ad-supported free sites from their ecosystem.
Why isn’t it free?
Free website builders plaster ugly banner ads all over your site (usually at the very top). Furthermore, they force you to use a clunky subdomain (like ‘yourbusiness.wixsite.com’).
This looks incredibly unprofessional to customers and instantly destroys your brand’s credibility. If a business won’t invest $16 a month into their own website, why should a customer trust them with their credit card?
Squarespace focuses entirely on premium, professional websites. Therefore, they only offer paid plans, ensuring every single site on their network looks incredible and runs blazingly fast.
The True Cost of Squarespace
While you cannot run a live site for free, you can build it for free. Squarespace offers a generous 14-day free trial. You can design your entire site, connect your social media, upload your photography, and write your copy. You only pay when you are ready to hit “Publish” and attach your custom ‘.com’ domain.
If you pay annually, the Personal plan starts at around $16/month.
FAQs
Does Squarespace charge transaction fees?
Yes, on the basic 'Business' plan, they charge a 3% transaction fee on sales. If you upgrade to a 'Commerce' plan, the transaction fee drops to 0%.
Is hosting included in the price?
Yes! You do not need to buy separate hosting (like Bluehost or SiteGround). Your monthly Squarespace fee covers enterprise-grade hosting, security, and unlimited bandwidth.
Do I get a free domain?
Yes, if you sign up for an annual plan, Squarespace provides a custom domain name free for the first year.
Conclusion
If you want a free hobby site to share photos with your family, use Wix. If you want a professional business site that generates revenue, pay the monthly fee for Squarespace. It is the cheapest and most important cost of doing business.
