Is Squarespace Really Free? A Deep Dive Into The Free Trial
By Sam Nguyen
Squarespace is a website builder known for its elegant designs and user-friendly interface. For those interested in using Squarespace, it’s important to understand the details of their pricing structure, particularly their “free trial” offer.
This analysis will comprehensively examine Squarespace’s free trial, including what it includes and how it differs from the paid plans.
Key Takeaways
- Squarespace does offer a 14-day free trial. During the free trial, you can explore Squarespace’s features and templates, create content, and experience the platform’s premium capabilities.
- Some crucial functionalities, such as connecting a custom domain and conducting e-commerce transactions, are reserved for subscribing to paid plans.
- Squarespace offers 4 pricing plans that cater to various needs, each offering a distinct set of features and capabilities.
Is Squarespace Free?
No. To put it plainly, Squarespace does offer a trial period that is free of charge. However, it’s worth noting that this trial does come with certain restrictions.
The purpose of this trial is to allow users to test out the platform and get a feel for its functionalities before making a decision about whether or not to upgrade to a paid plan.
It’s a useful way to see if Squarespace is the right fit for your needs without having to commit financially right away.
How To Kickstart Squarespace Free Trial
Commencing your Squarespace journey is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you kickstart your Squarespace free trial:
- Visit the Squarespace website and click on the “Get Started” button.
- Sign up for an account by providing your email address and creating a password.
- Choose a template that aligns with your website’s purpose. No need to worry; you can choose one now and revisit it later to make changes if needed.
- Name your site, then walk through the welcome guide and begin customizing your chosen template by adding content and images.
- Once you proceed, you’ll land in the Squarespace page builder, complete with all the features available for the free trial. No credit card details are needed. The website builder provides access to design, commerce, and marketing pages. You’ll see a timer counting down your trial duration at the bottom, along with a button to Upgrade early if you decide to do so.
Subscription Pricing Plans Squarespace Offer?
Squarespace offers 4 subscription plans, each tailored to different needs and ambitions. These plans include:
Personal Plan
Best for:
- Individuals, hobbyists, bloggers, or small personal websites.
- Individuals who need a basic online presence without extensive features.
Cost: $23/ month if paid monthly or $16/month if paid annually.
Features:
This is the foundational plan of Squarespace, with access to fully customizable, best-in-class templates. The plan offers:
- Unlimited bandwidth and storage
- Free custom domain for a year
- SSL security
- Mobile-optimized
- Two contributors
- Templates available
- Basic website metrics
Business Plan
Best for:
- Small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Individuals who want to showcase their products or services with additional features like advanced analytics and promotional pop-ups.
Cost: $33/ month if paid monthly or $23/month if paid annually.
Features:
This plan is built for those looking to grow their audience and begin taking payments. In addition to the features from the basic package, this plan also offers special features such as:
- SEO features
- Unlimited contributors
- Basic website metrics
- Professional email from Google
- Premium integrations
- Complete customization
- Full marketing tools
- Ability to receive online payments and donate
- Basic eCommerce functionalities
- Advanced website analytics
Basic Commerce Plan
Best for:
- Small online stores or boutique shops.
- Businesses that want to sell products online with a limited number of items.
Cost: $36/ month if paid monthly or $27/month if paid annually.
Features:
This plan is an improved version of the Business Plan to help grow your business. Specifically, the Basic Commerce Plan adds more features, including:
- 0% transaction fees
- Unlimited products
- Selling on Instagram
- Integrated accounting
- Domain checkout
- Customer accounts
- Powerful merchandising features: product reviews, product recommendations, product waitlists, low stock alerts, etc.
- Full access to marketing tools: coupons, gift cards, etc.
Advanced Commerce Plan
Best for:
- Growing online stores and businesses with a larger product catalog.
- Businesses that need more advanced e-commerce tools.
Cost: $65/ month if paid monthly or $49/month if paid annually.
Features:
Advanced Commerce Plan is the most complete plan offered by Squarespace. It encompasses all the features offered in the Basic Commerce plan and goes a step further by providing upgraded functionalities that elevate your online store’s capabilities.
- Sell subscriptions
- Commerce APIs
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Advanced shipping
- Automatic discounts on qualifying orders
Each plan builds upon the previous one, introducing additional features and capabilities. Among them, the Business Plan is the most recommended plan based on its features compared to the cost. The subscription fee of $23 per month (Paid annually) is also quite comfortable and suitable for businesses, including startups or small.
Can You Extend The Squarespace Free Trial?
While the 14-day free trial is a great opportunity to try out the platform and see if it’s a good fit for your needs, it’s worth noting that there is no option to extend the trial beyond the initial 14 days.
If you decide to continue using Squarespace’s services, you’ll need to subscribe to one of their paid plans. This ensures that you have access to all of the features and benefits that Squarespace has to offer, including a range of templates, customization options, and support resources.
How To Cancel Squarespace Free Trial?
You don’t have to worry about canceling a free trial since no credit card information is required to begin. This is one of the advantages of Squarespace’s free trial. If you find that Squarespace isn’t the right match for you, you can simply let the trial expire, and your account will be abandoned.
However, if you still wish to delete your account, Squarespace offers a detailed guide on how to do it.
If you already subscribe to a plan and want to cancel it, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do so:
- Log in to your Squarespace account.
- Go to the “Billing & Account” section.
- Select “Billing.”
- Click on “Cancel Subscription.”
- Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation.
What Can You Do During Squarespace Free Trial?
The Squarespace free trial offers you a valuable opportunity to explore the platform’s features and capabilities before committing to a subscription. Here’s a closer look at what you can do during the trial:
Explore Their Templates
Squarespace provides an impressive collection of over 100 professionally designed templates that cover a wide range of styles and industries. During your free trial, you can take your time to browse through these templates, assessing which one aligns best with your website’s purpose and aesthetics.
Since all Squarespace templates are accessible with a premium plan, the free trial provides access to all these templates as well. It doesn’t matter which category or industry you choose; they are all available for you to utilize during the trial.
Experience All Squarespace Premium Features
Unlike some other trials that limit access to certain features, Squarespace’s trial gives you unrestricted access to all premium features. This means you can fully experience the platform’s capabilities, including advanced design options, e-commerce features, SEO tools, and more. This comprehensive access allows you to make an informed decision about whether Squarespace meets your website’s requirements.
However, it’s important to understand that the free trial encompasses every feature found in the highest premium plan. Consequently, you’re utilizing a fully unrestricted site builder, and when you later switch to a more affordable premium account, certain advanced features might not be available. Opting for the Personal Plan may lead to the removal of some advanced features present during the free trial, specifically those present in the Business, Commerce, and
Advanced Commerce plans.
While the Personal plan suits many small businesses well, it’s vital to manage your expectations when transitioning from the free trial. Some users might appreciate features like gift cards from the Business plan or checkout on your own domain from the Basic Commerce plan. However, the Personal plan doesn’t include these features.
Get A Custom Domain
While you won’t be able to connect a custom domain (like “www.yourwebsite.com”) during the trial, Squarespace offers a built-in domain (like “yourwebsite.squarespace.com”) that you can use for testing purposes. This is useful for creating a functional website and sharing it with others during the trial period.
However, you do have the option to acquire a free domain (an actual one, not a subdomain) for the initial year if you subscribe to an annual plan after completing your free trial. Alternatively, you can purchase a domain from third-party providers offering .com domains, such as GoDaddy, or even from prior website-building platforms like Shopify, WordPress, or Wix (provided you purchased a domain from one of them).
Create And Save Your Content On The Site
The trial enables you to start crafting your website’s content, including adding text, images, videos, and more. You can experiment with various layouts and elements to see how they fit your vision. Any content you create and save during the trial will be preserved if you decide to upgrade to a paid plan later.
Publish Your Site
Once you’ve designed and populated your website with content, you have the option to publish it. This means your website will be live on the web and accessible to visitors. While you won’t be able to use a custom domain during the trial, you can still share the built-in domain link with friends, colleagues, or stakeholders to gather feedback.
The Squarespace free trial empowers you to fully explore and utilize the platform’s features without any limitations. This hands-on experience helps you decide whether Squarespace is the right choice for building and managing your website.
What You Can Not Do During Squarespace Free Trial And Need Subscribing To A Plan?
While the free trial provides ample room for experimentation, certain capabilities are exclusively available through paid plans:
Connect A Custom Domain
Establishing a professional and memorable online identity often involves using a custom domain. However, during the free trial, you won’t be able to connect a custom domain to your Squarespace site. Subscribing to a paid plan lets you link your website to your chosen custom domain, enhancing your brand and making it easier for visitors to find you online.
E-Commerce Transactions
If your goal is to run an online store and engage in e-commerce activities, such as selling products or services, you must subscribe to a paid plan. E-commerce functionality, including secure payment gateways, inventory management, and product display options, is exclusively available through paid plans. This is crucial for businesses aiming to monetize their website and offer a seamless shopping experience to customers.
Are There Squarespace Discounts After The Free Trial?
Yes. At the time of this article, Squarespace offers up to 50% off on subscription plans with their discount codes. You can read our article on the Squarespace discount codes or visit the Squarespace promo codes page.
Bottom Line
Squarespace’s free trial is an invaluable opportunity to explore the platform’s potential and test its features before committing. While the trial enables you to create and customize a website, it’s important to remember that certain advanced features require transitioning to a paid plan. As you embark on your website-building journey, understanding the distinctions between the trial and the paid plans will empower you to make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and aspirations.
