How much does a Squarespace website cost to run in 2024?
Creating a website on Squarespace is an excellent choice for many individuals and businesses, thanks to its user-friendly interface and robust features. However, understanding the full cost involves more than just the basic website plans. Here's a detailed look at the various expenses you might incur when building and maintaining a Squarespace website.
Building Your Website
Firstly, let’s address the most common question: “How much does a website cost?” While the correct response is often “it depends,” if you're expecting a bespoke website, you should also expect a bespoke price. However, that’s not the focus of this article. It’s essential to remember that most of your budget should be allocated to the website's construction.
Squarespace Subscription Plans
Without a website plan, you won't have hosting. Subscribing to Squarespace ensures that your website is hosted on Squarespace’s servers, receives all the latest updates, and eliminates concerns about updating plugins or potential server issues, which can occur with WordPress websites. There are four plans available:
Personal Plan:
Cost:
$16/month (billed annually) or $23/month (billed monthly)
£12/month (billed annually) or £16/month (billed monthly)
€14/month (billed annually) or €19/month (billed monthly)
Key Features: Free domain for the first year, SSL security, SEO features, and mobile optimisation.
Perfect For: New businesses needing a basic online presence.
Business Plan:
Cost:
$23/month (billed annually) or $33/month (billed monthly)
£17/month (billed annually) or £24/month (billed monthly)
€24/month (billed annually) or €33/month (billed monthly)
Key Features: Includes everything in the Personal Plan, plus advanced analytics, promotional pop-ups, and e-commerce capabilities with a 3% transaction fee.
Perfect For: Established businesses looking to impress visitors and sell a few products online.
Basic Commerce Plan:
Cost:
$27/month (billed annually) or $36/month (billed monthly)
£23/month (billed annually) or £28/month (billed monthly)
€27/month (billed annually) or €36/month (billed monthly)
Key Features: 0% transaction fees, comprehensive e-commerce analytics, and customer accounts.
Perfect For: Smaller e-commerce businesses focused on selling products or services.
Advanced Commerce Plan:
Cost:
£35/month (billed annually) or £43/month (billed monthly)
$49/month (billed annually) or $65/month (billed monthly)
€49/month (billed annually) or €65/month (billed monthly)
Key Features: Advanced shipping options, abandoned cart recovery, and subscription products.
Perfect For: Large online retailers.
Additional Subscriptions and Services
Depending on your business goals, you might need more than just a Squarespace subscription plan. Squarespace offers several additional services that could be beneficial.
Domain Registration:
Purchasing a domain name is essential. This can be done within Squarespace, and your first year may be free, depending on your chosen subscription plan. Domain names must be renewed annually. Professional email addresses, such as yourbusiness.com rather than yourbusiness@gmail.com, are also a common purchase for a more professional appearance.
Standard Domains: Start from $20/year.
Professional Email (Google Workspace): Starts at $6/user/month.
Acuity Scheduling Plans:
Acuity Scheduling, now integrated with Squarespace, is ideal for businesses accepting appointments or hosting classes and workshops.
Emerging Plan: $15/month (monthly) or $15/month (annually) – 1 calendar, unlimited appointments.
Growing Plan: $34/month (monthly) or $25/month (annually) – Up to 6 calendars, text reminders.
Powerhouse Plan: $61/month (monthly) or $50/month (annually) – Up to 36 calendars, HIPAA compliance.
Email Marketing Subscriptions:
If you plan to send newsletters, you can subscribe to Squarespace's email marketing services, which offer customisable templates matching your brand.
Starter Plan: $9/month (annually) or $10/month (monthly) – Up to 3 campaigns/month.
Core Plan: $24/month (annually) or $30/month (monthly) – Up to 5,000 emails/month.
Pro Plan: $48/month (annually) or $68/month (monthly) – Up to 50,000 emails/month.
Max Plan: $84/month (annually) or $125/month (monthly) – Up to 250,000 emails/month.
Member Areas Plans:
Squarespace's Member Area plan is great for selling content behind a paywall, such as nutrition plans. Members can pay a one-off fee or subscribe regularly.
Starter Plan: £10/month (annually) or £12/month (monthly) – Basic membership features, 7% transaction fee.
Core Plan: £20/month (annually) or £24/month (monthly) – Advanced features, 4% transaction fee.
Pro Plan: £40/month (annually) or £46/month (monthly) – Enhanced tools, 2% transaction fee.
Work with a Squarespace Circle Member to Cut Costs
A Squarespace Circle member is a recognised expert on the platform. As a Circle member, I can offer up to 20% off your first annual purchase of any Squarespace subscription plan.
Conclusion
Running a Squarespace website can cost as little as $16/month or up to $240/month, depending on your chosen features and plans. Building a website with Squarespace involves various potential costs, from basic subscriptions to additional services for e-commerce, scheduling, marketing, and membership management. Understanding these options can help you budget effectively and select the best plan for your needs.
I hope you found this blog post useful. If you’re ready to start your Squarespace journey, get in touch with me using the contact form, and we can begin taking your business to the next level.
