Squarespace quietly replaced its old plan lineup in late 2025. The familiar Personal / Business / Commerce tiers are gone, replaced by four cleaner plans: Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced. Here’s exactly what each costs in 2026 and which one you actually need.
Squarespace Pricing in 2026
| Plan | Annual (per mo) | Monthly | Transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $16 | $25 | 2% on sales |
| Core | $23 | $36 | 0% |
| Plus | $39 | $56 | 0% |
| Advanced | $99 | $139 | 0% |
Every annual plan includes a free custom domain for the first year and SSL. Annual billing saves up to ~36% versus paying monthly.
Basic — $16/month (annual)
The entry plan covers a complete website:
- Unlimited pages, bandwidth, and storage
- SSL security and basic website analytics
- Selling enabled — but with a 2% transaction fee on each sale
Basic is right for portfolios, brochure sites, and creators who sell only occasionally. If you process meaningful sales volume, that 2% fee makes upgrading cheaper than staying.
Core — $23/month (annual)
Everything in Basic, plus:
- 0% transaction fees
- Advanced selling tools and customer accounts
- Point-of-sale and basic merchandising
Core is the sweet spot for most small online stores. Dropping the 2% fee usually offsets the price jump once you’re selling regularly.
Plus — $39/month (annual)
Everything in Core, plus:
- Advanced shipping and inventory tools
- Subscriptions and advanced commerce analytics
- Limited API access
Plus suits growing stores that need subscriptions or deeper logistics control.
Advanced — $99/month (annual)
Everything in Plus, plus:
- Advanced discounts and abandoned-cart recovery
- Full commerce APIs
- Advanced shipping integrations
Advanced is for serious merchants where recovered carts and automation justify the cost.
How Squarespace Compares on Price
| Tool | Free plan | Starting price | 0% fees from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squarespace | ❌ | $16/mo | Core ($23) |
| Wix | ✅ | $17/mo | Core ($29) |
| Webflow | ✅ | ~$14/mo | Most plans |
| Shopify | ❌ | $29/mo | With Shopify Payments |
Squarespace has no free tier — its competitor Wix does. But Squarespace’s templates are widely considered the best-looking out of the box, and Core’s true 0% transaction fee makes it cheaper than it looks for active sellers. For pure ecommerce at scale, Shopify still leads.
Is Squarespace Worth the Cost?
It’s worth it if:
- You want design-led templates that look professional with zero effort
- You sell occasionally (Basic) or run a small-to-mid store (Core/Plus)
- You value an all-in-one platform — hosting, domain, and store in one bill
Look elsewhere if:
- You need a free plan to start — Wix offers one
- You want pixel-level design control — Webflow goes deeper
- You’re a high-volume merchant — Shopify’s ecosystem fits better
Tips to Save on Squarespace
- Pay annually — it saves up to 36% and includes a free domain year one
- Skip Basic if you sell regularly — the 2% fee on Basic often costs more than upgrading to Core
- Watch the renewal domain price — the free year reverts to standard pricing after 12 months
- Start on Core, not Plus — only upgrade for subscriptions or advanced logistics
The Bottom Line
The 2026 plan overhaul made Squarespace simpler: Basic for sites, Core for most stores, Plus and Advanced for scaling merchants. There’s no free tier, but the design quality and Core’s 0% transaction fee make it strong value for anyone who cares how their site looks. If you sell anything regularly, start at Core — the 2% fee on Basic erases its savings fast.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did Squarespace change its plans?
Yes. In late 2025 Squarespace replaced Personal, Business, Commerce Basic, and Commerce Advanced with four new plans: Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced. The rollout reached most markets by early 2026.
Does Squarespace charge transaction fees?
Only on the Basic plan, which charges 2% per sale. Core, Plus, and Advanced have 0% Squarespace transaction fees (your payment processor’s fees still apply).
Is there a free Squarespace plan?
No. Squarespace offers a free trial but no permanent free tier. If you need a free plan, Wix is the closest alternative.