Last Updated: 16.10.2026
Building a professional website is an important investment for businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs.
Squarespace provides an accessible way to create websites without advanced coding skills, but understanding the total cost involves more than checking the advertised monthly subscription.
A Squarespace website in the UK costs between £12 and £79 per month when billed annually, depending on the subscription plan. That means the basic platform subscription ranges from £144 to £948 annually before VAT.
However, website design, domain renewals, business email, ecommerce processing charges and additional marketing tools can increase the overall investment.
For businesses hiring a professional designer, the initial cost can range from approximately £1,500 to £5,000 or more, depending on the website’s complexity.
This guide examines Squarespace pricing, potential additional expenses and the most cost-effective options for UK businesses planning to launch or upgrade their websites.
How Much Does Squarespace Cost Per Month in the UK?
Squarespace currently offers four main website subscription plans: Basic, Core, Plus and Advanced.
Each plan provides website-building tools, hosting and security features, but the available business functions and transaction fees differ.
The following table compares the UK subscription rates reported in October 2026.
| Squarespace plan | Monthly price, billed annually | Monthly billing | Annual subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £12 | £16 | £144 |
| Core | £17 | £24 | £204 |
| Plus | £29 | £36 | £348 |
| Advanced | £79 | £89 | £948 |
Prices are indicative UK subscription rates before VAT, based on annual or monthly billing as shown. Regional offers and future changes may affect the final amount.
Businesses can confirm the current subscription rates directly through Squarespace’s official pricing page.
The important distinction is that the lower advertised monthly amount normally requires payment for an entire year upfront.
For example, a business choosing Core pays £204 for twelve months on annual billing, rather than £17 each month on a rolling subscription.
If the same business chooses monthly billing, it pays £24 per month, equivalent to £288 over twelve months.
Therefore, annual billing saves £84 in this example.
What Do the Different Squarespace Pricing Plans Include?
The most suitable Squarespace plan depends on whether the website is intended to display information, attract enquiries, sell products or deliver paid digital content.
1. Basic Plan – Best for Personal Websites and Small Portfolios
The Basic plan is the most affordable option, starting at £12 per month with annual billing.
It is particularly suitable for individuals and smaller businesses looking to establish an online presence without requiring extensive integrations.
The plan includes mobile-responsive website templates, built-in hosting, SSL security, basic website analytics, blogging functionality and support for custom domains.
Businesses can also sell products and services, although Squarespace applies a 2% online-store transaction fee and separate charges may apply to digital content.
The Basic plan generally suits:
- Freelancers displaying their professional portfolios.
- Photographers showcasing previous projects.
- Small businesses requiring informational websites.
- Bloggers publishing regular articles.
- Entrepreneurs testing business ideas.
Although Basic is affordable, businesses planning substantial online sales should compare its transaction fees with Core before subscribing.
2. Core Plan – Best for Small Business Websites
The Core plan costs approximately £17 per month when billed annually, making it a practical option for growing UK businesses.
It provides additional functionality beyond Basic, including advanced analytics, unlimited contributors, custom-code capabilities and business integrations.
Core also removes the 2% Squarespace online-store transaction fee charged under Basic.
Businesses can use these features to manage product sales, integrate marketing tools and monitor customer behaviour.
A qualifying new Google Workspace account may also receive a free first year of professional email, subject to the promotion’s conditions.
Core is particularly suitable for consultants, service providers, independent retailers and small companies planning to generate leads through their websites.
For many businesses, the additional £60 annual subscription cost compared with Basic can be justified by the added functionality and reduced ecommerce platform fees.
3. Plus Plan – Best for Growing Online Businesses
The Plus plan costs approximately £29 per month when paid annually.
It is designed for businesses requiring stronger selling capabilities, particularly those delivering courses, memberships and other digital products.
The plan offers additional video storage and reduces the digital-content transaction fee to 1%, compared with 5% on Core.
Plus also provides lower eligible Squarespace Payments processing rates in supported markets, although the exact charges depend on the country and payment method.
This plan may suit businesses selling online courses, paid educational resources, digital downloads and subscription-based content.
Businesses should evaluate expected sales volumes before upgrading, as the additional subscription cost is only worthwhile when the extra features or fee savings justify it.
4. Advanced Plan – Best for High-Volume Ecommerce Websites
The Advanced plan is the highest-priced standard Squarespace website subscription in this UK pricing comparison, costing around £79 per month on annual billing.
It is aimed at established businesses requiring advanced ecommerce functionality and lower transaction charges.
The plan includes expanded commerce capabilities, unlimited video storage and a 0% Squarespace digital-content transaction fee.
However, payment processing charges still apply when customers purchase products or services.
Advanced may be appropriate for businesses processing substantial sales volumes, managing digital membership services or requiring more advanced commercial functions.
For a smaller business with limited online transactions, Core or Plus will often provide better value.
Does Squarespace Charge VAT in the UK?
UK businesses should consider VAT when calculating the total subscription cost.
Squarespace’s displayed prices may exclude VAT, meaning the final checkout amount can be higher.
Where UK VAT is charged at the standard 20% rate, the annual subscription costs would be:
| Plan | Annual price before VAT | Annual price including 20% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £144 | £172.80 |
| Core | £204 | £244.80 |
| Plus | £348 | £417.60 |
| Advanced | £948 | £1,137.60 |
For example, a small business choosing the Core annual subscription may pay £244.80 where 20% VAT applies.
VAT-registered businesses may be able to recover eligible input VAT, depending on their circumstances.
Businesses should therefore compare website costs consistently, rather than assessing VAT-inclusive quotes against subscription prices excluding tax.
What Additional Costs Should Businesses Expect With Squarespace?
The subscription covers website hosting and access to the platform, but certain services require separate payments.
These additional expenses can become significant when businesses add professional email, appointment scheduling, ecommerce extensions or marketing software.
Domain Name Registration and Renewal
A custom domain gives a business its own website address, such as a companyname.co.uk or companyname.com.
Squarespace provides one year of eligible domain registration free with qualifying annual website subscriptions.
After the first year, the domain normally renews at the applicable standard price.
For budgeting purposes, businesses could allow approximately £15 to £25 annually for a conventional domain, although actual charges depend on the extension, registrar and renewal terms.
Premium domain names can cost substantially more.
Professional Business Email
Squarespace website subscriptions do not automatically provide permanently free business email hosting.
Companies wanting an address such as contact@companyname.co.uk may need Google Workspace or another email provider.
A working budget of approximately £6 to £10 per user each month may be reasonable for an entry-level business email service, although actual provider pricing varies.
A qualifying Core or higher subscription may include a first-year Google Workspace promotional offer for one new account.
Businesses should check what happens after that promotional period ends.
Appointment Scheduling
Businesses such as consultants, personal trainers, salons and professional service providers often need appointment-booking functionality.
Squarespace offers Acuity Scheduling, but this is generally a separate paid service rather than an automatically included feature of the website subscription.
Its cost depends on the scheduling plan and billing cycle.
Companies that already use another booking platform may be able to integrate it instead, subject to the relevant Squarespace plan’s capabilities.
Email Marketing and Other Integrations
Squarespace Email Campaigns, third-party extensions and specialist marketing services may require additional subscriptions.
These costs depend on the provider, number of contacts, automation features and usage requirements.
Businesses should avoid assuming that every marketing feature advertised within the Squarespace ecosystem is included in their website subscription.
Website Design and Maintenance
Although Squarespace enables users to create their own websites, businesses may choose to hire professionals for design, copywriting, branding or search optimisation.
These services can become the largest part of the initial website budget.
However, professional maintenance is not automatically required simply to keep the Squarespace hosting service operational. Businesses can update ordinary website content themselves.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Someone to Build a Squarespace Website?
Hiring a professional website designer changes the overall cost considerably.
A designer may provide page layouts, brand styling, responsive design adjustments, ecommerce configuration and website-launch support.
The final price depends on the number of pages, content requirements, functionality and level of customisation.
The following ranges are indicative UK planning estimates rather than fixed industry tariffs.
| Website type | Estimated professional build cost |
|---|---|
| Single-page website | £500–£1,500 |
| Small business website, 4–6 pages | £1,500–£3,000 |
| Larger business website | £3,000–£6,000 |
| Custom ecommerce website | £3,000–£10,000+ |
These estimates generally exclude the ongoing Squarespace subscription and may exclude VAT, copywriting and other services.
A five-page business website requiring professional design might therefore cost £2,000 to develop, with a further £204 for an annual Core subscription before VAT.
The total initial budget would be approximately £2,204 before any additional services.
A website with ecommerce configuration, custom integrations or extensive content development could cost considerably more.
For businesses deciding whether to hire external support, comparing available services from a digital marketing agency for small business can help distinguish website-development costs from ongoing marketing expenditure.
How Much Is a Squarespace Website in the First Year?
The first-year website cost varies according to how the site is created and which features are required.
A business building its own website may spend relatively little beyond the subscription.
By contrast, a professionally designed website requires a larger initial investment.
| Business scenario | Assumptions | Estimated first-year cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal portfolio | Basic, DIY | £144 |
| Small service business | Core, DIY | £204 |
| Growing digital business | Plus, DIY | £348 |
| Professionally designed business website | Core and £1,500–£3,000 design fee | £1,704–£3,204 |
| Professionally designed ecommerce website | Plus and £3,000–£5,000 build fee | £3,348–£5,348 |
Figures exclude VAT and additional services. They assume qualifying first-year domain registration where applicable. Professional build fees are illustrative.
For entrepreneurs working with limited capital, a self-built website can reduce initial financial commitments.
However, businesses must also consider the time required to create content, customise layouts, configure settings and test the website before launch.
How Much Will a Squarespace Website Cost Over Three Years?
Calculating the initial subscription alone can underestimate the longer-term cost of website ownership.
Businesses should also account for domain renewals, business email and ongoing subscriptions.
Consider a small consulting business using the Core plan.
Assume the following annual expenses:
- Squarespace Core subscription: £204.
- Domain renewal from year two: £16.
- One professional email account from year two: £72.
- No professional maintenance or additional software.
The example assumes the business qualifies for the first-year domain and email offers.
| Expense | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squarespace Core | £204 | £204 | £204 |
| Domain registration or renewal | £0 | £16 | £16 |
| Business email | £0 | £72 | £72 |
| Total | £204 | £292 | £292 |
Over three years, the business would spend approximately £788 before VAT, assuming the listed costs remain unchanged.
If the business also paid £2,000 for professional website development at launch, its three-year total would become £2,788 before VAT and any other expenses.
This calculation provides a more realistic picture of website expenditure than the advertised monthly subscription alone.
When Does Upgrading to a More Expensive Squarespace Plan Save Money?
A higher-priced Squarespace plan can sometimes reduce overall operating costs.
The key is to compare the additional subscription expense against transaction fees and the commercial benefits of extra features.
Basic vs Core for Physical Product Sales
Basic costs £144 annually, while Core costs £204.
The difference is £60 per year.
Basic charges a 2% online-store transaction fee, whereas Core removes that particular platform fee.
If a business generates £3,000 in annual online-store sales, the Basic platform fee would be:
£3,000 × 2% = £60.
At that sales level, upgrading to Core offsets the £60 additional subscription cost through the avoided Squarespace store transaction fee.
This is equivalent to approximately £250 in online-store sales per month.
The calculation excludes payment processing fees, taxes and the value of additional Core features.
For businesses generating higher sales volumes, Core may therefore be the more economical option.
Core vs Plus for Digital Content
A different calculation applies to Squarespace’s paid digital-content and membership fees.
Core charges a 5% digital-content transaction fee, while Plus charges 1%.
The annual subscription difference is £144.
A business generating £3,600 in eligible annual digital-content sales would save 4% of that revenue by upgrading.
That represents £144 in annual platform-fee savings, enough to offset the additional subscription price.
Digital businesses expecting higher revenue should consider Plus, while smaller creators may find Core sufficient.
Businesses should separately account for payment processing charges and confirm which sales are subject to the digital-content fee.
Does Squarespace Charge Transaction Fees on Online Sales?
Squarespace distinguishes between website subscription fees, online-store transaction fees, digital-content fees and payment processing charges.
These should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Plan | Online-store transaction fee | Digital-content transaction fee |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2% | 7% |
| Core | 0% | 5% |
| Plus | 0% | 1% |
| Advanced | 0% | 0% |
These are Squarespace platform charges for applicable transaction categories. Payment processing fees can still apply.
For example, a retailer using Core may avoid Squarespace’s additional online-store transaction fee but still pay the card-processing provider when a customer makes a purchase.
The amount depends on the payment processor, card type, country and relevant pricing conditions.
Squarespace provides further details in its official transaction fees and payment processing guidance.
Understanding the distinction is important for businesses calculating product margins and ecommerce profitability.
Is Squarespace Cheaper Than WordPress, Wix or Shopify?
Squarespace competes with several established website-building platforms, each offering a different approach to website creation and management.
Rather than comparing introductory prices alone, businesses should evaluate the total cost of achieving the required functionality.
| Platform | Main pricing consideration | Particularly suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Squarespace | Bundled hosting and website tools with subscription-based pricing | Portfolios, service businesses and smaller ecommerce websites |
| Wix | Subscription plans with optional premium applications | Businesses seeking flexible visual website design |
| WordPress.org | Software is free, but hosting, themes, plugins and maintenance may cost extra | Content-heavy and extensively customised websites |
| Shopify | Ecommerce subscription plus relevant payment and app costs | Businesses focused primarily on online retail |
Squarespace can offer predictable website expenditure because hosting, core templates and security are incorporated into the platform.
WordPress may provide greater flexibility for websites requiring extensive customisation, although additional maintenance responsibilities can increase costs.
Shopify may be a stronger choice for retailers requiring specialised inventory, fulfilment or multichannel selling tools.
Business owners assessing these options can compare the best website builders for small businesses before committing to a particular platform.
Is Squarespace Good Value for Money for UK Small Businesses?
Squarespace can be a cost-effective option for businesses requiring an attractive, functional website without building a custom technical infrastructure.
Its main financial advantage is the relatively predictable subscription model.
Hosting, mobile-responsive templates, SSL security and core website management functionality are included, reducing the need to purchase several separate services.
However, value for money should not be measured solely by the subscription fee.
Businesses should also consider whether the website generates enquiries, attracts qualified visitors or supports online sales.
For example, a consultant paying £204 annually for Core may recover the subscription cost through one additional client, depending on the value and profitability of that engagement.
Likewise, an independent retailer may benefit from professional product presentation, clear checkout processes and efficient customer communication.
Businesses should also consider the website’s long-term role in building trust.
Improving business website authority requires useful content, reliable information and consistent optimisation rather than an expensive subscription alone.
For smaller companies, the strongest approach is often to begin with the necessary features and expand spending once measurable business needs emerge.
What Are the Main Disadvantages of Squarespace?
Despite its advantages, Squarespace may not be ideal for every business.
Its subscription model creates an ongoing expense, while businesses requiring specialist integrations can encounter limitations compared with more extensible platforms.
Another consideration is platform portability.
Businesses can transfer domain registrations and export certain types of website content, but a complete Squarespace design cannot simply be transferred to another website builder with all its functionality intact.
Complex ecommerce operations may also require additional software or a platform designed around more specialised retail processes.
Before choosing Squarespace, businesses should consider:
- Whether the available integrations support existing workflows.
- How much control is required over website functionality.
- Whether the ecommerce system can support expected growth.
- The cost of migrating to another platform if requirements change.
- Whether separate marketing and booking subscriptions are necessary.
Choosing a platform that matches business objectives can reduce avoidable redevelopment costs in the future.
How Can Businesses Reduce the Cost of Building a Squarespace Website?
Businesses can manage Squarespace expenditure more effectively through careful planning.
The most practical strategies include choosing annual billing when a long-term website is required, using included templates instead of immediately commissioning a bespoke design and selecting a subscription based on actual features needed.
Preparing website copy, photographs, product details and branding materials before hiring a designer may also reduce professional development costs.
A small business could initially launch with five essential pages covering its services, company information, contact details and customer enquiries.
Additional landing pages, ecommerce functions and marketing integrations can then be introduced as the business grows.
However, reducing development costs should not mean overlooking usability, accessibility, clear pricing information or customer trust.
For smaller firms, successful websites often depend more on useful information and a well-defined audience than extensive functionality.
These principles also support how small businesses compete with larger brands without matching their technology budgets.
Can You Build a Squarespace Website for Free?
Squarespace offers a standard 14-day free website trial, allowing users to explore the platform and create website layouts before purchasing a subscription.
A credit card is not normally required to start the standard trial.
However, Squarespace does not provide a permanent free plan for operating a public business website.
Users generally need to purchase a website subscription to launch and maintain their website beyond the trial.
Annual subscriptions may also qualify for one year of free registration of an eligible custom domain.
Therefore, while businesses can experiment with website design without an immediate subscription payment, maintaining a live Squarespace website normally requires ongoing expenditure.
Which Squarespace Plan Should UK Businesses Choose?
The most suitable subscription depends on the website’s commercial objectives.
For a freelancer displaying previous projects and collecting enquiries, Basic may provide everything necessary.
For a professional service business that needs more advanced functionality, several contributors or occasional ecommerce sales, Core is generally the more practical starting point.
Businesses selling paid courses, digital resources or membership content should examine Plus because of its lower digital-content fee.
Advanced is more appropriate where substantial sales volumes or specific advanced features justify the higher subscription.
There is no financial advantage in paying for advanced features that the business does not use.
Instead, companies should calculate expected transactions, identify essential integrations and review the annual cost before purchasing.
Final Thoughts on Squarespace Website Costs
Squarespace offers UK businesses a relatively straightforward way to build and operate professional websites, with annual subscription costs ranging from approximately £144 to £948 before VAT.
For a simple portfolio, the Basic plan may be sufficient, while Core provides a useful balance of price and functionality for many smaller businesses.
Businesses selling substantial volumes of digital products or requiring advanced ecommerce features may benefit from Plus or Advanced.
However, the final cost of a Squarespace website is influenced by more than its subscription. Domain renewals, professional email, design work, optional software and payment fees should all be included in the budget.
For most UK small businesses, the strongest financial decision is to choose the lowest-priced plan that supports current operational requirements and upgrade when additional functionality becomes commercially worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the cheapest Squarespace website?
The Basic plan starts at approximately £12 per month when billed annually, equivalent to £144 per year before VAT.
How much does a five-page Squarespace website cost?
A DIY five-page website can start from the normal subscription cost. Hiring a professional designer may increase the initial expense to approximately £1,500–£3,000 or more.
Does Squarespace include website hosting?
Yes. Website hosting, SSL security and core website-building tools are included with Squarespace website subscriptions.
How much does a Squarespace domain cost after the first year?
An eligible domain may be free for the first year with annual billing. Renewal costs vary, but £15–£25 annually is a useful indicative budget for a standard domain.
Does Squarespace charge monthly or annually?
Squarespace offers both monthly and annual billing. Annual subscriptions generally provide a lower equivalent monthly price.
Is Squarespace worth it for a small business?
Squarespace can offer good value for businesses requiring professional design, integrated hosting and manageable website maintenance without extensive technical development.
Do you need to pay separately for each Squarespace website?
Yes. Each Squarespace website requires its own subscription, even when several websites belong to the same business or account.
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