Squarespace is a website builder known for polished, design-led templates, with ecommerce built into every plan. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, memberships and subscriptions from a site that looks professional without hiring a designer. It suits creatives and small brands who care about presentation as much as selling.
At a glance
| What it is | A website builder with built-in ecommerce |
| How you earn | Selling products, services or content, or building sites for clients |
| Plans | Basic, Core, Plus and Advanced; from about $16 a month billed annually |
| Transaction fees | 2% on Basic; 0% on Core and above |
| Who it’s for | Creatives, service businesses and small brands |
| Where it works | Online; most countries |
The 2026 plans
Squarespace replaced its old Personal, Business and Commerce plans with four new ones: Basic, Core, Plus and Advanced. All of them can sell. Basic charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales and a higher fee on digital content and memberships. Core and above drop the store transaction fee to 0%, and the top plans lower card processing rates and add advanced commerce features such as abandoned cart recovery and subscriptions. Squarespace raised US prices in July 2026, so check the current price list; legacy plans are being phased out. If you’re on an older plan, compare what you pay now with the nearest new plan before switching, as features and fees moved between tiers.
What you can sell
Physical products, digital downloads, online courses, memberships, appointments, services and gift cards. Squarespace’s member areas and digital product tools make it a good fit for creators selling content alongside products.
Ways to earn with Squarespace
Sell your own work, such as prints, crafts or a small product line, from a well-designed site. Sell services, from photography to coaching, with booking built in. Or build Squarespace sites for clients: many small businesses choose it for its look and simplicity, and designers who know it well can charge for setup and templates. Squarespace also runs programs for professionals who build sites for clients.
Squarespace vs Shopify
Squarespace wins on design and simplicity for small catalogues and content-led businesses. Shopify wins on apps, scale and advanced ecommerce. If your site is mainly a portfolio or service business with a shop attached, Squarespace is often the better fit.
Getting started
Start a free trial, choose a template close to your style and add your pages and products. Pick the plan based on fees: if you’ll sell regularly, a 0% transaction fee plan usually pays for itself.
Costs beyond the plan
On every plan, card payments through Stripe, PayPal or Squarespace Payments carry their own processing fees. A custom domain is usually free for the first year on annual plans, then renews at the normal rate. Extensions for shipping, inventory or accounting can add monthly costs, and email campaigns are a paid add-on beyond a small free allowance. Add these up before comparing Squarespace with other builders, because the headline plan price is only part of the picture.
Selling services and bookings
Squarespace is especially strong for service businesses. Its scheduling tool lets clients book and pay for sessions, and member areas let you sell gated content or recurring access. That makes it a good fit for coaches, photographers, tutors and teachers who want one site for portfolio, bookings and products.
Owen’s take
Squarespace is the easiest way to get a store that looks great with little effort. The new plan structure makes the fee trade-offs clearer: avoid Basic if you expect steady sales. For complex stores, look at Shopify instead.
Who it suits
It suits creatives, service providers and small brands selling a focused range, and designers building sites for clients. It suits less well large catalogues or stores needing many integrations.
Similar options
- Shopify is the leading platform for larger stores.
- Ecwid adds a store to an existing website.
- Big Cartel is a simple store for artists.
- Kajabi focuses on courses and memberships.
More options are in Ecommerce and Designing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Beautiful, design-led templates
- Commerce on every plan
- 0% transaction fees from Core upwards
Cons
- 2% fee on Basic
- Fewer integrations than Shopify
- Prices rose in 2026
FAQ
Does Squarespace charge transaction fees?
Basic charges 2% on store sales. Core, Plus and Advanced charge 0% on store sales.
What are the new Squarespace plans?
Basic, Core, Plus and Advanced, replacing the older Personal, Business and Commerce plans.
Can I sell digital products on Squarespace?
Yes, along with courses, memberships and services.
Is Squarespace good for ecommerce?
It’s strong for small, design-focused stores and service businesses; Shopify suits larger stores.
Can I build Squarespace sites for clients?
Yes. It’s a popular freelance service for designers.
