Is Squarespace Free? The 14-Day Trial and What Happens After

That last part is the bit people miss. You can build a whole site on a trial, but you can't keep it live for free the way you can on some other website builders.

How the Squarespace free trial works

Squarespace's help centre says you can start a 14-day free trial at any time, and you don't need to give your card details to start one. The trial gives you the full editor so you can pick a design, add pages and get a feel for the platform before deciding.

1. Go to squarespace.com and click Get started.
2. Describe what the site is for, or skip to see the full selection of designs.
3. Click Start With on the design you like.
4. Enter your name, email and a password, then create your account.
5. Verify your account from the email Squarespace sends you.
6. Start building. You can check how many days you have left from your account.

Can you extend the Squarespace trial?

Yes, once. Squarespace offers a one-time, seven-day extension. After your trial expires, you'll get an email with the subject "Your trial has expired. Need more time?" and a link to extend it by seven days. When you log back in, your trial site is as you left it. After those seven days, Squarespace asks you to upgrade.

Squarespace also says you can contact its support team if you need more time, so it's worth asking if you're midway through a build.

What happens when your trial site expires

This is the part to plan for. Squarespace says that when a trial site expires, it's no longer public and the content is marked for permanent deletion. Your options at that point are to extend using the link in the email, upgrade to a plan or delete the trial from your account dashboard.

So don't build your only copy of anything on a trial. Keep your text and images saved somewhere else too, so you're not relying on the trial site if you decide Squarespace isn't for you.

What you do get for free with Squarespace

• The trial itself: 14 days to build and test, with no card needed.
• SSL certificates: Squarespace says it creates and configures free SSL certificates for all of its websites, including ones on custom domains.
• A free domain for the first year: Squarespace includes one year of free domain registration when you choose an annual website plan, on eligible domains.
• Hosting: all Squarespace plans include bandwidth and hosting for your site.

Squarespace trial vs a free plan elsewhere

Question	Squarespace
Free plan?	No
Free trial?	Yes, 14 days
Card needed for trial?	No
Trial extension?	One-time, seven days
After the trial expires	Site goes private, content marked for deletion

If you want a site that stays online for free, you'll need a builder with a free plan. My guide to the best free website builders for small businesses compares the options, and if you're unsure Squarespace is right, see these Squarespace alternatives.

How to delete a trial you don't want

If you try Squarespace and decide against it, you don't have to wait for the trial to expire. Squarespace says you can delete a site when your trial expires through your account dashboard: click the three dots next to the site, choose Delete, then confirm.

Be sure before you do it. Squarespace says deleting a site permanently removes its data and content from its system, and anyone visiting the address sees a Site Deleted message.

Moving an existing site to Squarespace

Squarespace hosts sites built on its own platform, not sites built elsewhere. If you already have a website on another platform, Squarespace says you can import content and rebuild your site using its templates and tools. That's worth testing during the trial, because the import is where you'll spot any pages or posts that need tidying up.

• Check how your blog posts and images come across.
• Look at your pages on a phone as well as a laptop.
• Make a list of anything you'll need to rebuild by hand.

Making the most of 14 days

Two weeks goes quickly, so get your content ready before you start the trial. Write your home page, about page and service descriptions in a document first, gather your logo and photos, and decide which pages you need. Then use the trial for what it's good at: trying designs, testing the editor and seeing how your content looks.

It also helps to decide your must-haves before you start. If you need online booking, a shop or a blog, test those first, because they're the features that decide whether a website builder suits your business.

If you're still building on day 14, use the one-time extension rather than rushing. That gives you three weeks in total to decide.

My verdict: Squarespace isn't free, but the trial is fair. You get two weeks without handing over card details, plus one extension. Just remember the trial site isn't permanent, so have your content saved elsewhere and decide before it expires.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free Squarespace plan?

No. Squarespace says it doesn't offer a free plan, but every site starts with a free trial and you don't need a credit card to begin.

How long is the Squarespace free trial?

Every Squarespace website starts with a 14-day free trial. You can request a one-time, seven-day extension after it expires.

What happens when my Squarespace trial expires?

Squarespace says an expired trial site is no longer public and its content is marked for permanent deletion. You can extend it, upgrade or delete it from your account dashboard.

Do I need a credit card for the Squarespace trial?

No. Squarespace says you don't need to give your credit card information to start a trial.

Can I extend my Squarespace trial?

Yes, once. Squarespace offers a one-time, seven-day extension, which you can request from the link in the email you get when your trial expires.

Can I delete a Squarespace trial site?

Yes. Squarespace says you can delete an expired trial from your account dashboard. Deleting a site permanently removes its data and content.

Does Squarespace include a free domain?

Squarespace includes one year of free domain registration on eligible domains when you choose an annual website plan.