How to Offer Free Products on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Set any product to free by changing the price to £0.00 in the product editor
- Use the "On sale" toggle for temporary free offers or create discount codes
- Free products only work for one-time purchases, not subscriptions
- Billing fields always show at checkout but customers can skip filling them in
- Configure free shipping for physical products to keep the total at £0.00
- You don't need a payment processor connected for £0.00 checkouts
Free products work well for lead magnets, samples, or promotional offers. The setup is straightforward once you know where to make the changes.
Creating a Free Product
The most direct way to offer something for free is to set the price to £0.00:
- Go to Pages in your dashboard
- Click on your store page
- Select 'All' then double-click the product you want to edit
- Change the price field to £0.00
- Save your changes
The product will now show as free across your site. This works for both digital and physical products.
Using Sales and Discounts for Free Products
For temporary free offers, use the "On sale" toggle:
- Turn on "On sale" and set the sale price to £0.00
- When the promotion ends, simply turn off the toggle to return to regular pricing
Discount codes offer another route. Create a 100% discount code to make products free at checkout. This approach works well when you want to reward specific customers or require a minimum order value before the free item applies.
Setting Up Free Shipping
If you're offering a physical product for free, you need free shipping to keep the total at £0.00:
- Add a shipping option in your commerce settings
- Set the shipping cost to £0.00
- Make sure this option is available for your free products
Without free shipping, customers will still pay for delivery, which defeats the point of a free product.
The Checkout Experience
When customers buy free products, a few things happen:
- The product shows as £0.00 in the cart
- Billing fields appear at checkout but customers can skip filling them in
- If the total is £0.00, no payment processor is needed
- A "Checkout is closed" message appears until you connect a payment processor, even though free checkouts work fine
The billing fields can't be hidden completely, but customers don't need to fill them in for free orders.
Payment Processor Requirements
You don't need a connected payment processor for £0.00 transactions. However, Squarespace shows a notice saying checkout is closed until you connect one. This can confuse customers, so it's worth connecting a payment processor even if you only sell free products.
Limitations to Know About
Free products only work for one-time purchases. You can't create free subscription products in Squarespace. If you need recurring free access, consider using member areas or password-protected pages instead.
The billing fields always appear at checkout for free products. You can't remove them, but adding a note on your product pages helps customers understand they can skip these fields.
FAQs
Can I offer free subscription products on Squarespace?
No, free pricing only works for one-time purchases. Subscriptions require a minimum price.
Can I hide billing fields for free products?
No, the billing fields always appear, but customers can skip filling them in when the total is £0.00.
Do I need a payment processor for free checkouts?
No, but Squarespace shows a "checkout is closed" notice until you connect one, which can confuse customers.
Can I mix free and paid products in the same order?
Yes, but if there's any cost involved, customers will need to complete the payment process normally.
Jargon Buster
On sale toggle – A switch in the product editor that lets you set temporary sale prices
Billing fields – The form sections where customers enter payment and shipping information
Payment processor – Services like Stripe or PayPal that handle card payments
Lead magnet – A free item offered to encourage email signups or customer interest
Wrap-up
Setting up free products on Squarespace is straightforward once you understand the options. Whether you're using them for promotions, samples, or lead magnets, the key is making sure the entire checkout total reaches £0.00. Remember to set up free shipping for physical products and consider adding notes to help customers understand they can skip billing details.
Free products can be a smart way to build your email list or let customers try before they buy. The setup takes just a few minutes, and you can always switch back to paid pricing when needed.
Ready to build a stronger online presence? Join Pixelhaze Academy for in-depth Squarespace training and ongoing support.