Squarespace 14-Day Free Trial Explained
TL;DR:
- Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial for new users
- You need to enter credit card details to start the trial
- No permanent free plan exists
- Your site gets disabled after the trial unless you subscribe
- You can upgrade to a paid plan any time during the trial
Squarespace gives you 14 days to test drive their platform before committing to a paid plan. It's a proper trial where you get full access to all the tools, but there are a few things you need to know before jumping in.
Getting Started with Your Trial
You'll need to provide credit card details upfront to activate your trial. This catches some people off guard, but Squarespace won't charge you during the 14 days. The card details are just for verification and to make the transition smoother if you decide to stay.
Your trial gives you complete access to Squarespace's website builder. You can pick templates, customise designs, add content, and test all the features just like a paying customer would.
Making the Most of Your 14 Days
Plan ahead before starting your trial. Have your content ready, know what kind of site you want to build, and list the features you need to test. This way you'll spend less time gathering materials and more time actually using the platform.
Test the specific features that matter to your project. If you're building an online shop, focus on the commerce tools. If you're creating a portfolio, spend time with the gallery options and image handling.
What Happens After the Trial
When your 14 days are up, you have two choices. Subscribe to a paid plan and keep your site running, or let the trial end and watch your site get disabled.
If your site gets disabled, your work isn't lost forever. Should you decide to come back later and sign up for a paid plan, Squarespace can reactivate your site with all your content intact.
You can upgrade to a paid plan any time during the trial. Some people prefer to switch over early to avoid any risk of their site going offline.
Trial Limitations
The trial works on both Squarespace 7.1 (the current version) and legacy 7.0 sites, though new users automatically get 7.1 templates. You can't publish a custom domain during the trial, your site will have a temporary Squarespace URL.
You also can't access some advanced features like detailed analytics or remove Squarespace branding without upgrading to a paid plan.
FAQs
Can I start a trial without entering credit card details?
No, credit card information is required to activate any Squarespace trial.
What happens to my website after the trial ends?
Your site gets disabled unless you subscribe to a paid plan. Subscribing reactivates everything.
Can I upgrade during the trial period?
Yes, you can switch to a paid plan at any point during your 14 days.
Do I get charged automatically after the trial?
Only if you actively choose a paid plan. The trial doesn't automatically roll into a subscription.
Jargon Buster
Free Trial – A limited-time period where you can use Squarespace's full platform without paying, but with an end date
Site Disabled – When your website goes offline and becomes inaccessible to visitors, though your content remains saved
7.1 vs 7.0 – Different versions of Squarespace's platform, with 7.1 being the current standard for new sites
Wrap-up
Squarespace's 14-day trial gives you a proper chance to test whether the platform works for your needs. While the credit card requirement might seem pushy, you won't get charged unless you actively choose to continue. Use the time wisely by planning ahead and testing the features that matter most to your project.
Ready to dive deeper into Squarespace? Check out our comprehensive guides and tutorials at Pixelhaze Academy.