Squarespace Business vs Personal: Which Plan is Better?
Are you confused between Squarespace business vs personal plan? If so, you have come to the right article my friend.
The choice between Squarespace Business plan and Personal plan depends on your website's goals. If you need advanced features and e-commerce tools, go for the Business plan. For simpler websites, the Personal plan works well.
I was also confused between these two plans when I started my Squarespace website 3 years ago. That’s why I want to help you easily pick the right plan for your website.
Deciding on the best plan for your website is a very important process when starting a Squarespace website. You need to pick the right plan that fits your website and has all the features you will need.
If you're unsure about which features you'll use, don't worry. Squarespace gives you a 14-day free trial to try the platform before you need to choose a plan. So you will already have an idea of the features that you will need.
In this article, we’re going to compare both Squarespace Business and Personal plans in order to help you make your decision.
Squarespace Business vs Personal
If you're looking for a simple website to promote your business, consider the Squarespace Personal plan. However, if you need marketing tools, e-commerce capabilities, or custom code on your site, the Business plan is the more suitable option.
The Squarespace business and personal are the most popular pricing plans in the platform. That’s because they offer features to start a small business website and they are also cheaper than the commerce plans.
As you can see in the image above, the Squarespace Personal plan costs $16 per month billed annually. On the other hand, the Business plan costs $23 per month if you’re picking the annual option.
I highly recommend that you watch the following YouTube video by David Alex to understand more about the Squarespace pricing plans and their features.
Most people start with the personal plan because it’s cheaper and when their business grows, they upgrade to the business plan just like I did.
However, the problem is that the personal plan lacks a lot of features such as custom code injections, email and marketing features, advanced analytics, and e-commerce functionality.
That’s why the Business plan makes more sense in my opinion. But if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can start with the Squarespace personal plan.
If you find it limited in terms of features, you can easily upgrade to the business plan with just a few clicks.
Feel free to start your free Squarespace trial. No credit card is required. And don’t forget to use my affiliate code MEHDI10 to get a 10% off offer and a free domain name for the first year.
Squarespace Business Plan Features
Squarespace comes with a powerful Business plan designed to help small businesses succeed.
Here are some of the key features that make the Squarespace Business plan a smart choice for entrepreneurs:
1. Professional Design Templates
The Squarespace Business plan comes with a lot of good-looking and professional templates that allow you to create a beautiful website.
With many customizable options, you can customize your website to reflect your brand identity and connect with your target audience.
Squarespace templates can save you a lot of time and make it easier for you to design your website in a short period of time.
2. Online Store Features
With the Business plan, you can run a simple e-commerce store without needing a separate Commerce Plan.
This includes product management, secure payments, and order processing. Keep in mind, that there's a 3% transaction fee on this plan.
You can sell unlimited products, and gift cards, and accept donations. The plan also offers basic discounts and shipping features. For more advanced e-commerce features, you can also check out the commerce plans.
3. Mobile-Optimized Experience
Having a responsive and mobile-friendly website is very important nowadays. That’s why Squarespace ensures that your website looks and functions well on any device, be it a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.
This mobile optimization allows you to reach and engage with your audience effectively, regardless of their preferred device.
4. Reliability and Security
Squarespace places a strong emphasis on reliability and security to protect your business and customer data. With SSL encryption, secure payment gateways, and regular backups, you can have peace of mind because your website is always safe.
Squarespace also provides 24/7 customer support to assist you promptly with any technical issues. Their customer support is really good actually.
5. Marketing Features
With the Business plan, you get access to many marketing features that can help you increase the conversion rates on your website.
Here are some marketing features that come in the Business plan:
Pop-ups: Use them to promote special offers.
Announcement bars: Pin important messages at the top of your website.
Email Marketing Integration: Easily connect with providers like Mailchimp.
Blog Subscriptions: Allow readers to subscribe to your blog.
Facebook Pixel: Implement it for targeted ads.
You also receive $100 Google Adwords credits to initiate advertising campaigns(after spending the first $25). Moreover, you receive a free G Suite email for a year, helping you present a more professional image.
6. Advanced Analytics
The Business plan lets you track visitor statistics using Squarespace Analytics and Google Analytics. This feature gives you insights into your website's performance.
Personally, I use this feature every day on my Squarespace website. I don’t even need to use Google Analytics because Squarespace Analytics gives me all the stats I need.
7. Third-Party Integrations
Squarespace comes with a lot of third-party integrations and plugins that you can add to your website. You can integrate third-party scheduling or booking apps to streamline appointments and enhance user experience.
For example, you can also display your Google Calendar or availability calendar on your site. This keeps visitors informed about your schedule. You can also add an instant messenger like ChatFuel to engage visitors in real-time.
8. Blogging features
With the business plan, you can also start a professional blog that will help you connect with your audience and get more eyeballs to your website. You will get some very useful blogging features.
The features include an easy-to-use editor, content organization, scheduled and draft posts, integrated comments, author profiles, RSS feeds, social sharing, and built-in search.
Squarespace also provides password protection for posts and entire blogs, making it a versatile platform for bloggers of all types.
9. Priority Customer Support
Squarespace Priority Customer Support is another feature available on the Business and Commerce plans. It offers subscribers faster assistance and dedicated support. It's especially useful for quick issue resolution and complex inquiries, enhancing the overall customer experience.
This service is valuable for users who require prompt resolution of issues, have complex inquiries, or want additional peace of mind knowing that their support needs are prioritized.
Priority Customer Support enhances the overall customer experience and is one of the perks of opting for the Squarespace Business plan.
So as you can see, the Squarespace Business Plan offers an all-in-one solution for small businesses. All of this empowers entrepreneurs to build a professional online presence, sell products, and reach their target audience.
Related blog post: Is Squarespace Good for Blogging?
Squarespace Personal Plan Features
The personal plan also has very useful features and functionality that lets you start a website and build your online brand.
Here are some of the features that you get in the Squarespace Personal plan:
1. Essential Website Creation
The Personal Plan enables you to build a fully functional website to showcase your content or promote your personal brand. It allows you to easily pick a Squarespace template that you can start with.
This plan is also great for building personal and portfolio websites. It gives you all the basic features that you will need.
2. Customizable Templates
You can choose from a variety of beautiful Squarespace templates to create a website that reflects your style. All the templates are customizable so you can design your website the way you want.
These customizable templates can save you a lot of time and money. That’s because they allow you to build your website quickly and save designer costs.
3. Mobile Responsiveness
In Squarespace, every website will automatically adapt to different screen sizes. This ensures a user-friendly experience for visitors on different devices.
So your website will automatically look good on all screen sizes and devices. This is also good for user experience and SEO.
4. Integrated Blogging
You can establish a blog to share your thoughts, ideas, and updates with your audience. You will have access to many features such as blog post scheduling and all the SEO functionality.
So as you can see, personal plans have a lot of features that are included in the business plan. The only functionalities that you don’t have access to in the personal plan are custom code injection tools, e-commerce features, and marketing features including analytics.
Besides that, the Squarespace personal plan can be also useful. You can have a blog on your website, add a podcast, and more.
Squarespace Business vs Personal Cost
The Squarespace Business plan starts at $23 per month and Squarespace Personal starts at $16. The Business plan offers more features for e-commerce and professional websites, while Personal is for basic sites and blogs.
So let's compare the Squarespace Business plan and the Squarespace Personal plan in terms of the total costs:
You can check out the Squarespace pricing to see all the available plans with their key features.
Squarespace Business Plan Cost
For businesses and ambitious folks, the Squarespace Business Plan has options that fit the budget. If you want to pay every month, it's $33. That's $396 for a whole year. But, the smarter way is the yearly plan. It's $276 a year, which means $23 a month—way less than paying each month.
And if you're lucky enough to know a Squarespace Circle Member, you can get a discount. The first year is just $220.80. So, this plan helps businesses save money while getting the tools they need.
Note: Keep in mind that Squarespace pricing might get updated in the future. So it’s always good to check prices from the main source.
Squarespace Personal Plan Cost
If you're doing something by yourself like showing off your art or just being online, the Squarespace Personal plan has features that fit your pocket. If you pay each month, it's $23, adding up to $276 for a year.
But again, the real deal is the yearly plan. It's $192 a year, which is like $16 a month. That's a good deal if you're planning to stick around. And if you're lucky to know a Squarespace Circle Member, they'll give you a 20% discount.
So, in the first year, it's only $153.60. Remember, Squarespace gives you two weeks to try things out before you decide, so you can see which plan fits your needs best.
Choosing between these plans comes down to what you need for your website and how much you want to spend.
So, think about your website's goals and your budget before you decide on the Squarespace Business plan or the Squarespace Personal plan.
Squarespace Business vs Commerce
Choosing between Squarespace's Business and Commerce Plans depends on your business goals and e-commerce needs.
If you want a simple website with basic e-commerce and care about pro email and analytics, go for the Business Plan. But if you've got bigger e-commerce goals, lots of products, and want to avoid transaction fees, the Commerce Plans have all the tools to make your online store shine.
Just think about what your business needs and what fits your budget to make the right decision. I have written an article about Squarespace Business vs Commerce plans, you can check it out for more details.
Can You Sell on Squarespace Personal Plan?
The Squarespace Personal Plan doesn't allow you to sell products on your website. To sell products or services, you'll need to upgrade to a higher plan like the Business Plan or higher. These plans offer e-commerce features for online stores. The Personal Plan is best for small websites without e-commerce needs.
Squarespace offers more advanced e-commerce features in plans like Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce. These plans include options for advanced product variants, subscription products, and abandoned cart recovery.
It's essential to choose the Squarespace plan that aligns with your specific website goals and business needs.
While the Personal Plan is suitable for basic websites and blogging, the business and e-commerce plans provide the necessary tools and functionality to create and run a successful online store.
Features That Are Only Included in The Squarespace Business Plan
The Squarespace Business plan offers a variety of features that cater to different aspects of website marketing, customization, and e-commerce.
Here's a list of some features that are only included in the Business plan or higher:
Pop-up Promotion: Create pop-up messages to advertise free resources or promotions on your site.
Announcement Bar: Pin an announcement bar at the top of your website for important announcements.
Email Marketing Integration: Connect with an email marketing provider like Mailchimp.
Blog Subscription: Set up a blog subscription feature for your readers.
Analytics Tracking: Access visitor statistics with Squarespace Analytics and Google Analytics.
Professional Email: Get a professional email from G Suite for free for one year.
Google Adwords Credits: Receive $100 in Google Adwords Credits(after spending the first $25).
Facebook Pixel: Incorporate the Facebook Pixel for Facebook Ads.
Third-Party Scheduling or Booking App Integration: Integrate third-party scheduling or booking apps.
Google Calendar Display: Display your Google Calendar or other availability calendar on your website.
Instant Messenger Integration: Use instant messenger tools like ChatFuel on your site.
E-commerce Hosting: Host a simple e-commerce store without upgrading to a full Commerce Plan.
Unlimited Products and Gift Cards: Sell an unlimited number of products and gift cards.
Accept Donations: Enable donation acceptance.
Simple Discounts and Shipping: Access simple discount and shipping options.
Squarespace Plugins: If you want to add third-party Squarespace plugins to your website, you need to have a Business plan. That’s because you can only add plugins using custom code features.
These features make the Business plan a great choice for individuals and businesses looking to create a more dynamic website. It allows you to do marketing campaigns and run a simple e-commerce store without the full commitment to a Commerce Plan.
Which Squarespace Plan Should You Pick?
Choosing the right plan between Squarespace Business and Squarespace Personal depends on what you want from your website and your budget. Here's a simple guide to help you decide:
Go for the Squarespace Business Plan if:
You're running a business or selling stuff online.
Features like selling lots of products, email marketing, and ads are important.
You need extra customization and special tools.
You're ready to invest more in the plan.
Pick the Squarespace Personal Plan if:
You're an individual showing your work, like art or writing.
You want a simple website with basics.
You're not planning to sell too much online.
You're looking for a more budget-friendly option.
Sharing content and connecting with people is your main focus.
Both plans give you two weeks to try them out, so you can see which one works best before deciding. Think about what you want your website to do and how much you can spend. That should help you make the best choice.
Thank you for reading. I hope that this article helps you make your decision. If so, feel free to start your Squarespace free trial and use my affiliate code MEHDI10 to get 10% off for the first year.
Conclusion
The choice between the Squarespace Business plan and the Personal plan is ultimately determined by your individual website requirements and goals.
The Business plan includes extensive marketing tools, e-commerce features, and integration options. As a result, these features make it a good choice for people looking to extend their online presence.
On the other hand, the Personal plan is a simpler option that is ideal for personal websites and blogs.
So you need to consider your goals and select the plan that best fits your vision. Regardless of your choice, both plans provide the high-quality editing and design templates that Squarespace is known for.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use a custom domain with both plans?
Yes, you can use a custom domain with both the Business Plan and the Personal Plan. Squarespace allows you to connect your domain or purchase one directly through their platform.
2. Is e-commerce functionality available on the Personal Plan?
E-commerce functionality is not available on the Personal Plan. You have to upgrade to the Business plan or the Commerce plan if you want to have e-commerce functionality on your website.
3. What features make the Business Plan suitable for businesses?
The Business Plan offers several features essential for businesses, such as unlimited products, professional email from Google Workspace, advanced e-commerce analytics, and the ability to accept donations. These features are not available on the Personal Plan.
4. Can I upgrade from the Personal Plan to the Business Plan later?
Yes, you can upgrade your plan at any time. Squarespace makes it easy to switch between plans. Your website's content and design will remain intact.
5. Do both plans include SSL security?
Yes, both the Business Plan and the Personal Plan include SSL security, which is crucial for protecting your website and your visitor's data.
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