Squarespace Pricing for Nonprofits: How Much Does It Cost?
If you're running a nonprofit, having a great website is essential nowadays. There are many website builders, but the Squarespace pricing for nonprofits is affordable if we look at value. In addition to that, the platform has made it simple for you to manage your website and save time.
Squarespace offers four pricing plans for nonprofits, ranging from $192 to $588 annually. Based on my experience using Squarespace, I would say that the Business plan at $276 annually is suitable for most nonprofits.
If you need additional information, you can read my previous article where I compared Squarespace Business vs Personal plans.
In this article, we'll explore the different Squarespace pricing plans available for nonprofits and the features they come with. We will also show you how you can take advantage of discounts to maximize your budget. So let's get started.
What Is Squarespace
Squarespace is a user-friendly website builder and hosting platform that makes it easy to create professional websites. You can build your site with Squarespace even if you don't know how to code.
In addition to that, it has a variety of customizable templates and drag-and-drop tools. You can design and manage your site effortlessly. It’s great for small business owners, creatives, and anyone looking to build a polished online presence.
Moreover, Squarespace includes features like ecommerce, blogging, SEO, and analytics. As a result, this allows you to have everything you need in one place. I highly encourage you to start the 14-day free trial of Squarespace to try all its features. No credit card is required.
Squarespace includes integrated marketing tools, domain services, and strong security features like free SSL certificates. Plus, you can improve your site with third-party Squarespace plugins and extensions. This makes Squarespace an all-in-one solution for creating and maintaining a professional online presence.
Squarespace Pricing for Nonprofits
Squarespace has four pricing plans from which you can choose. There is a Personal plan for simple websites and a Business plan for small business websites. In addition to that, there are two commerce plans for online stores.
Squarespace offers discounted pricing for nonprofits through a partnership with TechSoup. This provides you with approximately 10% off of Squarespace plans. Nonprofits can choose from Personal, Business, Basic Commerce, and Advanced Commerce plans.
The Squarespace pricing for nonprofits can range from $16 to $52 per month, billed annually. But to receive the discount, nonprofits must verify their status through TechSoup and use the provided discount code at checkout.
As I said, Squarespace offers four main pricing plans:
Personal Plan: Priced at $16 monthly when billed annually or $25 month-to-month. It includes a free domain for the first year, SSL security, unlimited bandwidth and storage, and basic SEO features.
Business Plan: At $23 per month annually or $36 month-to-month. This plan includes all Personal Plan features, plus professional email from Google, $100 Google Ads credit, advanced website analytics, promotional pop-ups, and 3% transaction fees on ecommerce sales.
Basic Commerce Plan: Costing $28 per month annually or $40 month-to-month. It offers all Business Plan features without transaction fees, plus customer accounts, and advanced ecommerce features like products on Instagram and automatic discounts.
Advanced Commerce Plan: At $52 per month annually or $72 month-to-month. This plan includes all Basic Commerce features, adding advanced shipping options, advanced discounts, abandoned cart recovery, and subscription selling capabilities.
Keep in mind that all Squarespace plans come with a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required. Discounts are available for those who opt for annual billing. In addition to that, Squarespace provides you with promo codes that you can use to get 10% off discounts.
Is Squarespace Good for Nonprofits
Based on my experience using the platform, I can say yes. Squarespace is a good option for nonprofits. It offers user-friendly design tools, professional templates, and built-in features that make creating a decent functional website easy.
In addition to that, Squarespace also supports donations, event management, and other beneficial functionalities for nonprofit organizations.
Squarespace also offers excellent customer support, so nonprofits can get help whenever they need it. Its mobile-friendly designs ensure the website looks good on any device. Plus, with built-in SEO tools, nonprofits can improve their visibility online to reach more people. You can read my article about Squarespace SEO to get more details about the feature.
Squarespace powers about 3% of websites and is popular with small to mid-sized nonprofits. It's a good choice if your nonprofit needs a simple website with some pages, a blog, or an event calendar.
It's also a great option if you want an easy-to-use platform that you can manage yourself, have a budget under $10,000, and don't need custom features.
If you're unsure about any of these points, Squarespace might still work, but it's a good idea to research more to see if it’s the best fit compared to other options. You can read my full comparison of Squarespace vs Showit if you’re interested.
Pros of Using Squarespace for Nonprofits
Squarespace offers several advantages that can be highly beneficial for nonprofits. These pros allow you to have a good solution and platform for your nonprofit.
1. User-Friendly Interface
One of the biggest pros of Squarespace is its user-friendly interface. The platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for those with little to no technical expertise.
This allows nonprofit staff and volunteers to create and maintain the website without needing extensive training or outside help. Anyone can edit a Squarespace website easily, it's not that hard.
The Squarespace drag-and-drop functionality simplifies the process of adding and organizing content. As a result, this ensures that anyone can update the site efficiently. This ease of use is particularly valuable for nonprofits that may not have dedicated IT staff and rely on volunteers to manage their online presence.
2. Squarespace Templates for Nonprofits
Squarespace offers a wide range of beautifully designed templates that can give a nonprofit's website a nice and professional appearance.
These templates are highly customizable. You can easily edit any template the way you want and add your content to it. This allows nonprofits to create a unique look that aligns with their brand and mission.
So with options for various layouts, fonts, and color schemes, organizations can ensure their site reflects their identity and engages visitors. In addition to that, the good-looking Squarespace templates help create a strong first impression, which is crucial for attracting and retaining supporters.
3. Integrated Tools
Squarespace has many built-in tools. It offers blogging, social media integration, email campaigns, and donation buttons. These tools help nonprofits engage with their audience and raise funds.
The platform also has built-in SEO features to increase online visibility. These tools simplify operations by consolidating essential functions in one place.
So as you can see, Squarespace provides nonprofits with all the tools to reach and engage their supporters effectively. This will make it easy for them to manage their online presence and fundraising efforts.
4. Reliable Hosting and Security
Squarespace also includes reliable hosting and security features. As a result, this ensures that a nonprofit's website is always available and secure. This is crucial for maintaining the trust of donors and supporters, as well as protecting sensitive information.
Squarespace's hosting also makes sure that the site can handle varying levels of traffic without downtime. Moreover, its security measures protect against threats such as hacking and data breaches. This reliability and security are essential for any organization handling donations and personal data.
5. Mobile Optimization
Squarespace websites are automatically optimized for mobile devices. This is important for nonprofits, as many users will access websites via smartphones or tablets. A mobile-friendly website ensures that the organization can reach and engage a wider audience.
With increasing numbers of people using mobile devices to browse the web, having a site that looks great and functions well on all screen sizes is crucial for maintaining user engagement and accessibility.
In conclusion, Squarespace provides a range of features that can greatly benefit nonprofits. This makes it a strong contender for organizations looking to build a professional and effective online presence.
By the way, don’t forget to start the 14-day Squarespace free trial to have a look at all the tools and features that the platform offers. You don’t need your credit card to start the free trial, just give it a try.
Cons of Using Squarespace for Nonprofits
While Squarespace offers a lot of features that can benefit nonprofits, there are several cons to consider.
1. Higher Costs
One significant drawback is the cost. Squarespace's pricing plans may be higher compared to other website builders. However, you still get a good value for the money you pay.
Another disadvantage of Squarespace pricing is the absence of a free plan. That can be a deterrent for nonprofits operating on tight budgets. In addition to that, transaction fees on donations can add up, further straining financial resources.
I have written a full article about the topic: why is Squarespace so expensive? You can check it out if you’re interested in the reasons why Squarespace has higher pricing.
2. Limited Customization Options
Another con is the limited customization options. Although Squarespace provides beautiful templates, nonprofits with specific design or functionality needs might find the platform restrictive.
Custom coding is possible but requires some skills or hiring a developer, which can be costly. That's why I always recommend making your website simple to avoid any complex customizations.
3. Generic Support
Squarespace support is reliable but not specialized. Nonprofits often have unique needs that general support may not cover. For example, nonprofits might need help integrating donor management systems to track donations and manage donor information.
They may also require assistance with setting up and running large-scale fundraising events online. Squarespace’s support team provides general assistance, but may not offer the detailed help needed for these specific nonprofit tasks. This can be a limitation for organizations with specialized requirements.
4. Scalability Concerns
Scalability can be an issue. As a nonprofit grows, its website needs might become more complex. This could include adding new features or managing more extensive content. Squarespace might struggle to support these advanced features or high traffic volumes as effectively as platforms designed for larger organizations.
For example, a growing nonprofit might need more robust e-commerce capabilities, advanced features, or customized donor portals. Squarespace as a more general platform, may not offer the same level of support and flexibility as platforms tailored for larger or more complex operations.
In conclusion, while Squarespace is a strong platform, nonprofits should consider these cons against their specific needs and resources before choosing it. Also, they should try the platform and see if it offers them what they want.
Organizations need to ensure that the platform they choose can meet both their current needs and future growth requirements.
Squarespace Nonprofit Pricing and Discounts
As I said earlier, Squarespace currently has four Pricing Plans:
The Squarespace Personal Plan: $16/month(Save 36% annually).
Features of the plan:
Fully customizable templates.
Mobile optimized websites.
Templates for every need.
Free custom domain.
Send invoices for free.
Acuity Scheduling trial for appointments.
Sell content and memberships.
The Squarespace Business Plan: $23/month(Save 36% annually).
Features of the plan:
All Personal plan features.
Advanced website analytics.
3% transaction fee on online store transactions.
Checkout on your domain.
The Squarespace Commerce Basic Plan: $28/month(Save 30% annually).
Features of the plan:
All Business plan features.
0% transaction fee on online store transactions.
Powerful merchandising tools.
The Squarespace Commerce Advanced Plan: $52/month(Save 27% annually).
Features of the plan:
All Commerce Basic features.
Advanced shipping options.
Advanced discounting.
Sell subscriptions.
With each plan, Squarespace provides a 10% discount on the first payment for nonprofits. You can get the latest coupon code for this discount. Alternatively, you can also try to use the code GIMME10 to receive a 10% discount on your annual plan payment. Moreover, you can also use my code MEHDI10 for 10% off after you start the Squarespace free trial.
Squarespace Domain Registration
All Squarespace plans include free domain registration for the first year if you choose the annual payment option. This can save you about $15-30, which is the typical cost for domain registration with privacy protection.
However, it’s recommended to register your domain with a separate vendor like Namecheap. This approach keeps your domain and hosting separate. This makes it easier to switch platforms if needed in the future.
How to Choose The Right Squarespace Plan for Nonprofits
For most nonprofits starting on Squarespace, the Business plan is the best choice. That's because the Commerce plans are only necessary if you plan to have an online store, such as selling branded merchandise. You can read my article about Squarespace Business vs Commerce plans.
Many people choose the Personal plan because it's the cheapest, but it has significant limitations. It only allows two user accounts, doesn't include the Squarespace Donation block, and can't add custom CSS or JavaScript. This makes it hard to integrate third-party services like donation forms.
Nonprofits should carefully choose the plan that best fits their needs and consider the Business plan for its balance of features and cost.
Conclusion of Squarespace Nonprofit Pricing
Squarespace offers flexible pricing for nonprofits. The $16/month personal plan suits small nonprofits with basic needs. The $23/month business plan adds advanced features like analytics and donation processing. For more robust selling tools, the Commerce plans start at $28/month. These options make Squarespace an affordable and effective choice for nonprofits of any size.
Squarespace is a good platform for nonprofits due to its easy-to-use interface, customizable templates, and variety of features. It provides excellent value and functionality, but nonprofits should choose the plan that best fits their specific needs and budget.
Overall, Squarespace helps nonprofits create effective websites to engage supporters and further their missions. If you’re interested, I encourage you to start the Squarespace free trial to look at all the features before you pay. No credit card is required during the trial period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs that you may have in your mind:
How much of a fee does Squarespace take?
Squarespace's transaction fees vary by plan. The Business plan charges a 3% transaction fee on online store transactions, while both Commerce plans do not charge any transaction fees.
Does Squarespace take donations?
Yes, Squarespace allows nonprofits to accept donations directly through their website using built-in donation features or third-party integrations.
How much does Squarespace charge for donations?
Squarespace does not charge additional fees for donations on Commerce plans. However, payment processors like Stripe or PayPal may charge their fees.
How do I collect money from Squarespace?
To collect money from Squarespace, set up a payment processor like Stripe or PayPal in your site settings. Once connected, donations and payments will be processed and transferred to your linked bank account.
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