Website Hosting on Squarespace makes website management simple by putting everything you need on one platform. I’ve built over 50 websites using Squarespace and learned that its value extends far beyond basic hosting.
Basic web hosting costs just a few dollars monthly, but Squarespace gives you a complete solution that has hosting in every plan. The platform sets up a built-in domain (yoursiteid.squarespace.com) right after you sign up. Squarespace’s domain hosting gives you unlimited storage, round-the-clock customer support, and guarantees 99.90% uptime.
Let me share my insights about Squarespace hosting from creating dozens of websites. You’ll find details about their plans, learn how domain hosting works, see common mistakes you should avoid, and get tips to make the most of your Squarespace hosting experience.
What Website Hosting on Squarespace Really Offers
Squarespace stands out from traditional web hosting services by providing an all-in-one solution with hosting built right into the platform. This key difference shapes the way users experience Squarespace.
Built-in hosting vs third-party hosting
Squarespace removes the hassle of dealing with separate hosting arrangements. Users of traditional platforms like WordPress need to buy hosting from third-party providers, set up software, and handle server configurations. Squarespace bundles web hosting and website builder together. You’ll never have to think about server setups, software installations, or security updates with this integrated approach.
The platform runs its own distributed cloud hosting infrastructure instead of relying on third-party providers. This gives consistent performance to all websites built on the platform.
What’s included in a Squarespace plan
Each Squarespace subscription comes with these hosting features:
- Cloud hosting that keeps your website running smoothly
- Unlimited bandwidth and storage for every plan level
- Automatic SSL certificates for secure connections
- WHOIS privacy protection at no extra cost
- Built-in CDN (Content Delivery Network) for faster global loading
- Regular automated backups and security updates
The Personal plan starts at $16 monthly with annual billing. This is a big deal as it means that simple hosting costs, but you get both hosting infrastructure and sophisticated website-building tools.
Squarespace domain hosting explained
The platform serves as a domain host and offers over 200 top-level domains. A free custom domain comes with every annual plan for the first year.
Domain management couldn’t be simpler—domains you register through Squarespace work with your website automatically. You won’t need to touch DNS records or deal with technical setup. Each domain pointing to a Squarespace site gets an automatic SSL certificate.
Users who own domains elsewhere can connect them easily while managing everything from one dashboard.
Lessons Learned from Building 50+ Squarespace Sites
My experience with building over 50 Squarespace sites has taught me what works and what doesn’t on this platform. Here are the most important lessons I’ve picked up along the way.
1. Hosting is uninterrupted but not flexible
Squarespace’s integrated hosting eliminates the hassle of managing separate services. The platform makes everything simple. Yet this simplicity has its drawbacks. You won’t find support for server-side code like PHP, Ruby, or SQL. Your options become limited if you need custom server features or database management. My projects show that Squarespace sites excel as “brochure” style websites with text, images, and some JavaScript.
2. Performance is reliable for most use cases
The platform’s dependable performance stands out as a major plus. Squarespace delivers a solid 99.9% uptime rate, which keeps your site available to visitors. I’ve seen very few outages over the last several years. Your visitors will get consistent performance no matter where they are in the world. The speed and reliability work great for standard business websites, blogs, and portfolios.
3. Domain setup is simple but has its limits
Setting up domains on Squarespace is straightforward, especially with their domain services. Still, complex DNS configurations can be tricky. Domain verification is vital for security and functionality. The platform handles simple tasks well, yet advanced setups might give you trouble. DNS changes need up to 48 hours to take full effect, so you’ll need some patience.
4. SSL and security work on autopilot
The best part about building sites on Squarespace is not having to think about SSL certificates. Every website gets automatic SSL certificates and management. Your site stays secure without any manual work. This feature matters more now since Google gives priority to secure websites in search rankings.
5. Server maintenance becomes a thing of the past
The freedom from server maintenance is one of Squarespace hosting’s biggest perks. The team monitors the platform 24/7. They handle automatic backups, security patches, and SSL renewals. Small businesses and creators can focus on content and design instead of technical details.
Common Hosting Mistakes to Avoid on Squarespace
People often run into these common hosting pitfalls with Squarespace, despite its user-friendly design. You can avoid a lot of frustration by learning about these mistakes now.
1. Ignoring bandwidth and storage needs
Squarespace offers unlimited bandwidth and storage on all plans, which is different from other website builders’ strict limits. The term “unlimited” comes with some file size restrictions:
- Images and documents: 300 MB per file
- Audio files: 160 MB per file
- Video files: 500 MB per file
Your website will perform better thanks to these limits, though most users never come close to reaching them.
2. Not understanding domain transfer rules
You’ll need to wait 60 days after registering or transferring your domain with your current provider before moving to Squarespace. The transfer can take 1-15 days to complete. New site builders often forget to include this waiting period in their launch schedule.
3. Overlooking email hosting limitations
Here’s something that surprises many users: Squarespace doesn’t host email directly. The platform blends with Google Workspace instead, which costs about £6/month per user. This setup means your email lives outside the Squarespace system, making it less of a complete solution than you might expect.
4. Assuming Squarespace works like WordPress
The most common mistake I see happens when people treat Squarespace like WordPress. Squarespace uses a closed system that trades customization options for reliability and simplicity. The platform focuses on built-in tools and optimized processes, unlike WordPress’s plugin-heavy approach. Understanding this core difference helps prevent frustration down the road.
How to Get the Most Out of Website Hosting on Squarespace
These five proven strategies will help you get the most from your Squarespace hosting experience. My experience of building dozens of websites has refined these approaches.
1. Choose the right plan for your site type
Your specific needs should determine the plan selection. Simple websites work well with the Personal plan. The Business plan comes with marketing tools and e-commerce features that include a 3% transaction fee. Advanced features like inventory management come with the Commerce plans, which remove transaction fees completely. Pick a plan that matches your goals instead of paying extra for features you won’t use.
2. Use built-in tools instead of third-party plugins
Squarespace runs on its native functionality. The platform’s built-in SEO features operate automatically. You won’t need additional plugins. The Squarespace Extensions marketplace offers specialized third-party tools for multilingual capabilities, image optimization and more.
3. Optimize images and media for faster load times
Your site’s performance depends substantially on image size. Load times work best when files stay under 500KB. Photos should use JPEG format while graphics needing transparency work better as PNG. Sharp images across all devices need widths between 1500-2500 pixels.
4. Connect your domain properly
Domain connection with Squarespace works seamlessly. Annual plans include a free custom domain for the first year. Squarespace provides detailed instructions to update DNS settings for existing domains.
5. Use analytics to monitor performance
Your account’s Analytics section gives you valuable performance data. You can monitor visitor metrics, geographic data and search keywords. Set your KPIs based on your objectives – whether you want more traffic or higher conversions.
Conclusion
My experience of building over 50 websites on Squarespace proves that this platform excels as a powerful all-in-one hosting solution. The platform eliminates technical complexity found in traditional hosting environments and provides reliable infrastructure for most business websites.
The platform costs more than simple hosting services. The price difference makes sense when you think over everything bundled togethernreliable cloud hosting, unlimited storage, automatic SSL certificates, and an easy-to-use website builder. Small businesses and creatives find great value in this combination to build professional websites without technical headaches.
Simplicity remains the platform’s strongest feature. Domain management, security updates, and server maintenance run automatically in the background. You can focus on creating content instead of fixing technical problems. The 99.9% uptime guarantee will give your site round-the-clock availability to visitors.
Squarespace’s limitations deserve attention. The closed ecosystem restricts server-side customization, which makes it unsuitable for complex web applications. Email hosting needs a separate Google Workspace subscription that adds to your costs.
Note that Squarespace works differently from WordPress if you’re building your first website. The platform focuses on reliable built-in functionality and optimized workflows rather than plugins and extensive customization. This fundamental difference helps set the right expectations from day one.
While Squarespace might not fit every project, it creates visually impressive and stable websites with minimal technical overhead effectively. The platform offers a dependable foundation that grows with your needs for portfolios, blogs, or business sites while keeping technical complexities away.
