Squarespace has raised prices for several U.S. website plans, with the largest standard increase reaching 26% for customers who pay annually. The change is drawing attention among photographers, designers and other creators who use the platform for portfolio sites and are now comparing renewal notices.

As of July 17, 2026, Squarespace's public pricing shows annual-billing equivalents of $19 a month for Basic, $29 for Core, $49 for Plus and $99 for Advanced. Annual customers pay the full year upfront. The most important number for an existing customer, however, is the total displayed in the site's billing panel for the next renewal.

The increase does not necessarily take effect on the day a notice arrives. Squarespace says annual website subscriptions renew automatically and that customers can find the payment due date in the billing panel. That makes the next renewal date—not a date circulating in screenshots or posts—the deadline to use when deciding whether to stay, change plans or move.

The numbers

Current annual-equivalent pricing raises Basic from $16 to $19 a month, a 19% increase. Core moves from $23 to $29, and Plus rises from $39 to $49; both are increases of about 26%. Advanced remains $99.

For month-to-month billing, Core moves from $36 to $39 and Plus from $56 to $65, according to a comparison of current and archived prices published by PetaPixel. Basic remains $25 monthly and Advanced remains $139. Prices, taxes and plan availability can vary by market, so customers should rely on the amount shown in their own account.

Why some notices look much higher

Not every customer is starting from the same price. A renewal can appear to jump by more than the standard plan increase if an introductory promotion ends, a discount changes or an older legacy plan is being compared with a current plan. That helps explain why social posts cite increases ranging well beyond 26% even though the current annual-plan comparison tops out at 26%.

Squarespace introduced the Basic, Core, Plus and Advanced structure to replace older Personal, Business and Commerce offerings for new sites. The company says the current plans expand selling tools across tiers, add different transaction-fee levels and include AI features. For creators running a simple portfolio, those additions may not carry the same value as they do for a store or service business, which is driving much of the current debate.

What to check before renewal

  • Confirm the exact charge and date. Open Billing, select the website subscription and note the payment due date and total.
  • Compare features before changing tiers. Squarespace allows eligible customers to upgrade or downgrade, but leaving a legacy plan is generally irreversible.
  • Separate the website from other subscriptions. Domains, Google Workspace, Email Campaigns and scheduling can have their own renewals.
  • Back up before moving. Squarespace can export some content as a WordPress-format XML file, but store pages, portfolio pages, style settings, custom CSS and other elements may not transfer.

The caveat

Squarespace has not published a dedicated newsroom announcement explaining this price change, and PetaPixel said the company had not responded before its report was published. The live pricing page confirms what new U.S. customers are being offered, but an existing customer's email and billing panel remain the best sources for that account's renewal price and timing.

The practical choice is less about finding the cheapest headline price than calculating the full cost of staying or rebuilding. A portfolio owner with a mostly static site may value a lower-cost host, while a business using Squarespace commerce, scheduling and analytics may face a larger migration bill than the annual increase itself.