Getting started
Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder and host -- templates, hosting, domain registration, and (on Commerce plans) e-commerce all live in one product, with no separate hosting account or domain registrar needed unless you want to keep an existing domain elsewhere. Current sites are built on 7.1, using Fluid Engine's free-form drag-and-drop layout rather than the older fixed-grid section system from 7.0.
Implementation Overview
Starting from a template and customizing via the visual editor is the fastest path to a live site, and Squarespace includes a free custom domain for the first year on annual plans (a real, specific detail worth confirming against current terms). Built-in Analytics starts tracking traffic from day one without any separate setup.
Actionable Considerations
- Start from a template close to your actual content needs rather than a generic one you'll heavily restructure.
- Confirm current domain-inclusion terms for your plan before assuming a free domain is automatically included.
- Check built-in Analytics from day one rather than assuming you need to configure a separate tracking tool.