Recently, Squarespace users have been voicing concerns about upcoming price increases of up to 26% for their website plans. These changes, detailed in emails to customers, have sparked widespread discussions on platforms like Threads, with many photographers, designers, and artists seeking advice on alternative website services.
Filmmaker Mike Reda expressed his frustration, saying, “I’m leaving @squarespace after their ridiculous pricing increase. But where are we all moving to? I have a basic landing page for my film and video work. What’s the next best plug-and-play solution?” Similarly, photographer Stephen Broome questioned the cost-effectiveness, asking, “Anybody have recommendations for photo and video portfolio site hosting other than Squarespace (or Wix)? The price has long been hard to justify.” Photographer Ryan Neeven also joined the conversation, seeking alternative hosting options. These comments are a snapshot of the broader debate among creative professionals online.
Squarespace holds a significant place in the photography community, often leveraging photographers as influencer-style marketers. Many popular photography YouTube channels have featured Squarespace discount codes and promotions. While it’s unclear how many photographers use Squarespace due to such sponsorships, the number is substantial.
Amidst rising costs across the board—whether from tariffs, supply shortages, or inflation—photographers are understandably upset about yet another price hike. The sense of everything getting costlier at once adds to the frustration about Squarespace’s increased fees. Notably, Squarespace went private in October 2024 after being acquired by private equity firm Permira for $7.2 billion. Price hikes are a known strategy for private equity-owned companies in the photography industry to boost revenue and satisfy investors.
So, what’s changing? Squarespace hasn’t released a formal announcement regarding the price increases, opting instead to inform customers via email. However, examining archived web pages reveals the shift in Squarespace’s pricing. The company offers four annual plans: Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced. As of July 17, 2026, the Basic plan’s annual cost increases by $3 per month, rising from $16 to $19, marking a 19% increase. The Core plan, which includes extensive features like analytics and professional email, sees a 26% hike from $23 to $29 monthly. The Plus plan also jumps 26%, from $39 to $49 per month. The Advanced plan remains at $99 monthly. For those opting for monthly payments, the Basic and Advanced plans remain unchanged, while the Core plan rises by 8% to $39, and Plus increases by 16% to $65.
The confusion among users about the price increase stems from varying initial prices due to promotional discounts or special offers, like those from YouTube content creators. Nevertheless, most users will face higher costs, which is unwelcome news for many. The sentiment is that Squarespace is raising prices to integrate more AI tools, which many users neither requested nor find useful. As one Reddit user, CheesecakeOdd3075, lamented, “I feel like I’m paying for things I sincerely did not ask for, the biggest thing being AI. I don’t use AI at all in Squarespace’s features because I don’t need it. I’m having a hard time coping with this because I now have less than a month to decommission using Squarespace and self-host.”
Despite these frustrations, Squarespace recently launched tools aimed at businesses wanting to offer limited releases, which might benefit photographers selling short-term print drops. However, this feature alone may not justify a 26% price increase for users.
The market for photography website builders offers many alternatives to Squarespace, such as Format, SmugMug, Zenfolio, and Wix, all providing similar features. PetaPixel reached out to Squarespace for comments but did not receive a response before publication.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.com.
