Squarespace has announced significant price increases, reaching up to 26%, for its users, sparking widespread discussions and concerns among photographers, designers, and other visual artists online. Many users have received emails about these changes, leading to discussions on platforms like Threads where individuals are seeking alternatives to Squarespace. Filmmaker Mike Reda expressed his frustration, saying, “Like many of you, I’m leaving @squarespace after their ridiculous pricing increase. But where are we all moving to? I have a basic landing page of a website that hosts my film and video work, what’s the next best plug-and-play solution?” Similarly, photographer Stephen Broome is exploring other options: “Anybody have recommendations for photo and video portfolio site hosting other than Squarespace (or Wix)? The price has long been hard to justify and I have new reason to find something more affordable that’s still customizable.” Photographer Ryan Neeven adds, “Since we’re all ditching Squarespace with their crazy new pricing, what are good options to use for website hosting?”
This conversation is widespread among photographers and filmmakers, communities where Squarespace has heavily marketed through influencer partnerships. Many photography YouTube channels, for example, have offered Squarespace discounts to their viewers. It’s unclear how many photographers have been influenced by these promotions, but the impact is significant. Rising costs, whether due to inflation, corporate strategies, or other factors, are a growing concern for photographers who feel the sting of another essential service becoming more expensive.
Squarespace, which went private in October 2024 after a $7.2 billion acquisition by private equity firm Permira, has joined the ranks of other photo industry companies that have raised prices post-acquisition. While Squarespace has opted to communicate price changes directly via email rather than through a public announcement, historical pricing data reveals the extent of these changes. For annual plans, the Basic plan increases from $16 to $19 per month—a 19% hike. The popular Core plan jumps from $23 to $29 per month, marking a 26% increase. The Plus plan follows the same pattern, rising from $39 to $49 per month. Meanwhile, the Advanced plan remains steady at $99 per month. Monthly subscribers also see changes: the Core plan increases from $36 to $39 monthly, and the Plus plan rises from $56 to $65 monthly.
Discussions about the price hikes are further complicated by the varied promotional discounts different users may have previously enjoyed. Some users, like Redditor CheesecakeOdd3075, express dissatisfaction with features they didn’t ask for, such as AI tools, contributing to the feeling of an unjustified price increase. Despite these increases, Squarespace has introduced new business tools, such as features for selling limited-release products, which may appeal to some photographers. However, these additions do little to justify the 26% price rise for many users.
While Squarespace is a leading choice for photographers, it is not the only option. Alternatives like Format, Smugmug, Zenfolio, and Wix offer similar templates, tools, and custom domain options. PetaPixel attempted to contact Squarespace for comments on the pricing changes but did not receive a response before publication.
Squarespace’s decision to raise prices continues to fuel discussions among users about the value of their services in a competitive market filled with capable alternatives.
