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Does Squarespace have free templates?

Yes, your Squarespace template is included in your site plan. There are over 200 free templates to choose from.

When you start a site, it defaults to one of the Squarespace 7.1 templates but you can also start with a template from Squarespace 7.0.

Here’s a shortcut to those 7.0 templates.

On 7.0, you choose a basic template family (like Brine, Bedford, Galapagos, or Tremont), and then customize your site within the bounds of that template. Each template family has its own set of unique features, which are only available within that template family. You can see how they compare here. 

On 7.1, all templates have access to the same features. The different templates you can choose as starting points are exactly that: starting points. They have different configurations, but you can change between elements at any time. 

Of course, at any time, you can change between template families on 7.0, and change elements on 7.1, but changing templates from a 7.0 to a 7.1 site, requires starting from scratch.

Can you design on Squarespace for free?

Free One Page Squarespace Templates

Free Squarespace Blog Templates

Free Squarespace Templates for Photographers

The Pros and Cons of Free Squarespace Templates

First, let's talk about the benefits and drawbacks of free templates. Again, I'm not specifically talking about the default templates that Squarespace offers, though some of these pros and cons apply to those as well. 

Pro: They're free.

Nothing beats the price of free. When you're just getting started as a small business or an individual blogger, the budget can be a huge concern. There's no reason to spend money if you don't have to, and there are plenty of free options for Squarespace.

Pro: They make your site look more unique.

As I mentioned up above, one of the main drawbacks of default templates is that a lot of people use them. Free templates have an inherently smaller user base, and thus make your site look more unique than the default templates do.

Unfortunately, that's just about all I have to say in favor of free templates. Now, strap in, and let's dig through the cons.

Con: They typically lack support and documentation.

If you're not a developer, and you don't know your way around custom code, a lot of free templates are going to leave you out in the cold. They might have basic installation instructions, but other than that, you're on your own. If you want to tweak it, if you need help installing it, or if you get errors along the way, well, hope you know someone who can help you figure it out.

Con: You have to DIY the installation.

One thing I like that many paid templates and plugins do is offer an automated installation. Essentially, it's a script that starts you on a specific page, and then runs through various menus and inputs the custom code you need for the template. Unfortunately, this has a somewhat high barrier to entry, so free template designers rarely make such a script. Of course, not all paid scripts offer this either.

Con: They might not be comprehensive with styling all elements.

When you use a blockquote on your site, is it styled? When you use a bulleted list, what are the bullet points? There are hundreds of little decisions like this to make when you customize a template, and a lot of free templates don't cover all of the bases. You'd be surprised; I've even seen some that don't uniquely style headings and links! 

Should You Go Free, or Paid?

Now, given the name of my site and the fact that paid Squarespace templates, you might think I'm biased. Well, I am, a little, but I genuinely don't think free templates are worthwhile for most people.

If you're thinking about using a default template, that's great! Plenty of small businesses use them, and many successful sites get their start with a default template. I have nothing against them, really, other than the lack of uniqueness inherent in using a default template.

Free templates, meanwhile, tend to be worse in my opinion. They often have gaps in coverage and are generally less well-designed. Some are great! Most of them aren't worth using. Stick with defaults instead, if you aren't willing to pay for a design.

Paid templates cost money, which means many individuals and small businesses aren't going to want to use them. That's fine too! They serve a role for businesses and people with budgets, to set their sites apart from the rest.

The other option, of course, is to hire a developer to create a custom design for you. That's a whole other post, though, so I'll save that topic for another time.

What do you think? Do you agree with me about free and paid templates, or do you have a different perspective? Let me know in the comments. If you have any additional comments, questions, or concerns, feel free to reach out at any time!