How Do I Get a Free Squarespace Website?

Getting a free Squarespace website involves capitalizing on their trial period. While Squarespace primarily offers paid plans for their website-building services, they do provide an option to try their platform for free for a limited time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up a free Squarespace website using their trial:

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Visit Squarespace's Website:

2. Open your web browser and navigate to Squarespace's official website.

3. Start Your Free Trial:

4. On the Squarespace homepage, you'll find an option to "Start a Free Trial" or "Get Started." Click on it.

5. Choose a Template:

6. Squarespace offers a variety of professionally designed templates. Browse through these templates and select one that suits your needs.

7. Once you've selected a template, click on "Start with [Template Name]."

8. Create an Account:

9. You’ll be prompted to create an account. Provide your email address, create a password, and enter any other required information.

10. Alternatively, you can sign up using Google, Apple, or Facebook for a quicker registration process.

11. Set Up Your Website:

12. After creating your account, you’ll be guided through the setup process. You can enter your website’s name, its purpose, and other details.

13. Customize your site using Squarespace’s easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. You can modify the layout, add content (such as text, images, and videos), and personalize colors and fonts.

14. Explore Features:

15. Take advantage of the various built-in features such as blogging tools, eCommerce functions, SEO options, and more. Use this period to experiment and see if the platform meets your needs.

16. Publish (Optional During Trial):

17. Although the trial allows you to build and customize your site, note that you are technically not “publishing” a website to the public during the trial. However, you can preview it and test functionalities extensively.

Considerations and Limitations:

1. Duration of Trial:

2. Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial. You can extend this trial by an additional 7 days by contacting Squarespace support, giving you up to 21 days to use the platform for free.

3. Watermark and Limitations:

4. During the trial period, your site will have a Squarespace watermark, and your website URL will be a temporary Squarespace domain rather than a custom domain (e.g., https://yoursite.squarespace.com).

5. No Credit Card Required:

6. You do not need to provide credit card details until you decide to subscribe to a paid plan.

Transitioning to a Paid Plan:

• If you like your experience with Squarespace and want to keep your website live, you’ll need to select one of their paid plans. Plans typically start around $12-$40 per month, depending on the features and functionalities you require.
• During this transition, you can also purchase or connect a custom domain to give your website a more professional appearance.

Alternative Methods and Considerations:

1. Educational Discounts:

2. If you are a student or educator, you might be eligible for discounts. Squarespace often provides a 50% discount on the first year of service for students with a valid educational email address.

3. Nonprofit Organizations:

4. Nonprofit organizations could potentially receive discounts or grants through programs like the Squarespace Gives Back initiative. Contact Squarespace support for more details.

5. Voucher and Promo Codes:

6. Occasionally, Squarespace offers promo codes and vouchers through partnerships and promotions. These can often be found through affiliate blogs, review sites, or directly from Squarespace when you subscribe to their newsletter.

Final Notes:

While Squarespace is an excellent platform for creating visually appealing and professional websites, its free trial period is limited. Make the most of this period by thoroughly testing features, ensuring the platform meets your needs before committing financially.

If you require a permanently free website, consider exploring other platforms like WordPress.com (basic plan), Wix (free plan with limitations), or Google Sites, though they may come with their own restrictions such as ads, limited storage, and fewer customization options.