Is Domain Name Free With Squarespace?

Squarespace offers a variety of services geared towards website creation and hosting, and one feature that is often of interest to new users is whether or not a domain name is included for free. Here’s a comprehensive look at how Squarespace handles domain names and what users can expect:

Free Domain Name with Annual Plans

When you sign up for an annual plan (Personal, Business, Basic Commerce, or Advanced Commerce) with Squarespace, you are eligible for a free custom domain for the first year. This offer applies to standard domain extensions such as .com, .net, and .org.

Here’s a step-by-step outline of how you can take advantage of this:

1. Choose an Annual Plan: During the signup process, select one of the annual billing options. Monthly plans do not come with a free domain name.
2. Select Your Domain: Once you’ve chosen your plan, you’ll be prompted to select your domain. Enter the desired name and see if it’s available.
3. Register the Domain: If the domain is available, you can register it directly through Squarespace. The first year is free, but you must enter billing information for future renewals.
4. Renewal Cost: After the first year, you will need to renew your domain at Squarespace’s standard rates, which typically range from $20 to $70 per year, depending on the domain extension.

Limitations and Considerations

There are a few points to keep in mind when considering the free domain offer:

1. Specific TLDs Only: The free domain offer covers basic and popular top-level domains (TLDs) like .com, .net, and .org. If you want a premium TLD or a country-specific TLD (.co.uk, .ca), you might not be eligible for the free year.
2. Cancellation Policy: If you cancel your subscription within the first year, you may need to pay for the domains separately, and you will lose the free offer.
3. Domain Privacy: Squarespace provides WHOIS privacy protection for free with most domains, which hides your personal information from public domain lookup tools.
4. Ease of Management: Registering your domain through Squarespace can simplify management, as it’s integrated directly with your Squarespace account, offering seamless connectivity with your website.
5. Domain Transfer Fees: If you decide to transfer the domain to another provider after the first free year, you will likely incur transfer fees from both Squarespace and the new registrar.

Alternatives

If you prefer not to use Squarespace's domain services, you can purchase a domain from a third-party registrar such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. These registrars often have competitive prices and promotions. Once you have the domain, you will need to link it to your Squarespace website. Here’s a brief on how to do this:

1. Purchase Domain Elsewhere: Buy your domain from the registrar of your choice.
2. Configure DNS Settings: Log into your domain registrar’s dashboard and update the DNS settings to point to Squarespace’s servers. Squarespace provides detailed guidance on how to do this for various registrars.
3. Connect in Squarespace: Go to your Squarespace website settings, navigate to "Domains," and follow the prompts to connect an external domain.

Conclusion

In summary, Squarespace does indeed offer a free domain name for the first year if you sign up for one of their annual plans. However, it's essential to understand the specifics and limitations of this offer. After the first year, you will need to pay standard domain renewal prices, so it’s wise to factor this into your long-term budgeting for your website. For those looking for more flexible domain options or pricing, purchasing from a third-party registrar and connecting the domain to Squarespace is a viable alternative.