Best for
Merchants who are looking for a complete eCommerce store solution with predictable per-transaction pricing
Specializes in
Website design, eCommerce payment processing, eCommerce analytics, eCommerce reporting, management tools, web hosting, SEO tools
Pricing Summary
Setup Fee: $0
Monthly Fee: $16 to $46
Swipe Rate: 2.9% + $0.30
Keyed-in Rate: 2.9% + $0.30
Early Termination Fee : $0
Contract Terms:
Squarespace is an automated website design platform with integrated eCommerce tools. The company offers predictable per-transaction pricing and powerful store management tools. However, Squarespace doesn’t provide merchants with as many eCommerce features as some of its competitors.
Anthony Casalena founded Squarespace in 2004, and the company is based out of New York, New York. The company’s main service is helping merchants create powerful websites and eCommerce stores with prebuilt templates.
However, Squarespace also operates as a payment processor through partnerships with Stripe and PayPal. These services provide merchants who use Squarespace with predictable per-transaction prices but lack many of the features that other merchant account providers offer.
Squarespace is best for merchants operating in the following sectors:
Squarespace has received a moderate number of negative reviews online. Merchants who use Squarespace sometimes complain about poor customer service, customization limitations, and limited eCommerce tools.
Head Quarters
New York City, New York
Year Founded
2003
CEO
Anthony Casalena
Employees
1143
Merchant Provider Risk Tolerance
Website Design Templates, Hosting, and Management Tools
First and foremost, Squarespace is a platform that helps individuals and companies create engaging websites. The company provides merchants with 124 unique design templates to choose from. At least one of these will be a good fit for pretty much anyone’s company.
All of Squarespace’s website creation plans include hosting for free. They also come with some very useful content management tools. For example, merchants who use Square space to manage their websites will get SEO tools, an integrated commenting system, and a content delivery network (CD) that’s optimized for speed.
eCommerce Payment Processing
Merchants can also use Squarespace to process the payments they receive through online sales. The company partners with Stripe and PayPal for this service. These companies each charge a flat rate of 2.9% per transaction + $0.30. Since these rates always remain the same, merchants who use Squarespace for payment processing will always know exactly what their fees will be.
That being said, merchants who use Squarespace’s Business plan have to pay a 3% per transaction fee on top of what Stripe and Paypal charge. Other plans, such as the company’s Basic Commerce plan, eliminate this fee.
eCommerce Analytics, Reporting, and Management Tools
Many of Squarespace’s monthly plans include helpful tools and reporting features that can help merchants manage their eCommerce activities. For example, the company offers inventory management tools and reporting dashboards that track the website’s overall performance and identify sticking points for visitors.
Discloses All Important Terms
Yes
Public Pricing Available
Yes
Squarespace offers monthly plans for its website creation, hosting, and management services. These range from as low as $16 per month to as high as $46 per month. Merchants can pay an even lower monthly fee for these plans if they choose to pay annually instead of on a month-to-month basis.
The company’s eCommerce payment processing fees are also very straightforward. Every transaction will cost the merchant 2.9% + $0.30. That’s the rate regardless of which payment type is used and where in the world it’s coming from.
Pricing Model
Flat Rate
Swiped Rate
2.9% + $0.30
Keyed-in Rate
2.9% + $0.30
Mobile Payment Rate
Virtual Terminal Rate
2.9% + $0.30
Monthly Fee
$16 to $46
Payment Gateway Fee
Batch Fee
Early Termination Fee
$0
PCI Compliance Fee
$0
Equipment Lease Terms
None
Address Verification Service (AVS)
Application Fee
Account Setup Fee
$0
Gateway Setup Fee
None
Annual Fee
Monthly Minimum
$0
Statement Fee
Squarespace offers month-to-month pricing plans for both its web design and payment processing services. There are multiple plans to choose from, which gives merchants the flexibility to pay for only the services that they care about.
Merchants are free to pay for Squarespace on an annual basis. However, the company doesn’t currently offer any multi-year agreements. This makes Squarespace a flexible provider of eCommerce payment processing solutions.
Contract Length
Month-to-month1 Year
Early Termination Fee
$0
Squarespace currently has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The company has received many reviews online, given its prominence in the payment processing industry.
Many of these reviews are positive. They describe a service that is easy to use, affordable, and with strong customer support options. Negative reviews tend to focus on poor customer support, limited eCommerce tools, and expensive plans.
BBB
A+ but is not BBB Accredited. (9 Reviews; 94 Complaints)
3.6 Stars / 158 Reviews
No Reviews
Yelp
1.5 Star / 39 Reviews
Total Online Reviews
300+
Total Online Complaints
15+
Lawsuits
None
If you're in the market for a merchant account provider, be sure to check out our user reviews, our merchant accounts guide and our top popular merchant provider picks