Best Squarespace templates 2023: 16 designs for blogs, portfolios, and more

If you’ve heard the podcast(opens in new window)you already know the enthusiasm.Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that makes it easy to create a professional-looking online presence.(opens in new window) Third most popular hosting service (after Wix)(opens in new window) (After Wix and Shopify), supporting over 3 million live websites(opens in new window) On the Internet at the time of publication.

One of the main reasons Squarespace confirmed this(opens in new window) success(opens in new window) — well, apart from all the ad slots narrated by Isra Glass(opens in new window) — No web design or coding experience is required to get a beautiful site up and running with its interface.Intuitive drag-and-drop building elements and a huge selection of very modern templates make this kind of tool One of the most beginner-friendly tools out there.

Honestly, choosing one of these templates is often the hardest part of designing a Squarespace site. Squarespace versions 7.0 and 7.1, the two iterations of the currently supported platform, have over 230 templates.How do you decide which one to use for your oil painting portfolio(opens in new window)your Taiwanese-American food blog(opens in new window), or cool girl jeans online store(opens in new window)? (These are all different kinds of websites made with Squarespace.(opens in new window), For your information. )

So let’s get started — but first, a quick primer.

Why Should You Use Squarespace?

After designing your site quickly and easily, the best thing about Squarespace is its all-in-one approach.Subscription plan(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) Includes 24/7 customer support, website metrics, SEO tools, and SSL security(opens in new window), unlimited bandwidth, and video storage all starting at $16/month. Squarespace also throws in fully managed cloud hosting at no extra cost, along with a year’s worth of new custom domains when you sign up for an annual membership. All things considered, its flexibility and convenience make it an excellent choice for first-time website owners.

What exactly are Squarespace templates?

Squarespace templates (or themes) are pre-designed, ready-to-use demo websites that can be customized with different color schemes, font packs, layouts, pages, and drag-and-drop element blocks.(opens in new window) Text, images, galleries, buttons, forms, etc. Squarespace explained(opens in new window) As a “starting point to inspire the design of your site”,[you] You can keep the structure of the original design intact by replacing the demo content with your own content, or you can completely change the design of your site and start from scratch. ” The site looks sleek either way.

Each template is built exclusively for Squarespace, so you won’t find it on WordPress, Wix, or any other site building platform.

Are Squarespace templates mobile-friendly?

All Squarespace templates are optimized for mobile from the start. There are two reasons for this: When Give Google higher priority when it comes to indexing(opens in new window) And SEO ranking.

Templates in Squarespace version 7.0 have separate mobile styles that are active on small devices, while the corresponding templates in version 7.1 automatically adapt to mobile views. Check out Squarespace’s tips for keeping your site mobile-friendly.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) before you build it.

Comparison of Squarespace versions 7.0 and 7.1

Squarespace version 7.0, released in 2014, categorizes 91 templates(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) They are grouped into specific template “families”, groups of templates whose basic structure and function are similarly coded.Each has its own rules and style options(opens in new window)(opens in new tab), so you may need to replace the template (at the risk of losing content) to access certain features.For example infinite scroll(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) Faro only(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) and sky(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) template family, wells only(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) and 5(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) allow sidebar(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) Not just on your blog, but on every page.

Squarespace dropped these rigid classifications with the release of version 7.1 in early 2020. All 140+ templates(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) The underlying structure and design options belong to the same family, making it easier to change site styles.(opens in new window) shortly.

Neither version of Squarespace is definitively “better” than the other, but version 7.1 is set to aggressively streamline the design process, especially after Fluid Engine’s rollout in July 2022. , which is more ideal for users new to the platform.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)This is Squarespace’s next-generation content editor for 7.1 sites, taking advantage of a grid system and additional block placement options for greater layout flexibility.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) (especially on mobile(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)).

If you’ve built a Squarespace site before, you may have good reason to stick with version 7.0. Because that template has some advanced styling options that haven’t been added to the new one yet. (See: Parallax Scrolling(opens in new window)one of the most popular features of the beloved Brine template family(opens in new window) This is not in version 7.1.people were pretty salty(opens in new window) about it. )

One caveat: Possible(opens in new window) Switching between versions 7.0 and 7.1 usually requires a complete rebuild.(opens in new window) It ruins your site’s search rankings.On the bright side, Squarespace is offering his 14-day free trial(opens in new window) So you can mess around with both before committing.

What features does Squarespace offer?

Structural and formatting differences aside, all Squarespace templates across both versions of the platform support the same set of features, including some new tools introduced in the latest Squarespace Refresh.(opens in new window)(opens in new tab), its annual product update. Highlights include:

• Blogging tools such as commenting systems(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)posting schedule(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)podcast integration(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)and support for multiple author profiles(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

• Portfolio tools like an image editor(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)importing image metadata(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)video hosting and monetization(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

• E-commerce tools for physical and digital products(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) On-demand custom goods and more(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)members area(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)appointment scheduling(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)POS(opens in new window)(opens in new tab),subscription(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)merchandise merchandising(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)product reviews, inventory management, purchasing and printing USPS shipping labels(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)and local pickup options(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)

• Marketing tools such as email campaign integration(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)mailing list(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)promotional banners(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)foam block(opens in new window)(opens in new tab)and social selling(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) on facebook and instagram

• Uploading Universal Assets(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) and stock images(opens in new window)(opens in new tab) Via Unsplash and Getty integration

It’s worth mentioning that Squarespace also maintains three mobile apps that are free with a subscription or trial. Both versions of the site work.

How do you find the right Squarespace template?

To get started,[テンプレート]go to tab(opens in new window) On Squarespace’s website, filter its library by type and topic to narrow down your pool of candidates. You can click “Preview” on any eye-catching theme to see what it will look like in real life.

Recommended by Squarespace(opens in new window) Choose a template based on your favorite colors and layout rather than the demo content you see there. For example, a template with a grid of products on the homepage can become an online store with a click, while a template designed for event attendance is more work for ecommerce purposes.

If you’re having trouble deciding, know this: It’s basically impossible to create an ugly Squarespace site, and with enough time and experimentation, you can tweak almost any template to get it exactly right. But in case you need a nudge in a particular direction, read on: Below we’ve rounded up the 16 best Squarespace templates for sites of all kinds .

Note: Most of our recommendations are from Squarespace version 7.1, but we sprinkle in some options from version 7.0. Templates are labeled accordingly.