Should You Use a Free Squarespace Template? What You Need to Know
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Squarespace’s free templates can help you launch a professional-looking website fast. But depending on your business needs, they might also limit what’s possible.
Here’s what to keep in mind before you decide.
What a Squarespace Template Can — and Can’t — Do
A template gives you structure and design. The layout is built, the styles are in place, and the mobile responsiveness is done for you.
But the strategy behind your content, the messaging, and how your site guides visitors toward working with you? That’s still on you.
Think of it like buying a house with good bones. The structure's there, the rooms are laid out – but you still need to make it yours. Paint the walls. Choose furniture that fits how you actually live. Maybe knock down that weird half-wall.
Templates are built to be flexible, but they’re not designed specifically for your brand, your services, or your audience.
Squarespace templates like Clove and Lexington provide a solid starting structure, but you still need to layer in strategy, voice, and differentiation.
The Upside: Why Templates Work for a Lot of Businesses
Quick turnaround
You can launch in days, not months. For solopreneurs who need to move fast or just want to get their biz up and running, that's valuable.
Tepito, Florence, and Quinn are among the faster-to-launch templates, especially if you’ve already got your content in place
Mobile-ready
No need to worry about how your site looks on a phone; every Squarespace template is responsive out of the gate. (If you change things, you will have to double-check mobile view, but the responsiveness is built right in)
Professional foundation
The designs are clean, modern & based on solid design principles. You're starting from a place of visual credibility. And some templates are designed by artists or other partners, creating special looking website foundations.
Templates like Heron and Altaloma are known for their visual edge; great for restaurants, shops, creatives, or artists, or brands with dramatic aesthetics.
Budget-friendly
A good option if custom design or premium templates aren’t in your budget yet. Templates let you have a professional presence without the custom price tag.
The Catch: Where Free Templates Fall Short
You're not the only one using it
Without customization, your site may look like a lot of others in your business space. And if your competitor is using the same template without much customization either? They’re too similar to really let your brand stand out.
Noll is a popular pick for nutritionists for example, but without intentional edits, your site may resemble others in the industry using the same layout.
It's not built for YOUR business
Templates are designed for general use; not your specific offers, customer journey, or positioning. They appeal to the masses, which means they're built for a generic version of your industry.
You may hit customization limits
Want to move that section? Change that layout? Add functionality that's not built in? You might hit a wall. Squarespace templates are flexible, but they're not infinitely so.
No built-in strategy
This is the big one, IMO. The template doesn't guide your messaging or conversion flow. It gives you where to put things – not what to put there or how to structure it so it actually converts.
Premium Squarespace Templates: The Middle Ground
If Squarespace's free templates feel too generic, but custom design isn't in the budget (or timeline), premium templates might be your sweet spot.
Premium templates are strategically designed, often industry-specific, and built with conversion and SEO in mind from the jump. They're more unique than what everyone else is using, they come with better support and resources, and they're still a fraction of the cost of custom design.
I've got three premium templates for sale depending on your needs and budget:
The Boring Template ($147) is conversion-focused and SEO-ready, with 14 pages including strategic copy prompts throughout. Built for service providers who need to launch fast with strategy baked in.
Marigold Mimosa ($129) is fresh and elevated for creatives and service providers who want a polished, feminine aesthetic. Clean, 6-page foundation that's simple and strategic.
Juniper Jane Wellness ($225) is industry-specific for wellness practitioners, with 11 pages of actual written content (not just prompts), plus 3 ready-to-publish blog posts and a Canva marketing kit.
Beyond my templates, there are other great premium options out there.
Two of my favorites: Big Cat Creative specializes in beautiful & accessible, tutorial-heavy templates with extensive video walkthroughs and support, great if you want to really learn Squarespace while you build. And Applet Studio offers bold, design-forward templates with lots of personality and visual impact, plus source files if you want to customize graphics.
Premium templates give you more strategic foundation and visual distinction than free options, without the investment or timeline of custom design.
So... Should You Use a Free Squarespace Template?
Here's my take, and it's wonderfully unsexy: it depends.
Free Templates Might Work for You If:
You're just starting out & need to get something live quickly
Your budget doesn't allow for custom design or premium templates right now
You have a clear brand identity & solid copy ready to go
You're comfortable making customizations yourself
Your business model is fairly straightforward
Premium Templates Might Work for You If:
You want more strategy and structure than free templates offer, but aren't ready for custom design
Your industry or niche would benefit from a template built specifically for your type of business
You value having expert guidance (copy prompts, strategic layouts, tutorials) built into the template
You want a more unique look without the custom price tag
You're comfortable investing $125-$395+ for a stronger foundation and better support
And You Might Want to Invest in Custom Design If:
You're established & ready to stand out in a crowded market
Your client journey is complex or non-standard
You need specific functionality that Squarespace’s free templates don't offer
You have a strong brand identity and want an expert that can implement and execute
You want a site built around your actual business strategy, not generic best practices or designs that look nice but are woefully under-strategic
How to Choose the Right Free Squarespace Template
Templates are just a tool – and like any tool, they work brilliantly when used intentionally.
The mistake people make isn't using a template.
It's using a template without thinking through their strategy first. They pick something that looks good, dump their content in wherever it seems to fit and wonder why their site isn't converting. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Start with strategy, not aesthetics
Before you even start browsing templates, get clear on what you need your website to do. What's your client journey? What actions do you want people to take?
Look for flexibility
Some templates are more customizable than others. If you know you'll want to tweak layouts or add specific sections, choose one that gives you room to work.
Clove, Myhra, and Meriden give you room to shift layouts, rearrange sections, and build out custom design experiences.
Consider your content first
Do you have portfolio work to showcase? Long-form writing? Video content? A course? Pick a template that's built to handle the type of content you'll be creating.
If you’re a photographer, designer, or creative showcasing visual work, Adri and Quinn are tailored to strong imagery. Writing more in-depth content? Harman supports blogs, articles, and long-form text well.
Customize with intention
Don't just accept the default layout because it's there. Adjust the structure. Rework the sections. Bring in your branding and copy. Make sure it supports how your business actually works.
Not sure which free Squarespace template is right for your business?
Some of the most popular free templates I’ve reviewed include:
