How to Delete a Squarespace Site

Squarespace is a popular website builder that makes it easy to create a professional-looking website without needing any technical skills, however, as your business grows you may be wondering how to delete a Squarespace site so you can move to a platform that supports you, your business and your clients better (interesting fact, after years of research, here at ChillyBin we now only use WordPress to build client websites).

In this article, we will answer all your questions about deleting a Squarespace site, including if it’s possible, the process, and what happens to your domain. 

Whether you’re cancelling your Squarespace subscription after the free trial or switching to another website builder, we’ve got you covered. 

We’ll also discuss what happens when you don’t renew your Squarespace subscription, and if you really own your Squarespace website. 

Finally, we’ll touch on some of the downsides of using Squarespace so that you can make an informed decision about your website. 

At Chillybin we often help clients transfer websites, such as from Squarespace to WordPress or Shopify to WooCommerce. By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to know about deleting a Squarespace site.

Can I delete my Squarespace website?

The answer is yes, you can delete your Squarespace website. Squarespace allows its users to cancel their subscription and delete their website at any time. However, it’s important to note that, a lot like if you delete a Wix website, once a Squarespace site is deleted, it can’t be recovered. So, before proceeding with the deletion process, make sure you have a backup of your website and any important data.

When you cancel your Squarespace subscription, your site will be put on hold for 90 days. During this time, your website will still be accessible, but you won’t be able to make any changes to it. After 90 days, your site and all its content will be permanently deleted, including images, pages, and blog posts.

It’s also important to consider the status of your domain. If you’ve purchased a custom domain through Squarespace, you’ll need to transfer it to a new registrar before cancelling your Squarespace subscription. If you don’t transfer your domain, it will be deleted along with your website after 90 days.

So if you’re no longer using your Squarespace website and want to delete it, the process is straightforward. Just cancel your subscription and transfer your domain (if applicable), and your website will be put on hold for 90 days before being permanently deleted. Before deleting your site, make sure to back up any important data, as it can’t be recovered once deleted.

Does Squarespace delete website after free trial?

Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial, during which you can build and test your website without committing to a paid subscription. At the end of the free trial, you’ll need to choose a paid plan to continue using Squarespace and keep your website live.

If you choose not to upgrade to a paid plan, Squarespace will not automatically delete your website after the free trial. Instead, your site will be put on hold for 90 days. During this time, your website will still be accessible, but you won’t be able to make any changes to it or add new content. After 90 days, your site and all its content will be permanently deleted, including images, pages, and blog posts.

It’s important to note that Squarespace won’t send any reminder emails or notifications about the hold period or the eventual deletion of your site. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to keep track of the end of your free trial and to decide what to do with your website.

Squarespace won’t automatically delete your website after the free trial. However, if you don’t upgrade to a paid plan, your site will be put on hold for 90 days before being permanently deleted. To avoid losing your website and its content, make sure to upgrade to a paid plan or back up any important data before the end of the free trial.

What happens when you don’t renew Squarespace?

When you don’t renew your Squarespace subscription, there are several consequences that you should be aware of. Squarespace is a website builder that requires a paid subscription to keep your website live and accessible to visitors.

When your subscription is up for renewal, if you don’t renew it, your website will be taken down and will no longer be accessible to visitors. This means that any traffic to your website will be directed to a Squarespace “parked” page, indicating that the website is no longer live. Your website and all its content, including any images, text, and files, will still be stored on Squarespace’s servers but will not be visible to the public.

Additionally, if you have a custom domain name for your website, it will continue to be registered to you but will not be associated with your website. You will still be responsible for paying the renewal fee for your custom domain name if you decide to renew it in the future.

It’s important to note that if you don’t renew your Squarespace subscription, you will lose access to all the features and functionality of your website, including the website builder, e-commerce tools, and customer support.

If you don’t renew your Squarespace subscription, your website will be taken down and will no longer be accessible to visitors. Your website content and custom domain name will still be stored but you will lose access to all the features and functionality of your website. To avoid these consequences, it’s important to renew your subscription before it expires.

What happens to my domain if I cancel Squarespace?

If you cancel your Squarespace subscription, one of the things you’ll need to consider is the fate of your domain name. A domain name is the web address that visitors use to access your website.

If you have a custom domain name for your Squarespace website, it will continue to be registered to you even after you cancel your subscription. This means that you will still own your custom domain name and will have the option to use it in the future with another website builder or hosting service.

However, it’s important to note that if you cancel your Squarespace subscription, your custom domain name will no longer be associated with your website. This means that visitors will not be able to access your website through your custom domain name. Additionally, any email addresses associated with your custom domain name will no longer be accessible.

It’s also important to keep in mind that you’ll need to continue paying the annual renewal fee for your custom domain name if you decide to keep it registered. This fee is separate from your Squarespace subscription fee and is usually paid to a domain registrar such as GoDaddy or Network Solutions.

If you cancel your Squarespace subscription, your custom domain name will continue to be registered to you but will no longer be associated with your website. You’ll need to continue paying the annual renewal fee for your custom domain name if you decide to keep it registered. Before cancelling your Squarespace subscription, it’s important to consider the fate of your custom domain name and determine if you want to keep it registered for future use.

How do I delete a domain and website on Squarespace?

If you have decided to cancel your Squarespace account and delete your website and domain, there are several steps you need to follow to ensure a smooth and successful process.

The first step in deleting your Squarespace website and domain is to cancel your Squarespace subscription. This can be done from the Billing and Account section of your account. Once you have cancelled your subscription, your website will no longer be active and will be taken offline.

Next, you need to transfer your domain away from Squarespace to a new registrar. This is an important step in the process of deleting your Squarespace website, as it ensures that you retain control of your domain and that it is not deleted along with your Squarespace account.

To transfer your domain, you will need to log into your Squarespace account and follow the instructions provided in the Domains section of your account. You will need to provide your new registrar with the authorization code for your domain, which can be found in the Domains section of your account.

Once your domain has been transferred, you can go ahead and delete your Squarespace account. This can be done by contacting Squarespace customer support and requesting that they delete your account for you.

It is important to note that once you have deleted your Squarespace account, your website and all its data will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Therefore, it is important to back up any important data or content before proceeding with the deletion of your account.

Deleting a Squarespace website and domain involves several steps, including cancelling your subscription, transferring your domain, and finally, deleting your Squarespace account. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and successful process.

Do I own my Squarespace website?

As a website builder, Squarespace provides users with the tools to create and manage their own websites. But the question of ownership is a common one among users. “Do I own my Squarespace website?” In short, the answer is yes and no.

Yes, you are the owner of the content that you create and publish on your Squarespace website. This includes text, images, videos, and any other media that you upload to your site. You have the right to control and manage this content as you see fit.

However, Squarespace retains ownership of the software and platform that powers your website. This means that you are limited in terms of the customization and control you have over the underlying technology. You cannot make changes to the Squarespace software or platform without the express permission of the company.

Additionally, Squarespace owns the domain name of your website, unless you purchase a custom domain through a third-party provider. In this case, you would become the owner of the custom domain name.

So while you own the content of your Squarespace website, the software and platform, as well as the domain name, are owned by Squarespace. This arrangement allows for a user-friendly and streamlined website-building experience, but it also limits your control and ownership over certain aspects of your site.

What are the downsides of using Squarespace?

The question of whether Squarespace has downsides depends on what you’re looking for in a website builder. For some people, Squarespace’s limitations are deal breakers. For others, the limitations are minor and the benefits of using Squarespace far outweigh the downsides. Here are a few of the downsides to using Squarespace:

Limited Customisation: Squarespace provides a limited number of templates and customization options. While the templates are beautifully designed, some users may want more control over the look and feel of their website.

Higher Cost: Squarespace is a paid service, with plans starting at $12 per month. For some users, this may be a high cost compared to other website builders.

Limited Integrations: Squarespace offers a limited number of integrations with third-party services, such as e-commerce platforms, social media networks, and payment gateways. If you need to integrate with a specific service, it’s important to check if Squarespace supports it.

Limited SEO Features: Squarespace’s SEO features are limited compared to other website builders. While Squarespace provides basic SEO tools, it doesn’t offer the same level of customization and control as other website builders.

No Free Plan: Squarespace does not offer a free plan. While there is a 14-day free trial, after that, you must pay to continue using the service.

The downsides of using Squarespace are limited customisation, higher cost, limited integrations, limited SEO features, and no free plan. However, it’s important to consider the benefits of Squarespace, such as its user-friendly interface, beautiful templates, and ease of use, when deciding whether it’s the right website builder for you.

How to delete a Squarespace site – Key Takeaways

Squarespace is a popular website-building platform that offers a user-friendly interface and a range of templates to choose from. However, as with any platform, it has its limitations and may not be the best fit for everyone. If you’re looking for more control over your website’s design and functionality, it may be a good idea to consider transferring to a different platform like WordPress.

Key Takeaways:

• Squarespace is a website-building platform that offers templates and a user-friendly interface.
• Squarespace offers a 14-day refund policy for new subscribers, but once the trial period is over, there is no longer a refund option.
• If you don’t renew your Squarespace subscription, your website will be taken down and your domain will be released.
• When cancelling a Squarespace account, it’s important to understand the process and to be aware of the timeline involved.
• While Squarespace offers a range of benefits, it also has limitations that may not be suitable for everyone.
• If you’re looking for more control over your website’s design and functionality, consider transferring to a platform like WordPress.

In conclusion, Squarespace is a great platform for those who are looking for an easy way to build a website, but if you’re looking for more control and customisation options, it may be a good idea to consider transferring to a different platform. Ultimately, the choice comes down to your individual needs and preferences, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each platform before making a decision.

Contact the team at Chillybin today if you would like help deleting your Squarespace site, or moving your website from Squarespace to WordPress.

How to delete a Squarespace site – FAQs