Updated 16 April 2026
Squarespace Core vs Plus: When to Upgrade to the $39/Month Plan
Plus costs $16 more per month than Core ($39 vs $23 on annual billing). That is $192 per year. Here is exactly when that premium is worth paying.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Core ($23/mo) | Plus ($39/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (annual) | $23 | $39 |
| Monthly price (monthly) | $33 | $54 |
| Contributors | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Video storage | 5 hours | 50 hours |
| Processing fee | 2.7% + $0.30 | 2.7% + $0.30 |
| Custom CSS/JavaScript | Yes | Yes |
| Premium integrations | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | Yes |
| POS integration | Yes | Yes |
| Digital product fees | Standard | Reduced |
| Subscription products | No | Yes |
| Enhanced marketing tools | No | Yes |
| Advanced discounting | Basic | Enhanced |
The Key Differences That Matter
Video Storage: 5 Hours vs 50 Hours
This is the most tangible difference. Core gives you 5 hours of Squarespace-hosted video. Plus gives you 50 hours. If you create video content, run online courses, or use product demonstration videos, 5 hours fills up quickly. If you embed videos from YouTube or Vimeo instead of hosting on Squarespace, this difference is irrelevant.
Digital Product Fees
Plus charges lower fees on digital product sales (ebooks, templates, music, courses, software downloads). If digital products are a significant revenue stream, the reduced fees on Plus can save more than the $16/month plan premium. If you only sell physical products, this difference does not apply.
Subscription Products
Core does not support subscription or recurring billing for products. If you want to sell subscription boxes, membership access, recurring services, or any product billed on a schedule, Plus is the minimum required plan. This is a hard requirement with no workaround on Core.
Enhanced Marketing Tools
Plus includes more sophisticated promotional features: advanced discount rules, upselling capabilities, and enhanced marketing automation. For growing stores that need to run complex promotions or automate customer journeys, these tools drive additional revenue.
Verdict
Core is enough for most small businesses and stores. It includes everything you need: unlimited contributors, premium integrations, advanced analytics, abandoned cart recovery, POS, and competitive processing at 2.7% + $0.30.
Upgrade to Plus when you have a specific need: subscription products, heavy video content (over 5 hours), significant digital product sales, or growing revenue that justifies advanced marketing tools.
Do not upgrade "just in case." Start with Core, and move to Plus when you hit a specific limitation. Squarespace makes it easy to upgrade at any time with prorated billing.