Free vs Premium Squarespace Templates: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?
If you're thinking about building a website, or upgrading your existing one, you’ve probably heard about website templates. Maybe you've even used one before! But if you’re not 100% sure what a Squarespace Template actually is (or why people spend $200+ on one when Squarespace gives you a bunch for free), you’re in the right place 🤗
Why Squarespace?
Now, there are lots of different website builders. Here at Big Cat Creative, we're obsessed with Squarespace. There's a ton of reasons why. So today we're talking specifically about templates for Squarespace.
What's is a Template for?
A Squarespace Template is basically the design framework for your website. It’s what gives your site structure, layout and style (it’s the bones and the vibes ✨). So you don't have to start all the way from scratch.
Squarespace gives you a selection of free templates when you sign up (which is awesome), but there are also a ton of premium templates available online that you can buy from independent designers (like us!)
So today we want to give you all the deets and compare your options. Whether it's:
Squarespace's built-in free templates
Our Big Cat Creative premium templates
Or another premium template you might find from another business.
Because yep—not all templates are created equal.
Some come with just the design. Some come with a full system, support, strategy, and a big ol’ confidence boost. There's a whole spectrum of what's included 🌈
TLDR: Free VS Premium Template Quick Summary Table:
| Feature | Free Template | Big Cat Creative Template |
|---|---|---|
| Designed by professionals | 💚 Yes | 💚 Yes |
| Delivered to your site | ❌ Nope | 💚 Can be, your choice! |
| Tutorials & resources | 🟠 Yes, but a little tricky to find what you need | 💚 Yes |
| Email support | 🟠 Yes, but the quality can vary depending who you get | 💚 (Ours is way better, honestly) |
| Looks custom (without the custom price) | ❌ Nope | 💚 Yes |
| Requires content + customization | 💚 Yes | 💚 Yes |
| Helps you learn + build confidence | ❌ Nope | 💚 Yes |
| A step by step launch plan | ❌ Nope | 💚 Yes |
Free Squarespace Templates – What You’re Getting
Alright, let’s start with free templates.
When you sign up for Squarespace, you get access to a bunch of built-in templates that are… honestly? Pretty gorg!
We'll give credit where credit’s due: Squarespace’s free templates are actually a great place to start.
They’re clean, modern, and simple to set up. You can pick a style you like, plug in your own content, and have a site up and running in a few hours. Honestly, it’s one of the reasons we love Squarespace. It makes getting online super accessible, even for beginners.
The downside is, when you use a free template, you’re doing it solo. There’s no guided process, no design strategy, and no one walking you through how to make your site actually work for your business.
Squarespace does come with a lot of tutorials and they do have support chat, but as a beginner it can be a lot to search through and sometimes hard to find someone to help you with exactly what you need.
Their template designs are clean, artistic and minimal. But sometimes they can be a bit limiting, especially if you have a lot of content to showcase.
If your business is growing, or your offerings are more complex, you might find yourself wishing for more advanced layouts and a few more options to display your content.
That said, if you're just starting out, and you’re comfortable figuring things out on your own, this is a great low-cost, low-risk way to get started with your site, and start to test our Squarespace!
What You’re Really Paying for with a Premium Template
Premium templates (like the ones we offer here) are a step up in terms of design, features, and support. But that step up comes with a price tag, so of course you're going to be wondering "uh, what exactly am I paying for?"
Here’s what’s included when you buy a Big Cat Creative Template:
A Squarespace Website Design (designed by pros!)
The Template installed directly to your Squarespace account
Step-by-step video tutorials to walk you through customizing your site
Additional resources to help with branding, setup, and launch
Free email support if you get stuck or need help choosing a template 💕
What’s not included:
Custom design services (we do offer this as an optional extra, but you def don't need it!)
Hands-on customization or setup (you’ll still need to add your own content + branding)
In short: you’re still DIY-ing, but with a full set of instructions, tools, and support in your back pocket. It’s a solid option if you want a more custom-looking site without hiring a designer—and if you want to feel confident using and managing your site long-term.
Not all Templates are Made Equal (this is important)
Before we dive deeper into what you actually get with premium VS free, it's really important to note that not all premium templates come with the same goodies.
There are a lot of template shops out there—I mean, just Google "Squarespace Template" and you'll find a ton! Because there are so many, we can't speak for everyone. Different shops offer different bonuses and add-ons with their templates.
Some offer resources and support, some don't, so it's so important to carefully look at what you're getting before you buy.
In this post, we're breaking down what's included in our Big Cat Creative Templates (which is quite often more than what others offer, but we'll make note of that throughout!)
You’re Not Just Getting a Template: You’re Learning How to Actually Use It
Something most people don’t think about when they’re comparing templates is the learning curve.
When you install a free Squarespace Template, you're being dropped straight into the deep end. The tools are all there… but figuring out what to do with them? 😬
Squarespace does offer some solid help docs, and if you love a good self-guided rabbit hole, that might be enough. But with allll of that info, and not clear plan, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
With every Big Cat Creative template, you’re not just buying the (admittedly gorgeous) design. You’re getting access to a full system that walks you through everything from setup to launch. It's basically a Squarespace course built in 👩🏻🎓
Step by tutorials, a proven process to take your site from 0 to launch. And remember, our (often praised, real human) support team is just 1 email away 💕
“The template’s flexibility and your amazing support resources gave me the confidence to maintain and update my site independently, which has been a huge win for my business.”
“The training videos were incredibly clear and helpful, making setup a breeze, and your customer support was quick and responsive whenever I had a question!”
“When I ran into issues, I knew exactly where to go to figure out how to solve them because of the provided trainings, and when I couldn’t find the solution, you all’s support team made resolving the issue hassle-free. I am so appreciative of that.”
We built this experience because building a website can be freakin' hard! Even with the best DIY builders (aka Squarespace) it's still a big learning curve.
You're building your site yourself, but we don't want you to do it alone. So we show up as your personal web design cheer team (just with better tech skills and slightly more opinions on fonts 🤪)
Your Design Will Actually Stand Out From the Crowd
Let’s be real, a lot of websites kinda look the same. And can be a bit boring.
It's just what happens when thousands of people are using the same free templates and sticking to the default layouts.
If you’re aiming for something clean and simple, that is totally fine! There's a place for that.
But we design our templates for bold creatives (if that's you, you're in the right place!)
And if you want your website to feel like you, to reflect your brand, your vibe, and your business in a unique way, that isn't just the standard cookie cutter web layout, a premium template is going to give you a better starting point.
Our designs are creative, intentional, and made to help you express your personality and stand out in your niche. Even though they’re technically “templates,” they’re flexible and bold enough to make your final site feel completely custom.
And because we’re a small studio, not a massive template warehouse, you’re way less likely to come across someone else using the same design. (Not that we’re against template twins, but still.)
Thanks to your unique content, branding, and the customization options we give you, your site ends up being yours. We’ve seen customers take templates in totally different directions (this is hands down the most exciting thing to see in the wild!)
Check out these customer variations of our Noire Squarespace Template. One template, four totally different designs!
Psst—Wanna see more customer showcases? Click here, we've got tons!
Free templates can feel more limited. They’re built to appeal to the masses, so the layouts tend to be more basic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But if your business has a lot of content, or you want a more advanced or expressive layout, you might start to feel a bittt boxed in.
Our Templates Are Designed for Creative Businesses Who Need More
Not all templates are built with your business in mind.
A lot of the free Squarespace Templates (and even some premium ones) lean suuuper minimalist. And while that can be a vibe for some, it’s not always functional. Especially if you’re trying to build something a bit more complex or content-rich.
💭 Think service pages, portfolio galleries, blog posts, testimonials, opt-ins, all the stuff that actually grows your biz.
Whether you’re a photographer, coach, blogger, event planner or creative service provider, we design with your customer journey in mind. That means:
Strategic layouts that guide visitors to take action
Built-in features that support content-heavy pages
Room for storytelling (without things looking cluttered)
Flexibility to grow with your business (Squarespace is generally great for this!)
“My favorite part was that I could change everything to my preferences, which really sparked some creativity for me and allowed me to individualize and brand sections to be more uniquely me!”
“I used your Belladonna Squarespace template to build my photography website, and it was a game-changer. The template’s sleek design and intuitive layout made it easy to showcase my portfolio in a professional, visually stunning way. ”
But What About Functionality? Does Premium Mean More Features?
You might be wondering (and rightly so)... "does a premium template give you more functionality than a free one?"
The answer is actually, usually, no. But that's probably a good thing!
All templates (free or premium) on Squarespace 7.1 use the same core features. That means the real difference comes down to design, structure, and support.
Some other premium template shops do offer more advanced features through custom code or plugins.
But here at Big Cat Creative, we really want to keep the templates as simple as possible (because that means they're easier to use for you).
So, our templates are designed to work beautifully out of the box, no code required.
(We also loveee a challenge... How can we make an advanced design with no complex code or plugins? It's always fun to see what we can come up with!)
If you're looking for complex functionality, it's good to check what's actually included with a template, and whether you're comfortable adding extra code or integrations on your own.
But, Squarespace has so much stuff included, that honestly, most of the time you won't need to "add" anything extra. Especially as a small to medium business. That's why we love Squarespace!
So… Should You Go With a Free or Premium Template?
At the end of the day, it really comes down to where you’re at, and where you’re headed!
If you’re just starting out, you’re on a tight budget, and you’re happy to figure things out on your own, a free Squarespace template might be the perfect choice for right now. There’s no shame in starting simple. It gets you online, it gets the job done, and it’s a great way to dip your toes in.
We always say "Done is better than perfect!". Just get the website up. You can always tweak and refine over time. And if a free template is the only way that you can get something up sooner, then get into it!
But if you’re ready to build a website that truly feels like you, a site that helps you stand out, look more professional, and actually grow your business, one of our premium template can be 100% worth the investment. Not just for the fun and unique designs, but for the guidance, clarity, and confidence it gives you in the process.
“I am beyond happy with this template. It was so easy to use and to incorporate onto my existing pages on my website. It is exactly how I envisioned my site to be and I feel my branding is seamless now. I would never have been able to do this without the template. Worth every penny. The company was so helpful and answered every question I had making it a breeze. Thanks a million.”
Have a look through our popular templates below, and reach out to us at any time if you have any questions about the templates! We love to chat 💁🏻♀️
PS—Check out this free training!
Not ready to fully dive into a premium template yet? Totally get it. You should check out this (totally free) training we have all about DIYing your website. You can take these concepts and apply them to a free template. It'll make the whole process WAY easier for you!
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