Our verdict · 7.9/10 Good
A convenient registrar, especially if your site is on Squarespace or you came from Google Domains. Budget buyers can save at Cloudflare or Porkbun.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Squarespace website owners.
- Strongest area: Ease of use (9.0/10). Weakest: Value for money (7.4/10).
- Price: .com around $20 / year.
- Watch out for: Pricier than budget registrars.
What is Squarespace Domains?
Squarespace Domains took over Google Domains customers in 2023 and sells domains with free WHOIS privacy, simple DNS and easy connection to Squarespace sites and Google Workspace. Prices are mid-range.
Squarespace Domains is made by Squarespace and is reviewed here as a domain registrar. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 7.9 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Squarespace Domains if
- Squarespace website owners
- Former Google Domains customers
- Owners wanting simple DNS
Not for you if
- Price-sensitive buyers
- Advanced DNS and security setups
Key features
Included free on eligible domains.
One-click records for common services.
Forward addresses to existing inboxes.
Easy setup for business email.
- Squarespace
- Google Workspace
- Shopify
Pros & cons
What we like
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Simple interface
- Easy Squarespace and Workspace setup
- Free domain with annual site plans
Watch out for
- Pricier than budget registrars
- Fewer advanced DNS features
- Migration from Google Domains changed some features
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .com domain | ≈ $20 / yr | — |
Pricing watch-out: Free WHOIS privacy included. A free first-year domain comes with annual Squarespace website plans. Price not re-verified on a pricing page for this review.
Pricing watch-outs
- Yearly pricing. At least one plan is priced per year. Confirm whether monthly billing is offered and what it costs.
- No free plan or trial. Ask for a demo account, a pilot or money-back terms before committing.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing from our research as of November 5, 2026; not yet re-checked against a live vendor pricing page. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 20% | 7.4 | 1.50 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 9.0 | 1.40 | |
| Value for money | 20% | 7.4 | 1.50 | |
| Support & reliability | 20% | 7.8 | 1.60 | |
| Security & privacy | 15% | 8.2 | 1.20 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 10% | 7.6 | 0.80 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for web hosting products | 7.9 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Squarespace Domains against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Squarespace’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any domain registrar
Check Squarespace Domains against the same list we use for every domain registrar — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Transparent renewal prices
- Free WHOIS privacy
- MFA and registrar lock
- Reliable DNS management
- DNSSEC support
See every ranked option in Domains & DNS.
Squarespace Domains alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
IONOS≈ $0/mo vs $2/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Has a free plan
CloudflareSquarespace Domains has no free plan; Cloudflare does - Better integrations
Amazon Route 53Integrations score 9.0 vs 7.6 - Stronger on securityCloudflareSecurity & privacy score 9.2 vs 8.2
- Higher overall scoreCloudflareOverall 8.8 vs 7.9
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Squarespace Domains. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
DNS, CDN, security and at-cost domain registration on one platform.
A clean, no-upsell domain registrar with free WHOIS privacy.
Low-cost domains with free WHOIS privacy and SSL.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Squarespace Domains FAQ
What happened to Google Domains?
Google sold its domain business to Squarespace in 2023, and customers moved to Squarespace Domains.
Is privacy free at Squarespace Domains?
Yes, WHOIS privacy is included on eligible domains.
Does Squarespace Domains have a free plan?
No, Squarespace Domains does not offer a permanent free plan. Pricing starts at .com around $20 / year (indicative).
Who is Squarespace Domains best for?
Squarespace Domains is best for: squarespace website owners; former Google Domains customers; owners wanting simple DNS.
How is the Squarespace Domains score calculated?
The 7.9/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for hosting products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Squarespace Domains?
Popular alternatives include Cloudflare, Hover, Porkbun. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.