Squarespace 5 was released in 2008. Since then, we've introduced newer platforms and versions:
- 2012 - We introduced Squarespace 6, a new platform designed to make building and managing your site more modern and intuitive.
- 2014 - All Squarespace 6 sites upgraded to Squarespace 7, a platform with a completely new interface, unique templates, and ecommerce options.
- 2020 - We released an even newer version of the platform, Squarespace 7.1. This more streamlined version has new options for adding and styling content that aren't tied to particular templates.
Squarespace 7 and Squarespace 5 are separate platforms, and Squarespace 7.0 and Squarespace 7.1 are two different versions within Squarespace 7.
Many features don't overlap between Squarespace 7 and Squarespace 5. For example, versions 7.0 and 7.1 both have mobile-friendly design, SEO optimization, ecommerce, and video background options. These features aren't available on Squarespace 5. However, there are some Squarespace 5 features that don't have a direct equivalent in either of the newer versions, such as the Discussion page.
This guide explains the differences between the two platforms and versions.
Note: It's no longer possible to create new Squarespace 5 sites.
Which version of Squarespace am I using?
Squarespace's two platforms use different login pages and site editing tools.
Squarespace 5
If the URL of your login page ends in /Login, you’re using Squarespace 5. For help logging in, visit Login troubleshooting .
After you’re logged in, the Squarespace 5 platform has editing modes in the top-right:
Squarespace version 7.0 and 7.1
If you can log in with an email address, Google, Facebook, or Apple account, you're using Squarespace 7.0 or Squarespace 7.1.
To determine if your site is on version 7.0 or 7.1, add /config to the end of your site's URL. If the login screen pictured above appears, you're using version 7.0 or 7.1. For help logging in to either of those versions, visit Logging in and out of Squarespace.
Tip: If you're on Squarespace 7, visit our Squarespace 7 help center for guides and Customer Support specific to your site.
Once you're logged into Squarespace version 7.0 or 7.1, editing options appear on the left:
Should I switch to the new platform?
Squarespace 7.1 and 7.0 have many features not available on Squarespace 5, such as:
Integrated e-commerce
Squarespace 5 doesn't have a built-in shopping cart or other commerce features. Squarespace 7 has integrated commerce features such as online stores for physical, digital, and service products, inventory tracking, analytics, and integrated tax and shipping options.
Improved search engine optimization (SEO)
Compared to the Traffic Overview in Squarespace 5, Squarespace 7 has more sophisticated metrics options, including referral sites, search queries, and mobile usage. Learn more on the Squarespace 7 help center.
Automatic responsive design and mobile styles
Squarespace 5 sites don't have built-in responsive design or mobile styles. Squarespace 7 sites optimize your site for all mobile devices and browser sizes. This is especially important as Google now gives mobile-optimized sites higher priority.
Sophisticated layouts and content-adding options
In Squarespace 7, you can drag and drop content to build your own page structure or add pre-formatted, specialized pages. You can add images and other content directly to the page, create collections, and use Accordion blocks to create collapsible sections.
Modern blog layouts
Squarespace 7 has more sophisticated blogging options, including unique blog layouts, customizable post URLs, integrated social media push options, and the ability to schedule posts in advance.
Social sharing options
Connect with a wider audience and increase your site’s reach with Squarespace 7's social sharing tools and integrations. You can push site content to your social accounts, pull social media content directly into your site, and add icons for your social accounts.
Beautiful image options
Showcase your photographs with Squarespace 7's galleries, full-bleed banners, and portfolios. Use Image blocks to add pictures to any layout, then set their shapes, create alt text without custom code, and add eye-catching captions.
Custom email integrations
Squarespace 7 has more sophisticated options for using custom email, including the ability to register new Google Workspace accounts directly through the Squarespace interface. Learn more on our Squarespace 7 help site.
Search engine optimization
Every Squarespace 7 site has all known SEO best practices, with features such as automatic tagging and redirects, built-in mobile optimization, site mapping, and alt text on images. For a list of ways that Squarespace 7 helps with search engine rankings, visit What Squarespace does for SEO on the Squarespace 7 help site.
24/7 support
Because Squarespace 5 is our legacy platform, support is limited to certain topics and only available via email. Squarespace 7 offers 24/7 email, Twitter, and Facebook Messanger support, and live chat during business hours.
What's not available on Squarespace 7?
Before switching to Squarespace 7, keep in mind:
- Billing details don't transfer from a Squarespace 5 site to a Squarespace 7 site.
- You'll set up a separate account from your Squarespace 5 account. You can use the same email address for both accounts.
- You can't transfer information from your site's Traffic Overview. Your new Squarespace 7 site will have its own analytics.
- Squarespace 7 doesn’t have a forum feature comparable to the Discussion Page. To enable visitors to communicate with each other in Squarespace 7, you can enable blog comments, or add advanced commenting features through our integration with Disqus.
- Squarespace 7 supports both per-page and site-wide code injection, but injection points work differently than Squarespace 5. If your site relies heavily on code injection, visit the Squarespace 7 guide Using code injection.
Should I choose Squarespace 7.1 or 7.0?
In general, we recommend moving to Squarespace 7.1, the newest version on our current platform. Squarespace 7.1 has newer features and a simplified interface, with style options and features that aren't tied to particular templates. In Squarespace 7.1 you can:
- Add page sections and banner images to any page
- Enable site-wide animations
- Use auto-layouts to arrange sets of content
- Create section-specific styles
- Use Fluid Engine, our latest content editing experience.
While not as new as version 7.1, version 7.0 is still newer than Squarespace 5. You may want to move to Squarespace 7.0 if:
- You need to import a large amount of content from your Squarespace 5 site, such as many blog posts. It's not currently possible to migrate directly to Squarespace 7.1, so you'll build your site manually.
- You want sidebars on your site. Suarespace 7.0 has some templates that support sidebars, which Squarespace 7.1 doesn't.
How to switch to Squarespace 7
When you’re ready to switch to Squarespace 7, first choose which version will work best for your needs, then follow the steps in the appropriate guide:
For either version, you'll start with a free 14-day trial so you can experiment with your new site before moving.