Squarespace 7.1 vs 7.0: Which Version Is Best?
If you're in the process of choosing a website builder for your business and you’ve decided Squarespace is the online home for your business… but now you have to decide which version of Squarespace to use!
Both Squarespace 7.1 and 7.0 have their pros and cons, so it's important to weigh your options before making a decision.
Here's a quick rundown of the key differences between the two versions to help you make an informed choice for your business website.
Before you settle on your chosen template (be it free or paid), you’ll need to decide which version of Squarespace* you want to build your website on.
Released in early 2020, 7.1 is the most recent and up-to-date version of Squarespace and is constantly being updated with new features. This means that all of the fun new functionality that Squarespace is working on adding to the platform will be available to you!
The most recent, and largest by far, update was the launch of their new fluid engine which now allows you to drag and drop the elements on your website with complete freedom using their 12-column grid system. While the drag-and-drop builder is more complicated to design with (and you’ll need to edit the mobile view separately) the possibilities for your website are vastly improved!
The 7.1 classic editor is still available until some point in 2023, which uses a simpler design system but will be phased out at one point, so if you decide to use version 7.1 be aware that you will likely have to convert any sections to the fluid engine when they phase out the classic-editor.
That being said, as a Squarespace designer, I highly recommend Squarespace 7.1 and am a big advocate for creating your site with the newest version of the platform if you can.
This gives you access to all of the newest features, allows you more control over your design, and provides more flexibility with the mobile view which is critical for most business websites who typically have a large percentage of views from mobile devices.
If you’re ready to get started with your Squarespace website, your next step will be picking the right template.
Squarespace has several pre-designed templates which you can use for no extra cost. You can explore the free Squarespace* 7.1 templates here.
The free templates can be a great place to start, however, these templates won’t have been designed with your specific business or niche in mind so they will likely need to be adapted quite a bit to work for your website.
You can also purchase premium templates created by designers which will have a lot more strategy behind their designs and often custom visuals to set your website apart from your competition. Here’s an article I wrote sharing the top 7 premium 7.1 templates for service providers
Squarespace’s default version from 2014 until the release of 7.1, version 7.0 is a very solid system and remains a good candidate for many people.
The main argument for using 7.0 is if you’ve already built your site on this version it isn’t all that easy to transfer to 7.1 (you basically have to rebuild your website from scratch). This version will remain supported indefinitely according to Squarespace, so if you’ve already gotten started on 7.0 you shouldn't have to worry about losing your website down the line.
Have a Squarespace website but aren’t sure which version it is? This article shows you how to check which version of Squarespace your website is on.
The other nice thing about Squarespace 7.0 is that it is a static platform, meaning Squarespace is no longer adding to it or tweaking the platform. This means that once you learn how everything works, you’ll be set for the lifetime of your website! With the constant updates being made to 7.1 it can be a little disorienting for less technically inclined users to get their bearings after a big update.
Ready to get started building your website on Squarespace 7.0? You’ll need to pick a base template to set the overall style and layout of your site. Check out all of the Squarespace 7.0 free templates here
Final Thoughts
Both Squarespace 7.1 and 7.0 are easy-to-use, robust website platforms that are perfectly designed for small businesses. Picking the right version of Squarespace for you comes down to the features you’re interested in and if you’ve already got a Squarespace website or not.
