Best Free Squarespace Templates in 2026: The Honest Guide
Here is the straight answer most roundups bury: every official Squarespace template is free. All of them are included with a Squarespace subscription, so “free” is not a special tier or a catch, it is simply how the platform works. The real question is not which templates are free, it is which of the nearly 200 templates is the best starting point for your kind of website, and when a premium third-party template is worth paying for instead.
That is what this guide covers. SquareLocator is run alongside a Squarespace Platinum Partner agency that has delivered more than 400 client sites, so the picks below are not random: they reflect the templates we genuinely reach for when starting builds, organised by the kind of site you are making. You can browse the full free library on SquareLocator's template directory, where every template links straight through to Squarespace to preview and start building.
Are Squarespace Templates Really Free?
Yes. Squarespace does not sell its own templates individually. When you sign up for any Squarespace plan, the entire template library is included, and you can switch or restart with a different template whenever you like. What people usually mean by “paid Squarespace templates” are premium templates from third-party designers, which are customised, industry-specific designs built on top of Squarespace. Those can be excellent, and we cover when they are worth it below, but you never need to pay extra just to get a good official template.
How We Chose These
Squarespace's library runs to nearly 200 templates, and honestly, the underlying engine is the same across all of them: any 7.1 template can technically be restyled into any other. What differs is the starting point: the layout, demo content, fonts and structure you begin with, and starting closer to your finished vision saves hours. Our picks favour templates whose structure genuinely fits the industry they are aimed at, based on what has worked across hundreds of client builds.
Best Free Squarespace Templates by Use Case
For Photographers
Zion and Beaumont put imagery first with generous, gallery-led layouts that let the work speak. If photography is your business, our full guide to the best Squarespace templates for photographers goes much deeper.
For Therapists, Coaches and Wellness
Clove and Aurora offer calm, trust-building layouts with clear space for services and booking. See our dedicated guides for therapists and counsellors and coaches.
For Consultants and Professional Services
Otto and Carroll are structured and credible, with layouts that lead naturally to an enquiry. Our consultants template guide covers the full shortlist.
For Interior Designers
Crosby and Selene pair large imagery with refined typography, ideal for portfolio-led studios. More options in our interior designers guide.
For Weddings and Events
Soria and Laurie bring the romantic, editorial feel wedding professionals need, while Harbor suits event businesses more broadly.
For Real Estate
Bergen and Sellwood handle property listings and agent profiles cleanly.
For Fitness and Wellness Studios
Almar and Alignflow are energetic, schedule-friendly starting points for gyms, studios and trainers.
For Restaurants and Food
Juniper and Atlantic put menus, atmosphere and reservations front and centre.
For Ecommerce, Fashion and Retail
Alameda and Flor are strong storefront starting points. For choosing a template that actually sells, read our ecommerce template guide.
For Portfolios, Artists and Creatives
Novo and Sketchbook give creative work room to breathe with distinctive, gallery-driven layouts.
For Tech, Startups and SaaS
Paloma is one of the most popular templates in the entire library, a clean, modern layout that works for startups and product sites, and Ventura is a strong alternative.
For Travel and Hospitality
Harman and Rivoli suit tour operators, hotels and travel brands with imagery-led storytelling.
Free vs Premium Templates: When Is Paying Worth It?
Honest answer: a free official template plus your own time is enough for most simple sites. Premium third-party templates earn their price in three situations. First, when they are built specifically for your industry, with the pages, sections and copy structure your business actually needs already in place, which can save days of setup. Second, when they include design work beyond what the official templates ship with, such as custom styling, animations and considered layouts. Third, when your time is worth more than the template costs: if a premium template saves you two days, it has usually paid for itself. Browse premium Squarespace templates by industry to compare, and our guide on how to choose the right Squarespace template walks through the decision properly.
Making a Free Template Feel Custom
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The gap between a default template and a premium-feeling site is mostly customisation. Three routes worth knowing: free design plugins handle the small details (see our roundup of the best free Squarespace plugins), SquareKicker unlocks no-code design control well beyond the standard style settings, and once the design is right, the free plan of SEOSpace checks that your new site is set up to be found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Squarespace templates free?
Yes. Every official Squarespace template is included with any Squarespace subscription. There is no extra charge for any template in the official library, and you can switch templates whenever you like.
What is the best free Squarespace template?
It depends on the site. Paloma is one of the most popular all-rounders, Zion and Beaumont lead for photography, Clove and Aurora suit wellness businesses, and Bergen works well for real estate. The best template is the one whose structure is closest to the site you want to end up with.
Can I change my Squarespace template later?
Yes. On Squarespace 7.1 every template shares the same underlying system, so you can restyle your site freely, and you can also start again with a different template. Starting close to your final vision simply saves time.
Do free templates hurt SEO?
No. Official templates all share the same clean, search-friendly foundation. SEO depends on your content, structure, titles, images and links, not on which template you picked or whether it was free.
What is the difference between free and premium Squarespace templates?
Free templates are Squarespace's official starting designs. Premium templates are third-party designs built on Squarespace with industry-specific pages, custom styling and structure already done. Free is enough for simple sites; premium pays off when it saves you significant setup and design time.
How many free Squarespace templates are there?
The official library contains nearly 200 templates, all free with a subscription, covering photography, weddings, restaurants, fitness, real estate, ecommerce, portfolios and more. You can browse the full library, organised by industry, on SquareLocator.
This article contains affiliate links. If you subscribe through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only feature tools we would recommend on their own merits.
