How to Build a Membership with Squarespace Member Areas

If you’ve been looking for a way to share your expertise, build connections, and add a new stream of income, Squarespace Member Areas might be exactly what you need.

This feature allows coaches, creatives, and service providers sell digital products, launch online courses, and create VIP memberships—all within your Squarespace website. No extra tech headaches. No juggling multiple platforms. Just a streamlined, brand-aligned way to grow.

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A close-up of a woman's hand holding a white reusable coffee cup. She wears a black satin top and a cream-colored faux fur coat, creating a contrast of textures.
 

Squarespace Member Areas Explained: How to Use It for Memberships & Courses

Think of Squarespace Member Areas as a private space within your website, where only paying members (or invited guests) can access exclusive content. That could mean:

  • A course library with in-depth video lessons and worksheets

  • A members-only content hub for premium blog posts, videos, or downloads

  • A VIP subscription offering exclusive perks or discounts

  • A private community space for coaching, discussions, or behind-the-scenes content

So you can build a recurring income stream from your Squarespace membership site.

 
Squarespace Member Areas home page.
 

Why Should You Use Squarespace Member Areas?

If you’ve ever thought, Can I really build a membership or sell a course? The answer is yes, and Squarespace makes it simple.

  • No Tech Overwhelm

    Forget bouncing between platforms. Everything—your website, sales pages, and membership content—lives in one place, making it easy to manage.

  • Built-In Payment Processing

    Accept one-time or recurring payments through Stripe and PayPal, with no extra setup needed.

  • Fully Branded Experience

    Unlike third-party platforms that pull customers away from your website, Squarespace Member Areas a part of your site, keeping your brand front and center.

  • Room to Grow

    Start small with a single resource or scale up to a full membership site with tiered pricing, courses, and premium content.

How to Use Squarespace Member Areas for Courses, Memberships & Subscriptions

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your Squarespace membership area should be a natural extension of your brand and audience needs. Here are a few ways to make it work for you:

  • Offer Online Courses

    Turn your expertise into a structured learning experience. Upload video lessons, PDFs, and worksheets to guide members step by step, whether you're teaching branding, photography, wellness, or something entirely your own.

  • Create a VIP Content Hub

    Already running a blog, podcast, or newsletter? Add a paid membership with bonus episodes, exclusive insights, private Q&A’s, or premium guides.

  • Build a Private Communit

    Memberships aren’t just about content—they’re about connection. Offer live Q&As, behind-the-scenes insights, or group coaching to cultivate an engaged, supportive space.

  • Set Up Tiered Memberships

    Give your audience options with multiple membership levels. Offer a free preview, a mid-tier subscription, and an all-access VIP pass so members can choose what works best for them.

 
Squarespace Memberships in the Squarespace dashboard.

How to Set Up a Membership Site on Squarespace (Step-by-Step)

Setting up your Squarespace Member Area takes just a few steps:

  • Create Your Member Area

    In your Squarespace dashboard, navigate to Content & Memberships and set up your first Member Area.

  • Add Your Content

    Upload videos, PDFs, templates, or other exclusive resources your members will love. Use Squarespace’s drag-and-drop tools to keep it beautifully designed and on-brand.

  • Set Your Pricing

    Decide if you want to charge a one-time fee, offer a subscription, or provide a free trial.

  • Promote & Launch

    Use email marketing, social media, and website banners to generate buzz and get people excited to join.

 

How Squarespace Member Areas Can Help You Scale & Earn Passive Income

Your brand isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about the relationships you build and the value you create over time. A membership or private content space lets you go deeper, offering an experience that keeps people engaged.

With Squarespace Member Areas, you can:

  • Create a Space Your Audience Wants to Return To
    Whether it’s a course, a content hub, or an exclusive community, Member Areas give people a reason to stay connected with your brand.

  • Earn Recurring Revenue

    Set up one-time purchases, subscriptions, or tiered memberships, all within your existing Squarespace site.

  • Offer a High-End Experience

    Your membership area is fully branded and built into your site, making it feel cohesive for your audience.


If you’ve been wanting to scale, a Member Area gives you the structure to grow. Whether you’re ready to launch a course, introduce premium content, or build a thriving community, this tool makes it simple to start.

Squarespace Membership Pricing: Costs & Options

Before setting up your Squarespace Member Area, take a moment to get to know membership pricing and available plans.

Squarespace Membership Price Tiers

Squarespace offers three membership pricing plans, each designed to support different business needs:

  • Starter Plan (£5.25/month): Perfect for small businesses or individuals starting a membership or content-based offering. This plan includes 10 hours of additional video storage and a 7% transaction fee on sales.

  • Core Plan (£18/month): Designed for growing businesses that need more flexibility, this plan includes 50 hours of video storage and reduces the transaction fee to 3%.

  • Pro Plan (£54.75/month): Best for established businesses looking for unlimited video storage and 0% transaction fees, ensuring you keep 100% of your earnings.

When choosing your plan, consider how many members you expect and what features best serve your audience.

Note: Pricing is accurate as of March 14, 2025, but may be subject to change. Check Squarespace’s official pricing page for the latest details.

FAQs

  • Squarespace Member Areas allow you to create password-protected sections on your website where you can share exclusive content with paying members. This feature is perfect for hosting online courses, sharing VIP content, or building a membership community.

  • To set up a Member Area, go to the Squarespace dashboard, select 'Member Areas,' and follow the prompts to create your gated content and configure payment options.

  • Squarespace Member Areas are ideal for small business owners, educators, coaches, artists, and creators who want to monetize their expertise, share exclusive resources, or build deeper connections with their audience.

  • Go to your Squarespace dashboard, enable Member Areas under “Settings,” and follow the prompts to create your first area. From there, you can upload content, customize the design, and set pricing options.

  • Yes, you can customize the design of your Member Areas to align with your site's branding by using Site Styles and the Squarespace editor.

  • Yes! Squarespace Member Areas supports both one-time payments and recurring subscriptions. You can even create tiered pricing levels to cater to different audience needs.

  • To enable comments on your Squarespace blog, navigate to the blog page in your site editor, click on a specific post, and then select the Options tab. Scroll down to the Post Settings and toggle Enable Comments on. Remember to save your changes!You can upload videos, PDFs, images, text, and more. Member Areas work well for online courses, downloadable resources, exclusive blog posts, or even live-streamed events.

  • Squarespace integrates with Stripe and PayPal for payment processing. You can accept credit cards, debit cards, and other digital payment methods like Apple Pay. All transactions are secure and fully managed within Squarespace.

  • Absolutely! Squarespace Member Areas let you create different pricing tiers, each with its own set of benefits. This flexibility is great for businesses that want to offer a range of options to their audience.

Concluding Thoughts

Squarespace Member Areas give you a simple, streamlined way to grow your business—all within the website you already love. Your ideas deserve a platform, and your audience is ready for more, whether it’s a course, VIP content, or a membership space.

A great membership experience starts with a well-designed website. Our Squarespace membership templates are built for coaches, educators, and online course creators, featuring conversion-focused sales pages, high-converting layouts, and an intuitive user experience.

 
 

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