If you’re running a Squarespace 7.0 site and wondering whether it’s worth upgrading to Squarespace 7.1, you’re in the right place. Making the switch can feel daunting, especially if you’ve host of new features.

From customizable templates to SEO and design tools, Squarespace 7.1 is built to make your website easier to manage and more impactful for your audience. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about upgrading, so you can decide if Squarespace 7.1 is the right move for your business.

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Customizable Templates

One of the biggest challenges with Squarespace 7.0 is working within the limits of its premade templates. If a specific design feature wasn’t available in your chosen template, making changes often felt like an uphill battle — time-consuming, confusing, and sometimes impossible without starting over.

With Squarespace 7.1, this is a thing of the past. Every template comes with the same set of design tools, giving you complete freedom to customize your site. Want to change your page layout, adjust your header or footer, or experiment with blog styles? In Squarespace 7.1, it’s all possible, without needing to switch templates.

Page Sections

Squarespace 7.1 introduces Page Sections, which make customizing your site faster and easier. With Page Sections, you can break your page into individual content blocks that are easy to add, move, and edit. Whether you’re revamping your layout or fine-tuning your design, simply use the arrow buttons to rearrange sections without starting from scratch. Plus, you have full control over each section’s width, height, and alignment.

To save even more time, Squarespace 7.1 offers Premade Sections. These are beautiful, pre-designed layouts you can drag and drop directly into your pages. Choose from options like Service Pages, Contact Pages, FAQs, and Testimonials, or mix and match to create a polished look in minutes, ideal for busy business owners.

Adding a section in the Squarespace editor.

Color Palettes

Color is one of the most powerful ways to express your brand, and Squarespace 7.1 makes it easier than ever to bring your vision to life. With access to up to ten customizable color themes, you can apply palettes to different sections of your site. Whether you want a cohesive look or variety, you’re in control of how your site feels from top to bottom.

Squarespace 7.1 can even help you generate beautiful color palettes. Simply enter a hex code for your brand color, and the platform will suggest complementary, monochromatic, and analogous schemes to match. You can also upload an image, like your logo or a product photo, and Squarespace will extract a color palette for you, without needing to spend hours on design.

The home page of the Emotion and Math website displayed on an iPad

Font Pairings

Squarespace 7.1 makes it simple to maintain consistency across your entire site. With the global font settings in Site Styles, you can select cohesive fonts for your headings, buttons, calls-to-action (CTAs), products, and blog posts.

This feature means that every element on your site feels aligned with your brand. Whether you prefer clean and modern fonts or something more artistic and bold, Squarespace 7.1 gives you the flexibility to tailor your typography to your unique style.

The Fonts area in the Squarespace editor.

New Design Features

Squarespace 7.1 offers a suite of new design tools that let you build a site as unique as your brand. Here’s what’s new:

Banner Sections: Full-bleed backgrounds that support both images and videos, offering a sleek, responsive way to grab attention.
Sitewide Animations: Previously limited to image blocks, animations can now be applied across your entire site, adding polished movement to your design.
Portfolio Pages: Perfect for showcasing your work, these new Collection pages let you organize projects with customizable layouts.
Header and Footer Layouts: Squarespace 7.1 introduces more layout options, allowing you to design professional-looking headers and footers.
List Sections: Ideal for scrolling content, these sections make it easy to display testimonials, services, or other grouped content in an eye-catching way.
Fluid Engine (Drag-and-Drop Editor): Squarespace’s updated editor gives you the flexibility to move, resize, and layer elements without touching CSS. Fluid Engine eliminates the need for spacer blocks, making layouts cleaner and easier to customize.

Improved SEO and Site Speed

If you’ve ever felt like your website isn’t getting the attention it deserves, your platform could be part of the problem. Squarespace 7.0 isn’t optimized for the latest Google updates, and its slower load times can mean lower search engine rankings, making it harder for people to find you online.

Squarespace 7.1 changes that. With faster load times and tools designed to meet modern SEO standards, 7.1 helps your site get seen by search engines and your audience alike. It’s a simple upgrade that can make a big difference in how easily people discover your business and connect with what you offer.

Are there Downsides to 7.1?

No platform is perfect, and Squarespace 7.1 is no exception. While it offers incredible features and improvements, there are a few trade-offs to consider before making the switch.

For one, 7.1 doesn’t include parallax scrolling, blog sidebars, or secondary navigation menus, features you may rely on in 7.0. However, many of these can be added back with a bit of custom code, which might be a worthwhile option if you’re comfortable with DIY or working with a professional.

It’s also worth noting that the new Fluid Engine editor, while powerful and flexible, comes with a learning curve. If you’re new to website design, it may take some time to get the hang of its features, which could feel overwhelming at first.

Before making the move, weigh these considerations against the benefits of 7.1 to decide what works best for your needs and goals.

Ready to Make the Switch?

With the right steps, switching to Squarespace 7.1 can be a smooth process.

If you’re new to Squarespace, you don’t need to worry about transitioning — your site will automatically use the Squarespace 7.1 platform.

If you’re currently running a 7.0 site and curious about upgrading, here’s how to explore 7.1 without losing the functionality you rely on in 7.0:

Start with a Trial: Take a 14-day trial of a new 7.1 site. Experiment with its features while keeping your 7.0 site live. This lets you test out the platform without any risk.
Prepare for Transition: If you love what 7.1 offers, begin preparing your new site by manually recreating your layout, re-uploading content, and importing your data from 7.0.

November 2024 Update: How To Upgrade from 7.0 to 7.1 Without Starting Over

Squarespace now offers an official migration process for 7.0 to 7.1, making it easier than ever to upgrade. Here’s what you need to know to ensure a seamless transition:

Create a Backup: Duplicate your 7.0 site to create a backup. This ensures you can revert if something doesn’t go as planned. Keep in mind that 7.1 has different features, so double-check that it meets your needs. Once you upgrade, the transition is permanent.
Start the Upgrade:
- Go to Website > Design > Update to Version 7.1.
- Click Get Started to begin the process.
- Use Preview Mode to review your site in 7.1, make style adjustments, and ensure everything looks great without affecting your live site.
- When satisfied, click Publish to make 7.1 your new platform.

This process migrates critical elements like your SEO settings, order and customer data, domains, and reviews.

Concluding Thoughts

Switching to Squarespace 7.1 gives you the opportunity to reimagine your website and how it serves your business, offering the tools you need to create a site that feels aligned with your brand and built for growth.

We understand that transitions like this can feel daunting, especially when your business is on the line. But remember, the time and effort you invest in creating a site that truly works for you will pay off in clarity, functionality, and an online presence you can be proud of.

If you’re ready to make the leap but want to save time and avoid overwhelm, our professionally designed Squarespace templates are here to help. They’re thoughtfully crafted to balance beauty and functionality, making it easier than ever to create a site that reflects your brand.

Each template includes: