To delete your Squarespace account, you first need to cancel all active subscriptions and domains tied to your sites, then delete each site from your account dashboard. The process takes just a few clicks once your subscriptions are cleared, but the preparation beforehand requires some attention, especially if you have a custom domain or other paid services attached.
Cancel All Active Subscriptions First
Squarespace won’t let you delete a site that still has active subscriptions. That includes your website plan, but also any add-on services like Google Workspace, Email Campaigns, or Acuity Scheduling. Each of these needs to be canceled individually before the delete option becomes available.
When you cancel a monthly website plan, you won’t receive a refund, but your site stays active until the end of that billing cycle. For annual plans, you can get a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of the first payment. After that 14-day window, no refunds are issued. Renewal payments are also non-refundable regardless of timing. If you do qualify for a refund, expect it to take 3 to 10 business days to process.
One thing to watch: if you claimed a free domain through an annual plan and cancel within that 14-day refund window, Squarespace deducts a $20 nonrefundable domain registration fee from your refund. The domain itself stays registered, but you lose eligibility for the free domain offer.
Handle Your Domain Before Deleting
If you registered a domain through Squarespace (rather than connecting one you bought elsewhere), you cannot delete the site until you either cancel or transfer that domain. Transferring it to another registrar preserves your domain so you can use it with a different hosting provider.
To transfer your domain away from Squarespace:
- Open your domains dashboard and select the domain you want to move.
- Turn off the Domain Lock toggle (skip this step if the toggle doesn’t appear).
- Click “Request transfer code” and verify your identity with your password or two-factor authentication.
- Check your email for a message from customercare@squarespace.com containing the authorization code. This typically arrives within 24 hours.
- Copy that code and provide it to your new domain registrar to initiate the transfer.
The full transfer can take up to 15 days to complete. Before you start, take a screenshot of your current DNS settings. Most registrars can’t preserve those records during a transfer, so you’ll need to re-enter them manually at your new provider. If you use Google Workspace with that domain, update your MX records at the new registrar after the transfer to keep your email working.
A few situations can block the transfer. Domains purchased within the last 60 days may have a registration lock. Domains with recently changed contact information can also be temporarily locked. And if you added DNSSEC to your domain, remove it in the advanced settings panel before starting. You can transfer expired domains up to 30 days past their expiration date, but beyond that window, the transfer may no longer be possible.
Export Your Site Content
Deleting your site is permanent. Before you go through with it, download anything you want to keep. Squarespace offers a built-in export tool (found under Settings > Import & Export) that packages your pages, blog posts, and basic content into an XML file. This export doesn’t include everything, though. Images, audio files, custom CSS, and some page types aren’t included in the standard export. You’ll want to manually download any media files, save copies of custom code, and screenshot any design settings you might want to reference later.
If you’re moving to WordPress or another platform, that XML file gives you a starting point, but plan to spend some time reformatting and re-uploading media on the other side.
Delete Your Site
Once all subscriptions are canceled and any Squarespace-registered domains are transferred or removed, the delete option unlocks. Here’s the process:
- Go to your account dashboard (account.squarespace.com).
- Click the three-dot menu (…) to the right of the site you want to remove.
- Click “Delete.” This option only appears when the site has no active subscriptions.
- Confirm by clicking “Delete” again in the panel that appears.
You’ll see a “Site Deleted” confirmation message. This action is permanent. Your site content, design, and settings are gone and cannot be recovered.
Deleting Your Squarespace Account Profile
Deleting a site and deleting your Squarespace account are two separate things. Removing a site clears its content, but your login and account profile still exist. If you have multiple sites, you’ll need to delete each one individually using the steps above.
Once all sites are removed, you can close your account entirely through your account settings. Navigate to your account dashboard, open your account settings, and look for the option to close or delete the account. You’ll be asked to confirm, and Squarespace may require you to re-enter your password. After confirmation, your profile, login credentials, and any associated data are permanently removed.
Timing Your Cancellation
If you’re on a monthly plan, there’s no financial advantage to canceling early since you’ve already paid for the full month and won’t get a refund. Let your site run until the billing cycle ends, then delete it. If you’re on an annual plan and recently signed up, act within 14 days of your first payment to qualify for a refund. After that cutoff, you’re paying for the full year regardless of when you cancel, so you might as well use the remaining time to export content, transfer your domain, and make a clean transition.