When you choose to build a Squarespace website you may not know that you have a choice between two different Squarespace versions – Squarespace 7.0 and Squarespace 7.1. Each version has unique pros and cons so it’s important to understand what each version has to offer. By the end of this post you should understand the main differences between these two versions, be able to figure out which version you’re on if you already have a site, and decide which Squarespace version is best for you if you’re creating a new site.

Before diving in, it’s important to clarify that Squarespace versions are tied to specific websites, not accounts. The version your website is on is chosen by the template you select when you start building your site, as some templates are on 7.0 and others are on 7.1. Thus, if you have multiple websites on the same Squarespace account, your websites may use different versions of Squarespace.

what are the main differences between 7.0 and 7.1?

From 10,000 feet, both versions are relatively similar. Both versions offer similar features, layouts, and editing tools. However, there are also many differences between the two. Depending on what is important to you, these differences may affect your preference.

The TLDR version:
Though a drastic oversimplification, the main difference between 7.0 and 7.1 is functionality versus ease of use. Many advanced features in Squarespace 7.0 aren’t supported in 7.1, but 7.1 also has many new features that significantly simplify the website creation process.

For those that want more detail, here is a list of the 10 largest changes in version 7.1:

1. Unlike 7.0, there is ONE universal template in 7.1.

This may seem confusing at first because there are many 7.1 “templates” you can choose among. Yet, despite having different names and layouts, all of these “templates” have the exact same underlying functionality. Since all 7.1 templates are fundamentally the same, it is possible to take any 7.1 template and turn it into any other 7.1 template by dragging in and out blocks and swapping images (no code required!)

This is not the case in Squarespace 7.0. Each 7.0 template belongs to a template family, and each template family has features that other 7.0 template families don’t. This results in some 7.0 templates being “stronger” or “more powerful” than others. For example, index pages and blog sidebars are only offered in some 7.0 templates. Thus, it’s important to pick a 7.0 template that has the features that you need.

While the 7.0 template system offers you more choices (many of which are not available at all in 7.1), the template system can be very confusing and requires extra research. If you decide to choose a 7.0 template, do prior research to make sure that the template you plan on using supports functionality that you need. You can read more about the 7.0 templates here.

2. The 7.1 editor is quite different from the 7.0 editor.

Though both editors are fairly similar, the editors are different enough to cause confusion. Style menus are dispersed in different places, options are moved around, and many styling and customization options simply don’t exist in 7.1 (See #4). Even those who are very familiar with one editor will undoubtedly struggle the first few times they use the other.

3. There are no Index Pages in 7.1.

In 7.0, an “index page” is a long scrolling page made up of a group of smaller constituent pages that get combined. The image below example of an index page made up of 7 individual pages on a 7.0 website.

On Squarespace 7.1, index pages simply don’t exist. Instead, 7.1 uses pages that are comprised of “sections” that are stitched together. Though the 7.1 format is simpler (there are fewer overall “pages” to maintain), there are two downsides to this 7.1 format.

a) Unlike pages, each section doesn’t get its own unique URL. This means that you can’t link other parts of your website directly to specific sections on your page.

b) You can’t move sections to other parts of your site. In 7.0, if you wanted to make the “How it Works” page into its own page, all you have to do is drag it out of the index and it becomes its own separate page. In 7.1 you don’t have this flexibility. Doing the same operation would require you to first create a new page and then transfer the section content over to that page.

4. There is a MAJOR overhaul of Site Styles in 7.1

Though 7.1 still has a “Site Styles” menu, the actual styles are organized quite differently. Rather than having one large menu where you can change all styles like in version 7.0, these options are dispersed in version 7.1. Universal “Site Styles” in 7.1 are broken down into headings like “Color” and “Font”, and page-specific designs are edited elsewhere. Also, 7.1 has style limitations that 7.0 doesn’t. 7.1 relies on site-wide color and font “themes” that can be difficult to customize. Though these themes and color palettes usually look pretty good, those who want to break away from these themes and color palettes may find 7.1 frustrating.

5. There are new “Section Templates” in 7.1.

This new 7.1 feature can be incredibly useful since it allows you to add pre-made and editable section templates into your website. Unlike 7.0 where you usually have to customize layouts by yourself, version 7.1 allows you to choose from a large list of pre-made templates in all sorts of different layouts. In addition, there are many fun sections that you can add on 7.1 like reservations, tour dates, charts, FAQs, restaurant menus, and logo walls. Below are examples of different “Contact Section” layouts in 7.1

6. There are no parallax scrolling options in 7.1

Parallax scrolling is when an image moves at a different speed that the rest of the page when scrolling, which ultimately creates a more dynamic and interesting user experience. It’s a shame that this feature was removed in 7.1, but luckily this feature can still be coded in for those who really want it.

7. There are no gallery blocks in 7.1

In 7.1 you can’t just insert in a gallery into a page or section like you could in 7.0. Though 7.1 has a lot of image layouts, these layouts don’t support the same kinds of accommodations. If you are interested in gallery blocks, you can still use summary blocks to create a close substitute.

8. New Color-block features in 7.1

You can now change the background of each section to a color within your theme editor. When editing a page, there is a “Colors” tab that lets you switch between a variety of background themes.

9. There are no cover pages in 7.1

A cover page is an independent page that is shown before users see any of your site. Unfortunately, cover pages don’t exist at all in 7.1.

10. There is no secondary navigation and fewer customizations of the header in 7.1

Squarespace 7.0 allows you to have 2 different navigations which can be quite useful if you have a lot of navigation links. Unfortunately, 7.1 doesn’t let you do this. In addition, the number of header layouts is significantly limited compared to the options present in 7.0.

If I Have a Website, how do I know which version I’m on?

To figure out which version a particular website is on, you need to open that specific website in editor mode. Once you have your site open in editor mode, there are two ways to find out what version of Squarespace your website is on.

The Quick Way: Click the “Help” button at the bottom of your website editor. If you look at the bottom of the help page, you will see the current version that you are using.

The (Even Quicker) Way: Simply go into the editor on your website and look for the full screen icon at the top of your site (indicated by a diagonal arrow). If the icon is on the left, you’re on 7.0. If the icon is on the right, you’re on 7.1. This website is on 7.0 because the arrow at the top is on the left.

Can I change my website from one version to the other?

Unfortunately, you can’t. Once you’ve set a template and built your website on that template, there is currently no way to transfer your website to a different version. Even if you try to preview another template, Squarespace will only let you preview options on the same version.

Would you recommend switching over?

Unless you have an unusual reason, probably not. The investment it would take to create a new website is generally not worth it, especially since the two versions are pretty similar. If you’re thinking that you want to upgrade from 7.0 to 7.1, keep in mind that just because 7.1 is newer doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better. It’s just different. Also, if you plan to recreate your site on the other version keep in mind that you can’t transfer your Squarespace website plan to your new site.

Are there compatibility concerns? Will Squarespace discontinue 7.0 since it’s older?

Squarespace has no plans to discontinue service to either versions. In fact, Squarespace still services websites on even older versions that aren’t currently offered.

Which version would you recommend if I’m building a new site?

Overall, it depends how important customization is to you. If you’re not too concerned about the details of your site and simply want something neat and presentable, 7.1 is probably the way to go. However, if being able to make customizations and having additional features is important to you, 7.0 is definitely the better choice.

How do I know which version of Squarespace a template is on?

When Squarespace prompts you to pick a template, the templates on the first page are 7.1 templates. To get to the 7.0 templates you need to scroll to the button and click the link that says “These templates are on the latest version of Squarespace. Looking for templates from an earlier version?”