What are Squarespace extensions, add-ons, and plugins? Or what about “official integrations”? These terms can be confusing—and often overlap—but all of these code-based solutions represent a way to extend your website’s functionality or alter the look of your site. Some solutions are offered by Squarespace and others by third-party vendors:
Squarespace Add-ons: Products other than website hosting offered by Squarespace, and supported by Squarespace.
Squarespace Extensions: Integrations for Squarespace Commerce built by third-party vendors, not supported by Squarespace.
Squarespace Plugins: Software that changes the look or functionality of your site, coded by individual designers and developers, not supported by Squarespace.
Squarespace Integrations or Connected Services: Squarespace-built integrations with third-party apps, supported by Squarespace.
Third-Party Apps
For the purposes of this article, a third-party app is any application provided by a vendor other than Squarespace. To run your business, you likely use software for invoicing, shipping, inventory, accounting, analytics, hiring, etc., these are third-party apps.
Many 3rd-party applications allow you to embed their software by copying and pasting a small bit of code, or widget, to your website. This can help give site visitors a seamless experience when interacting with these apps.
Squarespace Add-Ons
Squarespace offers add-on products for domain registration, email marketing, scheduling, and memberships. These Squarespace-owned paid services and products are in addition to your regular website hosting fee and are supported by Squarespace.
Squarespace Domains: A stand-alone service to register custom domains.
Email Marketing: Only available with a Squarespace website.
Acuity Scheduling: This scheduling app can be used with or without a website.
Squarespace Member Areas: This add-on feature is only available with a website.
Note, if you already use other third-party software for processes like appointments, email marketing, or memberships, you can continue to use those third-party apps if desired.
See Squarespace pricing for all add-on services.
Squarespace Extensions
In 2019, Squarespace launched what they call “Squarespace Extensions” allowing third-party vendors to build direct integrations with their commerce platform.
Extensions use the Squarespace Commerce APIs and sync store data: orders, products, inventory, customers, etc with other applications. If you don’t sell products or services via Squarespace Commerce, most of these integrations will not apply to your site.
Note, anyone can build an extension and they are not supported by Squarespace. Squarespace literature used to say, “We can’t guarantee functionality or full compatibility with Squarespace,” now it simply states: “extensions fall outside our scope of support.” Some of the solutions are from best-in-class providers like Mailchimp or Quickbooks. Some are not, so do your research.
See the current list of extensions.
How to Disconnect a Squarespace Extension
From the Home menu > click Settings > click Extensions > click Connected Extensions (upper left hand corner) > find the Extension you wish to remove, click the 3 dots to the right > Click Disconnect
Squarespace Plugins
Plugins are a bit different from the add-ons and extensions described above. What most Squarespace designers call “plugins” are code snippets or CSS tweaks used to change the look of your site. Do you want a mega menu, accordion tabs, or pricing tables? You’ll find numerous plugins to help style your site.
And some Squarespace functionality simply does not work properly (such as site search), so you might choose to embed 3rd-party software as a fix. Plugins range from simple to complex and are not supported by Squarespace. Some plugin and software developers are better than others in terms of quality and on-going support, so do your research.
Learn about Squarespace SEO plugins.
Squarespace Integrations
Squarespace uses the terms “official integrations,” “connected services,” and “specialized connections” all in reference to Squarespace-built integrations for third-party apps. These integrations used to be the only way Squarespace connected to any platform outside of its ecosystem. Access to these built-in integrations varies based on your hosting plan, but all are supported by Squarespace.
These integrations can make connecting Squarespace with Mailchimp, YouTube, or Amazon Affiliates a little easier, but not every “connected service” will work the way you expect it to. We offer more info on the Squarespace Google integrations here: Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Summary
For years, Squarespace promoted their platform as “all-in-one” and “no plugins required.” Why? The concept of plugins carries negative connotations for many site owners migrating from other platforms like WordPress, so Squarespace stayed away from the term for as long as they could. But over the years, Squarespace realized:
Squarespace designers were selling code tweaks and calling them plugins.
To attract users away from plugin-based platforms, Squarespace needed to speak the same language as potential customers.
To remain competitive, Squarespace needed to provide greater access to data (via APIs) or risk losing loyal, but frustrated customers.
So the turnabout was likely a combination of “if you can’t beat them, join them” plus normal business strategy. The terminology will continue to change as Squarespace and the market evolve.
And again, if you want to call all the above tools the same thing—whether that is add-ons, integrations, extensions, or plugins—that works too. 😃
Note, Squarespace does provide all-in-one hosting with no need for security plugins.
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