Squarespace 7.1 vs. 7.0 in 2026: What’s the difference, and should you switch?
If you’ve been clinging to your Squarespace 7.0 site like a vintage vinyl collection, we get it. It’s comfortable, you know where the buttons are, and the "Brine" family feels like an old friend. But in the fast-moving world of 2026, staying on 7.0 is starting to feel a bit like using a flip phone in a 5G world. It still works, but everyone is staring at your lack of emojis.
Let’s break down the Squarespace 7.1 vs. 7.0 showdown so you can decide if it’s time to upgrade or keep rocking the "classic" look.
1. The Editor: Logic vs. Liberty
In Squarespace 7.0, you’re working with the Classic Editor. It’s structured, predictable, and relies on "Spacer Blocks" (the digital equivalent of stuffing cardboard under a wobbly table) to move things around.
Squarespace 7.1 introduced Fluid Engine. It’s a literal drag-and-drop grid. You can overlap images, place text wherever you want, and—this is the big one—edit your mobile view separately. No more fixing a desktop headline only to find your mobile site now looks like a bowl of alphabet soup.
2. Template Jail vs. Total Freedom
7.0 (The "Family" Plan): You pick a template family. Want a feature from a different family? Too bad. Changing templates often means a total site rebuild.
7.1 (The "Everything, Everywhere" Plan): All templates share the same features. There is no "hidden" functionality. If you see a cool feature on a 7.1 demo, you can use it on your site without starting over.
3. SEO: The Hidden Power-Up
Is 7.1 better for SEO? Technically, Google doesn't care which version you use, but user experience (UX) is a major ranking factor.
Site Speed: 7.1 is built on leaner, modern code that generally loads faster.
Index Pages vs. Sections: 7.0 uses "Index Pages" which can be an SEO nightmare to optimize. 7.1 uses "Sections," which keeps your keywords tucked neatly into one clean URL.
4. The "Dealbreakers" (What’s Missing?)
To move forward, Squarespace left a few things behind. In 7.1, you won't find:
Native Blog Sidebars: If you love a sidebar, you’ll need a plugin or a custom workaround.
Developer Mode: 7.1 is designed to be "no-code friendly," which means the old Developer Mode is gone.
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Squarespace 7.0 | Squarespace 7.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | Classic (Spacer Blocks) | Fluid Engine (Grid-based) |
| Mobile Control | Automatic (Minimal control) | Independent Mobile Editing |
| Templates | Family-specific features | Unified (All features for all) |
| SEO & Speed | Good (Index pages are clunky) | Excellent (Modern, fast code) |
| Learning Curve | Moderate | Very Intuitive |
The Verdict: Should You Switch?
If your 7.0 site is a simple "digital business card" and you’re happy with it—stay put. But if you want creative freedom, better mobile performance, and access to new features like Squarespace Courses, it’s time to make the jump.
The good news? Squarespace now has a built-in migration tool that makes moving from 7.0 to 7.1 much less of a "pull your hair out" experience than it used to be.
Need help migrating your site to 7.1? We’re here to help.