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Tegnest vs Squarespace: which fits a local business?

Squarespace sells designer templates you shape yourself. I built Tegnest for a local business that wants a clear website for its trade without building or writing it. Here is what each costs over three years and what you get, from each company’s own pages.

Prices read on 16 October 2026 from each company’s own pricing page. They may have changed since; the sources at the bottom say exactly what each page said.

Three years, added up

ChoiceTotal, 3 years
Website, 1 pageTegnest€128.00excl. VAT
Squarespace BasicBuild it yourself€432.00as shown, VAT not stated

My amounts are excl. VAT, as Squarespace shows its own prices (its English page doesn’t say whether VAT is included). This compares prices, not everything you get: Squarespace gives you more design freedom and selling tools; with me you don’t build or write it yourself.

Year by year

Tegnest

Website, 1 page

3 years

Website, 1 page, cost per year over 3 years
Year 1
Website, 1 page€20.00
Website hosting (first year)€36.00
Year 2
Website hosting, with your domain name€36.00
Year 3
Website hosting, with your domain name€36.00
Total, 3 years€128.00

Our prices excl. VAT, to compare with theirs. As you pay them, incl. 21% Dutch VAT: €154.88 over three years.

What you get

  • A design made for your trade, with your services, prices, opening hours and contact on one page.
  • AI writes the copy from what you fill in; you read it before you pay.
  • Hosting, https and a domain name in your name, every year. Mail to your domain is forwarded to your own inbox.
  • You change your details, photos and colours yourself at no extra cost; 10 AI changes a month and 3 changes by me a year are included.

What you do yourself

  • Fill in your details and read the copy.

Good to know

  • No mailbox to send from: mail is forwarded only.
  • No webshop and no custom design.
  • More pages or a quote form cost more.

Build it yourself

Squarespace Basic

3 years1

Squarespace Basic, cost per year over 3 years
Year 1
Basic plan (12 × €12)€144.00
Domain name (included the first year)€0.00
Year 2
Basic plan (12 × €12)€144.00
Year 3
Basic plan (12 × €12)€144.00
Total, 3 years€432.00

Printed as Squarespace shows them; its page doesn’t say whether VAT is included.

What you get

  • Polished templates to change as you like, hosting and a domain name.
  • Selling products and services is included, with a transaction fee on this plan.

What you do yourself

  • Build the website, write the copy and choose the photos yourself.

Good to know

  • From year 2 the domain renews at Squarespace’s standard rate, which the plans page doesn’t show, so it isn’t in the total.
  • The page doesn’t say whether VAT is included.

What you get, side by side

TegnestSquarespace Basic
How it’s madeYou fill in your details; AI writes the copy into a design made for your trade. You read it before you pay.You pick a template and build the site yourself, with built-in AI tools.
Trying itSee your own website, with your name and details, before you pay anything.Free for 14 days.
Domain nameIncluded every year: a new one in your name, or one you already own.Free for 1 year with an annual plan; then the standard rate, which the plans page doesn’t show.
SizeOne page, or up to 5 pages with the Website, up to 5 pages package.Up to 2 contributors on Basic.
SellingNo online shop.Sell products and services on Basic, with a 2% online store transaction fee and card rates from 2.0% + €0.25.
EmailMail to your domain is forwarded to your own inbox; no mailbox to send from.One Google Workspace account with the Core plan and up, free for the first year; not on Basic.
ChangesYour details, photos and colours yourself, free; 10 AI changes a month and 3 changes by me a year.Anything, yourself, in the editor.

Pick Squarespace if…

  • the look matters most and you want to shape it yourself: Squarespace’s designer templates give you far more freedom than my fixed designs.
  • you want to sell products, services, content or memberships from your site; that starts on the Basic plan.
  • you want a mailbox on your own domain: the Core plan and up include a Google Workspace account, free for the first year.
  • you’d like to try the builder for 14 days before you decide.
  • you plan to grow into more contributors, analytics and marketing tools in the same place.

Pick Tegnest if…

  • you’d rather not build or write: you fill in your details, and your site is written and laid out for your trade.
  • what your customers need is your prices, opening hours and phone number on one clear page.
  • you want to see the finished website, with your own name on it, before you pay anything.
  • you want the domain name included every year: three years cost €128 excl. VAT with me, against €432 for Squarespace Basic before its domain renewal.
  • you want a person to look at your site: I check every new one within one working day after it goes live.

Sources

  1. Squarespace, pricing, www.squarespace.com/pricing, read on 16 October 2026 (text and capture kept).

    “Basic: €12/mo paid annually (€17/mo paid monthly). Annual plans include one year of free domain registration; the domain then renews at the standard rate, plus applicable taxes. The page does not say whether prices include VAT.”

My own amounts come straight from my price list, also on the home page. Squarespace’s prices can change; check its own page for today’s price. Spotted a mistake? Email hallo@tegnest.com.

See your own website first

Choosing a design and filling in your details costs nothing. You only pay once you’ve seen your website and approved it.

See your website