Squarespace, Inc.

Squarespace is a design-first website builder that became a serious domain registrar by acquiring Google Domains.

For over 20 years the company built its reputation on making website creation simple for entrepreneurs who wanted professional sites without touching code. Domain registration grew alongside the website platform, since a professional online presence requires a custom domain name, and it eventually covered millions of registered domain names.

When Google shut down its domain registration service, Squarespace stepped in and continued it. The resulting platform pairs Google's interface conventions with the Squarespace all-in-one approach, and the company markets it as "the best of Google Domains": transparent pricing, premium features included by default, and a familiar experience for customers migrating from Google.

The inclusion list is what separates Squarespace Domains from a typical registrar. WHOIS privacy, SSL certificates, premium DNS powered by Google CloudDNS, email forwarding for up to 100 addresses, two-factor authentication, and DNSSEC protection all come standard, with no add-ons and no premium upsells for basic security features.

The technical infrastructure is worth noting. DNS runs on Google CloudDNS, DNSSEC is implemented for domain security, and SSL/TLS certificates from Let's Encrypt are renewed automatically. The domain dashboard integrates with the website building tools, Google Workspace email, and third-party hosting providers for customers who want a domain without building a Squarespace site.

The positioning is narrow by design. Squarespace is not competing as a domain aftermarket or on bulk pricing; it targets entrepreneurs who want domain management that works, with transparent pricing and security enabled by default.