Compared
Twin Lakes vs Squarespace
Squarespace makes beautiful templates. The catch is that it's your job to fill one in, keep it current and make it do more than look good.
When Squarespace is the right call
If you have strong photography, enjoy design, and your site is mostly a portfolio or a brochure, Squarespace is a solid tool. Its templates are tasteful out of the box, and the editor is calmer than most.
When Twin Lakes is the right call
If you want the site built around what your business does (bookings, quotes, ordering, the questions people ring about), if you'd rather not become the person who maintains it, or if you want hosting in Australia and someone to call, we're the better fit. And you see it working before you pay.
What they charge
Squarespace, priced as at 11 October 2026.
From Squarespace's Australian pricing page, in Australian dollars, before GST.
Squarespace adds GST at checkout for Australian customers, so budget about 10 percent above the figures shown.
- Basic: A$17 a month billed yearly, or A$24 month to month. Adds a 2 percent Squarespace fee on store sales and 7 percent on digital content.
- Core: A$28 a month yearly, A$39 monthly. No Squarespace fee on store sales; 5 percent on digital content.
- Plus: A$49 a month yearly, A$69 monthly.
- Advanced: A$109 a month yearly, A$149 monthly.
- Card processing on top: from 1.8 percent plus 30 cents per transaction on Basic and Core, 1.6 percent on Plus, 1.4 percent on Advanced.
- A domain is free for the first year on yearly plans. Squarespace Scheduling is a separate subscription.
Sources: Squarespace pricing (Australia), Squarespace pricing in Australia, SoftwareHQ. Twin Lakes is $79 a month including GST, checked the same day because we set it.
Side by side
What you get, and what it costs you over time.
Prices quoted are as published on 11 October 2026. They change, so check the other side's page before you decide.
| What | Squarespace | Twin Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You, in the Squarespace editor, starting from a template. | We do it, by hand, from what you tell us. |
| Upfront | A free 14-day trial, then a plan. Your time is the real cost. | Nothing. Your first $79 is paid when you approve the draft. |
| Ongoing | A$17 to A$109 a month on yearly billing, or A$24 to A$149 month to month, before GST. Selling on the Basic plan carries a 2 percent fee on top of card processing. Scheduling is a separate product. | $79 a month including GST. Domain, hosting, changes, bookings, forms, ordering and apps are all in it. |
| Time to a site | A weekend if you're decisive, weeks if you're not. | A working draft in 24 hours. Live in days. |
| Changes | You make them. | Email them through. Done, usually the same day, no hourly rate. |
| Bookings, forms, ordering | Scheduling is a separate product. Commerce is on higher plans. Forms are basic. | Included. Bookings, quote forms, online ordering, a members' app if it genuinely helps. |
| Your domain | Can be bought through Squarespace. Keep it in your name and watch the renewals. | Registered in your name from day one. We pay the renewals while you're with us. |
| Hosting | Squarespace's global infrastructure. You don't choose where. | Australia. Fast for your customers, and their details stay in the country. |
| Leaving | A partial export of pages and blog posts. Design, products and most settings don't come with you. | Month to month. Your domain, content and data go with you. After 12 months, the code too. |
| Support | Help centre, chat and email. | Nick, by email or phone. The person who built it. |
Switching
Moving from Squarespace
We rebuild from your current site and your content, bring your domain across, redirect every old page to its new home, and keep the Squarespace site up until the new one is live. Your photos and words are yours; we reuse what's working.
Straight answers
My Squarespace site looks fine. Why change?
If it's bringing in work and you're happy maintaining it, don't. Most people who come to us from Squarespace want bookings or ordering without extra plans, or they're tired of being the one who updates it.
Can you make my site look as good as the Squarespace templates?
That's the job. The difference is ours is designed around your business rather than picked from a catalogue.
What about the blog?
If you write one, we move it. Posts, images and the old addresses redirected.
See your draft tomorrow.
A few details is all it takes. You'll hear back from hello@twinlakes.au within 24 hours with a link to your draft.
- Draft in 24 hours
- Nothing to pay until you say yes
- Cancel any time
Rather talk first? Book a 30-minute call