Top Squarespace Plugins to Boost Website Performance (2024)
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As a web designer who has spent over $2000 on different Squarespace plugins, I generally don’t recommend using them. The additional codes can cause a slower loading speed. Moreover, Squarespace constantly goes through upgrades which can cause third-party plugins to stop working.
However, there are functionalities Squarespace doesn’t provide that are truly beneficial for your website performance. In these cases, adding plugins is worth the potential tradeoffs.
In this post, I’m sharing a list of Squarespace plugins that have given my clients tangible results and positive user feedback.
Anyone can write fake testimonials on their websites, which is why a review widget that pulls data from verified sources like Google Reviews can boost your credibility significantly.
With review widgets, my top pick is Elfsight. Their widget enables you to display Google reviews on one page, multiple pages, or all web pages. You can completely customize the widget to match your brand style without any codes.
Start a Free Trial with Elfsight Google Reviews
If you have reviews on multiple platforms, it’s better to use an aggregator plugin like Tagembed. Their widget is also easy to set up and well-maintained. Start a Free Trial with Tagembed.
For e-commerce, blogs, and listing sites, search and filter features are critical. However, these functions in Squarespace are limited. Universal Filter fills in this gap with a powerful set of features:
Providing a better search experience by displaying results on the same page
Enabling filters for multiple categories and tags
Enabling sorting by date and alphabet order
Option to add a sliding scale
Fair warning: this plugin isn’t the easiest one to implement. However, their support team is incredibly helpful and responds to questions quickly.
SEO optimization includes many small details, which can be overwhelming and hard to keep track of. SEOSpace makes this process easier.
You’ll get an audit of your site’s current SEO performance, an action plan organized by priorities, and be able to track the progress over time. The tool is easy to use and includes beginner-friendly tutorials to help you learn Squarespace SEO. It’s a great tool for both business owners to DIY SEO and Squarespace agencies to provide SEO services for clients.
Calculator is a great way to provide extra value for visitors and make your website stand out. You can also use it to provide quote estimates and pre-qualify leads before they contact you.
Image hotspot combines visuals with texts. It can help you highlight product features, show how different products complement each other (thus increasing bundle sales), tag items in room photos with prices and links for purchase, annotate charts or maps for detailed explanations, and many more possibilities.
Privacy regulations are strict in EU countries and California. Even if your business isn’t located in these places, if your website has visitors from there, you need a cookie consent banner that meets their legal requirements (Squarespace’s default feature does not).
I’ve found Cookie Script to be the best tool for this given their low price and comprehensive features. The tool allows you to display different cookie banners based on the user’s location - which is critical because you don’t want to inconvenience users in countries that don’t have strict privacy regulations.
Aside from the plugins listed above, Will Myers is my go-to Squarespace plugin store. Every product I’ve bought here has been a great experience for ease of use, affordable price, and great customer service. Their website also includes many free plugins that enhance user experience.
Conclusion: Prioritize Your Users’ Goals
Plugins should be chosen strategically to support your website's core goals. The most powerful plugins are the ones that seamlessly fill your users’ needs and elevate their experience.