2026-03-20
images.squarespace-cdn.com — image hosting (introduced around 2020)sqspcdn.com — older Squarespace CDN domain still seen on some sitesSearch the page source (Ctrl+U, then Ctrl+F) for "squarespace" and you'll almost always find at least one of these domains referenced in script or link tags.
This appears on virtually all Squarespace sites. Squarespace doesn't offer a standard way to remove it, so its presence is highly reliable. In rare cases, very technically savvy users have injected custom code to override it, but this is uncommon.
Squarespace's rendering engine adds distinctive attributes to its elements:
data-block-type attributes on content blocksdata-layout-label on layout containerssqs- prefix (Squarespace's namespace)#siteWrapper and #page ID structureThe sqs- class prefix is particularly reliable. Squarespace uses it for virtually all its generated components: sqs-block, sqs-layout, sqs-col, etc.
Every Squarespace site has a permanent subdomain at [sitename].squarespace.com. This is used during site creation before a custom domain is connected. You may find references to it in:
Additionally, you can look in the source for squarespace.com references like:
(This appears when the custom domain hasn't been properly set as the primary domain.)
Squarespace has two major versions with slightly different signatures:
Squarespace 7.0 (older):
template-brine, template-avenue)static1.squarespace.comSquarespace 7.1 (current):
images.squarespace-cdn.com and the sqs- prefixBoth versions are equally detectable via CDN domain and generator tag checks.
| Signal | Reliability | How to Check |
However, with Squarespace 7.1's flexible design system, these visual cues are less reliable than in earlier versions. Always rely on technical signals.
Squarespace's ecommerce module (Squarespace Commerce) leaves additional fingerprints:
/shop or /store URL pathsdata-commerce attributes on product pagessqs-cart-quantity and related cart classesIf you see these alongside the standard Squarespace signals, the site is using Squarespace's built-in store.
Very reliable. The combination of the CDN domain and the sqs- CSS class prefix makes Squarespace one of the most consistently detectable platforms. There's no standard mechanism for users to hide their Squarespace identity.
Yes, Squarespace has traditionally dominated the creative professional market — photographers, designers, artists, and architects. Its templates are considered among the most beautiful of any website builder, which drives strong adoption in visual industries.
Both are hosted builders, but their HTML structure is very different. Squarespace produces cleaner, more semantic HTML with the sqs- namespace. Wix generates more JavaScript-heavy, dynamically rendered pages. Squarespace sites generally score better on Core Web Vitals out of the box.
Yes — see our best website builder for portfolio comparison to see how Squarespace stacks up against Framer, Webflow, and others for creative portfolios.
Squarespace is primarily a template-based builder for non-technical users, while Webflow is a more powerful visual development tool for designers and developers. Webflow offers far more design freedom and CMS flexibility. See our full Wix vs Squarespace comparison.
Use AIWebsiteDetector.com to detect Squarespace sites instantly. The scanner handles all the technical checks automatically and also identifies the platform version, connected third-party tools, and more. Whether you're doing competitive research or auditing a client site, it's the fastest tool available.
Was this helpful?
Instantly find out which AI builder, CMS, or framework powers any website — free, no account needed.