Do you need a Bio Site, a website, or both? Here’s how to decide
If you’re building a presence online, you’ll hit this question sooner or later: Do I just need a link-in-bio, or am I ready for a full website?
The Squarespace ecosystem has your back at every stage of your creator journey. Whether you’re selling straight from your socials or building a full-blown brand home, it’s all connected.
A Bio Site is your fastest way to start earning and building a presence online.
And when you’re ready to grow, a Squarespace website gives you more space and flexibility.
But which should you choose? And do you need both? The key is knowing where you are and what you need right now.
When a Bio Site is all you need
If you’re just starting out or doing most of your selling through social, a Bio Site might be all you need. It’s built for creators who want to launch quickly and grow without the overwhelm of managing a full site. Plus, it’s free!
You want to monetize fast
Your Bio Site acts like a mini online store that lives in your social bio. You can sell digital products, list 1:1 appointments, collect tips, or even crowdfund your next project. Payments are handled through Stripe or PayPal, so you can get paid instantly and securely.
You want to focus on social selling
A Bio Site is designed for how people shop from social. Followers can tap and check out in seconds without leaving Instagram or TikTok for quick, easy sales.
You want a simple email marketing framework
If you’re not ready for a full email platform, start small. When someone buys a digital download, or books a 1:1 appointment through your Bio Site, you can send them an automated email flow. It’s perfect if you want to send a thank you message, or upsell your other products, without having to pay for a whole separate platform.
You want to go live ASAP
You can build a Bio Site in minutes and update it on the regular with beautiful templates and an easy drag-and-drop editor. It’s a great option if you want to test your ideas quickly (without committing to a full website build).
You just need a landing page
Sometimes you don’t need an entire website. You just need a one-pager where people can learn more about who you are and what you sell. A Bio Site does that.
When a website is what you need
A Squarespace website is for creators and businesses who need more space. It’s the right choice when your online presence has outgrown a single link, or when you’re ready to build your full brand home from day one. It has more advanced features, like memberships and a full e-commerce store, so you can expand your business with more ways to earn.
You want to build a complete brand hub
A website gives you the foundation for a full online business. Create pages for your services, portfolio, and store, so it’s clear for your audience to understand what you do and how to work with you.
You want a full e-commerce platform
Squarespace websites let you create full stores with product pages, shopping carts and inventory management. You can sell both digital and physical products, or add memberships and upsells at checkout, all within one platform.
You want to grow through search and content
A full site helps you attract new audiences through search, not just your feed. With built-in SEO tools, your Squarespace site helps you rank on Google and reach new customers organically. You can also publish blog posts or resources to share your expertise and bring people back again and again.
You want more design options
While there are plenty of ways to customize your Bio Site, a Squarespace site gives you advanced design control, allowing you to adjust layouts, colors and fonts as you grow your brand.
You want a full email marketing suite
With Squarespace email campaigns, you can go beyond sales-triggered automations. You can create branded newsletters and design custom templates. Plus, segment your audience, track open rates and schedule campaigns that nurture relationships over time.
You want to scale your business long-term
If you’re already selling or running multiple offers, a Squarespace website gives you the systems to manage everything you offer (with more functionality). For example: With Bio Sites, you can book up to ten 1:1 appointments per month. But if you add Acuity Scheduling to your Squarespace site, there’s no monthly limit. You can also sell courses and membership subscriptions too.
Why it’s a good idea to have both
Your Bio Site and website are like the dream team of your online world.
Your Bio Site is like a mini Squarespace site for social. It serves a very specific audience (those who discover you through your content) and is designed for quick sales on mobile.
Your Squarespace site plays a different role. It’s where people go once they’re genuinely curious or ready to invest more. They can buy a wider range of products and dive deeper into what you do.
For example:
A photographer sells digital presents straight from her Bio Site, then points customers to her website for workshops and tutorials.
A coach books clients through her Bio Site, while her website hosts her course library and testimonials.
An artist promotes new releases through his Bio Site, then links to his Squarespace site for his gallery and print store.
Both tools matter because they speak to different types of audiences. When you use both, you’re covering every angle and intention. Together, they give you a smarter, more flexible way to grow your business.
Start where you are and grow from there
You don’t need a huge setup to start making money online. What matters is having the right tool for where you are right now.
Ready to start something big? Build your free Bio Site today.
Psst! Already got a Squarespace site? Sign up to Bio Sites with the same login.