Squarespace Circle Program Changes 2025: How to Qualify for Gold & Platinum Status
What Is the New Squarespace Circle Program?
In March, 2025 Squarespace overhauled its Squarespace Circle partner program. The significant changes from this overhaul are:
Circle is now open to any Squarespace website designer who opts to join the Circle program. Previously, designers had to have at least 3 active Squarespace websites to qualify to be a Circle member.
Introduced a new tier system which features three membership statuses: Circle Silver, Circle Gold, and Circle Platinum. Each status comes with its own set of perks and reflects a member’s level of activity in building Squarespace websites.
Below, we’ll break down the new Circle structure, compare it to the previous system, explain how the new points system works, and discuss what these changes mean for Squarespace designers and agencies.
Overview of the New Circle Structure: Silver, Gold, and Platinum
| BENEFITS | Silver Partner | Gold Partner | Platinum Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Free to join | Subscriptions required | Subscriptions required |
| Discount on new annual subscriptions | 10% discount | 20% discount | 25% discount |
| Extended free website trials | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
| Exclusive access to product news | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to a members-only forum | Limited access | Expanded access | Complete access |
| Invites to member events | Virtual events only | Live and virtual events | Early access to live and virtual events |
| Get paid for subscriptions with Circle referral payments | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Early access to betas and new features | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customer support | Priority support | Urgent priority support | Dedicated support |
Under the revamped program, all Circle members are categorized into one of three status levels: Circle Silver Partner, Circle Gold Partner, or Circle Platinum Partner. Your status is determined by a points-based system that tracks your engagement (primarily the number of client sites or subscriptions you’ve launched). In short:
Circle Silver – Entry-level status for new or less-active Circle members (0–999 points).
Circle Gold – Mid-tier status for active members (1,000+ points).
Circle Platinum – Top-tier status for highly active members (5,000+ points).
When you first join Squarespace Circle, you’re automatically assigned one of these statuses based on your existing Squarespace activity. Most new members will start as Circle Silver by default, but if you’ve already built several client sites, you might qualify for Gold or even Platinum upon joining. Your status isn’t permanent – it can change as you earn more points or if you fail to maintain the required points (more on the points system below).
Each status level unlocks a different set of benefits. All members receive core perks like exclusive content, a Circle profile badge, and access to the private Circle forum. However, higher statuses come with greater rewards:
Circle Silver Partners enjoy 10% discounts on new annual Squarespace website, Scheduling, Digital Products, and Email Campaigns subscriptions, along with extended 3-month free trials for new sites. Silver members get priority support via email, access to Circle-only webinars (online events), weekly product update notes, and limited access to the Circle forum and feature request boards. These benefits provide a solid starting point for a freelance Squarespace web designer beginning to grow their client base.
Circle Gold Partners receive all Silver perks plus extra rewards. Gold status boosts the discount to 20% off new annual subscriptions and extends free trial periods to 6 months (matching what the old Circle program offered to everyone). Gold members also gain access to the full Circle forum (community discussions), invitations to in-person events in addition to webinars, and early access to new features and product betas. Notably, Gold (and Platinum) members become eligible for Squarespace’s referral payments program, earning commissions for bringing new clients to Squarespace. In essence, Gold status signals that a Squarespace web designer is an established partner with multiple projects under their belt, rewarded with deeper discounts and monetization opportunities.
Circle Platinum Partners unlock the highest level of benefits, on top of everything in Silver and Gold. The discount increases to 25% off new annual subscriptions, and trial periods extend to a generous 12 months – giving clients a full year to build and refine a site before committing. Platinum members also get a dedicated priority support queue for faster help and perks like early registration for Circle Day (Squarespace’s annual conference for Circle members). In short, Platinum status is designed for the most prolific Squarespace agencies and designers, offering maximum savings and support in recognition of their high activity.
Squarespace Circle vs. Legacy Program: What’s Different?
The shift to Silver/Gold/Platinum represents a significant change from the previous Circle system. Previously, Squarespace Circle was a single-tier program – once you qualified (by launching 3 websites), every member enjoyed the same benefits. Under that legacy system, all Circle members got a 20% discount on new website subscriptions and an extended 6-month trial period for new sites, among other perks. There were no formal status levels or points to track; essentially, all members were equal “Circle members” with identical privileges.
Now, the Circle program is tiered, and benefits scale with your status. Here are the most notable differences:
| Feature | Old Circle System | New Circle System |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Structure | One-size-fits-all membership with no tiers. | Three-tiered system (Silver, Gold, Platinum) with progression based on activity. |
| Qualification Criteria | Required at least 3 active client sites. | Earn 200-500 points per client site/subscription. |
| Annual Evaluation | Membership remained active as long as the minimum site requirement was met. | Points reset each January 1st; status is maintained or adjusted based on past-year activity. |
| Discounts & Perks | Flat 20% discount and 6-month trial extensions for all members. | Tiered benefits:
|
| Support & Community Access | All members had the same priority support and full community access. | Tiered support: Platinum gets dedicated support, Silver has limited forum access. |
| Transition Plan for Existing Members | Not applicable (single membership model). | Existing members (March 2025) start as Gold. High-performing members bumped to Platinum. |
Introduction of Tiered Statuses – Instead of a one-size-fits-all membership, there are now three defined statuses (Silver, Gold, Platinum). This adds a progression element to the program. Members can advance to higher tiers by meeting activity thresholds, rather than simply remaining in a static group.
Points-Based Qualification – The new system uses a points model to determine status. Every new client site or subscription you create (or manage as an admin) earns you points. For example, starting a standard website on a Personal plan yields 200 points, a Business plan site 300 points, and an Advanced Commerce site 500 points. Under the old system, such activities weren’t quantitatively measured for membership purposes; now they directly influence your standing.
Annual Evaluation and Reset – Under the new structure, points accumulate over the calendar year and reset each January 1st. Your status is then maintained or adjusted for the new year based on last year’s activity. (Once you earn a status, you keep it for the remainder of that year and the entire next year, even after points reset. If you haven’t re-earned enough points by the end of that next year, you might drop to a lower tier.) Previously, since there were no tiers, there was no annual re-qualification; once in Circle, you simply stayed a member as long as you had at least three active sites. The new approach introduces a “use it or lose it” element to encourage ongoing engagement.
Differentiated Benefits by Tier – Many core benefits of Circle have been adjusted or expanded to align with the tiered model. As noted, entry-level Silver members now get a smaller discount (10%) and shorter trial extension (3 months) than what legacy Circle members enjoyed, whereas Gold members receive the classic 20% and 6-month benefits, and Platinum exceeds with 25% and 12 months. Other perks like support and community access are also tiered: for example, Platinum has a dedicated support queue, and Silver has more limited forum access. In the old system, all members had the same priority support and full community access. This change means benefits are now earned: the more you do in Squarespace, the more perks you unlock.
Transitional Status for Existing Members – To bridge between the old and new system, Squarespace granted all pre-existing Circle members an initial status. Anyone who was in Circle before the March 2025 change was automatically given Circle Gold status for the remainder of 2025 (ensuring they keep the 20% discount and other mid-tier perks in the first year of the transition). Designers who had especially high activity in 2024 were even bumped straight to Platinum. This courtesy period softens the impact on long-time Circle members, giving them time to adapt and maintain their status under the new points system.
In summary, the new structure introduces a gamified, performance-based element to Squarespace Circle. The previous program’s flat approach has been replaced by a dynamic system where membership benefits can grow (or diminish) in line with a designer’s level of involvement in the Squarespace platform.
How to Earn Points in Squarespace Circle & Qualify for Gold and Platinum?
At the heart of the Circle revamp is the points system. This system quantifies a Circle member’s contributions and engagement, serving as the basis for achieving Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.
How do Squarespace Circle points work?
Every time you take certain actions related to client websites, you earn points. The most common way to earn points is by starting a new Squarespace subscription for a client (i.e. launching a new website, online store, Scheduling (Acuity) account, Email Campaigns, or Digital Products subscription). You also earn points when a client adds you as the first Squarespace Circle admin on an existing site. Each action or subscription type is assigned a point value. For example:
| Action | Points Earned |
|---|---|
| Launch a Personal Plan website | 200 |
| Launch a Business or Core plan website | 300 |
| Launch an Advanced Commerce website | 500–600 |
| Add Scheduling (Emerging tier) subscription | 200 |
| Add Email Campaigns Starter plan | 100 |
| First Circle member added as admin to client's site | 100 |
How to Upgrade Squarespace Circle Status from Silver to Gold & Platinum
Launching a personal website (Personal Plan) earns 200 points.
Launching a Business or Core plan website earns 300 points.
Launching an Advanced Commerce website earns 500–600 points.
Smaller subscriptions help: a Scheduling (Emerging tier) subscription gives 200 points, and an Email Campaigns Starter plan gives 100 points.
Being the first Circle member added as an admin to a client’s site yields 100 points (this encourages clients to officially add their designer to the project).
Points are only awarded for new subscriptions or new site engagements – you cannot rack up points from renewing an existing site’s plan or from repeat actions on the same site. Essentially, the system rewards you for bringing new business to Squarespace or onboarding new projects.
Each status has a yearly points requirement: 0 points for Silver, 1,000+ for Gold, and 5,000+ for Platinum. If you join Circle brand new, you’ll likely start at Silver (0 points) and then work your way up. Crossing 1,000 points in a year will bump you to Gold, and hitting 5,000 points elevates you to Platinum. Status updates happen automatically as soon as you meet the threshold; you don’t have to wait until year-end to level up.
Conversely, once you’ve reached a tier, you keep that status for at least the rest of the current year and the entire next calendar year. After that, your status for the following year is recalibrated based on whether you earned enough points in the previous year:
If you maintained or exceeded the points required (e.g. you’re a Gold Partner who earned 1,000+ again the next year, or a Platinum who earned 5,000+ again), you keep your status into the next cycle.
If you fell short of the required points by the end of the year-long term, your status will downgrade on Jan 1 of the next year (e.g. a Gold Partner who doesn’t reach 1,000 points in their term would drop to Silver; a Platinum who doesn’t reach 5,000 would drop to Gold). There is a grace period in that you don’t lose your status mid-year – you always retain it through December 31, and the adjustment happens in January if needed.
When points reset to zero at the start of each year, everyone has a fresh chance to earn points and potentially upgrade status again. The annual reset ensures that status reflects recent activity rather than lifetime achievements, keeping the program fair and encouraging ongoing participation.
For existing Circle members, as mentioned, 2025 serves as a transition year where most were placed into Gold by default. Their challenge will be to accumulate enough points during 2025 to remain Gold in 2026 (or to reach Platinum if aiming higher). New members joining in 2025 and beyond will simply start earning points upon joining. The Circle dashboard (in your Squarespace account) displays your current status and, presumably, your point tally so you can track progress. Additionally, Squarespace sends out weekly Circle release notes emails that include your point count, helping you stay informed. This transparency is helpful – as a Circle member, you’ll know how close you are to the next tier or if you need to boost your activity to maintain your current status.
Impact on Squarespace Designers and Agencies
The revamped Circle program has important implications for Squarespace website designers, freelancers, and agencies:
Incentives for Active Designers
The new tiered structure clearly incentivizes designers to take on more projects and new clients. For a Squarespace web designer running a business, every new website launched not only brings in client revenue but now also contributes to reaching a higher Circle status. This can be a win-win: achieving Gold or Platinum yields bigger discounts (20–25% off) which designers can either pass on to clients or factor into their pricing. It also unlocks longer trial periods (up to 1 year) that are hugely beneficial for complex projects or indecisive clients. In practice, a design agency that rapidly builds many Squarespace sites could reach Platinum and enjoy 25% savings on all new client sites, improving their margins or allowing more competitive bids. The points system essentially rewards business growth and client acquisition, aligning the Circle perks with the success of a designer’s practice.
Adjusting to Tiered Benefits (Pros and Cons)
Not all impacts are purely positive; there are trade-offs. New or smaller-scale designers might feel a pinch because the base Silver benefits are slightly less generous than the old all-members benefits. For example, previously even a newcomer in Circle got a 6-month trial for clients; now if you’re Silver you only get 3 months until you hit Gold. Similarly, Silver’s 10% discount is half of what Circle used to universally provide. This means a freelance Squarespace designer with just a few projects per year may no longer automatically offer the full 20% first-year discount to clients until they scale up their activity. From an optimism standpoint, this could motivate emerging designers to strive for Gold status to offer better deals and compete with more established Circle members. However, it also introduces some pressure – if you’re a one-person studio who only builds a couple of sites a year, you might remain Silver and feel at a slight disadvantage compared to Gold/Platinum peers in terms of what you can offer your clients. The professional yet accessible tone of Squarespace’s announcements suggests they intend these changes to be empowering, but it’s realistic to expect a period of adjustment for smaller agencies who were used to the old perks.
How to Earn Points in Squarespace Circle and Boost Revenue
One notable change is how the Circle referral program is now tied to status. In the past, Circle members could earn referral commissions for bringing in new customers (there was an “enhanced affiliate” aspect to Circle). Now, only Gold and Platinum Partners are eligible to earn referral payments (though Silver can still register for the program, they won’t earn until they reach Gold). For agencies that host dozens of client sites, these referral bonuses (essentially a commission for every new Squarespace subscription sold) can add up to a significant side income. Thus, reaching Gold status has a direct financial incentive beyond just discounts – it’s the gateway to unlocking those referral commissions. For designers and agencies, this change means you’ll want to prioritize hitting that 1,000-point mark if you plan to leverage Squarespace as a revenue stream via referrals. It also means clients have even more reason to work with an experienced Circle member: a Squarespace design agency that’s Gold/Platinum can potentially give clients the benefit of that commission (for example, some agencies might rebate part of it to clients or invest it in the project). Overall, tying referrals to higher status levels helps Squarespace ensure that only actively engaged partners earn commissions, which likely improves the quality of referrals and rewards those truly contributing new business.
Community and Support: Benefits of Upgrading Squarespace Circle Status
The tiered system also affects how designers engage with the Circle community and Squarespace support. A Squarespace Circle member who reaches Gold gains full access to the Circle Forum and feature request boards, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting and networking with other professionals. Platinum members, meanwhile, get an even faster support channel. For agencies handling mission-critical sites, that dedicated support queue at Platinum could be a lifesaver when urgent issues arise. Even Silver members still get “priority support” over non-Circle users, but the delineation suggests that as you contribute more, Squarespace commits more resources to support you. Additionally, in-person events and the annual Circle Day conference become more accessible at Gold and Platinum. This fosters a sense of an elite community – top-tier members can meet and learn in person, enhancing their skills and partnerships. From a Squarespace website designer’s perspective, these opportunities for learning and exposure (like early feature betas or networking events) are highly valuable. It may encourage designers to not only build more sites but also to engage more with Squarespace’s ecosystem, knowing that higher status gives them a bigger voice (e.g., through beta feedback or the feature request board) in the platform’s future.
Client Perception and Marketing: The Value of Squarespace Circle Membership Levels
Lastly, the new tiered statuses provide marketing cachet for designers and agencies. Being able to call yourself a “Circle Platinum Partner” can serve as a trust signal to potential clients – it shows you have extensive experience with Squarespace (since Platinum reflects dozens of successful site builds). Squarespace even allows members to display a Circle badge on their own website. While previously that badge simply meant “I’m in the Circle,” now it can implicitly indicate your level of expertise. A client might not know the point thresholds, but the labels Silver/Gold/Platinum intuitively suggest a progression. An agency might advertise that they are a Squarespace Circle Gold Partner to highlight their vetted experience. In competitive markets, this status could differentiate you from non-Circle or less active designers. However, designers will need to keep earning points each year to retain those bragging rights. This dynamic could spur friendly competition among agencies to reach Platinum, and it certainly keeps everyone more engaged with the platform year after year. On the whole, it aligns the success of a Squarespace design agency with the success of Squarespace itself, creating a more symbiotic relationship.
Final Thoughts
For current Circle members, the transition may require some adaptation: keeping an eye on points and striving to maintain status annually. The program does offer exciting benefits to agencies and Squarespace designers who design a lot of websites per year. However, this change might not be welcome for designers who focus on quality over quantity. These designers may only take 5-10 projects a year at a higher price point. This means they may struggle to maintain a gold or platinum status, which would create an uncertainty with the discounts they’re able to offer their clients.
New designers who are just joining Squarespace will get immediate benefits, and won’t have to wait to reach any minimum thresholds to get discounts on their new subscriptions. Three month website trials will also serve as a great added value to them and their clients.
Ultimately, the new Circle structure shifts the focus toward consistent engagement with Squarespace, rewarding those who bring in a high volume of client work. While this benefits agencies and designers who launch multiple websites each year, it may pose a challenge for high-end designers who prioritize fewer, more customized projects. As the program evolves, it remains to be seen how Squarespace will balance these different approaches.
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