Squarespace is a popular website builder used by small businesses, creatives, and professionals. While Squarespace has improved accessibility in recent template versions, the platform's closed nature means users have limited control over the underlying HTML. Under the EAA, any Squarespace site selling to EU consumers must meet EN 301 549 accessibility requirements.
Common Squarespace accessibility issues
Template-level accessibility gaps
Squarespace templates control the HTML structure, and users can't modify it directly. Some templates have fundamental accessibility issues - missing landmark roles, improper heading hierarchy, or inaccessible navigation patterns - that can't be fixed without switching templates.
Image blocks without alt text prompts
Squarespace doesn't strongly prompt users to add alt text when uploading images. Many Squarespace sites have dozens or hundreds of images with no alt text, which is the single most common WCAG failure.
Custom CSS overriding focus indicators
Squarespace's code injection feature lets users add custom CSS that often removes or hides focus indicators - the visible outline that keyboard users need to navigate.
Gallery and slideshow accessibility
Squarespace's gallery blocks and slideshows are often not fully keyboard navigable and lack proper ARIA labels for the controls, making them inaccessible to keyboard and screen reader users.
Third-party integrations inject inaccessible content
Squarespace integrations (booking widgets, social feeds, chat tools) embed third-party HTML that is frequently inaccessible and outside the user's control.
How Lumi works with Squarespace
Lumi scans your live Squarespace site exactly as visitors experience it - checking every page including blog posts, product pages, gallery pages, and custom pages. Our five engines identify issues in Squarespace's template markup, user content, and third-party integrations. Continuous monitoring catches regressions from template updates and content changes.
Squarespace-specific WCAG gotchas
Limited code access restricts fixes
Unlike WordPress or Webflow, Squarespace doesn't expose the full HTML template. Some accessibility issues can only be fixed by Squarespace themselves or by switching to a more accessible template.
Template updates change accessibility
When Squarespace updates templates, the HTML can change in ways that affect accessibility - both positively and negatively. Monitoring catches these changes automatically.
Scan your Squarespace site for free
See how your site measures up against WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549 - in 30 seconds, no signup required.
Frequently asked questions
Is Squarespace accessible?
Squarespace has made improvements, but no Squarespace template is fully WCAG 2.2 AA compliant out of the box. The platform provides some accessibility features, but users need to actively manage alt text, heading structure, and colour contrast.
Can I fix accessibility issues on Squarespace?
You can fix content-level issues (alt text, heading structure, link text) and some visual issues (colour contrast via design settings). However, structural template issues require Squarespace to fix or a template change.
Does the EAA apply to my Squarespace website?
If your Squarespace site provides products or services to EU consumers, the EAA likely applies. This includes e-commerce stores, booking sites, and any digital service offered to EU markets.
Related resources
Last reviewed: April 2026. Content is reviewed quarterly for accuracy.