1. Why Your Squarespace Site Needs ADA Compliance
If you have a Squarespace website for your business, portfolio, restaurant, or service — you're legally required to make it accessible. Here's why this isn't optional in 2026:
ADA website lawsuits filed in 2025
average lawsuit cost (settlement + legal fees)
US adults live with a disability (CDC)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that places of public accommodation be accessible to people with disabilities. Federal courts have consistently ruled that websites qualify — including business sites, portfolios, and online stores built on Squarespace.
ADA lawsuits against websites have grown every year since 2018. Plaintiff firms use automated scanning to identify sites with obvious violations, then file lawsuits in bulk. 90% of these lawsuits come from just 16 law firms, and they specifically target small businesses that are unlikely to fight the case in court.
Beyond legal protection, accessible websites perform better. They rank higher in search engines (Google rewards semantic HTML and alt text), reach more customers (26% of US adults have a disability per the CDC), and provide a better experience for everyone — including people on mobile devices, older users, and those with temporary impairments.
The compliance standard used is WCAG 2.1 Level AA — the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the W3C. The Department of Justice has explicitly cited WCAG 2.1 AA as the standard in its ADA Title II final rule (April 2024), and courts consistently use it as the benchmark in Title III cases.
2. Is Squarespace ADA Compliant by Default?
Short Answer: No.
Squarespace's own accessibility page states: "Squarespace gives every customer the ability to customize their site. This sometimes means the end product is not fully accessible to everyone." The platform provides tools, but compliance is your responsibility.
Here's what Squarespace provides vs. what falls on you:
✅ What Squarespace Provides
- • Semantic HTML in 7.1 templates
- • Alt text fields for images
- • Basic ARIA landmarks in newer templates
- • Skip-to-content links (7.1)
- • Focus styles on interactive elements
- • Language attribute on HTML element
- • Built-in form labels
❌ What You Must Handle
- • Actually writing alt text for every image
- • Ensuring color contrast meets 4.5:1 ratio
- • Maintaining proper heading hierarchy
- • Adding captions/transcripts to videos
- • Custom CSS/code accessibility
- • Third-party embed accessibility
- • Link text that makes sense out of context
- • PDF and document accessibility
- • Testing with screen readers
Think of Squarespace like building materials: the foundation can be solid, but the house you build with it determines whether it's accessible. Every image without alt text, every low-contrast color choice, and every "Click here" link is an accessibility barrier you created.
3. Squarespace 7.0 vs 7.1: Accessibility Differences
This matters more than most Squarespace users realize. Version 7.1 has significantly better accessibility than 7.0, and if you're still on 7.0, migrating may be the single most impactful thing you can do.
| Feature | 7.0 | 7.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Semantic HTML structure | Varies by template | ✅ Consistent |
| Skip-to-content link | ❌ Missing on most | ✅ Built-in |
| ARIA landmarks | ⚠️ Inconsistent | ✅ Standard |
| Keyboard navigation | ⚠️ Varies widely | ✅ Improved |
| Heading hierarchy | ❌ Often broken | ⚠️ Better, not perfect |
| Focus indicators | ⚠️ Minimal | ✅ Visible |
| Mobile responsiveness | ✅ Good | ✅ Good |
| Custom template selection | 60+ templates | Single flexible system |
💡 If You're on 7.0: Consider Migrating
Squarespace 7.0 templates have inconsistent accessibility because each template was built independently. Some (like Brine and Bedford) are better than others, but none match 7.1's unified framework. If your site is due for a redesign, 7.1 is the clear choice for accessibility.
Important: Even on 7.1, you're not automatically compliant. The template gives you a better foundation, but your content decisions — colors, images, headings, media — determine whether the finished site meets WCAG 2.1 AA.
4. Most Common Squarespace Accessibility Issues
These are the WCAG violations we see most frequently on Squarespace sites:
Missing or Empty Alt Text on Images
Critical • WCAG 1.1.1Insufficient Color Contrast
Critical • WCAG 1.4.3Text Over Images Without Sufficient Contrast
Critical • WCAG 1.4.3Broken Heading Hierarchy
High • WCAG 1.3.1Non-Descriptive Link Text
High • WCAG 2.4.4Videos Without Captions
High • WCAG 1.2.2Inaccessible Gallery and Lightbox
High • WCAG 2.1.1Missing Form Error Messages
Medium • WCAG 3.3.15. Step-by-Step Compliance Guide
Follow these 8 steps to bring your Squarespace site into WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Start with the automated scan, then work through the manual fixes.
Run a Free Accessibility Scan
Start by understanding where you stand. Use a free automated scanner to identify WCAG violations across your site. This gives you a baseline and a prioritized list of issues to fix.
🔍 Scan your Squarespace site for free — No signup required. Powered by axe-core, the same engine used by Google Lighthouse.
Check Your Squarespace Version
Go to Settings → Advanced → Version in your Squarespace dashboard to check whether you're on 7.0 or 7.1. If you're on 7.0 and your scan reveals significant structural issues, seriously consider migrating to 7.1 before investing time in manual fixes.
Fix Color Contrast Issues
This is often the most widespread issue. Go to Design → Site Styles and check every color combination:
- Body text on background: must meet 4.5:1 contrast ratio
- Large text (18px+ or 14px+ bold): must meet 3:1
- Buttons: both text color AND button color against background
- Navigation links: active, hover, and default states
- Footer text and links
- Text overlaying hero images or banner sections
Use our free color contrast checker to test specific color combinations.
Add Alt Text to Every Image
Go through every page and add meaningful alt text to every image:
- Content images: Describe what the image shows and why it matters
- Product images: Include product name, color, material, and key features
- Portfolio images: Describe the project, medium, and notable elements
- Decorative images: Leave alt text empty (Squarespace doesn't easily support this — use custom code with
alt=""via Code Block or Developer Mode) - Logo: Use your company name as alt text
How: Click any image → Design → Image → enter alt text in the "Image alt text" field. For gallery images: click the gallery → Design → click individual images to add alt text.
Fix Heading Structure
Review every page's heading hierarchy. Common Squarespace mistakes:
- Using H1 for visual styling (multiple H1s on one page)
- Skipping from H2 to H4 (H3 is missing)
- Using bold text instead of proper headings
- Using headings for pull quotes or emphasis
Rule: One H1 per page (the page title). Subheadings flow H2 → H3 → H4. In Squarespace, select text and use the heading dropdown to set the correct level. If you want something to look big but isn't a heading, use custom CSS to style regular text.
Make Links Descriptive
Replace all generic link text with descriptive phrases:
❌ Bad
- "Click here"
- "Read more"
- "Learn more"
- "Here"
✅ Good
- "View our pricing plans"
- "Read the compliance guide"
- "Learn about WCAG standards"
- "Download the accessibility checklist"
Test Keyboard Navigation
Put your mouse aside and navigate your entire site using only the keyboard:
- Tab: Move through all interactive elements (links, buttons, form fields)
- Enter: Activate links and buttons
- Space: Activate buttons, check checkboxes
- Escape: Close modals, menus, popups
- Arrow keys: Navigate within menus and galleries
If you get "trapped" anywhere (Tab doesn't move you past an element) or can't reach something, that's a WCAG 2.1.1 or 2.1.2 failure.
Set Up Monitoring
Accessibility isn't one-and-done. Every time you add a new page, upload an image, or change your design, you could introduce new violations. Set up continuous monitoring to catch issues before a lawsuit does. RatedWithAI monitoring plans start at $29/month and scan your site automatically, alerting you to new WCAG violations.
6. Template Accessibility Audit
Your Squarespace template determines the baseline accessibility of your site. Here's what to audit in your template:
Navigation Menu
- Can you open/close the mobile menu with keyboard?
- Do dropdown menus work with Tab + Enter/Space?
- Is the current page indicated (not just visually)?
- Does the menu have proper ARIA roles (nav, menu, menuitem)?
Page Structure
- Is there a visible skip-to-content link? (Tab once on any page — it should appear)
- Does the page use landmark roles (header, main, footer, nav)?
- Is the page title unique and descriptive?
- Does the HTML lang attribute match your content language?
Interactive Elements
- Do all buttons and links have visible focus indicators?
- Can accordion/FAQ sections be toggled with keyboard?
- Do slideshow/carousel controls work without a mouse?
- Can popup/modal dialogs be closed with Escape?
Footer
- Are social media icon links labeled (aria-label for screen readers)?
- Is footer text contrast sufficient against the background?
- Are footer links distinguishable from regular text?
7. Images, Video & Media Accessibility
Images
Every image on your Squarespace site needs appropriate alternative text:
Video
Video content on Squarespace requires:
- Captions for all pre-recorded video (WCAG 1.2.2) — upload to YouTube/Vimeo with captions enabled, then embed
- Audio descriptions for video where visual content conveys information not in the audio (WCAG 1.2.5)
- No autoplay with sound — Squarespace background videos are muted by default (good), but any embedded video with autoplay+sound must allow immediate pausing
- Transcripts for audio-only content (podcasts, audio clips)
Background Videos
Squarespace allows background video on banner sections. Accessibility considerations:
- Background videos are muted and autoplay by default — this is fine for WCAG
- Ensure any text overlaying the video maintains sufficient contrast in all frames
- Avoid rapidly flashing content (seizure risk, WCAG 2.3.1)
- If the video conveys meaningful information, provide that content in text form elsewhere
9. Custom Code & Third-Party Integrations
If you've added custom code or third-party integrations to your Squarespace site, those are your responsibility for accessibility — Squarespace's built-in accessibility doesn't extend to custom additions.
Common Third-Party Embeds to Audit
Booking widgets vary in keyboard accessibility. Test the full flow: selecting a date, time, and completing the booking
Third-party popup forms often trap keyboard focus, lack form labels, and don't close with Escape
Most Instagram feed plugins generate images without alt text and aren't keyboard-navigable
Google Maps embeds are reasonably accessible but need a descriptive title attribute on the iframe
Most modern chat widgets are fairly accessible, but test keyboard flow and screen reader announcements
Major payment processors maintain good accessibility in their hosted forms
Any custom JS that creates interactive elements must handle keyboard events, focus management, and ARIA states
⚠️ The Custom Code Rule
Every line of custom CSS or JavaScript you add to Squarespace is a potential accessibility liability. Common issues: display: none hiding content from screen readers, outline: none removing focus indicators, click handlers that don't work with keyboard, and custom animations that cause motion sickness. Audit everything in your Settings → Advanced → Code Injection.
10. Why Overlay Widgets Won't Protect You
You may have seen Squarespace sites with accessibility toolbar widgets — small icons that open a panel offering font size adjustments, high contrast modes, and reading aids. These are called accessibility overlays, and they don't work.
The Evidence Against Overlays
- 🚫 800+ accessibility professionals signed the Overlay Fact Sheet opposing their use
- 🚫 The National Federation of the Blind officially denounced overlay solutions and terminated sponsorship from the largest overlay provider
- 🚫 400+ websites using overlays were still sued for accessibility violations in 2024
- 🚫 Zero courts have accepted an overlay as proof of ADA compliance
- 🚫 Overlay providers themselves have been named as defendants in lawsuits
Overlays can't fix what they can't reach: missing alt text in your CMS, broken heading hierarchy, inaccessible third-party embeds, PDF documents, video captions, or custom code. They add a visible widget that creates an appearance of accessibility while leaving the underlying issues untouched.
For a deeper analysis, read our comprehensive guide: Accessibility Widgets: Do They Actually Work?
11. Squarespace Commerce Accessibility
If you're using Squarespace Commerce to sell products, your store has additional accessibility requirements beyond a standard informational site.
Product Pages
- Product images: Every product photo needs alt text describing the product (name, color, material, use)
- Product variants: Size/color selectors must be keyboard-accessible and announce the selected option to screen readers
- Price information: Must be programmatically associated with the product (not just an image of the price)
- Add to cart button: Must be keyboard-accessible with a clear label
- Sale indicators: Original and sale prices should be distinguishable by more than color (e.g., strikethrough text with "Was/Now" labels)
Cart & Checkout
- Cart updates: When quantity changes or items are removed, the change should be announced to screen readers
- Checkout forms: Squarespace handles checkout forms reasonably well, but verify all fields are labeled and error messages are clear
- Order confirmation: Must be accessible — avoid relying solely on color to indicate success/failure
Category & Collection Pages
- Product grid/list must be navigable by keyboard
- Filter and sort controls need proper labels and keyboard access
- Product cards should use heading structure (product name as heading)
- "Quick view" modals must trap focus correctly and close with Escape
12. Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance
Accessibility compliance isn't a project — it's a process. Your site changes constantly: new pages, updated content, new images, template updates, and third-party changes. Each change can introduce new violations.
Recommended Monitoring Cadence
🔍 Automate the Boring Parts
RatedWithAI monitoring scans your Squarespace site automatically and alerts you when new WCAG violations appear. Starting at $29/month — less than what most Squarespace users pay for their site plan itself. Catch issues before a lawsuit does.
13. Cost: Compliance vs. Lawsuit
Squarespace site owners often delay accessibility because of perceived cost. Here's the reality:
| Approach | Annual Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY (free tools) | $0 | Manual scanning, no monitoring, no alerts |
| Automated monitoring | $348/yr ($29/mo) | Continuous scanning, alerts on new issues, compliance reports |
| Overlay widget | $490–$3,600/yr | Visual toolbar only — doesn't fix code, not accepted by courts |
| Professional audit | $3,000–$15,000 | One-time comprehensive assessment with remediation report |
| ADA lawsuit (settlement) | $5,000–$25,000 | Settlement only — still must fix the site afterward |
| ADA lawsuit (full) | $15,000–$50,000+ | Settlement + legal defense + remediation + ongoing compliance |
The math is simple
A year of automated monitoring ($348) costs less than 3% of the average ADA lawsuit. For Squarespace business plan users paying $276/year for hosting, adding $348/year for accessibility monitoring is a reasonable cost that protects a much larger investment.
14. Frequently Asked Questions
Is Squarespace ADA compliant by default?
No. While Squarespace provides some accessibility foundations (semantic HTML in 7.1, alt text fields, basic ARIA), their own accessibility page states the end product may not be fully accessible. The site owner is responsible for ensuring compliance through proper content, color choices, alt text, and testing.
Can my Squarespace site be sued for ADA violations?
Yes. Any business website can be sued under ADA Title III as a place of public accommodation. Over 4,000 ADA website lawsuits were filed in 2025. Squarespace sites are not exempt — the platform doesn't shield you from legal liability for accessibility issues on your site.
What's the difference between Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1 for accessibility?
Squarespace 7.1 has significantly better built-in accessibility: consistent semantic HTML, skip-to-content links, improved ARIA landmarks, better keyboard navigation, and visible focus indicators. Version 7.0 varies widely by template, with some (Brine, Bedford) being better than others. If accessibility is a priority, 7.1 is the clear choice.
Does Squarespace offer any built-in accessibility tools?
Squarespace provides alt text fields for images, basic form accessibility in built-in form blocks, and links to external resources like the A11y Project. However, it does not include a built-in accessibility scanner, compliance checker, or monitoring tool. You'll need external tools to audit your site.
Should I use an accessibility overlay plugin on my Squarespace site?
No. Accessibility overlays have been condemned by 800+ accessibility professionals (Overlay Fact Sheet), denounced by the National Federation of the Blind, and rejected by courts as proof of compliance. Over 400 sites using overlays were sued in 2024. They cost $490-$3,600/year without fixing underlying issues. Use code-level scanning and manual fixes instead.
How much does Squarespace ADA compliance cost?
Free with DIY effort (manual fixes + free scanners), $29-99/month for automated monitoring, or $3,000-$15,000 for a professional audit. Compare this to an ADA lawsuit averaging $15,000-$50,000+. The $29/month monitoring option ($348/year) is less than 3% of the average lawsuit cost.
Which Squarespace pages should I prioritize for accessibility?
Start with your highest-traffic pages: homepage, contact/about page, main service or product pages, and any page with forms. Then expand to all remaining pages. Pages with the most interactive elements (forms, galleries, video) typically have the most accessibility issues.
Scan Your Squarespace Site for Free
Find out exactly where your Squarespace site stands on ADA compliance. Our free scanner checks your pages against WCAG 2.1 AA standards using axe-core — the same engine powering Google Lighthouse. No signup required.
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