Short answer: map, compare, record, then change one thing
To audit a Squarespace Member Area, list every gated page and the pricing plan that unlocks it, check what a logged-out and a free-plan visitor can actually see, compare your payment records with who still has access, and write down every gap before you fix any of them. Fix one thing at a time so you can tell what helped. The steps below are the ordered version; the book's categories 1, 2 and 16 carry the prompts for each step.
Step 1: list every page, every plan, every link between them
Open the Content & Memberships panel under Products, where Squarespace says pricing plans are reviewed and edited. Make a simple table: one row per page, one column per plan. Mark which plans unlock which pages. Squarespace states that a page can be added to a maximum of six pricing plans, and that the paywall can hide a whole course, videos or blog page or only individual lessons, posts or videos, so note which mode each page uses.
This table is your source of truth for the rest of the audit. Keep it as a spreadsheet you update whenever you change a plan.
Step 2: test as a visitor, in a private window
Open a private browsing window and visit each gated page, then each page's public preview. Squarespace notes that while you are logged in and editing, the log-in and sign-up buttons cannot be clicked, so they must be tested in a private browsing window. Record what a logged-out visitor sees on every page.
Pay particular attention to the overview page of a course or blog when the paywall is set to individual items: Squarespace says the overview is public and chosen items can be set as a public preview, so check that only the previews you intended are open.
Step 3: test as a free-plan member
Squarespace states that a free pricing plan gives access to gated content after the visitor creates a customer account. If you offer a free plan, create a test account on it and check which pages it opens. A free plan attached to the wrong page is one of the most common reasons paid content appears to be given away.
Step 4: check what a plan deletion or cancellation would do
Squarespace states that deleting a pricing plan removes members' access to its content, and that a course, blog or videos page that is in no other plan becomes public. Before you delete or restructure a plan, list the pages that are only in that plan.
Also read what Squarespace says about canceling a site subscription: for a site on a Digital Products plan, member sites and digital structures pause for 30 days and members lose access unless the plan is upgraded. Plan changes at that level affect every member at once.
Step 5: compare payments with access
Export or copy the list of members from the Contacts panel (Manage members opens it) and compare it with your payments account. You are looking for two kinds of mismatch: someone who has access but no current payment, and someone who is paying but cannot get in. Squarespace states that subscription and installment plans require Squarespace Payments or Stripe for card payments, and that PayPal works only for fixed-amount one-time payments, so also confirm each plan's payment method is one that processor supports.
Step 6: note what you cannot see
Squarespace states that Squarespace Analytics data cannot be exported. We could not find an official Squarespace page that describes a native report of member sign-ups, cancellations or per-member engagement, so treat it as something to confirm in your own panel rather than assume. If you cannot get these numbers from Squarespace, start a manual log now: date, member, plan, event (joined, canceled, failed payment, refunded), and reason if known.
Step 7: write the leak log and rank it
For every gap, write one line: what you saw, where, how many members it touches, how much money it could involve, and who can fix it. Rank by money and by how easy the fix is. Fix the top item, retest in a private window, and record the result before you move on.
A leak log you can copy
Use one row per gap. Example rows below use invented values to show the format.
| Where | What you saw | Who it touches | Possible impact | Fix and owner | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesson 4 (Course A) | Page is in no plan after a plan was edited | Anyone with the link | Paid content visible | Add to Plan 1, retest in private window — you | Open |
| Free plan | Opens the bonus library | All free members | Bonus given away | Move library to paid plan — you | Fixed |
| Member list vs payments | 2 members have access, no current payment | 2 members | Lost recurring revenue | Confirm in payments account, contact members — you | Open |
The most common leaks and the first check for each
| Leak | First check |
|---|---|
| A page that belongs to no plan | Open the page-to-plan table; find any row with no plan |
| A free plan attached to paid content | Log in with a test free account and click every gated page |
| A public preview left open | Check the overview page in a private window |
| A direct file link shared outside the site | Remember file links are not covered by a page paywall (Squarespace states images and audio cannot be protected from someone with the direct link) |
| A deleted or edited plan | Compare today’s plans with your table; recall that deleting a plan can make its pages public if they are in no other plan |
| Access without payment | Compare the member list with your payments account |
How often to repeat the audit
Run the full audit before any launch or plan change, and a short version monthly: private-window test of your three most valuable pages, a free-account test, and the payments-versus-access comparison. Squarespace limits and screens change, so note the date you last checked each setting.
What to do next
When the log is clear, continue to the pricing and retention workflow. If you want to understand how paid access works before you change anything, read how Squarespace Member Areas handle paid access. The complete prompt set for this audit is in the book.
What to record
- The page, plan and paywall mode for every gated item.
- What each visitor type saw: logged out, free plan, paid plan.
- Every mismatch between payments and access, with dates.
- Every setting you changed, the date, and the result.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check whether a page is publicly visible?
Open a private browsing window without logging in and visit the page URL. Squarespace notes that the paywall log-in and sign-up buttons cannot be clicked while you are logged in and editing, so always test in a private window.
Can I see which members are not paying?
You can open the member list from the Contacts panel (Manage members) and compare it with your payments account. Squarespace does not describe a single report that does this comparison for you, so do it by hand.
What if I find a leak with real members already affected?
Fix the gating first, write down what was exposed and for how long, and decide how to handle it fairly with your members. Do not remove paid members' access without checking your terms and local rules.
Sources and verification
Squarespace changes plans, features, limits and screens over time, and they can differ by plan and region. The statements on this page reflect what Squarespace published on the pages listed below when they were last checked on 5 October 2026 and re-read on 7 October 2026, and they may change. Check the current wording in your own Squarespace account and on the official pages before you act.
Educational guide only. Not legal, tax or financial advice. The Prompt Powerhouse is independent of Squarespace and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Squarespace. Squarespace features, limits and prices are as published by Squarespace, which may change. No revenue, retention or sales result is guaranteed.