Shopify vs Squarespace: Which is Best for Your Business?
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When choosing a website platform, Shopify and Squarespace are two popular options. Shopify is ideal for online stores, offering comprehensive e-commerce features, while Squarespace is great for small businesses and creatives, with beautiful templates and basic e-commerce tools.
In this article, Nextsky will compare Shopify vs. Squarespace, highlighting key differences to help you choose the right platform for your needs.
Shopify vs. Squarespace: At a glance
Shopify and Squarespace are both popular website builders, but they serve different purposes. Shopify is specifically designed for eCommerce, providing businesses with powerful tools to create and manage an online store, handle payments, and optimize marketing efforts.
On the other hand, Squarespace is a more versatile platform, ideal for small businesses, creatives, and individuals who need a beautifully designed website with basic eCommerce functionality.
Here’s a quick comparison of the two platforms:
| Factor | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ⭐⭐⭐ From $25/month (Basic) to $2,300/month (Plus) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐From $14/month (Personal) to $44/month (Commerce Advanced) |
| eCommerce capabilities | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Comprehensive tools, supports dropshipping, scalable with third-party apps | ⭐⭐⭐ Basic commerce features, requires upgrades for advanced tools |
| Content management | ⭐⭐⭐ Blogging and content tools available, but not as strong as Squarespace | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Intuitive editor, beautiful templates, easy-to-use content management |
| Design & templates | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐13 free themes, 230+ premium options, with decent customization features. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 180+ professionally designed templates, offering robust customization options. |
| Apps & integrations | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Over 8,000 apps in the Shopify App Store, integrates with Zapier | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Limited integrations, but allows some custom-coded extensions |
| Security | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SSL certificates included, reliable hosting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SSL certificates, PCI compliance, robust security measures |
| Customer support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 24/7 via live chat and email |
Overall, Shopify is the better choice for those focused on eCommerce and long-term growth. Squarespace, however, is ideal for creatives and small businesses that prioritize design and content while still needing the ability to sell online.
Shopify vs. Squarespace: Pricing and Features Comparison
Pricing: Squarespace is More Affordable than Shopify
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Key Features | Transaction Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQUARESPACE | |||
| Personal | $14 | Basic website features, free custom domain, mobile-optimized | No fees (only for invoices) |
| Business | $20 | E-commerce, advanced website analytics, accepts payments | 3% transaction fee for online store |
| Commerce Basic | $24 | Advanced e-commerce features, powerful merchandising, no transaction fees | No fees |
| Commerce Advanced | $44 | Advanced e-commerce, subscriptions, advanced discounting, no transaction fees | No fees |
| SHOPIFY | |||
| Shopify Basic | $25 | 10 inventory locations, 24/7 support, POS Lite, global selling | 2% fee (unless using Shopify Payments) |
| Shopify | $65 | 5 additional staff accounts, enhanced support, POS Lite, global selling | 1% fee (unless using Shopify Payments) |
| Advanced Shopify | $399 | 15 additional staff accounts, enhanced chat support, 10x checkout capacity | 0.6% fee (unless using Shopify Payments) |
| Shopify Plus | From $2,300 | 200 inventory locations, priority support, customizable checkout, unlimited staff accounts | Competitive rates for high-volume merchants |
Key Takeaways:
- Squarespace is more affordable with plans starting at $14/month for basic website building, with no transaction fees for most plans.
- Shopify starts at $25/month for Shopify Basic and includes more advanced e-commerce features, but it charges transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
=>> For more detailed information about Shopify pricing plans visit: Shopify Pricing.
Transaction Fees:
- Squarespace: No transaction fees for most plans (Commerce Basic and Advanced), but a 3% fee applies on the Business plan for online store transactions.
- Shopify: Transaction fees ranging from 2% to 0.6% depending on the plan, unless you use Shopify Payments.
Features Comparison:
| Feature | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Free Domain | Yes (for the first year with the annual plan) | Yes (for the first year) |
| Mobile Optimized Websites | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Templates | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory Locations | 10 (Basic), 10+ (Shopify), 200+ (Shopify Plus) | Limited (basic inventory management, no specific location limits, suitable for small stores) |
| Staff Accounts | 2 (Basic), 5 (Shopify), 15 (Advanced Shopify), Unlimited (Shopify Plus) | Unlimited (on all Commerce plans: Business, Commerce Basic, Commerce Advanced) |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes (for Shopify and above) | Yes (for Business and above) |
| POS (Point of Sale) | Yes (POS Lite on all plans; POS Pro available as $89/month add-on per location, global availability) | Yes (via Square integration, limited to Commerce Basic and Advanced plans, only available in the US) |
| Subscriptions | Yes (Advanced Shopify & Shopify Plus) | No |
| Checkout Customization | Yes (Shopify Plus) | No |
👉 Nextsky's Verdict:
Squarespace is more affordable and ideal for small businesses with simple e-commerce needs. Shopify, while pricier, offers more advanced features for growing businesses, including better inventory management and customization.
Ease of Use
Shopify offers an easy, streamlined setup for building and managing online stores. Its interface is simple, focusing on e-commerce functionality, but customization options are limited without coding knowledge. It’s ideal for users who prioritize ease of use in setting up a store with minimal design changes.
Squarespace provides greater design flexibility with its drag-and-drop editor, making it easier to create visually appealing websites. While setting up an online store may require more effort, it excels for those who want more creative control over design.
👉 Nextsky's Verdict: Squarespace is easier for design-focused users, while Shopify is more suited for users looking for a straightforward e-commerce setup.
eCommerce Feature
| eCommerce Feature | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| User Interface | Powerful interface with an advanced dashboard, Shopify POS integration | Simple, user-friendly interface aimed at beginners |
| Store Setup | Detailed setup guide, easy product addition, store customization, Shopify POS integration | Simple setup process with an easy-to-use questionnaire for quick store setup |
| Advanced Features | Abandoned cart recovery, advanced analytics, app integrations | No abandoned cart recovery, simpler analytics features |
| App Integrations | Supports thousands of third-party apps for extended functionalities | Limited app options, mainly basic features |
| POS System | Seamless Shopify POS integration for in-store and online sales | No POS system support |
| Payment Options | Shopify Payments supports multiple international payment methods including credit cards and PayPal | Supports Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Apple Pay, with fixed transaction fees |
| Shipping & Fulfillment | Carrier-calculated rates from USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL, supports multi-origin shipping, Fulfillment by Amazon integration | Flat rate or weight-based shipping, supports Shipwire and Fulfillment by Amazon through ShipStation |
| Shipping Label Printing | Print and pay for shipping labels directly via Shopify Shipping or third-party apps | Print and pay for shipping through Squarespace or extensions |
| Multichannel Selling | Sell on Facebook, Instagram, Google, Pinterest, TikTok, eBay, and Amazon without additional apps | Sell on Amazon for tracking only, does not support direct sales from Squarespace |
| Marketing Apps | Integrates with marketing tools like pop-up ads, loyalty programs, email campaigns. | Basic marketing tools, integrates with Mailchimp and Google Ads |
| SEO Features | Offers basic SEO tools; advanced SEO tasks often require direct code access. | Easy-to-use and user-friendly SEO tools are integrated. |
| Reports & Analytics | Detailed reporting on sales, customers, products, and more. Advanced analytics and customizable reports | Simpler reporting mainly on sales and products, lacks detailed reports like Shopify |
Nextsky's Verdict:
- Shopify is the top choice for businesses looking to scale with advanced eCommerce features. Its multichannel selling, strong app integrations, and Shopify POS are perfect for large or growing businesses.
- Squarespace, on the other hand, is ideal for small businesses or individuals who need a simple, user-friendly platform with essential features to create an attractive online store.
Themes & templates
| Feature | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Themes | Over 240 themes, including both free and paid (ranging from $140 to $350 per theme), highly customizable. | Over 180 beautifully designed themes, all optimized for various business types. |
| Design & Layout | Home page content is dependent on the chosen theme; internal pages are managed through the admin and have limited customization unless code is edited. | All pages use fully-featured layouts with almost limitless customization through built-in blocks. |
| URL Structure | Internal page URLs are not as clean (e.g., example.com/pages/about), which may affect aesthetics and usability. | Clean, easy-to-read URLs (e.g., example.com/about or example.com/landing-page), enhancing brand visibility. |
| Content Customization | Customization is theme-dependent; advanced customization usually requires editing CSS/HTML. | Offers complete freedom for creating landing pages, galleries, custom forms, event calendars, and portfolio pages without third-party plugins. |
| Blogging | Basic blogging functionality with preset layouts, but with less design flexibility depending on the theme. | Built-in blogging and podcasting tools with features like post scheduling, comment moderation, categories, and tags. |
| HTML/CSS Editor | More limited customization; advanced changes require knowledge of code, as customization beyond the theme presets is not easily accessible. | Full HTML/CSS editor available for all users, enabling deep customization of every element. |
Nextsky's Verdict:
- Squarespace is the ideal choice for those who prioritize design freedom and a cohesive look across all pages, making it easy to build a brand.
- Shopify, while robust in functionality and eCommerce features, may sacrifice some design flexibility, making it more suitable for businesses needing advanced eCommerce capabilities.
Shopify vs. Squarespace: Which Platform Best Suits Your Business?
Choosing between Shopify and Squarespace depends on your business model, sales strategy, and long-term goals. Below is a breakdown to help you determine which platform is the better fit.
When to Choose Shopify?
- Best for E-commerce – Built specifically for online stores, Shopify offers robust tools for managing inventory, payments, and shipping.
- Multichannel Selling – Seamless integration with social media, marketplaces, and in-person sales channels.
- Scales with Growth – Ideal for high-revenue businesses, providing advanced features, lower transaction fees, and shipping discounts.
When to Choose Squarespace?
- Great for Service-Based Businesses – Includes built-in tools for appointment scheduling, memberships, and content-driven revenue models.
- Cost-Effective for Small Businesses – Affordable plans with competitive payment processing fees, making it a solid choice for businesses with modest revenue.
- Intuitive Design – A user-friendly, visually appealing platform perfect for creatives and entrepreneurs who prioritize ease of use.
By understanding your business needs, you can choose the platform that provides the best tools, flexibility, and scalability for long-term success.
Both Shopify and Squarespace offer trial periods, allowing you to test their platforms before committing to a paid plan. Consider setting up your e-commerce website on both platforms during these trial periods to see which one feels more intuitive and meets your business's needs effectively.
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