Shopify
Shopify Inc.
7.4
Overall Score / 10
Squarespace
Squarespace Inc.
7.1
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Shopify if:
- —Anyone starting an online store who wants an all-in-one solution
- —Businesses that want a huge app ecosystem for customization
- —Brands scaling from small to enterprise-level commerce
Choose Squarespace if:
- —Creatives, photographers, and designers wanting beautiful templates
- —Small businesses wanting website + e-commerce in one platform
- —Anyone who values design quality over maximum customization
The biggest difference: Shopify wins for serious e-commerce with a massive app ecosystem, multi-channel selling, and advanced inventory management. Squarespace is better for design-forward sites that sell a handful of products.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $39/mo (Basic)Source: Shopify Inc. pricing page → | $25/mo (Basic)Source: Squarespace Inc. pricing page → |
| Free Tier | No No free tier. 3-day free trial, then $1/month for first 3 months. | No No free tier. 14-day free trial, no credit card required. |
| Value for Money | 7 | 7 |
| Ease of Use | 9 | 8 |
| Feature Power | 9 | 7 |
| Setup Ease | 9 | 8 |
| Migration Ease | 4 | 5 |
| Transparency | 6 | 7 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Compliance | PCI DSS Level 1, SOC 2, GDPR tools | PCI DSS, GDPR tools |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
24 features compared · 22 differences
| Feature | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| 24/7 support | Full | None |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Full | None |
| App store (8,000+ apps) | Full | None |
| Blogging | None | Full |
| Discount codes | Full | None |
| E-commerce on all plans | None | Full |
| Inventory management | Full | None |
| Marketing tools | Full | None |
| Member areas | None | Full |
| Multi-channel selling (Amazon, Facebook, Instagram) | Full | None |
| Online store builder | Full | None |
| Point of sale (POS) | Full | None |
| Scheduling via Acuity (included on some plans) | None | Full |
| SEO tools | Full | Full |
| Shipping and fulfillment | Full | None |
| Shopify Payments | Full | None |
| SSL included | None | Full |
| Website builder | None | Full |
| Advanced | ||
| Analytics | None | Full |
| Beautiful templates | None | Full |
| Custom domains | None | Full |
| Email marketing (add-on) | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | Full | Full |
| Security | ||
| Social media integration | None | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Shopify Pricing
2 staff accounts, basic reports, up to 77% shipping discount
5 staff accounts, professional reports, up to 88% shipping discount
15 staff accounts, advanced reports, custom pricing, duties & import taxes
Enterprise features, unlimited staff, Shopify Functions, checkout customization, dedicated support
Squarespace Pricing
Unlimited bandwidth & storage, 2 contributors, 2% transaction fee on commerce
Unlimited contributors, 0% transaction fee, advanced customization
Lower processing fees (2.7% + $0.30), advanced commerce tools
Lowest processing fees (2.5% + $0.30), no transaction fees, advanced analytics
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Shopify
Best for
- Anyone starting an online store who wants an all-in-one solution
- Businesses that want a huge app ecosystem for customization
- Brands scaling from small to enterprise-level commerce
Avoid if
- You want to avoid monthly fees (WooCommerce is free to start)
- You need full control over your codebase (consider headless or WooCommerce)
- You sell only digital products (Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy are simpler)
Who should choose Squarespace
Best for
- Creatives, photographers, and designers wanting beautiful templates
- Small businesses wanting website + e-commerce in one platform
- Anyone who values design quality over maximum customization
Avoid if
- You need deep customization or custom code (Webflow is better)
- You need a large app ecosystem (Shopify or WordPress are better)
- You want the cheapest possible website (WordPress.com or Carrd are cheaper)
Switching Guidance
Switching from Shopify
Common triggers to leave:
- •App costs add up significantly
- •Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments (2% on Basic)
- •Need more design/code flexibility
Potential blockers:
- •Entire storefront and product catalog
- •Customer data and order history
- •App integrations and workflows
- •SEO rankings tied to Shopify URLs
Switching from Squarespace
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need more customization or code access
- •Need a larger app ecosystem
- •Transaction fee on Basic plan
Potential blockers:
- •Template design investment
- •Content and page structure
- •Domain registration (can transfer)
- •SEO rankings
Try Shopify
Plans from $39/mo
Try Squarespace
Plans from $25/mo