Launching an online store is more practical than ever with more than 2 billion people already regularly making purchases online. Shopify and Squarespace are two of the most popular options for creating an ecommerce website. And each has its own advantages.
Integrations is one area in which Shopify outshines other ecommerce platforms. That’s because Shopify offers a vast ecosystem of over 3,200 apps for merchants. These apps, or plug-ins, can support any aspect of your business, marketing or payment security, to name just a few.
However, platforms have impressive features that make them strong contenders for the title of best ecommerce platform. This guide will compare Squarespace and Shopify to help you choose the best platform for your business.
Shopify vs. Squarespace: What’s the difference?
When selecting an ecommerce website builder, you'll want to choose the one that best suits your needs. Shopify is an all-inclusive ecommerce platform that provides all the tools necessary to manage an online store. In contrast: Squarespace is more akin to a website builder where you have less say over the aesthetics and functionality of your site. While both are great platforms, each has its own perks and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at a few of the most significant Shopify vs. Squarespace distinctions.
1. pricing
One of the first things you should do when deciding between Shopify and Squarespace is to compare their prices. Shopify and Squarespace provide several plans for their customers.
Shopify pricing
Shopify offers five pricing plans for its users:
- Shopify Starter at $5 per month
- Basic Shopify at $29 per month
- Shopify at $79 per month
- Advanced Shopify at $299 per month
- Shopify Plus starting at $2,000 per month
Although there isn't a free Shopify plan there is a no-risk 14-day trial of the service.
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Squarespace pricing
Squarespace also offers several pricing plans to customers.
- Personal at $16 per month
- Business at $26 per month
- Basic Commerce at $30 per month
- Advanced Commerce at $46 per month
- Squarespace Select: custom pricing
Winner: Squarespace is cheaper than Shopify so on pricing alone Squarespace wins. However, feature-for-feature it’s arguable that Shopify has more sophisticated tools that are worth the cost.
2. website builder
Squarespace and Shopify have earned a stellar reputation for user-friendliness when creating beautiful and functional online shops. However, they approach it in quite different ways.
templates
Both Shopify and Squarespace offer a comprehensive selection of themes and designs. Squarespace is an ecommerce platform made with designers in mind, and while its templates aren't as broad as Shopify's, they're more aesthetically pleasing.
editor
Once you've selected your ecommerce theme, Squarespace and Shopify offer a variety of customization choices to help you change the default theme into the store of your dreams. Squarespace's ecommerce website builder utilizes a straightforward drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to rearrange content and design your website to your specifications effortlessly.
Both Shopify and Squarespace use a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. Similar to Microsoft Word, this is a text editor that lets you place images and media directly into your text. This makes website building easier for those who don’t code.
ease of use
Shopify has a steep learning curve because it demands you to have a fundamental understanding of ecommerce and online shop setup. you also need to have a basic knowledge of programming languages such as HTML and CSS. But there are tools, such as PageFly Page Builder, that can significantly simplify this process.
Squarespace on the other hand is aimed at those unfamiliar with ecommerce or simply wanting to create a website without first learning HTML or CSS.
domains
Besides being website builders and ecommerce platforms, Shopify and Squarespace are domain providers. One of Squarespace's key selling points is that every site on the platform comes with a free personalized domain.
A custom domain is available for purchase through Shopify, but it will cost you in addition to your Shopify subscription.
Tie. They both do include the ability to support customized domains.
3. ecommerce features
Shopify performs better than Squarespace in terms of ecommerce capabilities because it was designed from the ground up for online stores.
product types
Shopify and Squarespace allow you to sell both physical and digital products on your internet store. But to sell digital goods on your Shopify site, you will need to take an additional step and install a dedicated app. These two website builders have similar functionality in that you can alter aspects of your products, like quantity and size.
payments
If you sell online, you will need a payment processor and handy payment choices for your customers. Both platforms include built-in support for payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal, enabling you to take credit card and PayPal payments on your website.
On the other hand, Shopify also accepts additional payment methods such as Apple Pay and third-party payment processors like Braintree and WePay if you require something more advanced than the platform offers.
Winner - Shopify for it’s more diversified payment options.
shipping
Shopify and Squarespace provide you the option to set up shipping policies, which you can customize to include pricing and taxes. You'll have to stick with Squarespace's default shipping charges because the platform doesn't support custom rates.
Shopify's robust shipping tool is one of its top ecommerce features. You can set up multiple shipping prices based on the size and weight of your products, and you can also utilize their shipping labels to print your labels that clients can affix to their packages when shipping.
POS — selling offline
Shopify offers a full-featured point-of-sale system called Shopify POS. Customers can pay for their products by swiping their credit cards at cash registers or scanning QR codes with their mobile devices. The Shopify POS system also includes inventory management and sales trend analysis features. This feature comes with all Shopify pricing options.
You'll need to install the Shopify app on your device to carry this out. Every offline sale you make will result in a 2.7% transaction fee on the Basic plan, 2.5% on the Shopify plan, and 2.4% on the Advanced plan.
Although Squarespace does not provide a point-of-sale (POS) system, it does integrate with other platforms like Square. For this, you will need a Square card reader and the corresponding Squarespace Commerce app. POS functionality is not included in the Commerce Basic or Commerce Advanced plans.
4. marketing
No amount of advanced ecommerce features will make up for ineffective marketing. After all, it won't matter how well-designed your website is if no one visits it.
social media
Shopify really shines regarding social media marketing and integration. Squarespace is ideal if all you want to do is sell on Instagram and share your content on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter.
In contrast to Squarespace, Shopify has a more advanced system that allows you to sell on more than ten social media platforms in addition to your online store. You can also easily sell your products on Amazon and other marketplaces.
email marketing
For Squarespace websites, you can use their built-in Email Campaigns feature. This user-friendly solution allows you to send up to 50,000 emails monthly during the trial period. after the free trial the Email Campaigns services will incur a monthly fee of $8. comparatively: Shopify Email allows you to send up to 2,500 free emails monthly with a $1 charge for every 1,000 emails sent above this limit.
abandoned cart recovery
Squarespace does not provide default abandoned cart recovery tools. Instead, you must pay a monthly minimum of $46 to use these features.
In contrast: Shopify provides some great abandoned cart email recovery options. This automatic solution allows you to send abandoned cart emails at a predetermined time after the customer leaves their cart.
blogging
Squarespace offers more flexibility compared to Shopify when it comes to content creation like blogging. This is because Shopify is designed for ecommerce, whereas Squarespace is more of a content-display platform.
SEO
Shopify has much better SEO features than Squarespace. While Squarespace does have some SEO options, they are somewhat rudimentary and the platform doesn't offer any SEO-friendly guidance while you build your store.
5. analytics. reporting. and inventory
Analytics and reporting are the sole means of determining your store's success. Squarespace and Shopify both include a variety of analytics, reporting, and inventory management capabilities to facilitate the streamlining of your online store.
reports and analytics
Shopify is the more ecommerce-oriented platform so it provides superior performance for advanced reporting than Squarespace. However: Squarespace Commerce's built-in analytics software allows you to track various indicators such as the number of orders, revenue, and consumer activity.
inventory management
Shopify is one of the most user-friendly alternatives for inventory management because it was built from the ground up to be an ecommerce platform. But Shopify doesn't outperform Squarespace in inventory management as both platforms perform really just as well.
6. customer support
There's no denying that both Shopify and Squarespace offer good customer support systems, but Shopify has a slight edge over Squarespace. Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email. On the other hand, Squarespace doesn't have phone support and its chat representatives are only available from 4 am to 8 pm EST on weekdays.
7. security
Shopify and Squarespace are designed to be secure and provide SSL in all plans. You can use two-factor authentication to secure your account on either platform.
By being closed platforms and closely controlled by developers, Shopify and Squarespace have an advantage over open-source competitors like Woocommerce and Webflow.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, both Shopify and Squarespace are great website builders. The key differences are a result of how each of these platforms came to be. Many merchants do use Squarespace for ecommerce but as a platform it has always focused more on design and content. Shopify, on the other hand, was created specifically as an ecommerce platform from its conception.
Today, both platforms have evolved to the point where many of their ecommerce capabilities now overlap. But ultimately Shopify still has the slight edge when it comes to customizability and sales functionality. That’s why even though Squarespace can be cheaper, Shopify offers more overall value for most online merchants.
get product photography for your ecommerce store through soona
Comparing Shopify vs. Squarespace: it's clear that both are robust platforms that offer tons of valuable tools and resources to online retailers. In the end, your choice will depend on your store’s and customers’ specific requirements. To get you started, soona offers access to a digital platform where you can develop and share your own content. Our ecommerce starter pack is the best option when you need high-quality images for your online store product listing. Schedule a shoot with us today to help launch your store with beautiful product photography and video!
Launching an online store is more practical than ever with more than 2 billion people already regularly making purchases online. Shopify and Squarespace are two of the most popular options for creating an ecommerce website. And each has its own advantages.
Integrations is one area in which Shopify outshines other ecommerce platforms. That’s because Shopify offers a vast ecosystem of over 3,200 apps for merchants. These apps, or plug-ins, can support any aspect of your business, marketing or payment security, to name just a few.
However, platforms have impressive features that make them strong contenders for the title of best ecommerce platform. This guide will compare Squarespace and Shopify to help you choose the best platform for your business.
Shopify vs. Squarespace: What’s the difference?
When selecting an ecommerce website builder, you'll want to choose the one that best suits your needs. Shopify is an all-inclusive ecommerce platform that provides all the tools necessary to manage an online store. In contrast: Squarespace is more akin to a website builder where you have less say over the aesthetics and functionality of your site. While both are great platforms, each has its own perks and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at a few of the most significant Shopify vs. Squarespace distinctions.
1. pricing
One of the first things you should do when deciding between Shopify and Squarespace is to compare their prices. Shopify and Squarespace provide several plans for their customers.
Shopify pricing
Shopify offers five pricing plans for its users:
- Shopify Starter at $5 per month
- Basic Shopify at $29 per month
- Shopify at $79 per month
- Advanced Shopify at $299 per month
- Shopify Plus starting at $2,000 per month
Although there isn't a free Shopify plan there is a no-risk 14-day trial of the service.
{{shopify-ad="/external-components"}}
Squarespace pricing
Squarespace also offers several pricing plans to customers.
- Personal at $16 per month
- Business at $26 per month
- Basic Commerce at $30 per month
- Advanced Commerce at $46 per month
- Squarespace Select: custom pricing
Winner: Squarespace is cheaper than Shopify so on pricing alone Squarespace wins. However, feature-for-feature it’s arguable that Shopify has more sophisticated tools that are worth the cost.
2. website builder
Squarespace and Shopify have earned a stellar reputation for user-friendliness when creating beautiful and functional online shops. However, they approach it in quite different ways.
templates
Both Shopify and Squarespace offer a comprehensive selection of themes and designs. Squarespace is an ecommerce platform made with designers in mind, and while its templates aren't as broad as Shopify's, they're more aesthetically pleasing.
editor
Once you've selected your ecommerce theme, Squarespace and Shopify offer a variety of customization choices to help you change the default theme into the store of your dreams. Squarespace's ecommerce website builder utilizes a straightforward drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to rearrange content and design your website to your specifications effortlessly.
Both Shopify and Squarespace use a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. Similar to Microsoft Word, this is a text editor that lets you place images and media directly into your text. This makes website building easier for those who don’t code.
ease of use
Shopify has a steep learning curve because it demands you to have a fundamental understanding of ecommerce and online shop setup. you also need to have a basic knowledge of programming languages such as HTML and CSS. But there are tools, such as PageFly Page Builder, that can significantly simplify this process.
Squarespace on the other hand is aimed at those unfamiliar with ecommerce or simply wanting to create a website without first learning HTML or CSS.
domains
Besides being website builders and ecommerce platforms, Shopify and Squarespace are domain providers. One of Squarespace's key selling points is that every site on the platform comes with a free personalized domain.
A custom domain is available for purchase through Shopify, but it will cost you in addition to your Shopify subscription.
Tie. They both do include the ability to support customized domains.
3. ecommerce features
Shopify performs better than Squarespace in terms of ecommerce capabilities because it was designed from the ground up for online stores.
product types
Shopify and Squarespace allow you to sell both physical and digital products on your internet store. But to sell digital goods on your Shopify site, you will need to take an additional step and install a dedicated app. These two website builders have similar functionality in that you can alter aspects of your products, like quantity and size.
payments
If you sell online, you will need a payment processor and handy payment choices for your customers. Both platforms include built-in support for payment gateways such as Stripe and PayPal, enabling you to take credit card and PayPal payments on your website.
On the other hand, Shopify also accepts additional payment methods such as Apple Pay and third-party payment processors like Braintree and WePay if you require something more advanced than the platform offers.
Winner - Shopify for it’s more diversified payment options.
shipping
Shopify and Squarespace provide you the option to set up shipping policies, which you can customize to include pricing and taxes. You'll have to stick with Squarespace's default shipping charges because the platform doesn't support custom rates.
Shopify's robust shipping tool is one of its top ecommerce features. You can set up multiple shipping prices based on the size and weight of your products, and you can also utilize their shipping labels to print your labels that clients can affix to their packages when shipping.
POS — selling offline
Shopify offers a full-featured point-of-sale system called Shopify POS. Customers can pay for their products by swiping their credit cards at cash registers or scanning QR codes with their mobile devices. The Shopify POS system also includes inventory management and sales trend analysis features. This feature comes with all Shopify pricing options.
You'll need to install the Shopify app on your device to carry this out. Every offline sale you make will result in a 2.7% transaction fee on the Basic plan, 2.5% on the Shopify plan, and 2.4% on the Advanced plan.
Although Squarespace does not provide a point-of-sale (POS) system, it does integrate with other platforms like Square. For this, you will need a Square card reader and the corresponding Squarespace Commerce app. POS functionality is not included in the Commerce Basic or Commerce Advanced plans.
4. marketing
No amount of advanced ecommerce features will make up for ineffective marketing. After all, it won't matter how well-designed your website is if no one visits it.
social media
Shopify really shines regarding social media marketing and integration. Squarespace is ideal if all you want to do is sell on Instagram and share your content on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter.
In contrast to Squarespace, Shopify has a more advanced system that allows you to sell on more than ten social media platforms in addition to your online store. You can also easily sell your products on Amazon and other marketplaces.
email marketing
For Squarespace websites, you can use their built-in Email Campaigns feature. This user-friendly solution allows you to send up to 50,000 emails monthly during the trial period. after the free trial the Email Campaigns services will incur a monthly fee of $8. comparatively: Shopify Email allows you to send up to 2,500 free emails monthly with a $1 charge for every 1,000 emails sent above this limit.
abandoned cart recovery
Squarespace does not provide default abandoned cart recovery tools. Instead, you must pay a monthly minimum of $46 to use these features.
In contrast: Shopify provides some great abandoned cart email recovery options. This automatic solution allows you to send abandoned cart emails at a predetermined time after the customer leaves their cart.
blogging
Squarespace offers more flexibility compared to Shopify when it comes to content creation like blogging. This is because Shopify is designed for ecommerce, whereas Squarespace is more of a content-display platform.
SEO
Shopify has much better SEO features than Squarespace. While Squarespace does have some SEO options, they are somewhat rudimentary and the platform doesn't offer any SEO-friendly guidance while you build your store.
5. analytics. reporting. and inventory
Analytics and reporting are the sole means of determining your store's success. Squarespace and Shopify both include a variety of analytics, reporting, and inventory management capabilities to facilitate the streamlining of your online store.
reports and analytics
Shopify is the more ecommerce-oriented platform so it provides superior performance for advanced reporting than Squarespace. However: Squarespace Commerce's built-in analytics software allows you to track various indicators such as the number of orders, revenue, and consumer activity.
inventory management
Shopify is one of the most user-friendly alternatives for inventory management because it was built from the ground up to be an ecommerce platform. But Shopify doesn't outperform Squarespace in inventory management as both platforms perform really just as well.
6. customer support
There's no denying that both Shopify and Squarespace offer good customer support systems, but Shopify has a slight edge over Squarespace. Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email. On the other hand, Squarespace doesn't have phone support and its chat representatives are only available from 4 am to 8 pm EST on weekdays.
7. security
Shopify and Squarespace are designed to be secure and provide SSL in all plans. You can use two-factor authentication to secure your account on either platform.
By being closed platforms and closely controlled by developers, Shopify and Squarespace have an advantage over open-source competitors like Woocommerce and Webflow.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, both Shopify and Squarespace are great website builders. The key differences are a result of how each of these platforms came to be. Many merchants do use Squarespace for ecommerce but as a platform it has always focused more on design and content. Shopify, on the other hand, was created specifically as an ecommerce platform from its conception.
Today, both platforms have evolved to the point where many of their ecommerce capabilities now overlap. But ultimately Shopify still has the slight edge when it comes to customizability and sales functionality. That’s why even though Squarespace can be cheaper, Shopify offers more overall value for most online merchants.
get product photography for your ecommerce store through soona
Comparing Shopify vs. Squarespace: it's clear that both are robust platforms that offer tons of valuable tools and resources to online retailers. In the end, your choice will depend on your store’s and customers’ specific requirements. To get you started, soona offers access to a digital platform where you can develop and share your own content. Our ecommerce starter pack is the best option when you need high-quality images for your online store product listing. Schedule a shoot with us today to help launch your store with beautiful product photography and video!
