Shopify vs Squarespace
Shopify vs Squarespace is a question I get from every creative entrepreneur. Squarespace looks better out of the box; Shopify sells better at scale. The tension between brand and commerce runs through this entire comparison.
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Quick Answer
Shopify beats Squarespace for most users. It scores 9.4/10 vs 9/10 and best-in-class e-commerce features. Choose Squarespace if you need stunning designer templates.
Shopify
WinnerLeading e-commerce platform for online stores
Starting from
$29/mo
Squarespace
Award-winning templates for beautiful websites
Starting from
$16/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.4/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Starting Price | $29/mo | $16/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Resources | ||
| Templates | 100+ | 150+ |
| Storage | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Features | ||
| Custom Domain | ||
| E-commerce | ||
| SEO Tools | ||
| Mobile Editor | ||
| App Market | ||
| Security & Analytics | ||
| SSL Certificate | ||
| Analytics | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Shopify
- Best-in-class e-commerce features
- Massive app ecosystem
- Excellent payment processing
- Multi-channel selling
- Great for dropshipping
- 24/7 support
- Transaction fees on external payments
- Themes can be expensive
- Monthly cost adds up
Squarespace
- Stunning designer templates
- Clean, professional designs
- Built-in SEO tools
- Excellent blogging platform
- Great for portfolios
- All-in-one pricing
- Less flexible than Wix
- No free plan (only trial)
- Learning curve for editor
Key Difference
Shopify treats commerce as primary; Squarespace treats it as one feature among many. Shopify scales better; Squarespace looks better. Shopify costs more at low volumes; the math inverts at higher volumes.
Which Should You Choose?
Shopify
Choose Shopify if you expect to sell significant volume, need robust inventory management, want the best payment processing, or plan to use third-party fulfillment.
Squarespace
Choose Squarespace if you sell fewer products but care deeply about presentation, want beautiful integrated blogging, prefer lower monthly costs for light commerce, or prioritize brand over features.
Our Verdict
Shopify wins for serious e-commerce with better inventory, payments, and scaling. Squarespace wins for brand-focused selling where design and content matter as much as commerce. Volume expectations guide this decision.
Thinking of Switching?
Moving from Squarespace to Shopify is common as businesses scale. Product migration is doable; design rebuild is necessary. Consider your 12-month sales projection when deciding initial platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify better than Squarespace?
Shopify scores higher in our testing (9.4/10 vs 9/10). Shopify excels at best-in-class e-commerce features, while Squarespace is better for stunning designer templates.
Which is cheaper, Shopify or Squarespace?
Squarespace is more affordable at $16.00/mo vs $29.00/mo. Squarespace offers 45% savings.
Shopify vs Squarespace: which should I choose?
Choose Shopify if you prioritize best-in-class e-commerce features. Choose Squarespace if you need stunning designer templates. Both are solid website builders options.
What's the main difference between Shopify and Squarespace?
The main difference is Shopify offers leading e-commerce platform for online stores, while Squarespace focuses on award-winning templates for beautiful websites.