Pricing

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing an ecommerce platform is the cost. Squarespace and Shopify have different pricing plans that vary depending on the features and services you need.

• Squarespace offers four plans:

  • Personal ($12/month)
  • Business ($18/month)
  • Commerce Basic ($26/month)
  • Commerce Advanced ($40/month)

• Shopify offers three plans:

  • Basic Shopify ($29/month)
  • Shopify ($79/month)
  • Advanced Shopify ($299/month)

Both platforms also charge transaction fees for online sales, unless you use their own payment processors (Squarespace Commerce and Shopify Payments). Squarespace’s transaction fees range from 3% to 0%, while Shopify’s transaction fees range from 2.9% + 30¢ to 0.5% + 30¢ per sale. Additionally, both platforms offer a free trial period of 14 days, so you can test them out before committing to a plan.

Design

Another factor to consider is the design of your online store. Squarespace and Shopify both offer a variety of templates and themes that you can customize to suit your brand and style.

• Squarespace is known for its elegant and minimalist designs, while Shopify is more focused on functionality and conversion.
• Squarespace has over 100 templates to choose from, while Shopify has over 70 themes (some of which are free and some are paid).

Both platforms allow you to edit the code of your template or theme, if you have the technical skills and knowledge. However, Squarespace has more limitations on what you can change, while Shopify gives you more flexibility and control over your store’s appearance.

Functionality

Both Squarespace and Shopify offer a wide range of features to help you run your online store. However, there are some key differences in functionality between the two platforms.

• Squarespace is a general website builder that also offers ecommerce features. This means that it is a good choice for businesses that want a beautiful website with some ecommerce functionality.
• Shopify is a dedicated ecommerce platform that is designed to help businesses sell products online. This means that it has more ecommerce features, such as abandoned cart recovery and product filtering.

Support

Both Squarespace and Shopify offer a variety of support options, including email, live chat, and phone support. However, Squarespace’s support is generally considered to be more responsive and helpful.

Which Platform is Right for You?

The best ecommerce platform for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you are looking for a beautiful and easy-to-use platform with some ecommerce functionality, Squarespace is a good choice. If you are looking for a powerful and scalable ecommerce platform with a wide range of features, Shopify is a good choice.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between Squarespace and Shopify: