Shopify vs. Squarespace: Which eCommerce Platform is Right for You?
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Online Store
Starting an online store? What's the best ecommerce platform? You’ve likely narrowed it down to Shopify vs. Squarespace—two of the biggest names in eCommerce. Both are great, but they serve very different purposes.
At Studio3 Creative, we happily work with both platforms, and we know that each has its strengths depending on your business goals. We use Squarespace ourselves! We're also proud Squarespace Circle Partners. This means we can offer you an exclusive discount if you work with us.
So, which one is right for you? We know we're not all coders, so let’s skip the tech jargon and stick to the facts.
Shopify vs. Squarespace: Quick Comparison
Shopify: Built for selling. If your goal is to scale an online store, Shopify gives you powerful eCommerce tools to make it happen.
Squarespace: If you're looking for a Shopify alternative. Squarespace is built for design. Need a stunning website with some eCommerce functionality? Squarespace for online stores is sleek, simple, and easy to use.
Now, let’s get into the details.
1.Shopify vs. Squarespace for Small Business: Which is the Easiest to Use?
If you are a beginner or a small business owner, choosing the best website builder for ecommerce is important. Ease of use is likely a top priority for you. You don’t want to spend hours fighting with code or trying to set up your store. You need a platform that is easy to use and can grow with your business.
Shopify: Designed for business owners, not web developers. The interface is straightforward, adding products is easy, and the app store expands functionality.
Squarespace: A drag-and-drop dream. Ideal if you want a polished, designer-quality site without touching a single line of code.
✔ Winner: Squarespace for simplicity, but Shopify isn’t far behind if your main focus is selling.
2. eCommerce: Who Does Selling Better?
✔ Winner: Shopify— if selling is your main focus, Shopify gives you the tools to grow.
3. Design & Customization: Who Wins on Aesthetics?
Shopify has over 100 themes, both free and paid. You might need some custom coding or a developer for a unique look.
Squarespace: Pixel-perfect designer templates that require zero coding. Ideal for branding-heavy businesses like photographers, boutiques, and creatives.
✔ Winner: Squarespace—if visuals matter most, its templates will make your brand shine.
4. Pricing: What’s the Real Cost?
Extra Costs:
Shopify charges transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
Squarespace charges 3% transaction fees on its lower plan.
Shopify’s app store can add extra costs, while Squarespace is more all-in-one.
✔ Winner: Squarespace is more budget-friendly for small businesses, but Shopify offers more selling power.
5. SEO & Marketing: Get Found
Shopify:
Strong SEO tools
Built-in email marketing
Multi-channel selling (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, etc.)
Squarespace:
Good SEO but limited eCommerce marketing features
Built-in email marketing
Best for content-driven brands that rely on blogging or storytelling
✔ Winner: Shopify for serious marketing and sales growth, but Squarespace is great for brand-building.
Final Verdict: Shopify or Squarespace?
TL;DR?
We've compared Shopify vs Squarespace for small businesses so you don't have to. Here's what we found:
Go with Shopify if sales and scaling your business is the priority.
Go with Squarespace if you need a beautiful website with basic eCommerce features.
At Studio3 Creative, we work with both platforms and understand the pros and cons of each. That said, we personally use Squarespace for our own site and are Squarespace Circle Partners. If you’re considering Squarespace, reach out to us—we can even offer you a discount.
Let’s chat and find the best platform for you.
