Shopify vs Squarespace vs WooCommerce: Top 3 Best Choices

TL;DR

• What to look for in an eCommerce platform
• An overview of Shopify, Squarespace and WooCommerce
• The top features of Shopify, Squarespace and WooCommerce
• Pricing structures of Shopify, Squarespace and WooCommerce
• Pros and Cons of Shopify, Squarespace, and WooCommerce
• What to use Squarespace or Shopify

Introduction

When it comes to building an online store, choosing the right platform is crucial. Shopify vs Squarespace vs WooCommerce are three of the most popular eCommerce solutions available today. Each platform offers unique features and caters to different business needs. In this article, we compare Shopify, Squarespace, and WooCommerce to help you decide which one is the best fit for your business.

What is Shopify?

Via Shopify

Shopify is a dedicated eCommerce platform that provides everything you need to create, manage, and grow an online store. It is user-friendly and offers a variety of customizable themes and powerful eCommerce tools. To learn more about how Shopify compares to other platforms, check out this detailed comparison of Shopify vs spotify.

Key features of Shopify

Via Shopify

1. Ease of Use

• User-friendly interface with a drag-and-drop builder.
• No coding skills required to set up an online store.

2. Built-in eCommerce Tools

• Product management with unlimited products.
• Inventory tracking and automated stock updates.
• Multi-channel selling on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and eBay.

3. Secure Payment Processing

• Shopify Payments (no transaction fees).
• Supports multiple payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, etc.).
• PCI DSS Level 1 certified security for transactions.

4. Customization & Themes

• 100+ professionally designed themes (free & paid).
• Full customization using the Shopify Liquid coding language.

6. Mobile-Friendly & App Integration

• Fully responsive storefronts for mobile shopping.
• Shopify mobile app to manage the store on the go.
• Thousands of apps in the Shopify App Store for added functionality.

7. Scalability & Performance

• Supports businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises.
• Fast-loading pages and global CDN for quick performance.
• Shopify Plus for high-volume businesses.

8. Dropshipping & Print-on-Demand

• Seamless integration with apps like Oberlo, Printful, and Spocket.
• Easy setup for dropshipping businesses.

What is Squarespace?

Via Squarespace

Squarespace is primarily a website builder with eCommerce functionality. It is well known for its sleek and modern templates, making it a great option for creative businesses and small online stores. For a deeper look at how it compares to Shopify, check out this shopify vs squarespace comparison.

Key features of Squarespace

1. Beautiful Templates

• Professionally designed, modern, and visually appealing templates.
• Mobile-responsive and customizable through the drag-and-drop editor.

2. Built-in eCommerce Functionality

• Sell products, services, and digital goods.
• Supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square for payments.
• No need for additional plugins—everything is integrated.

3. Easy-to-Use Website Builder

• Drag-and-drop interface with a real-time preview.
• No coding required, but custom CSS is supported.

Via Squarespace

4. Blogging Capabilities

• Built-in blogging tools with categories, tags, and scheduling.
• Integration with social media for content sharing.

5. Built-in Hosting and Security

• Reliable hosting with automatic updates and SSL security.
• No need to manage separate hosting services.

6. Customer Support

• 24/7 email support and live chat assistance.
• Extensive help center with guides and video tutorials.

What is WooCommerce?

Via WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a powerful, open-source plugin for WordPress that transforms a website into a fully functional online store. It offers high customization capabilities but requires some technical knowledge to set up and maintain. For a detailed comparison, check out this shopify vs wooCommerce guide.

Key features of Woocommerce

1. Open-Source and Free

• WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin, making it an affordable option for starting an online store.
• You only pay for hosting, themes, and additional plugins.

2. Complete Customization

• Full control over design, functionality, and user experience.
• Thousands of themes and extensions available.
• Developers can modify the code to suit specific business needs.

3. Flexible Product Management

• Supports physical and digital products.
• Allows unlimited products and variations (size, color, etc.).
• Inventory management, backorders, and stock alerts.

Via WooCommerce

4. Multiple Payment Gateways

• Supports PayPal, Stripe, credit cards, bank transfers, and cash on delivery.
• Can integrate with regional payment providers.

5. Secure & Regular Updates

• Regular security updates.
• Supports SSL certificates and PCI compliance for secure transactions.

6. Integration with WordPress Ecosystem

• Works seamlessly with WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO, Elementor, and WPForms.
• Supports blogging and content marketing strategies.

7. Multi-Language & Multi-Currency Support

• Can be translated into multiple languages.
• Allows selling in different currencies with plugins.

Shopify vs Squarespace vs WooCommerce: Feature Comparison

1. Ease of Use

• Shopify is the easiest to use, making it ideal for beginners with no technical skills.
• Squarespace is also user-friendly but less focused on eCommerce compared to Shopify.
• WooCommerce requires technical knowledge as it is built on WordPress, making it better suited for users comfortable with customization.

2. Hosting & Setup

• Shopify and Squarespace provide built-in hosting, making setup seamless.
• WooCommerce requires separate hosting, which adds flexibility but also extra setup work.

3. Customization & Design

• WooCommerce offers the highest level of customization, allowing complete control over design and functionality.
• Shopify has customizable themes, but deeper modifications require coding.
• Squarespace is great for visually stunning designs but has fewer customization options than WooCommerce.

4. Payment Gateways & Transaction Fees

• Shopify supports multiple payment gateways but charges transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
• Squarespace supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square, but transaction fees apply on the Business plan.
• WooCommerce supports almost any payment gateway, with no platform-imposed transaction fees.

5. SEO & Marketing

• WooCommerce is the most SEO-friendly, with plugins like Yoast SEO offering full optimization control.
• Shopify has strong SEO capabilities but is less flexible compared to WooCommerce.
• Squarespace offers basic SEO tools but lacks advanced optimization options.

6. Scalability & Performance

• Shopify is highly scalable and handles growth well with built-in tools and third-party apps.
• Squarespace is best for small to medium-sized stores but lacks advanced scalability.
• WooCommerce is scalable but depends on the hosting provider and technical optimization.

7. Inventory & Product Management

• Shopify has a robust built-in inventory system, making product management seamless.
• Squarespace offers basic inventory tracking, suitable for small businesses.
• WooCommerce provides advanced inventory management, but it may require additional plugins.

8. Security & Support

• Shopify and Squarespace include SSL certificates and PCI compliance for secure transactions.
• WooCommerce depends on the hosting provider for security and requires manual SSL setup.
• Shopify offers 24/7 support, Squarespace provides live chat and email support, while WooCommerce has no official support but has a large community for troubleshooting.

9. Best For:

• Shopify: Ideal for those wanting an all-in-one, easy-to-manage eCommerce store.
• Squarespace: Best for creatives and small businesses needing a visually appealing website with basic eCommerce features.
• WooCommerce: Perfect for those who want full control over their store, including advanced customization and SEO capabilities.

Shopify vs Squarespace vs WooCommerce: Pricing Comparison

Shopify Pricing

Via Shopify

Shopify offers a subscription-based pricing model, starting at $39/month for the Basic Plan, which includes essential eCommerce features like a built-in payment system, abandoned cart recovery, and 24/7 support. The Shopify Plan costs $105/month, adding advanced reporting and lower transaction fees. The Advanced Plan, at $399/month, is best suited for scaling businesses with high-volume sales, offering custom reports and third-party calculated shipping rates. Additionally, Shopify charges transaction fees (2.9% + 30¢ per sale) unless you use Shopify Payments. While Shopify includes hosting, themes, and security, premium themes and apps can add to the overall cost.

Squarespace Pricing

Via Squarespace

Squarespace’s pricing is more affordable, starting at $27/month for the Business Plan, which includes basic eCommerce functionality but charges a 3% transaction fee. For a 0% transaction fee, users must upgrade to the Commerce Basic Plan ($36/month) or the Commerce Advanced Plan ($65/month). These higher plans unlock features like abandoned cart recovery, advanced shipping, and discounts. Since Squarespace includes hosting and visually stunning templates in its plans, the overall cost remains lower than Shopify. However, Squarespace has limited payment gateway options and fewer eCommerce-specific tools compared to Shopify and WooCommerce.

WooCommerce Pricing

Via WooCommerce

WooCommerce itself is free to install, but its total cost depends on hosting, themes, plugins, and payment processing fees. A good hosting provider typically costs $10–$30/month, and premium themes range from $30–$100 one-time payments. Unlike Shopify and Squarespace, WooCommerce does not charge monthly subscription fees, making it the cheapest option in the long run. However, WooCommerce users may need to invest in security, SEO, and additional extensions for better functionality, which can add costs over time. Since WooCommerce allows flexibility in choosing payment gateways, there are no platform-imposed transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious businesses willing to manage their store manually.

Pros and Cons of Shopify

Pros:

• Easy to Use – No technical skills required, perfect for beginners.
• All-in-One Solution – Hosting, security, and payment processing included.
• Scalability – Works well for small businesses and large enterprises.
• 24/7 Customer Support – Offers live chat, phone, and email support.
• App Store – Thousands of third-party apps for customization.

Cons:

• Monthly Subscription Cost – Starts at $39/month, which adds up over time.
• Transaction Fees – Extra fees if not using Shopify Payments.
• Limited Customization – Code modifications require advanced knowledge.
• Locked to Shopify’s Ecosystem – You can’t easily switch to another platform.

Pros and Cons of Squarespace

 Pros:

• Beautiful Templates – Ideal for creatives, photographers, and small businesses.
• Easy to Use – Intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
• Hosting Included – No need to buy separate hosting.
• No Transaction Fees on Commerce Plans – Unlike Shopify, Squarespace removes transaction fees for eCommerce plans.

Cons:

• Limited eCommerce Features – Less powerful than Shopify and WooCommerce.
• Higher Costs for Advanced Features – Must upgrade to unlock better eCommerce tools.
• Fewer Payment Gateways – Only supports Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
• Limited Customization – Restricted compared to WooCommerce.

Pros and Cons of WooCommerce

Pros:

• Free & Open-Source – No monthly subscription cost.
• Highly Customizable – Full control over design and functionality.
• No Platform-Imposed Transaction Fees – Save money on payment processing.
• SEO-Friendly – Best platform for advanced SEO with plugins like Yoast SEO.
• Large Plugin Library – Thousands of free and paid extensions.

Cons:

• Requires Technical Knowledge – Not as beginner-friendly as Shopify or Squarespace.
• Separate Hosting Needed – Costs depend on hosting provider.
• Security & Maintenance – Users must handle their own security, updates, and backups.
• No Official Support – Only community forums and third-party help available.

Is it better to use Squarespace or Shopify?

The choice between Squarespace and Shopify depends on your business needs. If you’re looking for a simple, visually stunning website with basic eCommerce functionality, Squarespace is a great option. It’s ideal for creatives, small businesses, and those who prioritize design over complex selling features. It includes beautiful templates, built-in hosting, and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to set up and manage. However, its eCommerce capabilities are limited compared to Shopify, with fewer payment options and fewer advanced selling tools.

On the other hand, Shopify is the better choice for serious eCommerce businesses that need scalability, powerful sales tools, and seamless payment processing. It provides an all-in-one solution with inventory management, abandoned cart recovery, multi-channel selling and extensive third-party app integrations. However, it comes with monthly fees and potential transaction costs, making it more expensive than Squarespace in the long run.

Ultimately, choose Squarespace if you prioritize design and simplicity, but go for Shopify if your primary focus is running a full-fledged, scalable online store.

Final Verdict

Shopify is the best option for those who want a hassle-free, all-in-one eCommerce solution with built-in hosting, security, and excellent support. It’s ideal for businesses looking for scalability and ease of use without dealing with technical complexities. Squarespace is perfect for small businesses, creatives, and those who prioritize design over advanced eCommerce functionalities. While it offers a visually appealing platform with built-in hosting, it lacks some of the scalability and flexibility found in Shopify and WooCommerce.

Conclusion

Ultimately, if you want simplicity and scalability, go with Shopify. If you prioritize design and ease of use, Squarespace is a solid choice. For those who need complete control and flexibility, WooCommerce is the way to go. Each platform has its strengths, so the best choice depends on your business needs and technical expertise.

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