Shopify vs. Squarespace – Which is Better?

If you are in the process of developing an online store, you are probably weighing your options for an eCommerce platform that meets your requirements. While there are quite a few options available, we will be talking about the top two platforms in this blog – Shopify vs. Squarespace, how they are different, and which is better.

They both offer various & valuable features to their users. We have drafted an in-depth comparison between the two to help you decide which one to choose. So start scrolling to get started with the comparison! But first, let’s do a quick overview of both platforms.

Shopify Overview

Shopify is a hosted eCommerce platform to let you create and run your online stores. It is convenient for beginners who have no prior knowledge of coding and web development. With 1 million+ active users, Shopify is one of the popular eCommerce platforms that offer scalable front-end & back-end solutions to businesses.

Shopify Pros

1. User-friendliness

The best thing about Shopify is that it is beginner-friendly. It is designed so that even a person with no prior coding and web development experience can create an online store from scratch.

2. No transaction fee

Unlike other eCommerce platforms, it allows businesses to accept payments without paying a transaction fee to Shopify.

3. Variety of themes and apps

Shopify offers numerous apps and themes to enhance the functionality of your online store.

4. 24/7 customer support

The Shopify support team is always available to help you with issues.

5. Secure & reliable

All Shopify stores are hosted on Shopify’s secure servers. Plus, your confidential data is always kept safe and secure.

Shopify Cons

1. Limited customization

Shopify allows limited customizations. And if you want to change the functionality of your store, you can’t do it without the knowledge of coding.

2. Expensive

Though Shopify offers numerous apps, you have to pay for each app separately, which quickly increases your overall costs.

3. Limited reporting tools

Shopify offers a few essential reporting tools which might not be enough for some businesses.

Squarespace Overview

Squarespace is a hosted CMS solution that lets you create and manage blogs, portfolios, and online stores. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it a favorable choice for building a simple store from the ground up. In addition, Squarespace is an all-purpose website builder handy for creating landing pages.

Squarespace Pros

1. Modern templates

Squarespace offers a variety of sleek templates for building professional-looking online stores.

2. Affordable

You can start a store at as low as $16/month to $46/month, which is relatively cheaper than other eCommerce platforms.

Squarespace Cons

1. No app store

Since it doesn’t have an app store, you require coding skills to change the functionality of your online store.

2. Limited payment options

On Squarespace, you can only accept payments through Paypal and Stripe. It doesn’t offer many payment options as Shopify.

3. The Tricky dashboard

Squarespace dashboard can be tricky, especially for first-time users.

Shopify vs. Squarespace: A Tabular Comparison

Key Features Squarespace Shopify
Drag-and-Drop Editor
Sales Reporting
International Payment Methods
Blog CMS Capabilities
Built-in SEO Tools
Fully-Featured Mobile App
Sell Subscriptions With Shopify apps
Fraud Analysis
Transaction Fee 0% on commerce plans 0% with Shopify payments
App Store Over 20 extensions Over 6000 apps
Responsive Website Themes Over 100 free templates Over 70 free and paid themes
Custom Online Store
Reliable Hosting
Custom Domain Name
Sales Channels Facebook, Instagram Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google, Amazon
Accelerated Checkout Apple Pay Apple Pay, Google Pay
POS Solution With Square (US only) With Shopify POS
Business Loans With Shopify Captial
✔Secure Payment Gateways 3 Over 100
Product Limits Unlimited Unlimited
Storage Limit Unlimited Unlimited
Pricing (USD) $14 to $49 $29 to $292
24/7 International Support

Which is Better?

You will have to scrutinize before you make a final choice. Squarespace is all about simplicity, while Shopify offers more advanced features to facilitate multi-level selling. We understand that it might be complicated for you to choose right away. Therefore, we took the time for you to make an in-depth comparison between the features of Shopify vs. Squarespace. So what’s the final verdict?

The Final Verdict

It all depends on how you evaluate your business needs and comprehend the best features for your eCommerce site. That’s the only way to pick a clear winner. Both the software deliver commendable results depending on your business requirements. Feel free to connect with us if you want to know more about the eCommerce platforms.

May 25, 2022
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