Shopify vs Squarespace Commerce
Shopify is leading e-commerce platform for building online stores with themes, apps, and payments, while Squarespace Commerce is beautiful e-commerce built into Squarespace's website builder platform. Squarespace Commerce comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Shopify is built for businesses wanting the most popular e-commerce platform, whereas Squarespace Commerce targets design-focused brands selling physical products, art, or creative services.
$27/mo
| Feature | Shopify | Squarespace Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| App Store | ✓ | — |
| E-commerce | — | ✓ |
| Email marketing | — | ✓ |
| Inventory management | — | ✓ |
| Online Store | ✓ | — |
| Payments | ✓ | — |
| Themes | ✓ | — |
| Website builder | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Shopify starts at $29/mo. Squarespace Commerce starts at $27/mo. Squarespace Commerce is the more affordable option.
Feature gaps: Shopify offers App Store, Online Store and Payments that Squarespace Commerce lacks. Squarespace Commerce brings E-commerce, Email marketing and Inventory management that Shopify does not have.
Where each tool shines: Shopify's biggest strengths are: includes online store as a core feature, purpose-built for e-commerce workflows. includes themes as a core feature, purpose-built for e-commerce workflows. Squarespace Commerce's biggest strengths are: best-in-class design templates for visual brands. all-in-one website + store — no separate platforms needed.
Watch out for: With Shopify, users commonly note that starts at $29/mo — on the expensive side, especially for small teams or solo users. With Squarespace Commerce, the main complaint is that limited advanced e-commerce features vs shopify.
choose Shopify if
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: businesses wanting the most popular e-commerce platform
- You specifically need App Store and Online Store
- You care about includes themes as a core feature, purpose-built for e-commerce workflows
choose Squarespace Commerce if
- You need a tool built for design-focused brands selling physical products, art, or creative services
- You want to save on per-user costs — Squarespace Commerce is $2.00/user/mo cheaper
- You specifically need E-commerce and Email marketing
- You care about all-in-one website + store — no separate platforms needed
frequently asked
What is the difference between Shopify and Squarespace Commerce?
Shopify is leading e-commerce platform for building online stores with themes, apps, and payments, while Squarespace Commerce is beautiful e-commerce built into Squarespace's website builder platform. Squarespace Commerce comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Shopify is built for businesses wanting the most popular e-commerce platform, whereas Squarespace Commerce targets design-focused brands selling physical products, art, or creative services.
Should I use Shopify or Squarespace Commerce?
Shopify is built for businesses wanting the most popular e-commerce platform. Squarespace Commerce is built for design-focused brands selling physical products, art, or creative services. Pick the one that fits.
When should I choose Shopify over Squarespace Commerce?
Choose Shopify if Your profile matches its sweet spot: businesses wanting the most popular e-commerce platform; You specifically need App Store and Online Store; You care about includes themes as a core feature, purpose-built for e-commerce workflows.
When should I choose Squarespace Commerce over Shopify?
Choose Squarespace Commerce if You need a tool built for design-focused brands selling physical products, art, or creative services; You want to save on per-user costs — Squarespace Commerce is $2.00/user/mo cheaper; You specifically need E-commerce and Email marketing; You care about all-in-one website + store — no separate platforms needed.
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