Published on December 10, 2022
Shopify vs Squarespace eCommerce: which is better? In this detailed comparison, we will look at which of these popular website development tools is best for your project.
To help you get an overview of how each eCommerce site builder performs, we thoroughly checked the essential features of both online platforms, including their templates, functionality, eCommerce facilities, content management systems, and SEO capabilities. So, read on to get a full idea of which eCommerce platform will help your business grow.
On the surface, Shopify and Squarespace look like similar website builder tools. They let you create a website and sell products. But, despite having similar functionality, they differ in some ways.
Shopify, which was created in 2004, is a hosted eCommerce platform. In general, it is the best alternative for beginners who know nothing about programming, coding, or web development and want to build and operate their own online business. In addition to approximately 2.3 million users, Shopify is now utilized by roughly 4 million online websites worldwide and more than 1.75 million businesses globally.
Squarespace is a hosted content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites, blogs, and online storefronts. It lets businesses and stores of all types create professional websites with a drag-and-drop interface. Squarespace currently hosts roughly 3 million live websites worldwide and more than 3.79 million customers as of this year.
When choosing between Shopify vs Squarespace eCommerce, one of the most important questions is: am I attempting to establish a website or an online store?
An online store is technically a website as well. However, in this context, a "website" is more of an online presence where delivering information is the goal, such as a blog, a news site, a brochure site, a magazine, or a photographic portfolio. On the other hand, an online store features an eCommerce platform wherein selling things such as clothing, mobile devices, or cryptocurrency is the primary goal.
Choosing a platform builder for your eCommerce store or website will largely revolve around the purpose of what you desire to build.
If you want to create an informative website, design features and content management tools will be extremely important. In this situation, Squarespace outperforms Shopify in numerous categories. The templates and themes provided by Squarespace are sleek, stylish, and modern. They also meet the standards of great design, usability, performance, and mobile responsiveness. In addition, the CMS of Squarespace is intuitive and user-friendly.
When it comes to eCommerce features and functionalities, Shopify dominates Squarespace with its established online store-building solutions. The Shopify eCommerce feature set is significantly more complete, with better-developed selling tools, add-ons, and some crucial capabilities that Squarespace does not yet offer. These features include:
Shopify provides more options and services when building an online store compared to Squarespace.
Below is an in-depth comparison and analysis of the key features and differences between Shopify vs Squarespace eCommerce.
Shopify has only three main pricing plans that require monthly fees: Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify. Each plan can range from $29 a month to $299 a month, depending on the inclusions, services, and add-ons you wish to have for your subscription plan.
You may also have to spend more on your Shopify store's domain name, theme designs, and payment gateway integration.
On the other hand, Squarespace offers four pricing options to its users — Personal, Business, Basic Commerce, and Advanced Commerce. These options can cost you anywhere between $16-49 annually. The higher you pay, the more eCommerce functionality your store will have. Clearly, Squarespace helps you begin your eCommerce journey in the most cost-saving way without limiting your online store's ability to be profitable, easy to use, and aesthetic.
Due to its user-friendly hosting nature, Shopify offers a user-friendly dashboard with a drag-and-drop design. This allows you to fully customize your online store — adding, removing, and moving sections — with just a few simple clicks. Shopify is known for its simplicity in allowing its customers to set up and operate their stores with ease.
Although Squarespace is also a hosted cart, it is more difficult to navigate than Shopify. Squarespace uses drag-and-drop sections with some content blocks, making it simple for beginners. The editor's webpage, however, is a bit difficult to navigate and lacks visual cues.
On the other hand, Shopify stands out with its user-friendly interface. To enhance your Shopify experience further, consider exploring custom events tracking on Shopify. This allows you to gather specific data on user interactions, enabling a more tailored and insightful approach to your eCommerce analytics.
Both Shopify and Squarespace let you sell physical and digital products. However, you will need to install a third-party app to sell digital products on Shopify, such as Digital downloads, which you won't have to do with Squarespace.
In terms of payment options, Shopify supports all major payment gateways, including Paypal, Amazon Pay, Square, Shop Pay, and even cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Squarespace has limited payment options with Paypal, Squarespace, and Stripe support.
Lastly, Shopify surpasses Squarespace's shipping options and logistics, offering built-in integration with shipping services like NHL and UPS. It ensures that the shipping experience is pleasant and smooth for everyone involved.
In conclusion, Squarespace and Shopify are both excellent eCommerce website builders. While Shopify offers the best sales features, Squarespace is better for blogging and content-driven websites. That said, Shopify vs Squarespace eCommerce results all boil down to your needs and preferences.
Bliss Drive is a professional and reliable company that specializes in managing Shopify and Squarespace sites. With our team of experts, we can help you optimize your online store for maximum performance and revenue. We offer a variety of services, such as website design and development, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and more to help you grow your business and attract more customers. Our team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and ensuring that your online store is running smoothly at all times. Don't waste your time trying to manage your site on your own - let Bliss Drive handle it for you so you can focus on running your business. Trust us to help you achieve your e-commerce goals and take your online store to the next level
If you are a beginner in eCommerce, check out this Bliss Drive article on eCommerce disasters and how to avoid them.
