Squarespace vs Shopify: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Squarespace is built for creatives, while Shopify suits online stores. For most users Shopify is the stronger default, but Squarespace can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Squarespace has the lower entry price.
If you're weighing Squarespace against Shopify, the right answer depends on your priorities. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Squarespace | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Website builder | E-commerce platform |
| What it's known for | Design-led all-in-one website builder favored for portfolios, creatives, and clean commerce sites. | Leading hosted e-commerce platform; full storefront, payments, and app ecosystem for online stores. |
| Pricing | Plans from ~$16/mo (Personal) to Commerce tiers. | From ~$29/mo (Basic) to Advanced and Plus enterprise tiers. |
| Best audience | Creatives, portfolios and design-focused businesses wanting beautiful sites with minimal effort. | Online stores, DTC brands and dropshippers wanting an all-in-one hosted commerce platform. |
| Best for | Creatives, Portfolios, Design-focused sites | Online stores, Dropshipping, DTC brands |
| Entry price | $16/mo (annual) | $39/mo |
| Biggest strength | Genuinely polished, professional templates that are mobile-responsive out of the box. | Easiest path to a full-featured hosted store with payments and POS. |
| Main caveat | Cost creep: 2% (physical) / 7% (digital) transaction fees on the Basic commerce plan push users to pricier tiers. | Transaction fees (0.6-2.0%) when not using Shopify Payments. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
Squarespace key features
- Squarespace 7.1 with the Fluid Engine grid-based drag-and-drop editor
- ~194 designer-grade templates across portfolio, photography, commerce and more
- Blueprint AI suite for site and content generation
- AIO (AI Optimization) Scanner tracking brand mentions in ChatGPT/Perplexity answers
Shopify key features
- Fully hosted storefront with built-in checkout and Shopify Payments
- POS Lite included on every plan; POS Pro add-on for in-person retail
- Large app store ecosystem and multi-channel selling
- B2B foundational features available on all plans (as of April 2026); advanced B2B on Plus
Pricing tiers side by side
Squarespace plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (commerce) | $16/mo (annual) | renews ~$25/mo; 2%/7% transaction fees |
| Core | $23/mo | 0% transaction fees, free domain 1st year |
| Plus | $39/mo | for sellers avoiding fees |
Shopify plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/mo | 25% off with annual billing |
| Shopify | $105/mo | mid-tier |
| Advanced | $399/mo | lower transaction fees |
| Plus | from $2,300/mo | enterprise, zero transaction fees |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Squarespace wins
Design-led builder whose templates and new AIO Scanner (AI-search visibility tracking) set it apart for creatives.
- Genuinely polished, professional templates that are mobile-responsive out of the box.
- All-in-one hosting, SSL, domain and CDN with zero server management.
That makes it the stronger pick for creatives, portfolios and design-focused businesses wanting beautiful sites with minimal effort.
Where Shopify wins
The leading hosted e-commerce platform with the deepest app ecosystem and tightly integrated payments + POS.
- Easiest path to a full-featured hosted store with payments and POS.
- Shopify Payments is usually the cheapest processing option (avoids the surcharge).
That makes it the stronger pick for online stores, DTC brands and dropshippers wanting an all-in-one hosted commerce platform.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Squarespace if you fit its core audience — creatives, portfolios and design-focused businesses wanting beautiful sites with minimal effort.
- Choose Shopify if you fit its core audience — online stores, DTC brands and dropshippers wanting an all-in-one hosted commerce platform.
FAQ
Is Squarespace better than Shopify?
Shopify is the stronger default for most users, but Squarespace can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Squarespace and Shopify?
Squarespace is design-led builder whose templates and new AIO Scanner (AI-search visibility tracking) set it apart for creatives. Shopify is the leading hosted e-commerce platform with the deepest app ecosystem and tightly integrated payments + POS.
Which is cheaper, Squarespace or Shopify?
Entry pricing differs: Squarespace starts at $16/mo (annual), while Shopify starts at $39/mo. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Squarespace and Shopify: