If you’re a small business owner looking to establish or upgrade your online store, you’ve probably come across two popular platforms: Shopify and Squarespace. Both have their strengths, but when it comes to small businesses, which one really shines? Let’s dive into the key differences to help you decide—and by the end, you’ll see why Shopify is the better option if you’re serious about growing your business online.
Ease of Use
Both Shopify and Squarespace are designed with ease of use in mind, but they approach it differently.
- Squarespace is known for its sleek templates and drag-and-drop editor, which is ideal for building a basic website with minimal effort. If you’re just looking to showcase a portfolio or run a small blog, Squarespace could be enough.
- Shopify, however, is specifically built for e-commerce, making it incredibly intuitive for setting up an online store. It has all the tools a small business owner would need to start selling fast—without being a tech expert. Shopify’s easy-to-navigate dashboard simplifies the process of adding products, managing inventory, and handling payments.
Verdict: If you’re a small business owner focused on sales, Shopify’s e-commerce-first design saves you time and hassle.
E-commerce Features
Here’s where Shopify truly outshines Squarespace for small businesses. Shopify is built from the ground up to support online stores, while Squarespace is more of a general website builder that happens to have e-commerce features.
- Shopify offers over 6,000 apps to help you customize your store and add advanced features like abandoned cart recovery, product reviews, email marketing integrations, and more. It also supports multi-channel selling, so you can sync your inventory with marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
- Squarespace does offer some e-commerce capabilities, but it lacks the extensive integrations and flexibility that Shopify has. If you plan to scale your business or sell across multiple platforms, Squarespace’s e-commerce tools may start to feel limiting.
Verdict: For small business owners looking to grow and scale their online store, Shopify’s e-commerce ecosystem is far superior.
Payment Options and Transaction Fees
Every small business owner wants to save on fees, so it’s important to compare how Shopify and Squarespace handle payments.
- Shopify supports over 100 different payment gateways, including Shopify Payments, PayPal, Stripe, and more. If you use Shopify Payments, you won’t be charged extra transaction fees, which is a big bonus for keeping your margins healthy.
- Squarespace, on the other hand, has fewer payment options. It primarily supports Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay, and while you won’t pay additional transaction fees, the lack of flexibility could be a drawback for businesses looking to cater to different customer preferences globally.
Verdict: Shopify gives you more options and control over how you process payments, which is crucial for a growing business.
SEO & Marketing
In today’s competitive market, getting your website noticed is essential, and this is where Shopify excels again.
- Shopify is designed with SEO in mind. Its built-in tools allow you to edit meta tags, add alt text to images, and create custom URLs, all of which help your online store rank higher on Google. Plus, the Shopify App Store includes powerful marketing tools, including integrations with email marketing services, social media, and Google Analytics. Shopify also has automated features like abandoned cart reminders, helping you recover lost sales.
- Squarespace does offer some SEO tools, but they aren’t as robust or as e-commerce focused. If driving traffic and sales is a top priority, Shopify offers better marketing integrations and automation.
Verdict: Shopify provides more advanced SEO and marketing tools, helping small businesses reach more customers and grow faster.
Pricing and Value
At first glance, Squarespace might seem more affordable with its lower entry-level plans. However, when you compare the value you get for your money, Shopify stands out.
- Shopify’s pricing starts at $39/month, but this includes everything you need to run a full-scale online store, from secure payment processing to robust inventory management and 24/7 customer support. Plus, the vast selection of apps means you can customize your store exactly how you want without hidden costs.
- Squarespace starts at $23/month for their basic business plan, but as you add more features, the price increases—and you might still find yourself needing third-party tools to fill in gaps.
Verdict: Shopify’s pricing might be slightly higher, but the range of features and tools you get delivers far more value for small business owners serious about scaling their online store.
Conclusion: Shopify is the Best Choice for Small Businesses
While Squarespace is a solid platform for building beautiful, content-based websites, Shopify is hands-down the better option for small business owners looking to sell online and grow. Its user-friendly design, powerful e-commerce tools, flexibility with payment gateways, and SEO features make it the ideal choice for anyone serious about scaling their business.
Ready to get started? Try Shopify for free today and see why it’s trusted by millions of small business owners around the world.