Shopify vs Squarespace Pricing 2026: Which Is Cheaper for Your Store?
Two very different platforms at similar price points. Squarespace is cheaper for simple stores under $2K/month revenue. Shopify is better for serious e-commerce. Here is the pricing breakdown that helps you choose.
Under $2,000/month revenue with simple products (under 50 SKUs, domestic shipping only): choose Squarespace for better design templates and lower total cost. Over $2,000/month or with complex e-commerce needs (multi-channel, international shipping, POS, many apps): choose Shopify for the stronger e-commerce feature set and ecosystem.
Plan Comparison
Squarespace and Shopify structure their e-commerce plans differently. Squarespace offers Business ($33/month with limited commerce) and two Commerce tiers. Shopify is pure e-commerce from day one. The comparison below matches the most relevant plans for online store owners. Note that Squarespace Business is not a full e-commerce plan but is included because many stores start there.
| Feature | SS Commerce Basic ($36) | SS Commerce Adv ($65) | Shopify Basic ($39) | Shopify Grow ($105) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction fee | 3% | 0% | 0% (Shopify Pay) | 0% (Shopify Pay) |
| Processing rate | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.7% + $0.30 |
| Products | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Abandoned cart emails | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| POS | No | No | POS Lite | POS Lite |
| Shipping labels | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-channel selling | Limited | Limited | 6+ channels | 6+ channels |
| App marketplace | 30+ extensions | 30+ extensions | 8,000+ apps | 8,000+ apps |
| Design templates | 100+ (all free) | 100+ (all free) | 200+ (free & paid) | 200+ (free & paid) |
Total Cost Comparison by Revenue
Squarespace Commerce Basic charges 3% on transactions plus Stripe processing. Commerce Advanced charges 0% plus Stripe. Shopify Basic with Shopify Payments charges 2.9% + $0.30 total. At low revenue, Squarespace Commerce Advanced's $65 subscription with 0% transaction fee can be cheaper. At higher revenue, Shopify's lower processing rates on Grow and Advanced make it more cost-effective.
| Revenue | SS Commerce Adv | Shopify Basic | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $100 | $74 | Shopify |
| $2,000 | $135 | $109 | Shopify |
| $5,000 | $240 | $214 | Shopify |
| $10,000 | $415 | $389 | Shopify |
| $25,000 | $940 | $914 | Shopify |
| $50,000 | $1815 | $1789 | Shopify |
When Squarespace Wins
Squarespace is the better choice for design-first businesses with simple e-commerce needs. If you are an artist, photographer, or small brand with fewer than 50 products, domestic-only shipping, and no need for POS or multi-channel selling, Squarespace's beautiful templates and intuitive editor create a better shopping experience with less effort. All templates are free, and the drag-and-drop builder requires no technical knowledge.
Squarespace also includes a website builder, blog, and scheduling tools that Shopify does not match. If your business combines an online store with appointment booking, a portfolio, or extensive blog content, Squarespace handles all of these natively. Shopify is primarily an e-commerce platform that happens to have a blog, while Squarespace is a website platform that happens to have e-commerce.
When Shopify Wins
Shopify wins decisively when e-commerce complexity increases. Multi-channel selling across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google, Amazon, and in-person POS is where Shopify's infrastructure shines. The 8,000+ app marketplace means there is a solution for virtually any e-commerce challenge, from subscription products to custom product configurators to B2B wholesale pricing. Squarespace's 30+ extensions cannot compete with this breadth.
Shipping is another Shopify strength. Shopify includes shipping label printing, carrier-calculated rates, and significant shipping discounts (up to 88%) on all plans from Basic upward. Squarespace does not offer shipping labels or carrier discount programs, meaning you handle shipping through separate services like Shippo or PirateShip, adding complexity and potentially higher costs.
At higher revenue levels ($10K+/month), Shopify's plan structure with decreasing transaction fees provides a clear cost advantage. The ability to stay on a single platform as you scale from $2K to $200K per month in revenue, with increasingly favorable fee rates, makes Shopify the better long-term investment for growth-oriented businesses. Squarespace does not offer the same fee reduction path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Squarespace cheaper than Shopify?
Yes, for small stores. Squarespace Commerce Basic costs $36/month versus Shopify Basic at $39/month, and Squarespace Commerce Advanced at $65/month includes 0% transaction fees. For stores under $2,000 per month revenue with simple product lines, Squarespace is typically $10-$30 cheaper per month. Above $2,000/month or with complex e-commerce needs, Shopify's superior shipping, POS, and app ecosystem make it the better value.
Does Squarespace charge transaction fees?
Squarespace Commerce Basic charges 3% on all transactions. Commerce Advanced charges 0% transaction fees. Both plans process payments through Stripe (2.9% + $0.30) or PayPal. The 3% fee on Commerce Basic is in addition to Stripe's processing fee, making it quite expensive compared to Shopify Basic's zero surcharge when using Shopify Payments.
Which is better for beginners, Shopify or Squarespace?
Squarespace is easier for beginners who prioritize design and have simple product lines. Its drag-and-drop editor is more intuitive for non-technical users, and templates are design-forward. Shopify is better for beginners who plan to scale or need e-commerce-specific features like abandoned cart emails, complex shipping rules, or multi-channel selling. Both offer free trials to test before committing.
Can I switch from Squarespace to Shopify later?
Yes, but migration requires effort. You can export products as CSV from Squarespace and import to Shopify, but customer data, order history, and SEO redirects require manual work or a migration app ($30-$100). You will also need to redirect your old URLs to preserve search rankings. Planning for the right platform from the start is cheaper than migrating later.