Shopify vs Squarespace

Shopify is a store platform with a large app and developer ecosystem. Squarespace is a polished website builder with a simple shop. Pick Shopify when selling is the business, Squarespace when the site is.

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The verdict Side by side Plans and pricing Who each is for Other options

The verdict

If the shop is the business, I'd pick Shopify. Physical products, stock that has to stay in sync and shipping all need a platform made for orders. If the site is the business and selling is a side feature, I'd pick Squarespace. A consultancy with a portfolio, a few services to book and a small store will have a simpler time there. Shopify's cost creep is real, because apps, themes and payment fees add to the plan. Squarespace costs you flexibility instead, because you work within pre-designed sections. For most small B2B teams selling services, Squarespace is enough. Teams selling products should look at Shopify first.

What the data says

Both cover 2 of the 2 features we compared.
Only Shopify has a free plan to start on.
Squarespace starts lower, at €12/mo against €21/mo.
Both have an API and an MCP server, so either works with AI employees.
In our Website ranking, Shopify places 4 and Squarespace 3 of 11.

Side by side

Shopify and Squarespace compared
6 points compared	Shopify	Squarespace
Starts at	€21/mo	€12/mo
Free plan	Yes	No
API	Yes	Yes
MCP server	Yes	Yes
Built-in CMS / blog	Yes	Yes
Native ecommerce	Yes	Yes
Links	Visit	Visit

Plans and pricing

Shopify

Basic€28/mo
Grow€78/mo
Advanced€384/mo
AgenticFor selling in AI channels; no monthly fee and you only pay when you make a sale.Free

Squarespace

BasicWebsite plan, EUR; 17 per month monthly, 12 per month billed annually.€17/mo
CoreWebsite plan, EUR; 24 per month monthly, 18 per month billed annually.€24/mo
PlusWebsite plan, EUR; 42 per month monthly, 32 per month billed annually.€42/mo
AdvancedWebsite plan, EUR; 79 per month monthly, 69 per month billed annually.€79/mo

Prices as the vendors list them. They change often; the final price is on their sites.

Who each is for

Choose Shopify if…

Pick Squarespace if you need a polished, credible site live quickly, and you do not want to hire a developer or learn a CMS. It suits founders, consultancies, creators and small businesses. Hosting, domain, a blog, invoicing, scheduling and a simple store sit in one account, and marketers can edit and publish in minutes. The trade-off is that you cannot freely redesign layouts or build custom features, and you control little about page speed. Skip it if you have a large catalogue, complex stock, or want a custom storefront.

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Choose Squarespace if…

Pick Shopify if you sell physical or digital products online and want checkout, payments, orders and stock handled for you. It suits brands that expect to grow, sell in person through point of sale, or plug in tools such as Klaviyo, Gorgias and Drip. The GraphQL Admin API and the Storefront API give a developer plenty of room. Most extra features come from third-party apps, so keep the number small. Skip it if you mostly sell services, or if you only want a brochure site with a few things to buy.

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Other options worth a look

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Sellfy
Sells digital products, subscriptions and physical goods from a simple online storefront with checkout built in.
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