Shopify vs Squarespace
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Shopify and Squarespace. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Shopify edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. However, Squarespace (4.3/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Creatives, portfolios, and brands wanting beautiful, design-forward websites. Read on for the full breakdown.
Shopify vs Squarespace at a Glance
Shopify
★ 4.5Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, powering millions of online stores globally. It provides everything needed to start, run, and grow an online business, from website building and product management to payment processing and shipping. Known for its ease of use and extensive app ecosystem.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem
Read full review →Squarespace
★ 4.3Squarespace is a premium website builder known for its stunning, designer-quality templates and all-in-one approach. It combines website building, hosting, domains, e-commerce, email marketing, and scheduling into a single platform. Popular with creatives, portfolio-based businesses, and brands that prioritise visual design.
Starting from: £12/month
Best for: Creatives, portfolios, and brands wanting beautiful, design-forward websites
Read full review →Shopify vs Squarespace Feature Comparison
Here is how Shopify and Squarespace compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £24/month | £12/month |
| Best For | Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem | Creatives, portfolios, and brands wanting beautiful, design-forward websites |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Limited |
| Email Marketing | No | Yes |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Basic | Basic |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Shopify vs Squarespace Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
Shopify Pricing
Basic
£24/month
- ✓Online store
- ✓Unlimited products
- ✓2 staff accounts
- ✓Basic reports
Shopify
£59/month
- ✓Everything in Basic
- ✓5 staff accounts
- ✓Professional reports
- ✓Lower card rates
Advanced
£289/month
- ✓Everything in Shopify
- ✓15 staff accounts
- ✓Custom reports
- ✓Lowest card rates
Shopify Plus
From £1,750/month
- ✓Enterprise features
- ✓Unlimited staff
- ✓Dedicated support
- ✓Customisable checkout
Squarespace Pricing
Personal
£12/month
- ✓Website builder
- ✓Free domain
- ✓SSL
- ✓Unlimited bandwidth
Business
£18/month
- ✓Everything in Personal
- ✓Basic e-commerce
- ✓Google Workspace
- ✓Advanced analytics
Basic Commerce
£23/month
- ✓Everything in Business
- ✓No transaction fees
- ✓POS
- ✓Customer accounts
Advanced Commerce
£38/month
- ✓Everything in Basic Commerce
- ✓Subscriptions
- ✓Advanced shipping
- ✓Commerce APIs
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Shopify and Squarespace for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
Shopify Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Easiest e-commerce platform to use
- •Massive app ecosystem (8,000+ apps)
- •Excellent payment processing (Shopify Payments)
- •Scales from small to enterprise
- •Strong SEO capabilities
✗Cons
- •Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
- •Monthly costs add up with apps
- •Limited customisation without coding
- •Content management is basic compared to WordPress
- •Migrating away is difficult
Squarespace Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Stunning, award-winning templates
- •All-in-one platform (no plugins needed)
- •Excellent for portfolios and visual brands
- •Built-in scheduling (Acuity)
- •Strong blogging capabilities
✗Cons
- •Less flexible than WordPress for complex sites
- •E-commerce features lag behind Shopify
- •No app marketplace (limited extensions)
- •Customisation requires coding for advanced needs
- •Pricing is mid-range for what you get
Our Verdict: Shopify vs Squarespace
Both Shopify and Squarespace are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose Shopify if you need Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem. With a starting price of £24/month and a rating of 4.5/5, it offers easiest e-commerce platform to use.
Choose Squarespace if you need Creatives, portfolios, and brands wanting beautiful, design-forward websites. Starting at £12/month with a 4.3/5 rating, it excels at stunning, award-winning templates.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between Shopify and Squarespace? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up Shopify or Squarespace for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.