🛒 Shopify vs. Squarespace for eCommerce: Which Platform Is Actually Right for You?

Let’s be real — choosing where to build your online store can feel a lot like trying to pick a brunch spot in Portland. There are so many options, everyone has strong opinions, and the decision feels weirdly high-stakes.

If you’re currently staring at your laptop wondering if you should go with Shopify or Squarespace, I’ve got you.

As a web designer who builds on both platforms, I’m breaking down exactly what you need to know — no tech jargon, no fluff. Just the good stuff to help you pick the best platform for your eCommerce website.

✨ First, What’s the Difference Between Shopify and Squarespace?

🛠 Shopify: The eCommerce Powerhouse

If selling is your main thing — Shopify is your platform. It was built specifically for eCommerce, which means it’s focused on helping you make sales, manage your inventory, track customer behavior, and scale without stress.

Here’s what Shopify brings to the table:

• A backend built for serious selling
• Built-in abandoned cart recovery
• Advanced inventory features and shipping integrations
• Access to thousands of apps and third-party tools
• Multi-channel selling (like syncing to IG, TikTok, Pinterest, and Amazon)

Shopify is flexible and powerful — but that also means there’s a slightly steeper learning curve if you’re doing it solo

🎨 Squarespace: Sleek, Simple, and Stunning

Squarespace is your go-to if you’re prioritizing aesthetics and simplicity.

It shines in the drag-and-drop department and is ideal for businesses that want some eCommerce functionality — but don’t necessarily need the full power of a platform like Shopify.

Squarespace is great for:

• Selling a few physical or digital products
• Creative businesses (photographers, artists, consultants) who want a clean portfolio + shop setup
• Entrepreneurs who want to DIY without getting overwhelmed
• Businesses where eCommerce is a side piece, not the main event

Its built-in templates are gorgeous, and the experience is intuitive from the jump.

🛍️ Selling Features & Flexibility: Shopify Takes the Win

Let’s talk features.

If you’re planning to build a shop that does heavy lifting — Shopify is going to give you more tools, more control, and more potential for growth.

Want to offer discounts, manage multiple product variants, automate fulfillment, or sell across channels like TikTok and Pinterest? Shopify’s already on it.

But if your store is more of a “supporting role” in your business — like a few digital downloads, merch drops, or limited collections — Squarespace will get the job done without overwhelming you.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Feature	Shopify	Squarespace
Unlimited Products	✅	🚫 (10,000 limit)
Digital Products	✅	✅
Advanced Inventory Tools	✅ (Detailed SKUs, fulfillment)	🚫 (Limited)
Abandoned Cart Recovery	✅ (Even on basic plan)	✅ (On higher-tier plans)
Multi-channel Selling	✅ (IG, TikTok, Pinterest, etc.)	🚫

📦 Inventory Management: Shopify = Built for Bigger Stores

This is where Shopify really pulls ahead.

If you’ve got multiple collections, lots of SKUs, different shipping rules, or are planning to scale — Shopify can manage it all like a champ.

You can track stock levels, set fulfillment centers, offer pre-orders, and even integrate with tools like ShipStation or Klaviyo.

Squarespace handles the basics well (especially for smaller product catalogs), but it can start to feel clunky if you’re trying to manage a large or complex inventory.

It also has fewer automation options, so more of the work falls on you.

So if you’re planning to grow, manage inventory at scale, or add more complexity down the line — Shopify is the safer bet.

🎨 Design & Customization: Squarespace Wins (Out of the Box)

Squarespace is known for its clean, high-end templates that make your brand look polished with minimal effort. If you want to get something up quickly and make it look good without a designer, it’s honestly unmatched.

That said — Shopify is way more customizable if you’re working with a designer (👋 hey, I know someone).

While the starter themes aren’t quite as glamorous out of the gate, Shopify gives you the freedom to create a fully custom eCommerce experience with total control over layout, checkout, mobile experience, and branding.

So it’s a tradeoff:

• DIY and want it to look sleek? Squarespace.
• Want something strategic, branded, and designed to convert? Shopify + a designer (aka me) is the move.

🧠 Ease of Use: Squarespace Is Easier (For Beginners)

If you’re DIYing your website and you’re not super techy, Squarespace is going to feel a lot more intuitive. Everything is drag-and-drop, and the learning curve is short. You can launch a Squarespace site in a weekend with minimal stress.

Shopify isn’t hard, but there are more moving parts. The dashboard is built for functionality over beauty, and some areas (like theme editing or app integrations) can be tricky if you’re not used to it.

That’s not a bad thing — it just means you might need a bit more help upfront.

So if you’re going it alone: Squarespace. If you’re hiring a pro or ready to learn: Shopify.

💸 Pricing: Slightly Cheaper Doesn’t Mean Better

Let’s break it down:

• Squarespace: Starts around $23/month for Basic Commerce, or $39/month for Advanced Commerce (includes abandoned cart recovery, gift cards, subscriptions).
• Shopify: Starts at $29/month for Basic (includes abandoned cart recovery), with more advanced plans available as you scale.

While Squarespace is more affordable on the surface, Shopify gives you more tools — and in most cases, it’s worth the investment if you’re building a serious online store.

🎯 TL;DR — Which One Should You Use?

Go with Shopify if:

• Your shop is your business
• You’re selling 10+ products or plan to grow
• You want advanced eCommerce tools (shipping, fulfillment, analytics, etc.)
• You want a fully customized experience that converts browsers into buyers

Go with Squarespace if:

• You’re a service-based business or creative adding a small shop
• You’re selling digital products or only a few items
• You want a clean, aesthetic site you can DIY
• You’re not ready for the complexity (or cost) of Shopify yet

💬 My Take (As Someone Who Builds on Both)

I’ve designed custom websites on both platforms — and honestly, there’s no “wrong” answer here. It’s about what you need right now and where you want to go next.

If you want to keep things simple, test out selling a few products, or launch fast without help? Squarespace will treat you right.

If you’re looking to build an online store that runs like a machine, grows with your business, and gives you data to back your decisions? Shopify all day.

And if you’re not sure or feel stuck in analysis mode — this is literally what I help clients figure out every day.

🚀 Ready to Launch a Strategic, Beautiful Store?

I design custom Shopify and Squarespace websites that are more than just pretty — they’re built with strategy, structure, and serious conversion in mind.

So whether you know what platform you want or need a little guidance to figure it out, I’ve got you.

👉 [Reach out here to inquire about a custom website build.]

Let’s build you a website that works harder than you do (and looks damn good while doing it).

❓Frequently Asked Questions