Shopify vs Squarespace: Which Ecommerce Platform is Better for Beginners?
So, you’ve decided to sell online and you’re unsure which ecommerce platform to use. Shopify and Squarespace are two of the most popular platforms for beginners. Although both platforms offer a lot of features, there are some key differences between them. In this post, we’ll provide an unbiased comparison of these two platforms to help you decide which one best suits your needs.
Ease of Use
Shopify is known for being an easy-to-use platform. With a simple and intuitive interface, beginners can easily create an online store without any coding knowledge. The platform offers drag-and-drop options, making it easy to customize your website.
Squarespace is also user-friendly, but is more geared towards website design rather than ecommerce. The interface is similar to Shopify’s, but the platform offers more design options. However, the ecommerce features are not as robust as Shopify’s.
Winner: Shopify
Features
Shopify is packed with features, including unlimited products, multiple payment gateways, SSL certificates, shipping options, and more. The platform also offers an app store with thousands of apps that can expand your store’s functionality.
Squarespace’s ecommerce features are more limited than Shopify’s, but still provide the necessary options that beginners need, such as product inventory management, tax calculator, and shipping options. Squarespace also offers a built-in email marketing system and a blog feature.
Winner: Shopify
Templates
Shopify offers over 100 professional-looking templates that are designed with ecommerce in mind. The templates are easily customizable, even for beginners.
Squarespace offers a wide range of templates as well, but they are more geared towards website design than ecommerce. However, the templates are more visually stunning and professional-looking than Shopify’s.
Winner: Squarespace
Pricing
Shopify offers different pricing tiers for different needs. The basic plan starts at $29/month and offers all the basics that a beginner needs. As your business grows, you can upgrade to more advanced plans.
Squarespace’s pricing is more straightforward, with a basic plan starting at $18/month. However, there are some limits to the features in the basic plan, such as transaction fees and limited shipping options.
Winner: Shopify
Customer Support
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and chat. The platform also has a vast knowledge base and community forums where you can find answers to most questions.
Squarespace offers customer support through email and chat, but not phone. The platform also has a knowledge base and community forums.
Winner: Shopify
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Shopify and Squarespace offer a lot of features for beginners. However, Shopify is more geared towards ecommerce and offers more robust features than Squarespace. Additionally, Shopify is easier to use and provides better customer support. Squarespace is more geared towards website design and offers more visually stunning templates. Ultimately, it depends on your business needs and personal preferences.
Overall Winner: Shopify