Square vs. Shopify - Which E-commerce Platform to Choose
If you're looking to set up an online store, choosing the right e-commerce platform is crucial. With so many options available, finding the one that best suits your business needs can be overwhelming. Two popular platforms that many business owners consider are Square and Shopify. Both offer various features and services, but which one is the better choice for your business? Let's find out.
Pricing
Both Square and Shopify offer different pricing plans to suit various business sizes and needs.
Square
Square offers an all-in-one solution that includes features such as online store, POS (point-of-sale) system, payments processing, and marketing. Here are the pricing plans for Square:
- Square Online Store Starter Plan: Free.
- Square Online Store Performance Plan: $29/month.
- Square Online Store Premium Plan: $79/month.
- Square Online Store Plus Plan: Custom pricing.
The free plan comes with basic features, but to access advanced features like shipping integration, gift card capabilities, and abandoned cart recovery, you'll need to upgrade to a higher plan.
Shopify
Shopify, on the other hand, offers various plans that cater to different business needs. Here are the pricing plans for Shopify:
- Basic Shopify: $29/month.
- Shopify: $79/month.
- Advanced Shopify: $299/month.
Shopify offers a 14-day free trial for those who want to test the platform before subscribing to a plan.
Features
Square
Square offers various features that include:
- POS system
- Payments processing
- Inventory management
- Online store
- Shipping integration
- Marketing and loyalty programs
- Customer management
One advantage of Square is that it's an all-in-one solution that offers features that cater to businesses of different sizes and needs.
Shopify
Shopify offers features such as:
- Online store
- Order tracking
- Marketing and SEO tools
- Payment processing
- Shipping integration
- Inventory management
Shopify focuses mainly on e-commerce and provides multiple tools to help businesses sell online. Additionally, it offers a wide range of third-party apps that can be used to extend its native features.
Ease of Use
Square
Square is known for its user-friendly interface, and all its features are integrated seamlessly into one platform. It has a drag-and-drop website builder, making it easy for businesses to create an online store without any coding skills.
Shopify
Shopify is also user-friendly, and its interface is easy to navigate. It offers a wide range of themes and templates that businesses can use to design their online store. However, it requires a bit of technical know-how to set up the store, unlike Square's drag-and-drop website builder.
Customer Support
Both Square and Shopify offer great customer support. Square's support is available via email and phone, whereas Shopify offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone.
Conclusion
Choosing between Square and Shopify ultimately comes down to your business needs. If you're looking for an all-in-one solution that offers various features, then Square might be the best choice. On the other hand, if you're solely focusing on e-commerce and require an extensive range of third-party app integrations, then Shopify might be the best option. In terms of pricing, Square offers more affordable options, while Shopify's higher plans cater to businesses with more extensive needs.
Have you used Square or Shopify before? Which one do you prefer, and why? Let us know in the comments below.