Head-to-head · Website Builders
Squarespace vs Shopify
Squarespace leads on 1 check, Shopify on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreSquarespace · 7.7/10
- Lowest starting priceSquarespace · $19/mo
Squarespace scores higher on our rubric for website builders: 7.7 against 6.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #19 and #36.
Squarespace is cheaper to start at $19/mo against $29/mo.
Squarespace is the better fit for portfolios, studios and restaurants that must look premium. Shopify is the better fit for anyone whose website exists to sell products.
- Squarespace fits best
Portfolios, studios and restaurants that must look premium
- Shopify fits best
Anyone whose website exists to sell products
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Side by side
| Feature | Squarespace 7.7/10 Visit ↗ | Shopify 6.3/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.7 | 6.3 |
| Ranking | #19 in Website Builders | #36 in Website Builders |
| Best for | Portfolios, studios and restaurants that must look premium | Anyone whose website exists to sell products |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $19/mo (best) | $29/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Features Squarespace 3/5 · Shopify 3/5 | ||
| Custom domain on free | — | — |
| AI site builder | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blogging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code export | — | — |
| Hosting included | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| E-commerce | Full | Full |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Squarespace is a website builder aimed at users who want a polished online presence without making endless design decisions. Its templates are opinionated, with strong typography defaults, while the Fluid Engine editor supports overlapping… Read the review → |
Shopify is an e-commerce platform with website-building tools for businesses that sell products online or in physical shops. According to the vendor, its commerce features include abandoned-cart emails and point-of-sale capabilities.… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Squarespace — where it wins
- Templates look finished before you add a single photo
- Fluid Engine grid handles overlaps and mobile without hacks
- Scheduling, member areas and commerce come from the same vendor
Where it doesn't
- No free plan — only a 14-day trial
- Fewer third-party integrations than Wix or WordPress
- Section-based editing feels limiting if you want pixel freedom
Shopify — where it wins
- Checkout, taxes, shipping and payments work out of the box
- App store solves almost any store problem, at a price
- Handles thousands of products and real traffic spikes
Where it doesn't
- Content pages and blogs are an afterthought
- Transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments
- App subscriptions add up on top of the plan
- Squarespace7.7/10 · Paid · from $19/mo · 14-day trial
Design-first templates that look premium out of the box — best for portfolios and studios.
Visit SquarespaceFull verdict → - Shopify6.3/10 · 3-day trial
The default for online stores — checkout, payments and shipping done right, site builder second.
Visit ShopifyFull verdict →
All website builders comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update