Shopify is a hosted commerce platform with a built-in checkout. Squarespace is a hosted website builder with design templates, a store and linked scheduling. The better choice depends on what your site has to do and who will run it.
With Shopify: app costs and app overlap add up as features are added. and product and collection URLs use fixed /products and /collections paths.
With Squarespace: features outside Squarespace's blocks need code injection or a third-party service. and only part of the site exports if you move later.
List the jobs the site must do, such as bookings, a store, listings or member logins.
Check each job against what each platform has built in, through add-ons or as custom work.
Decide who will update the site day to day, and how often.
Check what you could take with you if you move later.
| Criterion | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting and upkeep[1][3] | Hosting is included with every Shopify plan. | All Squarespace plans include managed hosting. |
| Selling online[5][2][6] | Products and checkout are built in and managed from the Shopify admin. | The store sells physical, download, service and gift card products through Squarespace checkout. |
| Custom code[7][8] | Theme files, including Liquid templates, can be edited in the code editor. | Custom code can be added through code injection on plans that include it. |
| Adding features[9][4][10] | Many features, such as bookings, come from apps in the Shopify App Store. | Extra features come from built-in blocks and linked services such as Acuity Scheduling and OpenTable. |
| Moving away later[11][12] | Products export to CSV, but the export leaves out product images. | The export is a WordPress-format file covering layout pages, one blog and some blocks; store, portfolio and other page types are left out. |
Products export to CSV, but the export leaves out product images. Any move should map every old address to its new page with permanent redirects.[11][13]
The export is a WordPress-format file covering layout pages, one blog and some blocks; store, portfolio and other page types are left out. Any move should map every old address to its new page with permanent redirects.[12][13]
Yes. Shopify is one of the platforms we build on, and we recommend it when it suits the jobs your site has to do. If another platform fits better, we say so. We customise and improve existing Squarespace sites. If your site needs more than Squarespace offers, we recommend a platform that fits and plan the move.
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