Website Builders comparison · 2026
Shopify vs Squarespace (2026 Comparison)
Side-by-side: pricing, features, pros, cons, and our editorial winner for website builders.
Winner summary
Shopify wins overall
Scoring 9.3/10 vs 8.7/10 in our 2026 review.
Cheaper
Squarespace
Higher rated
Shopify
Better free tier
Tie
Feature comparison
| Dimension | Shopify | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| ProductsVerdict score | 9.3/10 | 8.7/10 |
| User rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Starting price | $29/mo | $16/mo |
| Free trial | 3-day free trial + $1/mo intro | 14-day free trial |
| Best for | E-commerce | Design-conscious creators |
| Badge | Editor's Choice | Editor's Choice |
Shopify key features
- Hosted commerce platform
- Shop App distribution
- 8000+ apps in App Store
- Shopify Payments + POS
- Headless via Hydrogen
Squarespace key features
- Award-winning templates
- Built-in commerce
- Member areas & courses
- Email campaigns add-on
- Acuity Scheduling
Shopify — pros & cons
Pros
- Best e-commerce ecosystem
- Reliable hosting & checkout
- Strong app market
Cons
- Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
- Theme customization needs Liquid
Squarespace — pros & cons
Pros
- Best-looking templates out of the box
- Polished editing experience
Cons
- Editor less flexible than Wix
- Some features behind add-ons
When to pick which
Choose Shopify if…
- DTC brands
- Multi-channel commerce
Choose Squarespace if…
- Portfolios
- Boutique commerce
- Service businesses