Shopify vs Squarespace
Shopify vs Squarespace for Ecommerce: Which Is Better in 2026?
Squarespace has grown up as an ecommerce platform, but Shopify still dominates. For a UK small shop deciding between them, here's what actually matters.
Shopify
Purpose-built ecommerce platform with the biggest app ecosystem.
Best for:
Shops that expect to grow past 100 orders/month or want serious ecommerce features.
Pricing:
From £25/month
Pros
- + Best-in-class checkout
- + Huge app + theme ecosystem
- + Handles scale
- + Strong POS
Cons
- − Monthly fee + transaction fees
- − Content/blog side is weaker
- − Themes can look samey
Squarespace
Design-led website builder with built-in ecommerce.
Best for:
Brand-led shops with under 50 SKUs where design matters as much as selling.
Pricing:
From £26/month (Commerce)
Pros
- + Beautiful templates
- + Great for content + shop combined
- + Simple pricing
- + Good for services + products
Cons
- − Weaker at scale
- − Fewer integrations
- − Checkout is less optimised
- − Limited multi-currency
The verdict
Shopify if selling is the priority. Squarespace if brand and content lead, with shop as a secondary channel.
RIOT's take
We see Squarespace shops outgrow it within 18 months once orders pick up. If you're serious about ecommerce, start on Shopify and skip the migration.
FAQs
Which is better for SEO?
Both are fine. Squarespace has slightly cleaner content SEO; Shopify has better product SEO and schema out of the box.
Can I migrate Squarespace to Shopify later?
Yes — budget 2-3 weeks for a 50-product migration with redirects, design rebuild and product data cleanup.
Which has lower fees?
Shopify with Shopify Payments has no extra transaction fee. Squarespace charges 3% on the mid tier — negligible at low volume, meaningful at scale.
Need help choosing?
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