Shopify vs Squarespace Commerce: $39 vs $25/mo (2026)

Shopify vs Squarespace Commerce

E-commerce pricing comparison · 2026

Shopify pricing ranges from $39–$2300/month, while Squarespace Commerce ranges from $25–$139/month. These products use different pricing models (Hybrid (seat + usage) vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.

E-commerce

Shopify

$39–$2300
/month
4 plans
Full pricing breakdown →
VS
E-commerce

Squarespace Commerce

$25–$139
/month
4 plans
Full pricing breakdown →

Different Pricing Models

Direct price comparison isn't meaningful here — Shopify uses Hybrid (seat + usage) pricing while Squarespace Commerce uses Per-seat subscription pricing. Your actual cost will depend on usage volume, team size, or both. Here's each product in its native unit.

Hybrid (seat + usage)

Shopify

$39–$2300 / month
See full Shopify pricing →
vs
Per-seat subscription

Squarespace Commerce

$25–$139 / month
See full Squarespace Commerce pricing →

Shopify and Squarespace Commerce are both hosted e-commerce platforms, but they serve different market segments. Shopify starts at $29/month (annual billing) for its Basic plan and scales to $399/month for Advanced, positioning itself as a dedicated e-commerce powerhouse. Squarespace Commerce is more affordable, starting at just $16/month (annual) for its Basic plan and topping out at $39/month for its Plus tier, making it an attractive option for smaller stores that also need a strong website presence.

Plan-by-Plan Pricing

Plan Shopify Squarespace Commerce
Basic $39 /month $25 /month
Grow (formerly Shopify) $105 /month $36 /month
Advanced $399 /month $56 /month
Shopify Plus $2.3K /month $139 /month

Cost at Scale

Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.

Shopify

5 scenarios
$264 Year 1
Small Online Store (Basic Plan)
monthly average ($29 subscription + $85 apps + $150 transaction fees)
$879 Year 1
Growing Business (Grow Plan)
monthly average ($79 subscription + $150 apps + $650 transaction fees)
$4,400 Year 1
Enterprise Brand (Shopify Plus)
monthly average ($2,300 subscription + $800 apps + $1,300 dev/maintenance)
See all 5 scenarios →

Squarespace Commerce

3 scenarios
$25/month
Starter Setup
$56/month
Growing Business
$139/month
Enterprise Setup

Market Intelligence

Shopify

Median annual cost
$948
Average negotiated discount
25%

Squarespace Commerce

Median annual cost
$500
Based on
222 deals

Our Verdict

Choose Shopify if e-commerce is your primary focus and you need advanced selling features, extensive app integrations, and multi-channel sales capabilities -- its $29-$399/month range reflects a platform built specifically for scaling online stores. Choose Squarespace Commerce if you prioritize beautiful design and need a combined website-plus-store solution at a lower price point -- plans from $16-$39/month (annually) deliver polished templates with built-in commerce features.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Is Squarespace Commerce cheaper than Shopify?

Yes, Squarespace Commerce is generally cheaper than Shopify across comparable tiers. Squarespace's Basic plan starts at $16/month (annual billing) versus Shopify's Basic at $29/month. Even Squarespace's top-tier Plus plan at $39/month is still cheaper than Shopify's mid-tier Grow plan at $79/month (annual). However, Shopify offers more advanced e-commerce features at its higher price points.

02 Which is better for a small online store with a content-heavy website?

Squarespace Commerce is typically the better choice for content-heavy sites that also sell products, as it excels at combining beautiful website design with e-commerce at an affordable $16-$39/month. Shopify is better if your primary goal is selling products at scale, though its starting price of $29/month is higher and its content management tools are less sophisticated.

03 Can Squarespace Commerce replace Shopify?

Squarespace Commerce can replace Shopify for small to mid-sized stores that do not require extensive third-party integrations or advanced e-commerce features like multi-currency support or large-scale inventory management. At $16-$39/month versus Shopify's $29-$399/month range, Squarespace offers meaningful cost savings. However, stores needing a large app ecosystem, advanced analytics, or high-volume selling capabilities may find Shopify's higher pricing justified.