Squarespace vs Shopify for eCommerce: Which Platform Helps You Make More Money
When store owners compare Squarespace and Shopify for ecommerce, the conversation usually focuses on design flexibility, pricing, and ease of use. What gets less attention is which platform actually helps you make more money from your store.
What Shopify Has That Squarespace Lacks Natively
Shopify's app ecosystem is significantly larger than Squarespace's. For revenue-focused features like wishlists, upsells, cross-sells, back-in-stock alerts, and price drop notifications, Shopify has dozens of mature apps to choose from. Squarespace's extensions marketplace is much smaller, which for a long time meant Squarespace stores simply could not add these features.
How the Gap Is Closing for Squarespace
The specific gaps that matter most for revenue are now addressable on Squarespace through dedicated plugins. WishlistFlow handles wishlist and save-for-later functionality, adding one-click saving, email-based access, cross-device sync, sharing, admin dashboard, and upcoming reminder and alert features specifically for Squarespace 7.1 stores.
UpsellGrow adds automated upsells and cross-sells to the checkout process, increasing average order value in the same way that Shopify upsell apps do, but built specifically for Squarespace.
Where Squarespace Still Has an Advantage
Squarespace stores are generally easier to manage, particularly for store owners who are not technically inclined. The design tools are more intuitive, the overall system is more unified, and the monthly cost of running a Squarespace store is typically lower than an equivalent Shopify store once you account for the volume of apps required on Shopify to achieve similar functionality.
Which Platform Is Right for You
If you need maximum flexibility and have a large, complex store with hundreds of SKUs and advanced inventory requirements, Shopify is likely the better choice. If you want a well-designed, manageable store that can compete on revenue capability without the complexity of Shopify's app ecosystem, Squarespace with the right plugins is a strong option in 2026 in a way it was not a few years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Squarespace have the same revenue tools as Shopify?
Not natively, but the most important revenue-focused features are now available through Squarespace plugins. WishlistFlow handles wishlist and save-for-later. UpsellGrow handles upsells and cross-sells. Together they cover the main revenue gaps that Shopify's app ecosystem has long addressed.
Is Squarespace cheaper than Shopify for ecommerce?
Squarespace's base plans are generally lower in cost than Shopify's equivalent plans, and Squarespace requires fewer apps to achieve a comparable setup, which keeps the total monthly cost lower for most stores.