Shopify vs Square: Which Is the Best E-commerce Platform in 2025?

E-commerce Platform Showdown

Choosing between e-commerce platforms like Shopify vs Square can be tough. This list compares the top 7 platforms, including Shopify, Square Online, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix eCommerce, Squarespace Commerce, and Volusion, to help you find the perfect fit for your business in 2025. We'll cover key features and pricing so you can confidently launch and grow your online store.

1. Shopify

When comparing Shopify vs Square, Shopify emerges as the powerhouse contender for businesses prioritizing a robust online presence. Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform designed to empower anyone to build and manage an online store. Its intuitive interface, combined with a vast app ecosystem and a comprehensive suite of features, makes it an ideal solution for businesses of all scales, from fledgling startups to large, established enterprises. Shopify offers built-in tools for essential e-commerce functions, including marketing, SEO, and analytics, and provides over 100 professionally designed themes to help you customize your store's appearance. This makes it particularly attractive to businesses looking for a scalable solution that can grow alongside their needs.

Shopify's fully-hosted nature simplifies setup and management. Its built-in payment processing, Shopify Payments, streamlines transactions, although transaction fees apply if you choose to use a third-party payment gateway. A significant advantage of Shopify is its extensive app marketplace, offering over 6,000 apps that extend functionality and allow you to tailor your store to specific requirements. Features like abandoned cart recovery and integrated email marketing tools further enhance its capabilities. Moreover, Shopify facilitates multi-channel selling, allowing you to reach customers across various platforms, including social media and online marketplaces. This broad reach is a key differentiator in the Shopify vs Square debate, particularly for businesses aiming to maximize their online visibility.

Looking at pricing, Shopify offers tiered monthly subscription plans, which can be a considerable expense for smaller businesses. The basic plans have some limitations in functionality, potentially necessitating upgrades as your business expands. While the user-friendly interface requires minimal technical knowledge, advanced customization might require hiring a developer or investing in paid apps. Learn more about Shopify for a deeper dive into its advantages.

Pros:

Highly Scalable: Suitable for businesses anticipating growth.
Excellent Customer Support: 24/7 availability via chat, email, and phone.
User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and manage, even with limited technical expertise.
Strong SEO Features & Mobile-Responsive Themes: Optimized for online visibility and seamless mobile shopping experiences.

Cons:

Monthly Subscription Fees: Can be expensive, especially for small businesses starting out.
Transaction Fees: Apply unless using Shopify Payments.
Advanced Customization: May require developer assistance or paid apps.
Limited Functionality on Basic Plans: May necessitate upgrades as your business grows.

Website: https://www.shopify.com

Shopify deserves its place on this list because it provides a comprehensive and scalable e-commerce solution. While the cost might be a factor for some, the platform's robust features, ease of use, and extensive app ecosystem make it a compelling choice, especially when weighed against alternatives like Square in the "Shopify vs Square" comparison. Its focus on online selling and extensive customization options makes it particularly suitable for businesses prioritizing e-commerce growth and a strong online brand presence.

2. Square Online

Square Online provides a straightforward e-commerce solution, especially for businesses already invested in Square's ecosystem. If you're currently using Square for point-of-sale (POS) transactions, extending your reach online with Square Online offers a seamless transition. This platform prioritizes simplicity and tight integration with Square's existing services, making it particularly attractive for small businesses, restaurants, and retailers looking to expand their sales channels. When comparing Shopify vs Square, Square Online often shines for its ease of use and unified experience.

One of Square Online's key advantages is its seamless integration with Square POS. This means your inventory, sales data, and customer information are automatically synced between your online and physical stores. Imagine updating a product price in your POS system and having it instantly reflected on your online store – that’s the power of Square Online. This unified approach simplifies operations and eliminates manual data entry, saving you time and reducing potential errors. Furthermore, built-in features like delivery and pickup options cater specifically to the needs of restaurants and local retailers, making it a convenient solution for businesses focused on local commerce. The QR code ordering system adds another layer of convenience for contactless in-person transactions.

Square Online offers a free plan with basic e-commerce functionality. This allows you to test the waters and see if the platform fits your needs before committing to a paid plan. Paid plans unlock more advanced features and reduce transaction fees. Speaking of fees, Square Online operates on a percentage-of-sales model, meaning you pay a percentage of each transaction processed through the platform. This can be advantageous for businesses with lower sales volumes, as there are no fixed monthly fees on the free plan.

While Square Online excels in simplicity and integration, it does have limitations. Design customization options are more restricted compared to platforms like Shopify. If you're looking for highly customized branding and a unique online store aesthetic, Shopify might be a better fit. Similarly, Square Online has fewer third-party app integrations and extensions compared to Shopify. This can limit the platform's flexibility and extensibility, particularly for businesses with complex requirements. Finally, while Square Online is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, it might not be as scalable as Shopify for larger enterprises with high-volume sales and complex operational needs.

Key Features & Benefits:

Free plan available: Start selling online without monthly fees (transaction fees still apply).
Square POS integration: Unified inventory, sales, and customer data across online and offline channels.
Built-in delivery & pickup: Streamlined order fulfillment for restaurants and local retailers.
Simple interface: Easy-to-use drag-and-drop store builder.

Pros & Cons:

Pros: No monthly fee option, excellent online/offline integration, simple interface, lower learning curve.
Cons: Limited design customization, fewer app integrations, advanced features require paid plans, less scalable.

Website: https://squareup.com/us/en/online-store

If you are a current Square POS user and prioritize simplicity and integrated operations over extensive customization and scalability, Square Online can be an excellent choice. It provides a user-friendly pathway to establish an online presence and efficiently manage both online and offline sales within a unified system. However, if you anticipate significant growth, require extensive customization, or rely on numerous third-party applications, Shopify might be a better long-term solution. Understanding these differences in the Shopify vs Square debate allows you to choose the platform best suited to your specific needs.

3. WooCommerce

When comparing Shopify vs Square, WooCommerce often emerges as a powerful alternative, especially for those already familiar with WordPress. WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin that transforms any WordPress website into a fully functional online store. This makes it a particularly attractive option for businesses already leveraging WordPress for content marketing or those who desire a high degree of control over their online presence. Unlike Shopify and Square, which are hosted solutions, WooCommerce gives you complete ownership of your store's data and infrastructure.

WooCommerce offers extensive customization through a vast library of WordPress themes and plugins. This allows you to tailor the design and functionality of your store to precisely match your brand and business needs. Whether you're selling physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, or services, WooCommerce has you covered. Built-in payment processing options include popular gateways like PayPal and Stripe, alongside many others, offering flexibility for your customers.

While Shopify and Square offer more streamlined setup processes, WooCommerce's strength lies in its unmatched flexibility and customization. Think of it like building with LEGOs: you have all the individual pieces to create exactly what you want, but it requires more effort than using a pre-built set. This makes WooCommerce ideal for businesses with specific technical requirements or those looking to scale their online store in unique ways. For example, a Shopify user might be limited by the platform's built-in blogging functionality, while a WooCommerce user can leverage the full power of WordPress for content marketing, seamlessly integrating their blog with their online store.

Pricing and Technical Requirements: The WooCommerce plugin itself is free. However, you'll need to factor in costs for WordPress hosting (typically around $10-$50/month), a domain name (around $10-$20/year), and any premium themes or extensions you choose to use. While these can add up, they still often offer a cost-effective alternative to Shopify or Square, particularly for established WordPress users. Technical requirements primarily involve having a WordPress website and some basic understanding of website management.

Implementation Tips:

Choose reliable hosting: Opt for a hosting provider optimized for WooCommerce performance.
Start with a quality theme: A well-designed theme can significantly reduce development time.
Explore essential plugins: Plugins can enhance functionality, from SEO optimization to advanced reporting.
Test thoroughly: Before launching, ensure all features and payment gateways are working correctly.

Pros:

No mandatory monthly fees (just hosting costs and optional extensions)
Unmatched flexibility and customization options
Full control over your data and store infrastructure
Seamless integration with WordPress blogs and content

Cons:

Steeper learning curve compared to fully-hosted solutions like Shopify and Square
Requires separate hosting, security, and maintenance management
Extensions and premium themes can quickly add up in cost
Less streamlined setup process than all-in-one platforms

Website: https://woocommerce.com

WooCommerce deserves its place in this Shopify vs Square comparison because it offers a fundamentally different approach to e-commerce. It prioritizes flexibility, customization, and ownership, making it an excellent option for businesses willing to invest the time and effort in building a truly bespoke online store.

4. BigCommerce: An Enterprise-Grade Alternative in the Shopify vs Square Debate

When comparing Shopify vs Square, BigCommerce often emerges as a powerful contender, especially for businesses anticipating rapid growth. While not as widely known as the other two, BigCommerce offers a robust, enterprise-grade platform designed for scalability without the technical headaches often associated with such systems. This makes it a compelling option for medium to large businesses seeking more advanced features and control. If you're finding that both Shopify and Square fall short in terms of future scalability or built-in functionality, BigCommerce deserves serious consideration.

BigCommerce distinguishes itself as an all-inclusive platform. Unlike Shopify or Square, where many advanced features are locked behind app purchases or higher-tier plans, BigCommerce includes most features right out of the box. This means you get features like advanced SEO tools, multi-channel selling, and robust B2B functionality without needing to pay extra. This all-in-one approach simplifies budgeting and can be significantly more cost-effective in the long run. Learn more about BigCommerce and how it stacks up against Shopify specifically.

For businesses migrating from Shopify and looking for a comparable platform, BigCommerce offers a similar user experience with a stronger emphasis on built-in capabilities. While Shopify excels in its app ecosystem and ease of use for beginners, BigCommerce shines in its performance, security, and advanced features. For example, its native integration with marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart streamlines multi-channel selling, a feature often requiring additional apps on Shopify or Square.

Here's a closer look at the key features, pros, and cons:

Features:

All-inclusive platform: Most features are built-in, reducing the need for paid add-ons.
Unlimited resources: Enjoy unlimited staff accounts, products, and bandwidth on all plans.
Native marketplace integrations: Seamlessly connect with major marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart.
Advanced SEO features: Leverage microdata, customizable URLs, and fast loading speeds for improved search engine visibility.
Multi-currency and international selling: Expand your business globally with ease.
Headless commerce options: For businesses needing advanced customization, headless commerce allows flexibility in the front-end development.

Pros:

No transaction fees: Regardless of the payment gateway you choose, BigCommerce doesn't charge extra transaction fees, a significant advantage over Shopify.
Excellent site speed and reliability: Benefit from 99.99% uptime, ensuring a consistent online presence.
Strong B2B features: Cater to wholesale customers with dedicated B2B functionalities.

Cons:

Higher starting price: Plans start at $29.95/month for the Standard plan, which might be a barrier for smaller businesses or startups.
Annual sales thresholds: Reaching certain sales milestones may require upgrading to a higher-priced plan.
Theme customization: While possible, customizing themes can require some technical knowledge.
Fewer theme options: BigCommerce offers fewer pre-built themes compared to Shopify.

Implementation Tips:

Consider your current and projected sales volume when choosing a BigCommerce plan. The annual sales thresholds can impact your long-term costs.
If you require extensive theme customization, be prepared to invest in development resources or choose a pre-built theme that closely aligns with your needs.

If your business prioritizes scalability, performance, and comprehensive features built directly into the platform, BigCommerce provides a compelling alternative in the Shopify vs Square discussion. Visit the BigCommerce website to explore their plans and features in more detail.

5. Wix eCommerce

When comparing Shopify vs Square, Wix eCommerce often emerges as a compelling alternative, especially for users prioritizing ease of use and visual appeal. Wix eCommerce is seamlessly integrated into the Wix website builder platform, making it incredibly simple to create an online store without any coding knowledge. This makes it a great option for small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs who want a straightforward and visually appealing online presence. Wix eCommerce offers a complete solution, including integrated marketing tools and customizable templates, allowing you to build a professional online store from the ground up.

Wix shines with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Over 500 designer-made templates are available, catering to diverse business needs. Its AI-powered Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) can even automate store creation, further simplifying the process. Essential features like abandoned cart recovery, store analytics, and email marketing are built-in, streamlining your workflow. Multiple payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and manual payments, provide flexibility for both you and your customers. Moreover, Wix ensures your store looks great on any device with its dedicated mobile editor. For service-based businesses, the integrated booking system is a significant advantage.

While Wix excels in user-friendliness, it's essential to be aware of its limitations. Scalability can be a concern for rapidly growing businesses. Also, a significant drawback is the inability to switch templates after the site is created without rebuilding it, requiring significant time investment if you decide to rebrand or redesign. Compared to dedicated platforms like Shopify and Square, Wix offers fewer advanced e-commerce features, which might restrict businesses with complex needs. Finally, performance can sometimes slow down with complex sites and heavy customization.

A key advantage of Wix eCommerce is the absence of transaction fees on sales (you only pay standard payment processor fees). This can be a significant cost saving compared to platforms that charge per transaction. Wix also offers robust marketing tools, including SEO features, email campaigns, and social media integration, enabling you to reach a wider audience. If you're starting with a limited budget, Learn more about Wix eCommerce and other options for bootstrapping your online store.

Wix eCommerce deserves its place on this Shopify vs Square list because it provides a compelling alternative for users who prioritize ease of use and beautiful design. If you're a small business owner looking for a quick and easy way to establish an online presence, Wix offers a fantastic starting point. However, if you anticipate rapid growth or require advanced e-commerce functionalities, carefully weigh Wix’s limitations against the benefits before making a decision. Remember to check their website (https://www.wix.com/ecommerce) for the latest pricing and plan details.

6. Squarespace Commerce

When comparing Shopify vs Square, Squarespace Commerce often emerges as a compelling alternative, especially for businesses prioritizing aesthetics and a seamless brand experience. Squarespace Commerce extends the popular website builder with robust e-commerce functionality, making it a strong all-in-one solution. This platform shines for users who value visual appeal and ease of use, particularly creative professionals, service providers, and brands with a strong visual identity. It allows them to build a beautiful online store without needing extensive coding knowledge.

Squarespace Commerce provides award-winning designer templates optimized for both desktop and mobile, ensuring your store looks professional on any device. Built-in features like tax calculation, real-time shipping rates, and abandoned cart recovery streamline the sales process. Integrated email marketing and social media tools help you connect with customers and promote your products. You can even manage in-person sales with their Point of Sale (POS) system, which seamlessly syncs with your online inventory. Further expanding its capabilities, Squarespace Commerce also supports subscription selling and digital product delivery. You can even learn more about promoting your Squarespace store and learn more about Squarespace Commerce and other platforms through online resources.

Compared to Shopify and Square, Squarespace Commerce distinguishes itself through its design-focused approach. While Shopify offers greater flexibility and customization with its extensive app store and open API, Squarespace prioritizes ease of use and a cohesive brand experience. Square, while excellent for businesses starting with in-person sales, can lack the design polish and content management capabilities of Squarespace.

Pricing and Technical Requirements:

Squarespace Commerce starts at $27/month (billed annually) for the Business plan, which removes transaction fees. No specialized technical skills are required to set up and manage a Squarespace store, making it ideal for users with limited coding experience. All plans include hosting, domain registration, SSL certificates, and CDN for fast loading speeds.

Pros:

Exceptional design quality and visual merchandising capabilities
All-in-one platform with hosting, domain, SSL, and CDN included
No transaction fees on Business and Commerce plans
Excellent blogging and content tools integrated with commerce

Cons:

Limited payment gateway options compared to platforms like Shopify
Fewer third-party integrations and extensions
More expensive entry point for e-commerce than Square
Less customizable checkout experience than Shopify

Website: https://www.squarespace.com/ecommerce-website

In the Shopify vs Square debate, Squarespace Commerce carves its niche as the design-centric option. If a polished brand image and ease of use are your top priorities, Squarespace Commerce is worth serious consideration. While it might not offer the same level of customization as Shopify, its all-in-one platform and stunning templates make it an attractive choice for businesses focused on visual storytelling and a seamless customer journey.

7. Volusion

When comparing Shopify vs Square, Volusion often gets overlooked, but it presents a compelling alternative, especially for businesses prioritizing inventory management and avoiding transaction fees. It's a fully hosted platform, meaning you don't need to worry about technical aspects like hosting and security, allowing you to focus on selling. Volusion aims to simplify the selling process for small to medium-sized businesses primarily dealing with physical products.

Volusion deserves a spot on this list because it offers a unique blend of powerful inventory features and a no-transaction-fee model. While both Shopify and Square offer robust features, their transaction fees can eat into profits, particularly for businesses with high sales volumes. Volusion sidesteps this with its pricing structure, making it a financially attractive option for certain businesses. Consider Volusion if you’re selling a wide range of products with numerous variations. Its built-in inventory management tools, including stock alerts and tracking, help you stay organized and avoid stockouts. Furthermore, features like the built-in ratings and reviews system and one-page checkout are designed to enhance customer experience and boost conversions.

Features:

Unlimited product options and variants: Ideal for businesses with complex inventories.
Built-in ratings and reviews: Leverage social proof to build trust and encourage sales.
Integrated inventory management: Streamline stock control with alerts and tracking.
One-page checkout: Simplify the purchase process for improved conversion rates.
Detailed reporting tools and CRM: Gain valuable insights into customer behavior and sales performance.

Pros:

No transaction fees: Only pay processing fees, unlike Shopify and Square.
Strong inventory management: Excellent for product-focused businesses.
24/7 customer support: Access assistance via phone, chat, and email.
Built-in tax rate calculator and shipping integration: Simplifies tax calculations and shipping processes.

Cons:

Storage and bandwidth limitations on lower-tier plans: May require upgrading to a higher plan as your business grows.
Less modern template designs compared to newer platforms: May require more customization to achieve desired aesthetics.
Limited blogging capabilities: Not ideal for content-heavy marketing strategies. Consider integrating with a platform like WordPress.
Steeper learning curve for beginners: Less intuitive than Square or Wix, though the 24/7 support can mitigate this.

Website: https://www.volusion.com

Implementation Tips:

Start with a free trial to explore the platform and its features.
Carefully consider your storage and bandwidth needs when selecting a plan.
Utilize Volusion's built-in SEO tools to optimize your product listings and improve search engine visibility.
Take advantage of the 24/7 customer support for any questions or issues you encounter.

While Volusion might not be as trendy as Shopify or as simple as Square, its focus on inventory management and lack of transaction fees makes it a worthwhile contender in the Shopify vs Square debate. It caters specifically to businesses selling physical products and prioritizes features that facilitate efficient stock control and streamlined sales processes.

Ecommerce Platform Feature Comparison

Platform	Core Features & Integrations	User Experience & Quality ★★★★☆	Value Proposition 💰	Target Audience 👥	Unique Selling Points ✨	Pricing 💰
Shopify	Built-in payments, 6000+ apps, multichannel selling	User-friendly, strong SEO, mobile-responsive	Scalable, extensive support	Startups to enterprises	Huge app ecosystem, 24/7 support 🏆	$$$ (Monthly + transaction fees)
Square Online	POS integration, delivery & pickup, QR ordering	Simple, drag-and-drop, easy learning curve	Free plan, no monthly fee option	Small businesses, restaurants	Seamless online-offline syncing ✨	Free tier + sales percentage
WooCommerce	Open-source, unlimited products, payment options	Highly customizable, steeper learning curve	No mandatory fees, full ownership	WordPress users, customization fans	Open-source flexibility, full control✨	Hosting + optional extensions cost
BigCommerce	Built-in features, unlimited staff/products	Fast, reliable, good SEO	No transaction fees, B2B features	Medium to large businesses	No transaction fees, headless commerce🏆	$$ (Starting $29.95/mo)
Wix eCommerce	Drag-and-drop builder, AI design, mobile editor	Extremely user-friendly, visual editor	No transaction fees, all-in-one	Small to medium businesses	AI store creation, strong marketing tools✨	$ to $$
Squarespace Commerce	Designer templates, POS, subscription selling	Exceptional design, seamless content	No transaction fees on paid plans	Creatives, brands, service providers	Design-forward, integrated marketing🏆	$$ (From $27/mo annually)
Volusion	Unlimited variants, CRM, one-page checkout	Good inventory tools, less modern UI	No transaction fees	Small-medium product sellers	Built-in ratings & reviews, strong inventory	$ to $$

Making the Final Decision

Choosing the right e-commerce platform is a crucial step for any business. This article compared Shopify vs Square, along with other popular options like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix eCommerce, Squarespace Commerce, and Volusion, each offering a unique set of features and capabilities. Key takeaways include considering your budget – Square offers a free plan while Shopify's pricing tiers unlock more features – as well as the technical skills you have available. Scalability is another important factor; think about where your business will be in a year or two and choose a platform that can grow with you. Shopify is a popular choice for selling online courses due to its robust ecommerce features. If you're interested in using Shopify for this purpose, check out this helpful guide on how to sell courses on Shopify from Tevello.

When deciding between Shopify vs Square, remember to prioritize the specific features essential for your success. Do you need advanced inventory management? Robust reporting? Seamless integrations with other tools? Answering these questions will guide you towards the best fit. Implementing your chosen platform also requires careful planning. Consider factors like migrating existing product data, setting up payment gateways, and customizing your online store’s design.

Ultimately, selecting between Shopify vs Square (or any other platform) depends on your individual business needs. The right tool will empower you to manage your online store efficiently, reach a wider audience, and achieve your business goals.

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