| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | Free trial | Best for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Basic £19/month billed annually (£25 monthly) | No | 3 days free, then £1/month for 3 months | Shops that plan to grow or also sell in person | Official pricing |
| Squarespace | Basic $19/month billed annually ($25 monthly) | No | 14 day free trial | Service businesses and creatives who want a polished site that also sells | Official pricing |
Shopify prices are from the UK pricing page in pounds. Squarespace prices are from its pricing page in US dollars. Confirm prices in your own currency on each site.
Plan prices
Shopify UK plans billed annually. Basic £19, Grow £49 and Advanced £259 a month (£25, £65 and £344 billed monthly). Shopify Plus starts from £1,800 a month. There are no setup fees, and hosting and SSL are included.
Squarespace plans billed annually. Basic $19, Core $29, Plus $49 and Advanced $99 a month ($25, $39, $65 and $139 billed monthly). Annual plans include a free domain for the first year.
Fees when you sell
Shopify's UK online card rates are 2% + 25p on Basic, 1.7% + 25p on Grow and 1.5% + 25p on Advanced. If you use a third party payment provider instead, Shopify adds a transaction fee of 2%, 1% or 0.6% depending on the plan.
Squarespace charges a 2% transaction fee on store sales on Basic, and 0% on Core and above. Card processing is charged separately. Squarespace Payments is available in the UK.
Trials
Shopify gives 3 days free, then £1 a month for 3 months. Squarespace offers a 14 day free trial without a card.
AI and extras
Shopify includes Sidekick, its AI assistant for running the store, and sells POS Pro at £69 a month per location for in person selling. It lists 24/7 live chat support. Squarespace includes free invoicing on all plans, and its Basic plan allows 2 contributors.
Verdict by business type
- Product led shop that wants to grow. Shopify.
- Selling in a shop or at markets as well as online. Shopify with POS.
- Photographer, salon or consultant who sells a few products or services. Squarespace.
- Want to avoid a transaction fee on a tight budget. Compare Squarespace Core with Shopify Basic using your expected sales.
Writing product listings? See our guide to AI tools for Etsy, Amazon and Shopify sellers or get a website shortlist in the finder.
Sources
FAQ
Is Shopify or Squarespace cheaper?
Entry plans are similar. Shopify Basic is £19 a month billed annually in the UK, and Squarespace Basic is $19 a month billed annually. Squarespace Basic adds a 2% transaction fee on store sales, so compare fees using your own expected sales.
Does Shopify or Squarespace have a free plan?
Neither has a free plan. Shopify offers 3 days free and then £1 a month for 3 months. Squarespace offers a 14 day free trial.
Which is better for a new online shop?
Shopify suits shops focused on products and growth. Squarespace suits businesses that mainly need a good looking website and sell a smaller range.
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