Shopify vs. Squarespace for Small Business: Which Platform is Right for You?
Choosing the right eCommerce platform is one of the most important decisions for a small business owner, it is like openeing a second location and expanding your customer reach. In all honesty for as a 4th gen grocers Shopify and Squarespace are two of the most popular choices, but each comes with its pros and cons depending on your goals. Also it is best if you look at many options because you needs might be different here is a comparsion chart. Whether you're launching a new CPG brand, a wellness product, or a local service business, this guide breaks it down for you.
1. Design & Customization
Squarespace: Known for beautiful, drag-and-drop templates, ideal for portfolios, restaurants, and service-based businesses.
Shopify: Built for product-based businesses with deep customization using apps, themes, and custom code.
If branding is your priority, Squarespace wins. If scalability and sales tools matter more, go Shopify.
2. SEO & Blogging Capabilities
Shopify is solid, but Squarespace has stronger native blogging tools. However, Shopify blogs still rank well with proper tagging.
Both platforms benefit from consistent keyword usage and meta tagging.
3. Payments & Integrations
Shopify: Over 100+ payment options including Shop Pay, Apple Pay, etc.
Squarespace: Limited to Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
If you need custom shipping rules, dropshipping, or complex product variants, Shopify is better suited.
4. Loyalty & Email Marketing Compatibility
Shopify integrates easily with apps like Klaviyo, Smile.io, and Innovar’s custom loyalty program setups.
Squarespace Email Campaigns are simple but less robust.
What We Recommend at Innovar
We often guide clients based on:
Are you primarily selling physical products? → Go Shopify
Are you showcasing services or a portfolio? → Go Squarespace
Do demos of a few software companies to compare features pricing check out our chart here.
Related read: Grocery Store Maketing for Wellness Stores and Brands
Both Shopify and Squarespace are excellent platforms—choosing the right one depends on your business model and growth goals. Need help designing, optimizing, or migrating your store? Book a free discovery call with Innovar today.
