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Which one should a US or EU store pick?
Shopify is the safer pick when selling is the main job and the store will grow in products, staff, or countries. A design-led brand with a modest catalog will feel at home on Squarespace. Wix works for a site that mixes a shop with bookings or content. Fees and checkout differ most.
Plan prices and fees here are the ones listed on Shopify's pricing page, Squarespace's pricing page, and Wix's plans page on November 10, 2026. Each can run a real shop. They split on fees, checkout, and how far a store can grow before it's cramped.
Portfolios, studios, and other small shops
Take a photographer who sells three print sizes from a portfolio site. There isn't much of a catalog there, and most of Shopify's tools are built for one. A yoga studio is similar, since its income comes from class bookings. Wix's plans can hold scheduling and a small shop together, which fits that kind of business better.
Better fits for Wix or Squarespace — a portfolio with a few products · a service business that books clients first · a brand focused on layout over catalog depth.
Squarespace templates look finished out of the box. Wix has a free plan to build on before paying, which Squarespace and Shopify don't offer. That helps while an idea is still being tested.
Plan prices on each platform
The Wix row in this table has no prices. Its plans page says prices and currency change by location, and the version we saw wasn't in US dollars. Shopify and Squarespace both showed US prices.
| Platform | Entry plan that can sell | Monthly billing | Billed yearly (per month) | Higher tiers on the page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Basic | $39 | $29 | Grow $105 / $89 · Advanced $399 / $359 · Plus from $2,300 a month |
| Squarespace | Basic | $25 | $19 | Core $39 / $29 · Plus $65 / $49 · Advanced $139 / $99 |
| Wix | Core (first plan listing "Accept payments") | Varies by location | Varies by location | Business · Business Elite |
Shopify's yearly figures come from its "Pay yearly" row. Squarespace says annual billing saves up to 36%. Wix also lists Free and Light plans, but neither plan card shows "Accept payments". Sales tax and VAT are extra on every platform.
The plan price is only the first layer. Once orders arrive, payment fees often add up faster than the plan.
Payment fees and the transaction-fee trap
Shopify online card rates — Basic 2.9% + 30¢ · Grow 2.7% + 30¢ · Advanced 2.5% + 30¢.
Squarespace Payments card rates — Basic and Core 2.9% + $0.30 · Plus 2.7% · Advanced 2.5%.
Shopify third-party gateway fee — 2% on Basic · 1% on Grow · lower again on Advanced · charged only when you skip Shopify Payments.
Squarespace online store fee — 2% on Basic · 0% on Core and up.
The extra fee sits in a different place on each platform. On Shopify, it comes from skipping Shopify Payments. On Squarespace, it comes with the Basic plan. Read the row that matches how you'll take payments.
EU sellers should check availability first. Squarespace Payments lists the US, the UK, Canada, and ten EU countries, including Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Shopify says Shopify Payments works only in certain countries. Look up your own before you count on the lower rates.
Catalog, staff and inventory limits
Shopify limits — unlimited products on every plan · 10 inventory locations on Basic through Advanced · 5 staff accounts on Grow and 15 on Advanced.
Squarespace limits — unlimited products · 2 contributors on Basic · unlimited contributors from Core · discounts, carrier-calculated shipping and shipping labels from Core.
Wix's plan cards move from basic to standard to advanced eCommerce as you go up. If you want discount codes in launch week, skip Squarespace Basic. Codes start on Core there.
Selling across borders from one store
Shopify's plan table covers the most cross-border ground. It lists storefront translation, local currency prices, Shopify Markets, local domains, and duty and tax estimates. Some of those need Shopify Payments. B2B selling is listed with up to 3 catalogs below Plus.
Squarespace calculates tax rates automatically in over 100 countries from Core up. There's a small fee per transaction. It's capped by store currency. Its plan table doesn't list multi-language storefronts or pricing by market. Wix's plans page lists multi-cloud hosting and an eCommerce tier ladder, without per-market selling details.
If an EU launch is planned for next year, we'd test it now. Add a second market on a trial store and look at checkout in that currency.
SEO and site speed you can control
Every platform here hosts the site for you and adds SSL. Squarespace lists SEO tools and keyword analysis on every plan. Shopify lists built-in SEO features on Basic. Wix promotes built-in marketing and SEO tools across plans.
Speed mostly depends on what you add. Heavy apps and large images slow any store. On Shopify, leftover app code is the usual suspect, as we cover in why Shopify themes slow down after installing apps. Theme choice matters too. Our piece on when to outgrow the free Dawn theme covers that decision.
Custom landing pages often come next, once a theme is in place. EComposer is our own Shopify page builder, so weigh that mention accordingly. Many stores never need one.
Moving to another platform later
Moving later is possible, but it's slow work. Export files cover products and customers well enough. Orders, reviews, and theme layouts are harder to bring along. And without a redirect on each old URL, the search traffic you've built up drains away.
Before a move — export products and customers · list URLs that still get visits · redirect each one · keep the old site live until the checks pass.
That's why we'd give the first choice an extra evening of reading. Saving a few dollars on this month's plan isn't worth a forced move a year later.
Which platform suits which store
Squarespace or Wix — a portfolio or service site with a few products · design-first templates · selling as a side feature.
Shopify Basic or Squarespace Core — a product-led US brand with a small catalog · no extra platform fee with Shopify Payments, or on Squarespace Core.
Wix — bookings and a small shop together · scheduling and eCommerce on one plan from Core up.
Shopify — EU or UK markets planned next · Markets, translation and local currencies in its plan table.
Squarespace Core or Shopify Grow — five or more people running the store · unlimited contributors or staff accounts.
If Shopify wins on your list, its pricing page is where to choose between Basic, Grow, and Advanced, mostly by staff count and payment setup. After launch, what Shopify Sidekick can automate is worth a read. Selling abroad on a budget gets its own treatment in our lean cross-border store guide.
Questions about Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace
Is Shopify more expensive than Squarespace?
At the entry level, yes. Shopify Basic is $39 a month billed monthly, and Squarespace Basic is $25. Squarespace Basic does add a 2% online store fee, which Core and higher plans don't charge.
Does Wix have a free plan for an online store?
Wix has a free plan, but its plan cards show "Accept payments" starting on Core. Wix prices vary by location, so check the plans page in your country.
Which platform is best for selling to EU customers?
Shopify's plan table has the widest set of cross-border tools, including Shopify Markets, translation, local currencies, and duty estimates. Some of them need Shopify Payments. Squarespace calculates tax rates automatically on Core and higher plans.
Can I move from Wix or Squarespace to Shopify later?
Yes, and export files make products and customers the easy part. Orders, reviews, and theme layouts take more work. The step to plan early is a redirect for every old URL before the domain changes.