Squarespace vs Square (2024): 8 Key Differences Explained
There’s a lot to think about when choosing a web platform for your business.
Which platform is the most cost-effective? Which offers the most functionality? Which will your target audience get the most benefit from?
Not that we’re biased at Spark Plugin, but we’d recommend Squarespace each and every time! However, if you want to see what else is out there, there are a lot of other platforms to consider, like Square.
Square originally started as a point of sale (POS) platform that people could use to accept payment in the real world. The platform evolved its services over time and now offers eCommerce functionality.
Squarespace and Square do have a lot in common. They’re set up for eCommerce, you can sell on social media, and both pride themselves on working well on mobile devices.
However, both platforms have a lot of differences too. Squarespace vs Square, which is best? Let’s take a look…
Square vs Squarespace: The key differences to be aware of
1. Square has a free plan
Square has something that Squarespace doesn’t – a free plan. This is ideal if you want to test the waters or are on a limited budget.
While this plan does have POS functionality and lets you sell online, there are limitations. You can’t choose a customized website theme, connect to a custom domain, or let customers create accounts. You also can’t accept PayPal payments.
Free plan aside, Square and Squarespace have very different pricing tariffs.
Squarespace has four pricing plans: Personal, Business, Basic Commerce, and Advanced Commerce. The cost varies from $16 to $52 a month if you pay annually.
On Square the other two plans range from $29 to $79 a month, so the premium plan on Square is more expensive than the premium plan on Squarespace.
Another interesting thing to mention is that you can only pay annually on Square, meaning that if you pay for a plan, you’re locked in for 12 months.
Conversely, Squarespace lets you pay monthly if you want a rolling contract.
(Want to save money on your Squarespace plan? Here are some useful discounts!)
2. Squarespace is best for blogging
Both platforms let you blog, but in our opinion, one platform is better than the other.
Square’s “Stories” is extremely basic. You can add a blog post, do some basic editing, and that’s about it.
While it works if you want to write the occasional article, it’s not ideal if you want to make blogging a serious part of your marketing strategy.
It’s a lot easier and much more satisfying to blog on Squarespace. You can get up and running in just five minutes, you can style your blog layout exactly how you want, and use search engine optimization (SEO) to help your articles rank in Google.
3. Squarespace has more features
Both platforms have features that allow you to customize your site and offer visitors more functionality.
For example, you can use custom code on both, password protect your pages, and offer appointment booking on either platform.
However, Squarespace has the edge when it comes to providing visitors with a stellar experience. For example, you can:
Use artificial intelligence (AI) to rewrite your content
And, of course, Squarespace lets you use Spark Plugin! Take advantage of over 150 unique customizations to transform the look and feel of your site and provide more value to potential customers.
4. Square has simpler transaction fees
When you use an eCommerce platform, you need to pay a transaction fee for each sale you make. This covers the cost of handling the transaction and making sure the process runs smoothly and safely.
On Square, you pay a simple rate of 2.9% and 30 cents per transaction – this is lowered to 2.6% and 30 cents on the premium plan.
On Squarespace, you pay a 3% transaction fee on the Business plan and 0% on the Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce plans. However, you also need to pay a fee to the payment provider you choose.
So while either platform can work out more cost-effective, Square’s transaction fees are a little easier to get your head around!
5. Squarespace has a wider (and better looking!) range of themes
Square has a limited range of templates to choose from – about thirty in total. This means you run the risk of your website looking slightly similar to other businesses using Square.
You can’t upload your own bespoke theme, although there are “blank” templates for you to customize using Square’s editing software.
On the other hand, Squarespace has over 150 stunning free templates, all professionally designed and mobile responsive. There are also specific templates for particular industries and sectors, like real estate and non-profits.
You can even purchase your own premium theme if you want a site that truly stands out from the rest!
6. Squarespace’s website builder gives you more control
Square uses Weebly as its in-house website builder. While it’s easy to use, especially if you don’t have web design experience, it’s pretty basic. As a result, your website will not have all the bells and whistles your web visitors might expect.
Squarespace’s website builder looks similar to Square on first impressions, but it has a lot more to offer. There are additional settings to customize your blocks, and you can use Fluid Engine to move elements around your page with laser precision.
7. Square is set up for in-store orders
One of the unique selling points of Square is that it’s specifically designed for physical stores and businesses that provide a service like restaurants. Customers can place an order online and go to a store to pick it up.
While Squarespace does have local pickup and delivery functionality, Square’s features are more powerful. For example, you can schedule a pickup time, send SMS messages when the order is ready, and create different settings for different locations.
8. Squarespace performs better
It’s important to have a website that looks great and has all the features you need to drive sales, but you also need a site that provides an exceptional user experience.
According to Google, Squarespace performs significantly better when it comes to Core Web Vitals, the performance metrics that gauge the user experience a platform offers.
Not only do the Core Web Vitals contribute to a good user experience, but they also affect the rankings in Google search, meaning they can help with your SEO.
So if you want a website that loads quickly and keeps visitors happy, Squarespace is the better option.
Square vs Squarespace: which is best?
Time to get to the nitty gritty: who wins the battle of Squarespace vs Square?
It ultimately depends on your needs.
If you’re not planning to use your website for eCommerce (for example, you want to host your portfolio online), Squarespace wins hands down. It’s fantastic for hosting images, has lots of stunning templates, and you can style your site exactly how you want.
If you aim to sell online though, the choice is trickier.
The key selling point of Square is that it’s designed for brick-and-mortar stores. You can automatically import your items into your online store, and sync your orders, inventory, and customer information. So if you have a physical store or a chain of stores, Square is definitely a contender.
However, Squarespace is still built with eCommerce in mind. You can precisely manage the process from start to finish, from product page to online checkout, to payment and shipping.
If you’re still not sure, why not give both platforms a try and see which you like the most? Squarespace has a free trial, and Square has a free version, so you can check out all the features before you commit.
Squarespace vs Square FAQ
Is Square and Squarespace the same?
It’s easy to get the names mixed up, but no, Square and Squarespace are two different things.
(It doesn’t help matters that you can use Square as a payment processing system in Squarespace!)
Squarespace is a website platform. Square originally started as a payment processor and financial services provider but now offers website building as a service.
Do Square and Squarespace offer free plans?
Square has a free plan with basic functionality.
Squarespace doesn’t offer a free plan, but you get a 14-day trial to see if the platform is right for you.
(Top tip: If you work with a Squarespace Circle member, you can get an extended six-month trial for your site!)
Can you use Square and Squarespace together?
While you can’t use the two together as website builders, you can use Square’s payment system on your Squarespace site to accept payments offline.
What other Squarespace alternatives are there?
If you want a platform you can subscribe to that provides eCommerce functionality, there are several options out there.
Two examples are Shopify and Wix.
We regularly publish comparison guides on our Spark’s Palette blog so keep checking in for more information!
