Shopify vs. Wix vs. Squarespace: Which is best for your business?

Every business owner dreams of building a website that's as unique as their brand and captures their personality. Website building is more than just creating a wireframe and locking down a specific color scheme; there’s so much going on behind the scenes.

Even with a feature-rich website builder that allows for detailed customization, choosing the wrong platform can lead to costly mistakes and utter frustration. That's why doing research is so important.

This article compares three popular website builders: Shopify vs Wix vs Squarespace. We will see how they stack up in terms of strengths, weaknesses, and key features to provide a comprehensive understanding of each platform so that you can make an informed choice based on your business needs.

Plus, we'll show you how you can integrate Gelato's print on demand platform with your chosen website builder to enhance the presentation of your online business.

• Shopify is ideal for businesses focused on ecommerce, as it offers extensive features, scalability, and seamless integrations.

• Wix is a versatile, beginner-friendly platform, perfect for small-to-medium businesses needing a quick and cost-effective online presence.

• Squarespace shines with sleek, minimalist designs, perfect for creatives and businesses prioritizing aesthetics.

• Shopify excels in ecommerce functionalities, while Wix and Squarespace offer a balance of user-friendliness and design flexibility.

• Integrating Gelato with Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace enhances your online store with easy print on demand solutions and global reach.

Shopify isn't just a website builder; it's a full-fledged ecommerce platform built for selling anything and everything. With a focus on functionality and scalability, Shopify empowers businesses of all sizes to create beautiful online stores with powerful features. From managing inventory and shipping to processing Shopify payments and running marketing campaigns, the platform gives you complete control over your ecommerce stores.

Wix is known for its user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface that makes building a website easy. No coding knowledge is required, and it is perfect for beginners who want to create stunning websites quickly and easily. Wix offers a wide range of templates and design options, allowing you to customize your online store to perfectly match your brand aesthetic.

Squarespace has carved a niche as the platform for design-focused entrepreneurs. Their stunning, mobile-responsive templates are perfect for showcasing beautiful products and creative content. Squarespace offers built-in marketing tools like email campaigns and social media scheduling, making it easy to get the word out about your brand. It supports ecommerce functionalities like subscriptions and other services. You get a straightforward setup process without incurring sales fees, making it a strong contender for creative professionals and small businesses. 

Choosing the right platform for your business is crucial, as each offers unique strengths and features. Here, we’ll explore the key differences and similarities between Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace and evaluate them across various aspects to help you make an informed decision for your business needs.

Ideal use cases

Understanding which platform aligns best with your business model and goals is crucial for success.

• Shopify: This platform is best suited for businesses focused on ecommerce. Whether you are a large enterprise or a small business looking to scale, Shopify provides robust features, such as various Shopify Themes, designed to grow your online store.

• Wix: Wix is ideal for design-focused businesses and small-scale artists and creators who need a versatile platform to create an aesthetically pleasing website with easy customization. It comes with basic ecommerce functionality offerings that don't require advanced technical skills. 

• Squarespace: This is perfect for businesses that prioritize design and aesthetics. It's particularly beneficial for those in creative industries, such as photographers, designers, or boutique retailers, who want a sleek, professional online presence with basic ecommerce options.

User-friendliness

Choosing a user-friendly platform can make a significant difference in your business operations. 

Shopify: Users praise Shopify for its intuitive interface, which makes it easy for anyone to set up a Shopify-theme store quickly. You can manage your products, orders, and customer data with minimal effort.

Wix: The Wix ecommerce platform offers a drag-and-drop editor that simplifies website creation. Its user-friendly design allows you to customize your site without needing technical skills. 

Squarespace: This platform combines ease of use with an aesthetically pleasing Squarespace template. It’s well-suited for visually-driven brands, although some users may find it slightly less intuitive than Shopify and Wix.

Customization and design flexibility

Customization and design flexibility are crucial for creating a unique online store. Here's how each platform stacks up: 

Shopify: Shopify offers extensive customization options and access to HTML and CSS. It also boasts a wide range of templates and themes, making it easier to create a professional-looking store. 

Wix: Wix provides a highly customizable drag-and-drop editor. Its user-friendly interface and flexible design features allow for considerable creativity, though deep customization may be limited compared to Shopify. 

Squarespace: Squarespace specializes in beautifully designed, modern templates. While it offers less flexibility in customization than Shopify, its design tools are robust and suited for visually impactful and mobile-responsive websites.

Ecommerce features and functionality

Each platform offers unique ecommerce features designed to support your business needs. 

Shopify: Shopify excels in ecommerce with robust features like abandoned cart recovery, multiple payment gateways, and seamless integrations. Its inventory management system and wide range of apps help streamline your business operations effectively. 

Wix: Wix provides essential ecommerce tools like customizable product pages, secure payments, and easy-to-use store management features. It’s solid in design flexibility, allowing you to create visually appealing online shops without needing code. 

Squarespace: Squarespace offers strong ecommerce capabilities, focusing on style and substance. You get features like inventory tracking, customer account creation, and integrated payment options paired with beautifully designed templates to showcase your products attractively.

SEO and marketing tools

Effective SEO and marketing tools are vital for visibility and growth in ecommerce. Let’s see how these three platforms stack up for marketing purposes.

Shopify: Shopify excels with robust SEO features like customizable title tags and meta descriptions, plus powerful marketing tools, including abandoned cart recovery, email campaigns, and advanced analytics for tracking your store’s performance. 

Wix: Wix offers user-friendly SEO tools such as a step-by-step SEO Setup Checklist and built-in email marketing. However, advanced marketing functionalities could be improved, making it better suited for small to medium businesses with basic needs. 

Squarespace: Squarespace provides comprehensive SEO tools, allowing complete control over meta descriptions and image alt text. Its integrated marketing solutions include email campaigns, social media integration, and blogging tools, ideal for content-driven businesses.

Pricing and scalability

When choosing an ecommerce platform, pricing, and scalability are critical factors. 

Shopify: Shopify offers tiered pricing plans starting from $29 per month. These plans allow you to add more advanced features as your business grows, making them flexible and scalable. 

Wix: Wix's pricing plans start at $18 per month. While initially affordable, higher-tier plans may be necessary as your business scales, which offer more storage and access to advanced ecommerce functionalities. 

Squarespace: Squarespace's pricing starts at $23 per month for its Business plan. It provides limited scalability compared to Shopify but is excellent for small to medium-sized businesses looking to grow gradually.

Customer support and resources

When running an online business, robust customer support and ample resources are crucial. 

Shopify: Shopify merchants can access 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, phone, and social media. Their comprehensive Help Center and community forums are valuable resources for troubleshooting and optimizing your online store efficiently. 

Wix: Wix provides support through a ticketing system, live chat, and a callback option, though it is not available 24/7. Their extensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and active community forums assist you in overcoming challenges and building your site. 

Squarespace: Squarespace offers 24/7 email support and live chat during business hours. Their detailed Help Center, webinars, and community forum help users navigate their platform and enhance their website's performance.

Apps and integrations

When considering apps and integrations, each platform offers unique features:

Shopify: Shopify boasts an extensive application marketplace with over 6,000 integrations, connecting you with best-in-class service providers. Its robust API customization supports seamless scaling through integrations with diverse software solutions. 

Wix: Wix provides access to a marketplace with pre-built integrations, including marketing automation and cloud solution tools. While not as extensive as Shopify's, Wix's integrations cover essential needs, making it versatile for small—to medium-sized businesses. 

Squarespace: Squarespace integrates with Zapier, offering connections to thousands of other apps, thus filling the gap of native integrations. This flexibility makes Squarespace suitable for businesses looking to expand functionality efficiently without extensive technical setup.

Integrating Gelato with your ecommerce platform can streamline your print on demand business operations. Let’s explore how Gelato seamlessly integrates with Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace to enhance your online store.

Integrating Gelato with Shopify

Connecting Gelato with your Shopify store is a straightforward process designed for ease and efficiency. Here’s how you can do it: 

• Go to the Shopify App Store and search for Gelato under Shopify apps.

• Install the Gelato app and follow the on-screen instructions to link your Gelato account with Shopify.

• Once connected, you can easily add products from Gelato’s catalog to your Shopify store and customize them as needed.

• Orders placed through the Shopify POS get automatically sent to Gelato for production and fulfillment.

This seamless integration allows you to focus more on marketing and sales while Gelato handles the logistics. 

Integrating Gelato with Wix

You must utilize the integration options provided within the Wix App Market to integrate Gelato with Wix. The steps are user-friendly and can be summarized as follows: 

• Access the Wix website dashboard and go to the App Market.

• Search for the Gelato app and install it on your Wix site.

• Follow the setup instructions to connect your Gelato account with Wix.

• Add and customize products from Gelato’s offerings directly into your Wix store.

• Enjoy automated order processing through the Wix POS Checkout Solution, where Gelato fulfills customer orders on Wix.

With Wix and Gelato working together, you can offer a wide range of custom products without worrying about inventory or shipping. 

Integrating Gelato with Squarespace

By integrating the two platforms, Squarespace users can benefit from Gelato’s print on demand services. Here’s how: 

• Log in to your Squarespace account and navigate to the Extensions section.

• Find the Gelato integration and follow the prompts to add it to your site.

• Link your Gelato account and configure the necessary settings.

• Add customizable Gelato products to your Squarespace online store.

• Orders from your store are managed by Gelato, ensuring quality production and shipping.

This setup lets you leverage Squarespace templates alongside Gelato’s customizable product options for a professional, streamlined online store.

Each platform—Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace—has unique strengths, and choosing the right one depends on your business needs. Whether you’re looking for ease of use, extensive customization, or powerful ecommerce features, these three platforms offer a solution. Pairing your chosen platform with Gelato can elevate your business, providing the seamless service you need to flourish in the digital marketplace. 

How exactly does Gelato enhance your online store? 

Gelato offers easy integration with Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace, allowing you to effortlessly connect your store with our top-tier print on demand services. Access global printing in 130+ printing hubs in over 34 countries, fast shipping, and a broad range of customizable products. Our flexible subscription plans make Gelato a cost-effective choice for businesses of all sizes. 

Ready to take your ecommerce store to the next level? Sign up for Gelato today!

Is Wix or Shopify better for beginners?

Wix and Shopify both cater to beginners, but they serve different needs. Wix shines with its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, which is perfect for those new to using a website builder. Shopify, while slightly more complex, offers robust ecommerce tools out of the box. If your focus is purely on ecommerce, Shopify provides more comprehensive features. 

Why choose Shopify over Wix?

Choosing Shopify over Wix can give you a more robust ecommerce experience. Shopify offers an expansive range of ecommerce tools designed specifically for businesses focused on online sales. With its superior customer support, extensive app integrations, and a strong focus on scalability, Shopify is ideal for startups and growing businesses.

Is it better to use Wix or Squarespace?

Choosing between Wix and Squarespace depends on your specific needs. Wix offers greater design flexibility and user-friendly features, making it ideal for beginners or those seeking to customize extensively. Squarespace provides polished, professional templates perfect for visually appealing websites, making it a strong choice for creatives. Evaluate what matters most for your business—ease of use or high-end design—and choose accordingly.

What is the best ecommerce platform?

There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. The best ecommerce platform depends on your business needs, budget, and technical expertise. Shopify excels for those focused on robust ecommerce capabilities, Wix offers user-friendly site building, and Squarespace shines with its stunning templates. Assess your goals and choose the platform that aligns best with your vision.