Starting an online store can feel overwhelming, but choosing the right platform makes all the difference. Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix are three of the most popular options for small business owners and creatives. Each one is beginner-friendly but offers unique strengths depending on whether you prioritize scalability, design, or affordability.
This guide breaks down their pricing, ease of use, and key features so you can confidently pick the best fit for your business.
Pricing
Tip for beginners: Think about where your store will be six months from now. Pick a plan that gives you room to grow and consider features you will or won’t use right away.
Shopify
- Starts at $39/month for the Basic plan.
- More expensive than Squarespace or Wix, but designed for scaling businesses.
- Transaction fees decrease on higher-tier plans.
- Offers an enterprise option (Shopify Plus) starting at $2300/month.
✅ Best for: Entrepreneurs serious about long-term growth and scaling globally.
❌ Con: Higher upfront cost than competitors.
Squarespace
- Plans start at $25/month (Personal) and $30/month for eCommerce-ready plans.
- Higher-tier plans remove transaction fees entirely.
- Annual billing discounts up to 36%.
✅ Best for: Beginners on a budget who prioritize design and don’t mind light eCommerce.
❌ Con: Not built for high-volume growth.
Wix
- Starts at $17/month (Light) with eCommerce plans from $29/month.
- Flexible pricing, though transaction fees remain standard (2.9% + 30¢) across all plans.
- Top tier ($156/month) is geared toward high-volume sellers or dropshippers.
✅ Best for: Budget-conscious beginners who prioritize lower entry cost.
❌ Con: Scaling tools are less powerful than Shopify’s.
Ease of Use
Tip for beginners: If you’ve never built a site before, tools like AI design assistants can save hours during setup.
Shopify
- Guided setup helps beginners add products, test orders, and customize their store.
- Editor is section-based, meaning design freedom is somewhat limited.
- Very straightforward for anyone focused mainly on selling.
✅ Best if your main goal is to launch fast and start selling.
❌ Offers themes, although with limited creative freedom compared to Wix or Squarespace.
Squarespace
- Drag-and-drop editor with more design flexibility.
- AI design tools and built-in palettes make it quick to launch a stylish site.
- Strong choice if visuals and branding matter most.
✅ Great for creatives whose priorities lie in visually appealing stores.
❌ Learning curve if you only want something simple.
Wix
- Offers one of the most beginner-friendly experiences with Wix ADI (AI design).
- Generates layouts, text, and images automatically.
- Perfect if you want a store up and running in minutes with minimal manual design.
✅ Easiest for complete beginners.
❌ Advanced edits may take time to master.
Features
Tip for beginners: Start with built-in features. You can check out apps available for the platform(s) you are heavily considering or have chosen, only if you find that you need them.
Shopify
- Huge app ecosystem with over 10,000 integrations.
- Strong shipping tools and partnerships with carriers.
- Excellent scalability, ideal for businesses aiming to grow internationally.
- Native payment system plus support for 100+ gateways.
✅ Built for serious eCommerce.
❌ Reliance on apps can add extra costs.
Squarespace
- Great for content-driven sites (blogs, portfolios, online courses).
- Built-in templates (270+) and no extra cost for premium designs.
- Lighter on advanced eCommerce tools compared to Shopify.
- Limited app integrations (about 100).
✅ Great for blending content and commerce.
❌ Lacks advanced sales tools for larger stores.
Wix
- Over 800 themes (all free), with 130+ eCommerce-specific options.
- 500+ apps for extra functionality, more than Squarespace but fewer than Shopify.
- Good for marketing basics, but less advanced for scaling.
- Especially strong for creative small shops or service-based sellers.
✅ Lots of creative freedom.
❌ Not as strong for global business growth.
Bottom Line
- Choose Shopify if your goal is to build a professional, scalable online business. It’s pricier but offers unmatched tools for selling and growth.
- Choose Squarespace if your priority is webstore design and content, with light eCommerce needs, especially for online services.
- Choose Wix if you’re on a budget and want the fastest path to getting a store live.
All three platforms offer free trials, which makes it easy to explore them firsthand before committing. Test the setup, play with designs, and see which feels most natural and right for your business goals.
Your online store doesn’t have to be perfect from day one. Start simple, learn what works for you and your audience, and grow from there!