Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur wanting to start an online store? You might have heard of Squarespace and BigCommerce. Squarespace starts at $16 per month1, while BigCommerce begins at $29 per month1. Both offer features that can help your online business succeed.
In this detailed comparison of Squarespace vs Big Commerce, we’ll look at the main differences between Squarespace and BigCommerce. We’ll help you choose the best platform for your business needs and budget. We’ll cover pricing, user experience, ecommerce features, and scalability. This will help you find the perfect solution for your online store.
Key Takeaways
- Squarespace and BigCommerce are two top ecommerce platforms for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Squarespace focuses on design, while BigCommerce offers advanced ecommerce features and scalability.
- Pricing varies, with Squarespace starting at $16 per month1 and BigCommerce at $29 per month1.
- Squarespace is easier to use, but BigCommerce is better for complex ecommerce needs.
- BigCommerce works with over 600 apps1, offering more flexibility and customization than Squarespace.
Introduction
In today’s world, having an online presence is key for any business. Squarespace and BigCommerce are top choices for entrepreneurs and small businesses. This article will compare these platforms, looking at their features, pricing, and ease of use. We’ll help you choose the best platform for your online store.
Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial. Its plans cost from $23 to $65 per month2. It charges a 3% transaction fee in the Business plan2. On the other hand, BigCommerce has a 15-day free trial and plans start at $39 to $399+ per month2. BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees and has a lower credit card processing fee2.
Squarespace has 168 stunning templates, while BigCommerce offers over 180 mobile-friendly templates2. BigCommerce has 36 third-party tools and plugins, but Squarespace has over 100 payment gateway integrations2. Squarespace has a 4.6/5 rating from over 2000 reviews, and BigCommerce has a 4.4/5 rating from over 200 feedback2.
By the end of this comparison, you’ll know the strengths and weaknesses of Squarespace and BigCommerce. This will help you choose the best e-commerce platform for your small business3.
Squarespace vs BigCommerce: An Overview
Squarespace and BigCommerce are big names in website building and e-commerce. Squarespace started as a website builder, focusing on design and content. BigCommerce, however, was made for e-commerce, with tools for sales and inventory.
Squarespace Overview
Squarespace is a top website builder that now offers great e-commerce tools. It has over 260,000+ live stores, known for its modern and customizable templates4. The prices range from $19 to $65 a month, with no transaction fees for some plans4. It also has analytics and 24/7 support for all users.
BigCommerce Overview
BigCommerce is a dedicated e-commerce platform with over 60,000+ active users4. It has many features for online stores, including over 900+ app integrations5. Prices start at $29.95 and go up to $299.95 a month, with no transaction fees5. It also has SEO tools and marketing features like customer segmentation and Google Shopping.
| Feature | Squarespace | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Live Stores | Over 260,000+ | Over 60,000+ |
| Number of Apps/Integrations | Around 350 | Nearly 1,000 |
| Pricing Plans | $19 to $65 per month | $29.95 to $299.95 per month |
| Transaction Fees | 3% for Personal and Business plans | None for all plans |
| Customer Support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Number of Themes/Templates | 170+ | 100+ |
In summary, Squarespace and BigCommerce have different focuses. Squarespace is all about design and content, while BigCommerce is for sales and inventory. Both are great for businesses looking to go online456.
Pricing and Value for Money
When looking at prices, Squarespace and BigCommerce have plans for all sizes and budgets. Squarespace starts at $23/month, with four plans for online stores7. BigCommerce starts at $29.95/month, also with four plans7.
Squarespace Pricing Plans
Squarespace is great for small to medium stores because it offers more for less money7. But BigCommerce is better for customizing your store and integrating apps because of its open API7.
BigCommerce Pricing Plans
BigCommerce and Squarespace both have easy-to-use editors for building stores. Squarespace is easier for beginners7. BigCommerce gives you detailed analytics and customization options7.
Both offer 24/7 support and lots of help resources7. They also protect your store and customer data well7.
In short, Squarespace is good for small to medium businesses because it’s cheaper. BigCommerce is better for bigger stores because it’s more flexible7. Your choice depends on your business needs7.
“Global retail ecommerce sales are projected to exceed $6 billion for the first time in 2024 and are expected to surpass $8 billion by 2025.”8
BigCommerce is flexible for different business needs, supporting many features and apps8. It’s important to have good payment and shipping options for online stores8. BigCommerce has features for B2B businesses like customer groups and price lists8.
BigCommerce doesn’t charge extra for transactions or payments, giving you more choices8. A study found that BigCommerce customers get a 211% ROI by the third year8.
Starting an ecommerce site takes time, but BigCommerce Enterprise customers can do it in four months or less8. If you sell internationally, BigCommerce is good because it supports multiple stores8.
BigCommerce has nearly 150 themes, but most are premium and cost extra9. Squarespace has around 90 themes in its plans9. The standard BigCommerce plan is cheap and includes many features9.
Squarespace‘s most expensive plan is half the price of BigCommerce‘s second plan9. BigCommerce makes it easy to customize templates, but you have limited options9.
Squarespace focuses on customization with a drag-and-drop editor9. BigCommerce has a dedicated products page for easy management9.
Squarespace requires navigating multiple tabs for product details, which can slow you down9. BigCommerce offers more space for detailed product descriptions9.
Squarespace allows for complex product descriptions but lacks some detailed product management features9.
In conclusion, both Squarespace and BigCommerce offer good prices and value. Each platform meets different business needs and budgets. Your choice depends on your online store’s specific needs and budget.
Ease of Use and Beginner-Friendliness
When comparing Squarespace and BigCommerce, we see big differences. Squarespace is known for its easy-to-use interface. It has a visual editor and drag-and-drop tools that help beginners get started10. On the other hand, BigCommerce has more features and options, which might be harder for new users to learn. Yet, it also has a drag-and-drop editor that’s easy to use11.
Squarespace User Experience
Squarespace focuses on simplicity and looks. It has an easy interface and a visual editor for customizing sites without needing to know a lot of tech10. The drag-and-drop tools make it simple to arrange content and designs. This makes it great for small businesses, personal sites, and those who care about how their site looks10.
BigCommerce User Experience
BigCommerce is for a wider range of businesses, from small to big. It might be a bit harder to learn than Squarespace, but it’s still easy to use. It has a drag-and-drop editor and lots of help guides11. BigCommerce is perfect for businesses that need lots of ecommerce tools and can grow with them12.
| Feature | Squarespace | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Highly user-friendly with a visual editor and drag-and-drop functionality. Suitable for beginners10. | User-friendly with a drag-and-drop visual editor, but may have a slightly steeper learning curve due to its extensive features11. |
| Customization | Offers easy drag-and-drop customization, but may have limited options for advanced users10. | Provides robust customization through coding, catering to businesses with more technical needs10. |
| Support | Offers customer support through email and live chat, with varied availability and responsiveness11. | Provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, phone, and email, along with extensive documentation and self-help resources11. |
In short, Squarespace is easy to use and great for beginners. It’s popular for small businesses and those who want a site that looks good. BigCommerce is more for growing businesses. It has lots of features but is a bit harder to learn. The right choice depends on what you need and how tech-savvy you are10.
Design and Customization Options
Squarespace stands out with its beautiful templates and flexible design options13. It has over 120 pre-designed templates for different industries. You can customize product pages, layouts, and interactive elements13. BigCommerce, on the other hand, has 240 themes for e-commerce sites. It offers detailed customization options like product variants and multimedia uploads.
Squarespace Templates and Design Flexibility
Squarespace’s design flexibility is a major plus13. It has about 50 e-commerce-specific templates for creating beautiful online stores13. The drag-and-drop editor makes it simple to change the layout, colors, and more to fit your brand5. Squarespace has 4 pricing plans, from $23/month for the Personal Plan to $65/month for the Advanced Commerce Plan.
Squarespace is great for design flexibility, scoring 8.3 out of 10 for ease of use13. This makes it easy for anyone to create stunning websites and online stores that show off their brand’s unique style.
“Squarespace’s design flexibility is one of its key strengths, allowing users to create visually appealing and user-friendly online stores.”
Ecommerce Features and Functionality
Both Squarespace and BigCommerce have strong e-commerce features. However, they differ in what they offer.
Squarespace Ecommerce Tools
Squarespace is loved for its easy-to-use design and focus on looks. It’s great for small businesses and creatives. The platform has a drag-and-drop editor for building sites that look good without needing to know a lot of tech6.
It has 170+ themes that are modern and stylish. This makes it perfect for entrepreneurs who value design and simplicity.
Squarespace lets you sell as many products as you want on all plans14. But, its e-commerce tools are not as advanced as BigCommerce’s. It supports 4 payment gateways, 27 currencies, and charges a 3% transaction fee on its Business plan6.
BigCommerce Ecommerce Tools
BigCommerce is for bigger businesses with more complex e-commerce needs. It has features like multi-channel selling, inventory management, and abandoned cart recovery. It also has lots of third-party integrations15.
BigCommerce powers about 43,000 websites6. Its features help businesses grow.
BigCommerce’s prices range from $29.95/month for the Standard Plan to $299.95/month for the Pro Plan15. The cost depends on your store’s annual revenue15. It supports 65+ payment gateways and 100+ currencies, with no transaction fees6.
Both platforms are fast and secure, with free SSL certificates6. But, BigCommerce is better for big businesses because of its advanced features. Squarespace is better for small businesses and creatives who want something easy to use and design-focused.
Payment Gateways and Transaction Fees
Choosing the right ecommerce platform means looking at payment gateways and fees5. BigCommerce is a top choice because it has no transaction fees on any plan4. This lets businesses keep more of their earnings. Squarespace, however, charges a 3% fee on its Business Plan but doesn’t on Basic and Advanced Commerce Plans4.
BigCommerce has over 1,500 integrations and apps through its App Store4. This gives online stores a wide range of tools to improve. Squarespace has about 350 extensions in its App Market6. The difference in integrations can affect how customizable and functional an ecommerce platform is6.
| Feature | Squarespace | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Plans |
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| Transaction Fees |
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| Payment Gateways |
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| Integrations and Apps |
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The choice between Squarespace and BigCommerce depends on what a business needs6. Both offer secure services, but the differences in fees and integrations are key. These factors help merchants decide which platform is best for their online store’s success6.
Scalability and Growth Potential
As your online business grows, it’s key to scale your e-commerce platform. Both Squarespace and BigCommerce offer scalable solutions, but they differ in their approaches16.
Squarespace Scalability
Squarespace is known for its stylish store creation and management features. It gets a 4.5/5 rating for ease of use16. Starting at $16.00 per month, it’s perfect for small and medium retailers. It doesn’t need extensive language support or a large integration library16.
BigCommerce Scalability
BigCommerce is great for smaller retailers growing fast. It has a Stackupp rating of 4.4, just a bit lower than Squarespace’s16. Starting at $29.95 per month, it’s for small to medium retailers. It’s easy to use, with a 4/5 rating for ease of use16.
Squarespace focuses on user-friendly design and convenience. BigCommerce, however, meets the needs of enterprise-level merchants. It offers advanced features like product reviews, multi-currency selling, and real-time shipping quotes17. BigCommerce powers about 43,000 websites, while Squarespace hosts around 4.2 million17.
Choosing between Squarespace and BigCommerce depends on your online business’s needs and goals18. Ecommerce platforms are evolving, adding AI tools, robust inventory management, and diverse payment options. Businesses must evaluate their long-term needs and choose the right platform18.
| Feature | Squarespace | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Stackupp Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Pricing | Starts at $16.00/month | Starts at $29.95/month |
| Ease of Use | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Design Flexibility | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Websites Powered | 4.2 million | 43,000 |
Squarespace vs Big Commerce
Squarespace and BigCommerce are two big names in ecommerce. They offer different features for various businesses and users46.
Squarespace is famous for its design focus and ease of use, with over 260,000+ live stores4. BigCommerce, with over 60,000+ active users, is known for its scalability and ecommerce tools4. BigCommerce has more apps and integrations, with nearly 1,000 options, compared to Squarespace’s 3504.
Squarespace’s prices range from $19/month to $65/month, while BigCommerce starts at $29.95/month and goes up to custom pricing4. BigCommerce’s transaction fees are lower, starting at 2.59% + 49c per transaction for the Standard plan4.
Squarespace is easier for beginners and offers better value, with a 4.6 out of 5 rating for design and 4.4 out of 5 for ease of use19. BigCommerce is more scalable but less intuitive, with a 4.2 out of 5 rating for design and 3.3 out of 5 for ease of use19.
Squarespace excels in design and customization, with sleek templates and a 4.7 out of 5 rating for design flexibility19. BigCommerce’s templates are less personalized, with a 4 out of 5 rating in this category19.
BigCommerce has a more comprehensive set of tools, including zero transaction fees and support for 65+ payment gateways6. Squarespace has a 3% transaction fee and supports fewer payment gateways and currencies6.
Both platforms offer fast and secure hosting with free SSL certificates6. Squarespace is rated higher for customer support, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating, compared to BigCommerce’s 3.9 out of 519.
The choice between Squarespace and BigCommerce depends on the business’s needs and preferences4619. Squarespace is great for smaller, design-focused businesses. BigCommerce is better for larger, more complex ecommerce operations4619.
SEO and Marketing Tools
For ecommerce merchants, having good SEO and marketing tools is key. They help drive traffic, engage customers, and boost sales. Squarespace and BigCommerce both offer tools to help businesses optimize their online presence and reach their audience.
Squarespace has SEO tools like built-in optimization, customizable titles and descriptions, and image alt text20. It also has social media integration, email marketing, and analytics for tracking website performance20.
BigCommerce has a wide range of marketing tools, including SEO features, email marketing, social media integrations, and advanced analytics20. It also has features like abandoned cart recovery, product reviews, and discount codes to increase sales8.
| Squarespace SEO Features | BigCommerce Marketing Tools |
|---|---|
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Both Squarespace and BigCommerce have strong solutions for ecommerce platform search engine optimization209. The right choice for your business depends on your specific needs and goals.
“Implementing effective SEO and marketing strategies is crucial for the success of any ecommerce business, and both Squarespace and BigCommerce provide the tools to help merchants achieve their goals.”
Customer Support and Resources
Both Squarespace and BigCommerce offer great support to their users12122. Squarespace has 24/7 email, live chat, and a detailed help center. BigCommerce goes further with 24/7 phone, email, and live chat, plus a community forum.
Squarespace gets a 4.6/5 rating from over 2,000 reviews on Capterra. BigCommerce scores a 4.4/5 from more than 200 reviews21. This shows both platforms are excellent at supporting their users.
| Feature | Squarespace | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $16 per month (billed annually)122 | $29 per month (billed annually)122 |
| Free Trial | 14 days1 | 15 days1 |
| Payment Gateways | Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Afterpay1 | Over 65 payment gateways121 |
| Support Channels | Email, Chat | Phone, Email, Chat122 |
BigCommerce has a big advantage in resources, with over 1,000 apps and extensions. Squarespace offers 36 third-party tools and plugins21. This means BigCommerce users can customize their stores more.
Both Squarespace and BigCommerce really care about their customers. They make sure users have all the help they need to succeed on their platforms.
Conclusion
The choice between Squarespace and BigCommerce depends on your business needs23. Both are easy to use and let you create an online store without needing tech skills. But, they differ in price, ecommerce features, and how well they grow with your business.
Small to medium-sized businesses might prefer Squarespace24 for its affordable prices and design tools. BigCommerce2324 is better for big businesses or fast-growing online stores. It has more ecommerce features, payment options, and SEO tools.
It’s key to think about your business goals, budget, and future growth when picking a platform. Look at the ecommerce platform comparison, website builder vs e-commerce platform, and choose the best online store builder for your needs. By understanding the pros and cons, you can make a choice that helps your business thrive.
FAQ
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Source Links
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