Shopify vs Square: Which is Best for Your E-commerce Business in 2024

In the era of online business, selecting the right platform is crucial. Enter Shopify and Square, two leading contenders in e-commerce solutions. They offer powerful features and user-friendly interfaces, but which one is the ideal match for your venture? Join us on this journey as we compare Shopify and Square, dissecting their strengths and suitability for businesses of all sizes.

By the end, you'll have the insights to choose the perfect e-commerce platform for your entrepreneurial dreams confidently. Let's explore these options and find out which one is on top for your business.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create and manage online stores. It provides a wide range of tools and services to help entrepreneurs and businesses set up and operate their own online storefronts. With Shopify, users can customize their websites, add products, manage inventory, process payments, and handle other aspects of running an online business. It also offers features like marketing tools, analytics, and various integrations to enhance the overall e-commerce experience. Shopify has gained popularity for its user-friendly interface, scalability, and ability to cater to businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.

What is Square?

Square Online Store is an easy-to-use and affordable e-commerce platform for small businesses. It offers a variety of features, including a customizable online store builder, product management tools, payment processing, shipping integration, and marketing tools.

Square Online Store is a good option for businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce, as it is easy to set up and use. It is also a good option for businesses on a budget, as it offers a free plan and its paid plans are very affordable.

Overall, Square Online Store is a good choice for small businesses that are looking for an easy-to-use and affordable e-commerce platform.

Shopify vs Square: Comparison chart

Shopify vs Square: Features

Here are the features of Shopify and Squareup:

Shopify Features

Customization options: Shopify offers a wide range of customization options for online stores, including a variety of themes and templates, as well as the ability to customize the CSS and HTML code. This gives businesses the flexibility to create an online store that perfectly matches their brand and meets their specific needs.

Third-party app integrations: Shopify integrates with a wide range of third-party apps, such as payment processors, shipping carriers, and marketing tools. This allows businesses to extend the functionality of their online store and add new features without having to develop their own code.

International selling: Shopify offers a variety of features to support international selling, including support for multiple currencies and languages, as well as integrations with third-party shipping carriers that specialize in international shipping. This makes it easy for businesses to sell their products to customers all over the world.

Square Features

Easy to use: Square Online Store is designed to be easy to use, even for businesses with no prior experience with e-commerce. The user interface is simple and straightforward, and the platform provides a variety of tools and resources to help businesses get started.

Affordable: Square Online Store is a more affordable option than Shopify, especially for small businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce. Square Online Store also offers a free plan, which includes a limited set of features but is a good way for businesses to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Fewer customization options and third-party app integrations: Square Online Store does not offer as many customization options or third-party app integrations as Shopify. However, Square Online Store does offer a variety of basic features that are essential for most e-commerce businesses, such as product management, payment processing, and shipping integration.

Less support for international selling: Square Online Store does not offer as much support for international selling as Shopify. For example, the Square Online Store does not support multiple currencies or languages. However, Square Online Store does integrate with third-party shipping carriers that specialize in international shipping.

Which platform is right for you depends on your specific needs and budget. If you need a feature-rich e-commerce platform with more customization options and third-party app integrations, then Shopify is a good choice. If you are a small business that is just getting started with e-commerce or that is on a budget, then Square Online Store is a good option.

Shopify Vs Square: Pricing

Here are the pricing of Shopify and Squareup:

Shopify Pricing

Basic: This plan is a good option for small businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce. It includes all the features of the Lite plan, plus the ability to create a custom online store, add unlimited products, and offer shipping discounts.

Shopify: This plan is a good option for growing businesses that need more features and functionality. It includes all the features of the Basic plan, plus the ability to add multiple staff accounts, gift cards, and advanced reporting tools.

Advanced: This plan is designed for large businesses that need a high-performance e-commerce platform. It includes all the features of the Shopify plan, plus the ability to calculate real-time shipping rates, offer advanced discounts, and integrate with third-party ERP systems.

Plus: This plan is a custom enterprise plan for large businesses with unique needs. It includes all the features of the Advanced plan, plus additional features and support.

Square Pricing

Free: The Free plan is a good option for businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce or that have a low sales volume. It offers all the essential features you need to create and manage an online store, such as the ability to sell unlimited products, accept payments, and track sales and inventory.

plus: The Plus plan is a good option for businesses that are growing and need more features and functionality. It includes everything in the Free plan, plus features like a custom checkout experience, gift cards, abandoned cart recovery, and live chat support.

premium: The Premium plan is a good option for businesses with a high sales volume or that need advanced features and functionality. It includes everything in the Plus plan, plus features like advanced shipping discounts, real-time shipping rates, advanced product filtering and sorting, and product reviews.

Shopify Vs Square: Pros and Cons

Here are the pros & cons of Shopify and Squareup:

Shopify

Pros

Comprehensive features: Shopify offers a wide range of features, including a customizable online store builder, product management tools, payment processing, shipping integration, marketing tools, and integrations with a wide range of third-party apps. This makes it a good choice for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Scalability: Shopify is a scalable platform that can grow with your business. As your business grows, you can upgrade to a more expensive plan with more features and functionality.

Support: Shopify offers 24/7 customer support. This is a valuable resource for businesses that need help with their online store or have questions about Shopify's features and functionality.

Cons

Price: Shopify is more expensive than Square Online Store. However, it is important to note that Shopify offers a wider range of features and functionality.

Complexity: Shopify can be complex to set up and use, especially for businesses with no prior experience with e-commerce. However, Shopify offers a variety of resources to help businesses get started, such as tutorials and documentation.

Square

Pros

Easy to use: Square Online Store is designed to be easy to use, even for businesses with no prior experience with e-commerce. The user interface is simple and straightforward, and the platform provides a variety of tools and resources to help businesses get started.

Affordable: Square Online Store is a more affordable option than Shopify, especially for small businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce. Square Online Store also offers a free plan, which includes a limited set of features but is a good way for businesses to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Good support: Square Online Store offers 24/7 customer support. This is a valuable resource for businesses that need help with their online store or have questions about

Square Online Store's features and functionality.

Cons

Limited features: Square Online Store does not offer as many features as Shopify. For example, Square Online Store does not offer as many customization options or third-party app integrations as Shopify.

Less support for international selling: Square Online Store does not offer as much support for international selling as Shopify. For example, the Square Online Store does not support multiple currencies or languages.

Transaction fees: Square Online Store charges transaction fees on all sales. However, these fees are comparable to the transaction fees charged by other e-commerce platforms.

Square vs Shopify: Integrations

Shopify and Square Online Store are both popular e-commerce platforms that offer a variety of features and integrations to help businesses sell products online. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms in terms of their integrations.

Shopify integrates with a wider range of third-party apps and services than Square Online Store. This includes integrations with popular apps and services like:

• Payment processors: PayPal, Stripe, Amazon Pay, and more.
• Shipping carriers: USPS, FedEx, UPS, and more.
• Marketing tools: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Google Ads, and more.
• Accounting software: Xero, QuickBooks Online, and more.
• CRM software: Salesforce, HubSpot, and more.

Square Online Store integrates with a narrower range of third-party apps and services, but it does include integrations with popular apps like:

• Payment processors: PayPal, Stripe, and Square Payments.
• Shipping carriers: USPS, FedEx, and UPS.
• Marketing tools: Mailchimp and Google Ads.
• Accounting software: Xero.
• CRM software: HubSpot.

Square Online Store also offers its own app store, where businesses can find and install apps to add new features and functionality to their online store.

Here is an example of how the different integrations of Shopify and Square Online Store could be used by different types of businesses:

A business that sells a variety of products online and needs to integrate its online store with a lot of different third-party apps and services, such as a payment processor, shipping carrier, marketing tool, and accounting software, would benefit from using Shopify.

A small business that just started selling online and only needs to integrate its online store with a few popular apps and services, such as a payment processor and shipping carrier, would benefit from using Square Online Store.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which e-commerce platform is right for you is to consider your specific needs and budget. If you need to integrate your online store with a lot of different third-party apps and services, then Shopify is the better choice. If you only need to integrate your online store with a few popular apps and services, then Square Online Store is a good option.

Square vs Shopify for Dropshipping

When considering Square and Shopify for dropshipping, it's important to compare their features and capabilities:

Square for Dropshipping

• Integrated Ecosystem: Square offers a cohesive set of tools for point-of-sale, online sales, and business management.
• Ease of Use: Known for its user-friendly interface and quick setup.
• Payment Processing: Direct integration with Square payments is a major advantage for those already using Square for offline sales.

Cons:

• Limited Customization: Less flexibility in design and functionality compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms.
• Fewer Dropshipping Integrations: Not as many direct integrations with dropshipping suppliers and apps.

Shopify for Dropshipping

• Extensive App Market: Access to a vast array of dropshipping apps like Oberlo and Spocket.
• High Customizability: Offers more design templates and customization options to create a unique store.
• Dedicated E-commerce Focus: Built specifically for online stores, providing robust tools and features for managing products, orders, and customers.

Cons:

• Cost: Can be more expensive when adding multiple apps and advanced features.
• Learning Curve: While user-friendly, it has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive functionalities.

Shopify vs Square: Alternatives

Shopify and Square Online Store are two of the most popular e-commerce platforms on the market, but there are a number of other alternatives available. Some of the most popular Shopify and Square Online Store alternatives include:

WooCommerce: WooCommerce is a free and open-source e-commerce platform that is built on WordPress. It is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes, and it offers a wide range of features and integrations.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce is a paid e-commerce platform that is designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features and integrations, and it is known for its scalability and reliability.

Magento: Magento is a free and open-source e-commerce platform that is designed for large businesses. It is a complex platform with a lot of features and customization options, but it can be difficult to set up and use.

Volusion: Volusion is a paid e-commerce platform that is designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features and integrations, and it is known for its ease of use.

Weebly: Weebly is a website builder that also offers e-commerce features. It is a good option for small businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce.

Final thoughts

Shopify and Square Online Store are both popular e-commerce platforms that offer a variety of features and integrations. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms in terms of their features, pricing, and ease of use.

Shopify is generally considered to be the more powerful and feature-rich platform. It offers a wider range of integrations with third-party apps and services, and it has more customization options. However, Shopify is also more expensive than Square Online Store.

Square Online Store is a good option for businesses that are just getting started with e-commerce or that have a small budget. It is easy to use and offers a variety of essential features, such as product management, payment processing, and shipping integration.

Which platform is right for you depends on your specific needs and budget. If you are not sure which platform to choose, try both Shopify and Square Online Store for free before making a decision.

FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions related to Square and Shopify: