7 Best Squarespace Alternatives for E-Commerce Businesses

E-commerce is booming, with more and more businesses moving online to reach their customers. In this rapidly evolving landscape, it's important to choose an e-commerce platform that meets your specific needs and budget.

Squarespace is a popular choice for many businesses, but it's not the only option. In this blog post, we'll explore seven of the best Squarespace alternatives for e-commerce businesses. We'll compare their features, pricing, and ease of use, so you can choose the right platform for your business.

Why Consider Alternatives to Squarespace?

• Limited E-Commerce Features: Squarespace's e-commerce tools may not be as comprehensive as those offered by other platforms.
• Scalability Issues: As your business grows, you may need more advanced features that Squarespace doesn't provide.
• Customization Constraints: Squarespace offers fewer customization options compared to platforms like WooCommerce or Magento.
• SEO Limitations: Other platforms might offer better SEO tools and integrations to improve your online visibility.
• Transaction Fees: Some Squarespace competitors do not charge transaction fees, potentially saving you money.
• Integration Needs: You might require specific integrations or plugins that are available on other platforms but not on Squarespace.
• Performance: Some platforms might offer faster load times and better overall performance, which can enhance user experience.
• Cost: Depending on your needs, other platforms might offer more cost-effective pricing plans or more value for your money.

7 Best Squarespace Alternatives for E-commerce Businesses

Read about these popular ecommerce alternatives to Squarespace in detail:

Shopify: The Leading E-Commerce Solution

Shopify stands out as one of the most robust e-commerce platforms available. It offers a wide range of features tailored to online businesses of all sizes. Shopify is known for its ease of use, extensive app store, and excellent customer support.

Key Features

• User-friendly interface
• Extensive customization options
• Large app marketplace
• Integrated payment gateways
• Strong SEO capabilities

Pricing

Shopify offers several pricing plans, starting from $29 per month, making it accessible for small startups to larger enterprises.

Pros:

• Highly scalable
• Great customer support
• Numerous integrations

Cons:

• Transaction fees
• Costs can add up with apps and themes

Woocommerce: WordPress’s E-Commerce Plugin

WooCommerce is a flexible and customizable e-commerce platform built for WordPress users. It's an excellent choice for those who are already familiar with WordPress and want to add e-commerce functionality to their existing site. And to be honest, it is far better than Squarespace in customizing your website.

Key Features

• Seamless integration with WordPress
• Highly customizable
• Extensive plugin library
• Supports physical and digital products
• Strong community support

Pricing

WooCommerce itself is free, but additional costs for hosting, themes, and plugins can vary.

Pros:

• Flexibility and customization
• Large community and support
• Cost-effective for small stores

Cons:

• Requires more technical knowledge
• Can become costly with add-ons

Wix: Easy-to-Use Website Builder

Wix is a user-friendly website builder that offers e-commerce functionality through its drag-and-drop interface. It's similar to Squarespace and ideal for small businesses and individuals who want a simple yet effective solution for their online store.

Key Features

• Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
• Hundreds of templates
• Mobile optimization
• Integrated payment options
• Strong customer support

Pricing

Wix's e-commerce plans start at $23 per month, making it a budget-friendly option.

Pros:

• Very user-friendly
• Affordable pricing
• Wide range of templates

Cons:

• Less scalable for large businesses
• Limited customization compared to other platforms

Bigcommerce: Feature-Rich E-Commerce Platform

BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform known for its robust features and scalability. It offers customizable designs, product catalog management, secure payment options, and SEO tools. BigCommerce is a great Squarespace alternative that provides flexibility for small businesses and enterprises, allowing them to grow their online stores seamlessly.

Pricing is tiered, with options for various business sizes. It offers both monthly and annual plans.

Key Features

• Advanced SEO tools
• Multi-channel selling
• Comprehensive product management
• No transaction fees
• High scalability

Pricing

BigCommerce pricing starts at $29.95 per month, with various plans to accommodate different business needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Built-in features reduce reliance on apps
• Strong SEO and marketing tools
• No additional transaction fees

Cons:

• Higher learning curve
• Can be expensive for smaller businesses

Magneto: Highly Customizable E-Commerce Platform

Magento is a powerful e-commerce solution that offers extensive customization options and is ideal for larger businesses with complex needs. It requires a higher level of technical expertise but provides unmatched flexibility.

Key Features

• Highly customizable
• Strong SEO and marketing tools
• Supports large product catalogs
• Advanced user roles and permissions
• Extensive marketplace for extensions

Pricing

Magento offers a free open-source version, but the Enterprise version can be quite costly, starting at around $22,000 per year.

Pros:

• Unmatched customization
• Scalable for large businesses
• Robust SEO capabilities

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise
• High cost for the Enterprise version

PrestaShop: Best for creating customizable

PrestaShop is one of the free alternatives to Squarespace & an e-commerce platform that provides a flexible and open-source solution for online businesses. Its features include a customizable product catalog, multiple payment options, and various shipping methods. PrestaShop allows businesses to create and manage an online store with ease.

Pricing: PrestaShop is open-source, meaning the core software is free to use. However, businesses will incur costs for hosting, domain registration, and any additional plugins or themes.

Pros:

• Customizable and open-source, offering flexibility for businesses.
• A wide range of themes and modules to enhance the store's functionality.
• Multi-language and multi-currency support for international reach.

Cons:

• Hosting and maintenance costs can add up.
• A steeper learning curve for beginners.
• Limited customer support compared to some paid platforms.

OpenCart: Best for small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses

OpenCart is an open-source e-commerce platform, offering flexibility and customization for businesses. It provides a range of features for managing products, orders, and customer interactions. OpenCart's pricing structure is budget-friendly, as it's open-source and free to use.

Pros:

• Open-source and cost-effective.
• Extensive customization options.
• A user-friendly admin interface.
• A range of payment gateways and shipping methods.
• A diverse library of extensions and themes.

Cons:

• Requires some technical expertise for setup and management.
• Limited out-of-the-box features compared to some competitors.
• Ongoing maintenance and updates may be necessary.

Pricing

OpenCart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform, but you may incur costs for web hosting, domain registration, and premium themes or extensions. Hosting typically starts around $5 per month, and premium themes/extensions can range from $20 to $100 each.

Introducing an AI Shopping Assistant for your Shopify Store

A GPT-powered AI Shopping Assistant, like the one provided by Manifest AI, can significantly empower your Shopify store in the following ways:

• Integration: Works with tools like Zendesk, Omnisend, Gorgias, and Yotpo, and supports custom integration.
• Multi-language Support: Offers multiple languages and allows setting a default language based on audience location.
• AI Nudges: Provides personalized prompts for actions like adding items to the cart, making product recommendations, and offering discounts.
• AI Shopping Assistant: Uses AI to handle 97% of customer queries and offers an easy transition to human support when needed.
• Customization: Allows the AI to be tailored to reflect your brand's personality.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have explored seven of the best Squarespace alternatives for e-commerce businesses. We have compared their features, pricing, and ease of use, so you can choose the right platform for your business.

Ultimately, the best cheaper alternative to Squarespace for your business will depend on your specific needs and requirements. If you are a small business with a limited budget, you may want to choose a platform that is easy to use and has a low monthly fee. If you are a larger business with more complex needs, you may need a platform that offers more features and functionality, even if it has a higher monthly fee.