Head-to-head

Shopify vs Square Online vs Wix

Shopify

9.2 $29

Square Online

8.5 $49

Wix website builder workspace with non-readable abstract interface

Wix

9.1 $17

Verdict

Shopify

The ecommerce standard: real checkout, inventory, shipping, and payments out of the box, plus a huge app ecosystem that scales from solo shop to enterprise. Best when selling is the point; overkill for a content site, and apps plus transaction fees add up.

Square Online

The obvious online store for businesses already on Square: the only major builder with a free selling plan, with online and in-person inventory in sync. Best for local, omnichannel selling; design tools are weak and the free plan's 3.3% online processing fee is high.

Wix

The dependable default for a non-technical owner: a freeform editor, 900+ templates, and built-in bookings, forms, and payments, all fully hosted. Just know you can't swap templates after publishing, the site isn't portable, and big stores (500+ products) outgrow it.

Best for

Shopify

Businesses that primarily need an online store with products, checkout, payments, inventory, shipping, and room to grow.

Square Online

Local businesses, restaurants, and retailers already using Square payments or POS who want online ordering or a simple store.

Wix

Small businesses, local services, consultants, and non-technical owners who want an easy website builder with templates and built-in business features.

Avoid if

Shopify

your website is mostly a brochure, portfolio, or service-business site with only occasional payments.

Square Online

you need a highly custom marketing site, an advanced design system, or a non-Square ecommerce stack.

Wix

you need deep design-system control, complex custom logic, or a developer-first build.

Score breakdown

fit

Shopify

9.4

Square Onl

8.6

Wix

9.2

ease

Shopify

8.8

Square Onl

9.0

Wix

9.4

value

Shopify

8.3

Square Onl

8.8

Wix

9.0

quality

Shopify

9.4

Square Onl

8.3

Wix

8.8

Specs

Scale

Powers 1M+ stores; scales from solo shops to enterprise via Plus

—

Themes

Free and premium themes (premium ~$100–400 one-time)

—

Starter

~$5/mo — sell via social, links, and chat; no full storefront

—

Best for

Online stores selling physical products with real checkout and operations

Businesses already using Square POS/payments — retail, restaurants, salons, local sellers

—

Built in

Checkout, product catalog, inventory, shipping integrations, payments

—

Basic plan

$39/mo monthly (~$29/mo annual) — full online store, 2 staff accounts

—

Higher tiers

Shopify ~$105/mo, Advanced ~$399/mo, Plus (enterprise, custom)

—

App ecosystem

Thousands of apps for any store need (many are paid)

—

Pricing model

Tiered monthly plans plus transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments

—

Transaction fees

0.5–2% on external gateways; waived with Shopify Payments

—

Plans

—

Free ($0) → Plus $49/mo → Premium $149/mo per location (annual); 30-day trial on paid

—

Design

—

Weak customization and underwhelming templates versus Wix or Squarespace

—

Free plan

—

Sell unlimited products free; SSL, basic SEO, pickup/delivery, social selling; first POS card reader free

—

Plus adds

—

Custom domain, lower processing rates, automation, loyalty tools, more templates

—

Premium adds

—

Lowest rates, real-time shipping rates, shipping labels, 24/7 phone support

—

Custom domain

—

Not on Free; included first year on paid plans then ~$19.95/yr

—

Online processing

—

3.3% + $0.30 on Free; 2.9% + $0.30 on Plus/Premium (Free online rate rose Jan 2026)

—

Square integration

—

Real-time inventory sync between the online store and Square POS

—

In-person processing

—

2.6% + $0.15 (Free), 2.5% (Plus), 2.4% (Premium)

—

seo

—

Custom meta, redirects, structured data; much improved since ~2023

apps

—

Wix App Market for added functionality

type

—

All-in-one no-code website builder (hosted SaaS)

editor

—

Freeform drag-and-drop + ADI; Wix Studio for advanced/dev control

hosting

—

Fully managed hosting, security, and SSL included

best for

—

SMB/service sites, portfolios, bookings, small stores

ecommerce

—

On Core plan and up: payments, inventory, abandoned-cart, auto tax

free plan

—

Yes (with Wix ads and branding)

templates

—

900+ mobile-responsive; cannot be swapped after publishing

paid plans

—

Light ~$17, Core ~$29, Business ~$36, Business Elite ~$159 /mo (billed annually)

scale note

—

Best under ~500 products; Shopify/WordPress for larger or complex builds

Buy →Buy →Buy →

	Shopify	Square Online	Wix
Score	9.2	8.5	9.1
Price	$29	$49	$17
Verdict	The ecommerce standard: real checkout, inventory, shipping, and payments out of the box, plus a huge app ecosystem that scales from solo shop to enterprise. Best when selling is the point; overkill for a content site, and apps plus transaction fees add up.	The obvious online store for businesses already on Square: the only major builder with a free selling plan, with online and in-person inventory in sync. Best for local, omnichannel selling; design tools are weak and the free plan's 3.3% online processing fee is high.	The dependable default for a non-technical owner: a freeform editor, 900+ templates, and built-in bookings, forms, and payments, all fully hosted. Just know you can't swap templates after publishing, the site isn't portable, and big stores (500+ products) outgrow it.
Best for	Businesses that primarily need an online store with products, checkout, payments, inventory, shipping, and room to grow.	Local businesses, restaurants, and retailers already using Square payments or POS who want online ordering or a simple store.	Small businesses, local services, consultants, and non-technical owners who want an easy website builder with templates and built-in business features.
Avoid if	your website is mostly a brochure, portfolio, or service-business site with only occasional payments.	you need a highly custom marketing site, an advanced design system, or a non-Square ecommerce stack.	you need deep design-system control, complex custom logic, or a developer-first build.
Score breakdown
fit	9.4	8.6	9.2
ease	8.8	9.0	9.4
value	8.3	8.8	9.0
quality	9.4	8.3	8.8
Specs
Scale	Powers 1M+ stores; scales from solo shops to enterprise via Plus	—	—
Themes	Free and premium themes (premium ~$100–400 one-time)	—	—
Starter	~$5/mo — sell via social, links, and chat; no full storefront	—	—
Best for	Online stores selling physical products with real checkout and operations	Businesses already using Square POS/payments — retail, restaurants, salons, local sellers	—
Built in	Checkout, product catalog, inventory, shipping integrations, payments	—	—
Basic plan	$39/mo monthly (~$29/mo annual) — full online store, 2 staff accounts	—	—
Higher tiers	Shopify ~$105/mo, Advanced ~$399/mo, Plus (enterprise, custom)	—	—
App ecosystem	Thousands of apps for any store need (many are paid)	—	—
Pricing model	Tiered monthly plans plus transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments	—	—
Transaction fees	0.5–2% on external gateways; waived with Shopify Payments	—	—
Plans	—	Free ($0) → Plus $49/mo → Premium $149/mo per location (annual); 30-day trial on paid	—
Design	—	Weak customization and underwhelming templates versus Wix or Squarespace	—
Free plan	—	Sell unlimited products free; SSL, basic SEO, pickup/delivery, social selling; first POS card reader free	—
Plus adds	—	Custom domain, lower processing rates, automation, loyalty tools, more templates	—
Premium adds	—	Lowest rates, real-time shipping rates, shipping labels, 24/7 phone support	—
Custom domain	—	Not on Free; included first year on paid plans then ~$19.95/yr	—
Online processing	—	3.3% + $0.30 on Free; 2.9% + $0.30 on Plus/Premium (Free online rate rose Jan 2026)	—
Square integration	—	Real-time inventory sync between the online store and Square POS	—
In-person processing	—	2.6% + $0.15 (Free), 2.5% (Plus), 2.4% (Premium)	—
seo	—	—	Custom meta, redirects, structured data; much improved since ~2023
apps	—	—	Wix App Market for added functionality
type	—	—	All-in-one no-code website builder (hosted SaaS)
editor	—	—	Freeform drag-and-drop + ADI; Wix Studio for advanced/dev control
hosting	—	—	Fully managed hosting, security, and SSL included
best for	—	—	SMB/service sites, portfolios, bookings, small stores
ecommerce	—	—	On Core plan and up: payments, inventory, abandoned-cart, auto tax
free plan	—	—	Yes (with Wix ads and branding)
templates	—	—	900+ mobile-responsive; cannot be swapped after publishing
paid plans	—	—	Light ~$17, Core ~$29, Business ~$36, Business Elite ~$159 /mo (billed annually)
scale note	—	—	Best under ~500 products; Shopify/WordPress for larger or complex builds
	Buy →	Buy →	Buy →

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