Head-to-head

Square Online vs Shopify vs Wix

Square Online

8.5 $49

Shopify

9.2 $29

Wix website builder workspace with non-readable abstract interface

Wix

9.1 $17

Verdict

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.

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.

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

Square Online

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

Shopify

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

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

Square Online

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

Shopify

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

Wix

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

Score breakdown

fit

Square Onl

8.6

Shopify

9.4

Wix

9.2

ease

Square Onl

9.0

Shopify

8.8

Wix

9.4

value

Square Onl

8.8

Shopify

8.3

Wix

9.0

quality

Square Onl

8.3

Shopify

9.4

Wix

8.8

Specs

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

—

Best for

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

Online stores selling physical products with real checkout and operations

—

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)

—

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

—

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

—

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 →

	Square Online	Shopify	Wix
Score	8.5	9.2	9.1
Price	$49	$29	$17
Verdict	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 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 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	Local businesses, restaurants, and retailers already using Square payments or POS who want online ordering or a simple store.	Businesses that primarily need an online store with products, checkout, payments, inventory, shipping, and room to grow.	Small businesses, local services, consultants, and non-technical owners who want an easy website builder with templates and built-in business features.
Avoid if	you need a highly custom marketing site, an advanced design system, or a non-Square ecommerce stack.	your website is mostly a brochure, portfolio, or service-business site with only occasional payments.	you need deep design-system control, complex custom logic, or a developer-first build.
Score breakdown
fit	8.6	9.4	9.2
ease	9.0	8.8	9.4
value	8.8	8.3	9.0
quality	8.3	9.4	8.8
Specs
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	—	—
Best for	Businesses already using Square POS/payments — retail, restaurants, salons, local sellers	Online stores selling physical products with real checkout and operations	—
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)	—	—
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	—
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	—
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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