WooCommerce is a self-hosted, open-source plugin offering maximum flexibility and lower fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) but requires technical setup, while Squarespace is an all-in-one SaaS platform with built-in hosting and design tools (6.5% + $0.30 per transaction) that's easier for beginners but less customizable.
WooCommerce vs Squarespace — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Open-source WordPress e-commerce plugin providing flexible, self-hosted commerce capabilities.
All-in-one website builder with e-commerce and hosting for small businesses and creatives.
Payment Processing Fees. Hosting Model. Setup Difficulty. Monthly Cost (Basic Plan). Customization & Extensibility. Built-in Design Templates. Community & Support
Choose WooCommerce if you need maximum customization, lower transaction fees, and don't mind technical setup—ideal for developers and high-volume stores. Choose Squarespace if you want a quick, no-code solution with professional design templates and dedicated support, best for small businesses and non-technical users.
WooCommerce: ~6 Million+ | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: ~$5 (hosting) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 2.0-2.5% | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Self-Hosted Open-Source | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Requires custom engineering | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: $30-$360 | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Unlimited | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 70+ via plugins/extensions | Squarespace: 5-6
WooCommerce: Core features only | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 3-7 days | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 1000+ WooCommerce extensions | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Community-based (variable, 24/7 community forums) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 50,000 (practical limit) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 5-10 (plugin-dependent) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 1-2 weeks | Squarespace: N/A
Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
WooCommerce: 185,000+ questions | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 2% (with Stripe/PayPal) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: $3-10 (hosting only) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 4-8 hours (learning curve) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 5,000+ plugins and extensions | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Full export capability, own data | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: $156 (hosting) + $2,000 (fees) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: $0 (plus hosting $50-200/year) | Squarespace: $15 (Business plan starts here)
WooCommerce: 60,000+ | Squarespace: ~200
WooCommerce: 500+ (from ecosystem) | Squarespace: 85
WooCommerce: 20-40 hours (requires technical setup) | Squarespace: 1-2 hours (drag-and-drop)
WooCommerce: 10+ million active stores | Squarespace: 1+ million stores
WooCommerce: Community-based, no official phone support | Squarespace: 24/7 phone and chat support
WooCommerce: $50-200 minimum | Squarespace: $180-276 (included)
WooCommerce: 5.2 million | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Via extensions | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 2-4 hours | Squarespace: N/A
Community Size (Stack Exchange questions)
WooCommerce: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) to 0% (PayPal alternative) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 99.9% (hosting dependent) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 70,000+ WordPress plugins (broader) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 4-8 hours (requires hosting + WordPress setup) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Full PHP/JavaScript access to all code | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 200+ via WooCommerce Payments + plugins | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Requires third-party payment processor (not built-in) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: $0-200 (domain + initial setup) | Squarespace: $23-529 first month
WooCommerce: $5-50 (hosting only; support separate) | Squarespace: $23-529 (all-inclusive)
WooCommerce: 0% (payment gateway only: 2.9% + $0.30) | Squarespace: 2.9% + $0.30 or 3% + $0.20
WooCommerce: Unlimited | Squarespace: ~1,000 (performance degrades beyond)
WooCommerce: 8,000+ extensions and plugins | Squarespace: 100+ pre-built templates
WooCommerce: Community forums only; paid support $50-200/mo | Squarespace: 24/7 live chat, email, phone
WooCommerce: $600-1,200 (hosting + minimal fees) | Squarespace: $2,784-6,348 (subscription + fees)
WooCommerce: 0% (no platform fees) | Squarespace: 2.9%-3%
WooCommerce: $0 (hosting extra: $3-50) | Squarespace: $23 (Business plan with e-commerce)
WooCommerce: 40-80 (with developer or steep learning curve) | Squarespace: 2-4 (drag-and-drop template)
WooCommerce: 58,000+ WooCommerce extensions | Squarespace: ~200 pre-built apps
WooCommerce: Unlimited | Squarespace: Unlimited
WooCommerce: No (self-hosted or third-party required) | Squarespace: Yes, managed hosting
WooCommerce: $0-50 (Let's Encrypt free or paid premium) | Squarespace: $0 (included in plan)
WooCommerce: 10 (full code access) | Squarespace: 5 (template + drag-drop limits)
WooCommerce: $10-50 (hosting only; plugin free) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 120-300 minutes (2-5 days with setup) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 200+ premium + free themes | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 3.5 (Medium-High: WordPress + PHP knowledge helpful) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Yes (depends only on hosting) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: $0 (plus ~$10-30/month hosting) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 5,000+ WooCommerce extensions | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: 8-20 hours (hosting + plugin config) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Native WordPress plugin (100% integrated) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: Unlimited (infrastructure-dependent) | Squarespace: N/A
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $16/month
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $16/month (included)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Not available
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited integrations
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Lower fees
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: More attractive & polished aesthetics
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Extensive, section-based editor
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Advanced, highly customizable
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: SSL certificate, daily backups, security updates
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 2/10 (minimal)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Email & Chat
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Plan-dependent
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $144–$720
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Included
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 50+ professional designs
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 15–30 minutes
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 4.5/5 (3,394 reviews)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Automatic (all templates mobile-optimized)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $23-33/month
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 2-3 hours
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 3,394 reviews (Capterra)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic collections only
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Block animations, limited transitions
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Proprietary global CDN included
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Yes, with inventory and payments
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $15/month (Starter plan)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $33/month (Core plan)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 40% - template parameter-based
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 1-3 days
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 4.4/5 stars (3,394 reviews)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic content management; third-party integrations needed
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Yes, integrated with advanced product filters (April 2026)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 3,396 reviews
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: No native B2B support
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited integrations (primarily Squarespace native)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic API, limited headless support
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 2-4 hours
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic coupon and discount tools
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: All paid plans included
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 14-day trial only
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $12-33 (Creator/Business)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 3-4% per transaction
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Unlimited (with per-transaction fees)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 70+ professionally designed templates
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Requires integration (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited; requires apps or custom integration
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Advanced on-page SEO, image optimization, blogging
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 14 days free; no credit card required
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Unlimited (Commerce plan)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited/Not published
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic (single-location, limited variants)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited; mainly Facebook and Instagram
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Full drag-and-drop with no coding needed
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $16/month (Personal)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 3% + $0.30
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 500+ built-in integrations
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Yes (all plans)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 4.5/5 stars
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $33/month
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: $11/month
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Unlimited
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Phone, Chat, Email (24/7)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Instagram Shop only (1)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited API with restricted code
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 2-4 hours (drag-and-drop)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited/No direct API
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 500 free/month built-in
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 3% on third-party payments
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Premium, cohesive design system
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: ~200 integrated apps
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Included in all plans
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Up to 20% off
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 100+ responsive templates
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited (requires workarounds)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Full shopping cart, inventory, tax, shipping
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic (Business plan $23+/month)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Yes (all plans included)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: 4 built-in (Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, Square)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Limited CSS/JavaScript injection
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: No (14-day trial only)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Yes (unlimited bandwidth)
WooCommerce: N/A | Squarespace: Basic (scroll effects, transitions)
How to choose between WooCommerce and Squarespace
WooCommerce vs Squarespace — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for WooCommerce vs Squarespace. Contains 193 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
WooCommerce vs Squarespace — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for WooCommerce vs Squarespace.
Which platform is cheaper for a store with $50,000 annual revenue?
WooCommerce is significantly cheaper. WooCommerce costs approximately $100-200/year (hosting + domain) with $1,450 in transaction fees (2.9%). Squarespace costs $180-276/year in platform fees plus $1,630 in transaction fees (6.5%), totaling ~$1,900+ annually. WooCommerce saves $1,350+ per year at this revenue level. The savings increase proportionally with higher transaction volume.
Can I migrate my Squarespace store to WooCommerce?
Yes, but it's manual and time-consuming. Squarespace doesn't offer native export tools, so you'll need to manually export products (via CSV), recreate categories, and rewrite product descriptions. Most migrations take 30-60 hours for a 500+ product catalog. Third-party migration services charge $500-2,000+ for this work. Data like customer orders and reviews typically cannot be migrated and must be archived separately.
Do I need coding skills to run WooCommerce?
Not for basic setup, but yes for customization. The core store can be managed through a drag-and-drop admin interface similar to Squarespace. However, customizing design, adding advanced features, or troubleshooting issues requires PHP/CSS knowledge or hiring a developer ($50-150/hour). Squarespace requires zero technical skills for 95% of tasks.
Which platform has better mobile responsiveness?
Both are mobile-responsive by default. Squarespace templates are optimized for mobile out-of-the-box and mobile conversions average 35-40%. WooCommerce stores with well-coded themes (like Neve, Astra, or GeneratePress) achieve similar 35-40% mobile conversion rates. The difference depends on your specific theme choice in WooCommerce rather than platform architecture.
What if my store grows to $500K+ in annual sales?
WooCommerce becomes the clear financial winner. At $500K revenue: WooCommerce costs ~$3,500/year (hosting + 2.9% fees), while Squarespace costs $1,800+ platform fees plus $16,250 in transaction fees (6.5%), totaling ~$18,000+. WooCommerce saves $14,500 annually. Additionally, WooCommerce scales infinitely with enterprise hosting, while Squarespace has performance limitations at very high transaction volumes.
How to Choose Between WooCommerce and Squarespace
Payment Processing Fees: WooCommerce has 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, while Squarespace has 6.5% + $0.30 per transaction.
Hosting Model: WooCommerce has Self-hosted (requires separate web host, $50-200/year minimum), while Squarespace has All-in-one SaaS (included in plan).
Setup Difficulty: WooCommerce has Advanced (requires WordPress knowledge, technical configuration), while Squarespace has Beginner-friendly (drag-and-drop builder, zero technical skills needed).
Monthly Cost (Basic Plan): WooCommerce has $0 (plugin is free, but hosting + domain required), while Squarespace has $15-23 (Business plan for full ecommerce features).
Customization & Extensibility: WooCommerce has Unlimited (open-source, 60,000+ plugins available), while Squarespace has Limited (template constraints, limited app ecosystem with ~200 apps).
Built-in Design Templates: WooCommerce has 500+ free/premium themes (from Envato, StudioPress, etc.), while Squarespace has 85 professionally designed templates (included).
Community & Support: WooCommerce has Large community (10M+ active users), 24/7 forum support but no official phone support, while Squarespace has Official 24/7 phone/chat support (included in all plans).