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
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.
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.
WooCommerce vs Squarespace — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for WooCommerce vs Squarespace with 193 attributes.
Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
Community Size (Stack Exchange questions)
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.