Squarespace vs BigCommerce
Squarespace scores 8.4/10, BigCommerce 7.8/10. Where each one wins, what they cost and who should pick which, side by side.
The short answer
Squarespace scores 8.4/10 and BigCommerce scores 7.8/10 on our rubric. Squarespace is the stronger all-round pick.
Squarespace leads on ease of use, design, and value. BigCommerce leads on flexibility. They tie on support.
Squarespace starts at $19/mo with no free plan; BigCommerce starts at $29/mo with no free plan. Squarespace is the cheaper way in.
| Squarespace | BigCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.4 | 7.8 |
| From | $19 | $29 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Sells online | Yes | Yes |
| Code export | No | Yes |
| Ease of use | 8.6 | 7.2 |
| Design | 9.5 | 7.4 |
| Flexibility | 7.4 | 8.6 |
| Value | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Support | 8.2 | 8.2 |
What Squarespace does well
- Best-looking templates without design work
- Strong built-in blog and scheduling
- Sensible defaults produce a good site fast
What BigCommerce does well
- Plans include B2B, multi-storefront and headless features other platforms charge extra for
- No platform fee on orders through embedded payment providers
Who each one is for
Squarespace. Portfolios, restaurants, studios and service businesses where visual quality is the point and the structure is conventional. If the site is mostly pages, images and a booking or contact path, this is the shortest route to something that looks professional.
BigCommerce. B2B sellers, merchants running several storefronts or complex catalogs, and stores that want more built in and fewer apps. The native B2B feature set is the strongest reason to choose it.
Pricing side by side
Squarespace
| Basic | $19/mo | 2 contributors, 2% online store transaction fee, 7% on digital content |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $29/mo | unlimited contributors, 0% store fee, 5% on digital content, CSS and code injection |
| Plus | $49/mo | card rate from 2.7% + $0.30, 1% on digital content |
| Advanced | $99/mo | card rate from 2.5% + $0.30, 0% on digital content |
BigCommerce
| Core | $29/mo yearly · $39 monthly | up to $30K a year in sales, then moves to Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | $79/mo yearly · $105 monthly | up to $100K a year, then moves to Scale; phone support |
| Scale | $299/mo yearly · $399 monthly | covers $33,333 a month in sales, 0.9% on sales above that |
| Performance | from $1,499/mo | billed annually, for $1M+ in sales, dedicated success manager |
What a year costs
Squarespace
Basic is $19 a month on an annual plan, and it can sell. But every online store sale on Basic carries a 2% Squarespace transaction fee on top of card processing, and Core, at $29, removes it. The $10 difference is covered once you sell about $500 a month. Above that, Basic is the more expensive plan, and a store taking $1,500 a month pays roughly $240 more a year on Basic than on Core.
Plan price, billed yearlySquarespace transaction fee
BigCommerce
Each BigCommerce plan comes with a sales ceiling measured over the trailing twelve months. Core covers up to $30,000 a year and upgrades automatically to Growth; Growth covers up to $100,000 and upgrades to Scale. Scale includes $33,333 a month in sales and charges 0.9% on anything above that, with no jumps between tiers, and once you pass $2 million a year the account moves to Performance, which starts at $1,499 a month.
Plan priceScale overage at 0.9%
Who should skip each one
Squarespace
Sites needing unusual layouts, heavy custom functionality or a large catalog. The template does most of the work, which is the benefit until it becomes the ceiling.
BigCommerce
A first store that values ecosystem and available help. Shopify has more apps, more themes and far more people who know it.
The bottom line
Squarespace
For a design-led small business, Squarespace on the Core plan is excellent value: it looks good by default, sells without a platform fee, and gives you full code access if you ever need it. Skip Basic unless you are not selling anything.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce makes the most sense for B2B sellers, for businesses running several storefronts, and for growing stores that want more built in and fewer apps. Start on Core if you are new, and expect the plan to follow your sales upwards.
Questions people ask
Is Squarespace better than BigCommerce?
Squarespace scores 8.4/10 and BigCommerce scores 7.8/10 on our rubric. Squarespace is the stronger all-round pick. Squarespace leads on ease of use, design, and value. BigCommerce leads on flexibility. They tie on support.
Which is cheaper, Squarespace or BigCommerce?
Squarespace starts at $19/mo with no free plan; BigCommerce starts at $29/mo with no free plan. Squarespace is the cheaper way in.
Which is easier to use, Squarespace or BigCommerce?
Squarespace scores 8.6/10 for ease of use against BigCommerce at 7.2/10.
Do Squarespace and BigCommerce have a free plan?
Neither Squarespace nor BigCommerce has a free plan.
Can you sell online with Squarespace and BigCommerce?
Both Squarespace and BigCommerce can take payments and run a store.
Can you move your site off Squarespace or BigCommerce?
Squarespace does not export a working site; BigCommerce lets you export your code.
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