SHOPIFY VS SQUARE: WHICH IS BETTER FOR GROWING BUSINESS 2023?

5 min readAug 10, 2023

In today’s digital age, starting an online business is easier than ever before. With a range of e-commerce platforms available, it can be challenging for entrepreneurs to choose the best one for their business needs. Two of the most popular options are Shopify and Square online. While both platforms offer powerful eCommerce solutions, they have some fundamental differences that can make one more suitable than the other, depending on the type of business and the specific needs of the entrepreneur. In this article, we compare Shopify vs Square in various categories to help entrepreneurs make informed decisions and select the best platform for their online business. We analyze features such as ease of use, website design, payment options, inventory management, SEO, blogging, and pricing. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms and be able to choose the one that fits your business requirements.

Overview of Shopify and Square Online

Shopify

Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform that provides a variety of features to help merchants start, grow, and manage their online stores. This SaaS was founded in 2006 and has since grown to become one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world, powering over 1 million businesses in over 175 countries.

Shopify offers many tools and features for businesses to start and grow their online stores, including payment processing, inventory management, marketing and SEO tools, and customizable store design. This robust platform also provides a range of integrations and apps to help merchants add additional features and functionality to their stores.

Square

Square is a leading payments and financial services company that offers a wide range of tools and features to help merchants of all sizes manage their businesses. The company was founded in 2009 and has since grown to become a widely recognized brand in the payments industry, serving millions of businesses around the world.

Square online also offers a range of other tools and features to help merchants manage their businesses, including inventory management, appointment scheduling, customer relationship management, and point-of-sale solutions. Square’s tools are designed to be easy to use, with intuitive interfaces and a range of customization options to fit the needs of different businesses.

Shopify vs Square Online: Comparison

Ease of Use

Shopify vs Square Online is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, with intuitive interfaces that require little technical expertise. However, there are some differences between Square store vs Shopify when it comes to ease of use.

Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop store builder, which makes it easy for merchants to create and customize their online stores without requiring technical expertise. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools and features, including inventory management, marketing and SEO tools, and customizable store design, which are all designed to be easy to use for merchants of all levels.

Square, on the other hand, offers a wider range of financial services and tools in addition to payment processing, which can make the platform more complex to navigate for merchants who are primarily focused on payment processing. However, Square’s interface is still designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with a range of customization options to fit the needs of different businesses.

When comparing Shopify vs Square online in terms of ease of use, Shopify’s interface is more streamlined and easier to navigate for merchants who are primarily focused on selling products online. Square’s wider range of financial services and tools can make its interface more complex to navigate, but the platform still provides a user-friendly experience for merchants of all levels.

Website Design

Both Shopify and Square online provide a range of website design options to help merchants create attractive and functional online stores.

Here’s a comparison of Square vs Shopify online store in terms of website design:

Store Builder: Shopify offers a drag-and-drop store builder that allows merchants to create and customize their online stores with ease. The platform provides a wide range of templates and themes that can be customized to fit the needs of different businesses, as well as a range of design and layout options that can be adjusted to create a unique look and feel. Square, on the other hand, does not offer a built-in store builder, but it does provide integrations with third-party website builders like Wix and Weebly.
Customization: Both Shopify and Square online offer a range of customization options to help merchants create a unique and attractive online store. Shopify provides a wide range of design and layout options, as well as a theme editor that allows for advanced customization of the store’s look and feels. Square provides integrations with third-party website builders that offer a range of design and customization options.
Responsive Design: Both Shopify and Square provide responsive website design, which means that their websites are optimized for viewing on mobile devices. This is important, as more and more customers are accessing online stores on their mobile devices.
Design Quality: The quality of website designs on Shopify and Square can vary based on the templates and themes used, as well as the level of customization that merchants apply. However, Shopify is known for offering a wider range of high-quality templates and themes, which can help merchants create a more professional-looking online store. The number of templates available on Square is less than on Shopify. However, the small amount of work needed to set up a working site makes up somewhat for how straightforward the options are.