BigCommerce vs. Squarespace: Choosing the Right Platform for Your eCommerce Business

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of eCommerce, choosing the right platform for your online store is crucial. Two popular contenders in this space are BigCommerce and Squarespace. With over 260,000 live stores running on Squarespace and more than 60,000 active users on BigCommerce, these platforms have proven their worth in the market. But which one is the best fit for your business? In this comprehensive comparison, we'll explore the features, pricing, pros, and cons of BigCommerce vs. Squarespace to help you make an informed decision.

Understanding BigCommerce and Squarespace

Before we dive into the comparison, let's take a closer look at what each platform offers:

BigCommerce: A Robust eCommerce Solution

BigCommerce is a fully-hosted eCommerce platform designed to help business owners set up and manage their online stores efficiently. As a comprehensive solution, it provides all the necessary tools and features to start an online business, including:

• Hosting
• Website design options
• Various payment gateways
• Marketing features
• SEO tools

With its user-friendly interface and extensive feature set, BigCommerce is particularly well-suited for new business owners looking to establish a strong online presence.

Squarespace: A Versatile Website Builder with eCommerce Capabilities

Squarespace, primarily known as a website builder, has evolved to include robust eCommerce functionalities. Like BigCommerce, it's a fully-hosted platform that offers a range of tools and features for online businesses, including:

• Email marketing tools
• Social media integrations
• SEO solutions
• Customizable templates

Squarespace's strength lies in its simplicity and aesthetic appeal, making it an attractive option for small business owners and creative professionals.

Key Similarities Between BigCommerce and Squarespace

Before we delve into the differences, it's important to note that BigCommerce and Squarespace share several key features:

1. Multi-channel Selling

Both platforms offer multi-channel sales opportunities, allowing merchants to expand their reach beyond their primary online store. This feature is crucial in today's diverse digital marketplace, where consumers shop across various platforms and social media channels.

2. Integration with Shipping Software

BigCommerce and Squarespace integrate seamlessly with shipping software solutions like Easyship. This integration enables merchants to access competitive shipping rates, real-time tracking, and automated label generation, streamlining the fulfillment process.

3. Customizable Design Options

Both platforms provide a range of themes and templates to customize your online store. Additionally, they offer the flexibility to add plugins and applications to tailor your eCommerce store to your specific needs and preferences.

Key Differences Between BigCommerce and Squarespace

While BigCommerce and Squarespace share some similarities, they differ in several crucial areas:

1. Pricing Structure

BigCommerce generally comes with a higher price tag compared to Squarespace. The basic plan for BigCommerce is approximately $10 more expensive than Squarespace's equivalent offering. BigCommerce plans can go up to $300+ per month for advanced features.

2. Ease of Use

Squarespace is renowned for its user-friendly interface, featuring a drag-and-drop page editor that's particularly appealing to eCommerce novices. While BigCommerce is also user-friendly, it has a slightly steeper learning curve, especially for those new to eCommerce.

3. Apps and Integrations

BigCommerce offers a more extensive range of apps and integrations, with nearly 1,000 options available. In contrast, Squarespace provides around 350 integrations. This difference can be significant for businesses requiring specific tools or functionalities.

4. Payment Options

BigCommerce outshines Squarespace in terms of payment gateways, offering 45 different options including popular choices like Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Stripe. Squarespace's payment options are more limited, primarily relying on Stripe and PayPal.

5. Customer Support

BigCommerce provides round-the-clock phone support, in addition to email and live chat. Squarespace, on the other hand, offers email and live chat support but lacks phone support.

6. Transaction Fees

BigCommerce doesn't charge any transaction fees across all its plans. Squarespace, however, charges a 3% transaction fee on its lower-tier plans, waiving this fee only for its more expensive Basic and Advanced Commerce plans.

7. SEO Functionality

While both platforms offer solid SEO capabilities, BigCommerce edges out with more advanced features and easier page optimization options.

Pricing Comparison: BigCommerce vs. Squarespace

Let's break down the pricing structures of both platforms to give you a clearer picture of what to expect:

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommerce offers four pricing tiers:

• Standard: $29.95 per month
• Plus: $79.95 per month
• Pro: $299.95 per month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (contact sales team)

While BigCommerce doesn't charge transaction fees, there are credit card processing fees:

• Standard: 2.59% + 49c per transaction
• Plus: 2.35% + 49c per transaction
• Pro: 2.05% + 49c per transaction
• Enterprise: 2.05% + 49c per transaction

Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace offers four pricing plans:

• Personal: $19 per month
• Business: $33 per month
• Basic Commerce: $36 per month
• Advanced Commerce: $65 per month

Squarespace charges a 3% transaction fee for the Personal and Business plans, but waives this fee for the Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce plans.

Pros and Cons of BigCommerce vs. Squarespace

To help you make an informed decision, let's summarize the pros and cons of each platform:

BigCommerce Pros:

• Integration with shipping software for discounted rates
• 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email
• Zero transaction fees
• Free 15-day trial
• Extensive third-party app integrations
• Multi-channel selling capabilities
• Built-in features for business expansion
• Wide range of themes and templates

BigCommerce Cons:

• Annual sales thresholds that may force plan upgrades
• Limited control over hosting and speed performance

Squarespace Pros:

• Aesthetically pleasing templates and designs
• More affordable pricing plans
• Live chat and email support
• Integration with shipping software
• Multi-channel selling options

Squarespace Cons:

• Limited apps and integrations compared to BigCommerce
• Restrictive templates that may limit creativity
• No phone support
• No free trial option

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Choosing between BigCommerce and Squarespace ultimately depends on your specific business needs, budget, and technical expertise. BigCommerce offers more advanced features and scalability, making it suitable for growing businesses with complex needs. Squarespace, with its user-friendly interface and beautiful templates, is ideal for small businesses and creative professionals who prioritize design and simplicity.

At FreightAmigo, we understand the importance of making the right choice for your eCommerce platform. As a digital supply chain finance platform, we're committed to helping businesses transform their logistics experience. Whether you choose BigCommerce or Squarespace, our Digital Logistics Platform can integrate seamlessly with your chosen eCommerce solution, providing you with powerful tools to manage your shipping and logistics efficiently.

Remember, the success of your online store depends not just on the platform you choose, but also on how well you manage your logistics and shipping. With FreightAmigo's Digital Logistics Solution, you can enhance your eCommerce operations, regardless of the platform you select. We offer features like real-time rate comparison, automated document handling, and 24/7 expert support to ensure your logistics processes are as smooth and efficient as possible.

Whichever platform you choose, make sure to leverage the power of Digital Logistics Solutions to take your eCommerce business to the next level. With the right combination of eCommerce platform and logistics support, you'll be well-positioned to succeed in the competitive world of online retail.