Squarespace Ecommerce Pricing Explained
TL;DR:
- Squarespace Commerce plans remove transaction fees and add proper ecommerce tools
- Key features include secure checkout, abandoned cart recovery, and inventory management
- Pricing is straightforward with no hidden fees or surprise charges
- You need a Commerce plan to sell anything on Squarespace – regular plans don't cut it
- Plans are competitively priced compared to other ecommerce platforms
Squarespace keeps their ecommerce pricing simple. You get two Commerce plan options, both designed to handle online selling without the headaches of transaction fees or complex pricing structures.
What You Get With Commerce Plans
Commerce plans include everything from regular Squarespace plans plus the tools you actually need to run an online store.
The checkout system handles the complete purchase flow. Customers can review their cart, add shipping details, and pay securely without leaving your site. No redirects to third-party payment pages.
Abandoned cart recovery sends automatic emails to customers who add items but don't complete their purchase. This feature alone can recover a decent chunk of lost sales.
You also get proper inventory tracking, order management, and customer accounts. These aren't fancy extras – they're the basics you need to avoid manually tracking everything in spreadsheets.
How Squarespace Pricing Compares
Most ecommerce platforms either charge transaction fees or have more complex pricing tiers. Squarespace keeps it straightforward with two Commerce options and no transaction fees on either.
The Basic Commerce plan covers most small businesses starting out. Advanced Commerce adds features like abandoned cart recovery, advanced shipping options, and subscription selling.
Compared to platforms like Shopify, you're looking at similar monthly costs but without the transaction fees. WooCommerce might seem cheaper upfront, but hosting, security, and maintenance costs add up quickly.
The transparency is the real advantage here. What you see is what you pay, with no surprise fees when you start making sales.
Choosing the Right Commerce Plan
Basic Commerce works if you're selling straightforward products without complex shipping needs. You get the core selling tools without paying for features you won't use.
Advanced Commerce makes sense if you need subscription products, advanced discounts, or detailed abandoned cart recovery. The extra cost usually pays for itself through increased sales.
Most businesses start with Basic Commerce and upgrade when they need the advanced features. You can switch between plans anytime without losing your store setup.
FAQs
Can I sell products on a regular Squarespace plan?
No. You need a Commerce plan to sell anything. Regular plans don't include checkout functionality or payment processing.
Are there transaction fees on Commerce plans?
No transaction fees on either Commerce plan. You'll still pay standard payment processing fees to Stripe or PayPal, but nothing extra to Squarespace.
Can I upgrade from a regular plan to Commerce?
Yes, you can upgrade anytime. Your existing site stays the same, you just get access to ecommerce features.
What payment methods can I accept?
Both plans support credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Advanced Commerce also supports Klarna for buy-now-pay-later options.
Jargon Buster
Commerce Plans: Squarespace's ecommerce subscription tiers that include selling tools, checkout functionality, and payment processing.
Transaction Fees: Extra charges some platforms add on top of each sale. Squarespace doesn't charge these.
Abandoned Cart Recovery: Automated emails sent to customers who add items to their cart but don't complete the purchase.
Payment Processing Fees: Standard fees charged by payment providers like Stripe (usually around 2.9% + 30p per transaction).
Wrap-up
Squarespace Commerce pricing is refreshingly straightforward. No hidden fees, no complex calculations based on your sales volume, and no transaction fees eating into your profits.
The two-tier approach means you're not paying for features you don't need, but you can easily upgrade when your business grows. For most businesses, the transparent pricing and included features make Squarespace a solid choice for ecommerce.
Ready to dive deeper into Squarespace ecommerce? Check out our comprehensive guides and tutorials at Pixelhaze Academy.