Softwr

E-Commerce · head to head

Shopware vs Squarespace Commerce

Shopware logo

Shopware

E-Commerce

Explore the open-source commerce platform, backed by our global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Squarespace Commerce logo

Squarespace Commerce

E-Commerce

All-in-one website builder and ecommerce platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shopware has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Shopware rise tier starts at 600 euro per month and Evolve at 2,400 euro per month, both excluding VAT, so pricing is published in euros only and not converted for other regions; Squarespace Commerce the entry plan charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales on top of payment processing
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shopware and Squarespace Commerce actually diverge.

Attributes where Shopware and Squarespace Commerce differ
AttributeShopwareSquarespace Commerce
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
FoundedUnknown2003

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Shopware

Nothing recorded that Squarespace Commerce does not also cover.

Only in Squarespace Commerce

  • Website builder
  • Ecommerce platform
  • Mobile optimization
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Domain registration
  • SSL certificate
  • Customer accounts

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Shopware

  • Managing unlimited sales channels across online, POS, marketplacesnot Squarespace Commerce
  • Setting customer-specific pricing for B2B customersnot Squarespace Commerce
  • Automating complex workflows with Flow Builder without codingnot Squarespace Commerce
  • Segmenting customers automatically with behavioral tagsnot Squarespace Commerce
  • Managing multi-language, multi-currency, multi-tax for global expansionnot Squarespace Commerce

Squarespace Commerce

  • Website building and hostingnot Shopware
  • eCommerce and online store managementnot Shopware
  • Digital content and membership salesnot Shopware
  • Service booking and schedulingnot Shopware

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Shopware

  • Rise tier starts at 600 euro per month and Evolve at 2,400 euro per month, both excluding VAT, so pricing is published in euros only and not converted for other regions
  • Beyond, the top tier with digital sales rooms, multi-inventory and customer-specific pricing, is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • The Shopware Intelligence+ AI add-on is billed separately at 29 euro per month on Community Edition or 19 euro per month on paid tiers, on top of the plan price

Squarespace Commerce

  • The entry plan charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales on top of payment processing
  • Digital content and membership sales carry their own fee, up to 7% on the lowest tier
  • The entry plan is limited to 2 contributors
  • Reaching a 0% transaction fee requires moving up from the entry plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Shopware

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • free open-source platform
    • global developer community access
    • Shopware Intelligence+ add-on at 29/month
  • Rise$600/month
    • subscription model
    • Shopware Intelligence+ add-on at 19/month
  • Evolve$2400/month
    • subscription model
    • Shopware Intelligence+ add-on at 19/month
  • Beyond$null/custom
    • custom pricing
    • contact sales required

Squarespace Commerce

On request
  • Basic Plan$null/month
    • Designer templates included
    • Drag-and-drop editor
    • Free custom domain (annual plans only)
  • Standard Plan$null/month
    • All Basic features
    • Transaction fees: reduced rates
    • Gift cards and invoicing
  • Advanced Plan$null/month
    • All Standard features
    • Further reduced transaction fees
    • Point-of-sale capability
  • Premium Plan$null/month
    • All Advanced features
    • Lowest credit card processing rates (0% transaction fees for digital/memberships)
    • Dedicated Customer Success Manager

Which should you pick?

Choose Shopware if

  • You want to start without paying.
Shopware review

Choose Squarespace Commerce if

  • You need website builder.
  • You also want ecommerce platform.
Squarespace Commerce review

Questions people ask

Is Shopware or Squarespace Commerce better?
Neither clearly leads. Shopware starts at Free and Squarespace Commerce at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shopware or Squarespace Commerce?
Shopware has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Shopware and On request for Squarespace Commerce.
Does Shopware or Squarespace Commerce run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Shopware for free?
Yes. Shopware has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Squarespace Commerce starts at On request.
What is Shopware best used for?
Shopware is most often used for managing unlimited sales channels across online, pos, marketplaces, setting customer-specific pricing for b2b customers, automating complex workflows with flow builder without coding, segmenting customers automatically with behavioral tags. Of those, managing unlimited sales channels across online, pos, marketplaces and setting customer-specific pricing for b2b customers are not what Squarespace Commerce is typically brought in for.
What can Shopware do that Squarespace Commerce cannot?
Squarespace Commerce covers Website builder, Ecommerce platform, Mobile optimization, Email marketing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shopware: How much does Shopware cost?

Shopware offers Community Edition free (open-source), Rise at 600/month, Evolve at 2,400/month (all in EUR), and Beyond at custom pricing requiring sales contact.

Source
Squarespace Commerce: How much does Squarespace cost?

Squarespace does not publish specific plan prices on their pricing page. Four tiers (Basic, Standard, Advanced, Premium) are listed with descriptions of features and benefits. Annual subscriptions offer up to 36% savings compared to monthly billing.

Source
Shopware: What is the difference between Shopware Community and Rise editions?

Shopware Community Edition is a free open-source platform with global developer community access. Rise is a subscription tier starting at 600/month (EUR) with included features and support.

Source
Squarespace Commerce: Does Squarespace offer a free trial?

Yes, Squarespace provides a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. You can upgrade to a paid plan at any time during or after your trial, and there are no long-term contracts required.

Source
Shopware: What add-on services does Shopware offer?

Shopware offers Shopware Intelligence+ at 29/month (Community Edition) or 19/month (Rise, Evolve, and Beyond tiers). Shopware Nexus is in a free introductory phase through September 1, 2026.

Source
Squarespace Commerce: What are Squarespace's transaction fees?

Transaction fees start at 2% on the Basic plan and decrease as you upgrade, reaching 0% for digital content and memberships on the Premium tier. Card processing rates also decrease by tier, reaching the lowest rates on Premium.

Source
Squarespace Commerce: How many AI credits does each Squarespace plan include?

AI credits range from 10 to 120 monthly depending on the plan tier, but specific allocations per plan are not detailed on the public pricing page.

Source
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