warebywix vs squarespace for makers and small shops
two of the most popular website builders, compared for people who want to sell what they make: real costs, transaction fees and the free plans.
to sell, wix starts at $29 a month billed yearly (core), with 2.9% + 30¢ card processing and no extra fee. squarespace starts at $19 a month billed yearly (basic), but adds a 2% transaction fee on every sale; its $29 core plan drops that to 0%. both include a free domain for the first year on yearly plans. wix’s free plan can’t take payments. if you sell more than about $500 a month, squarespace’s fee makes basic cost more than core. neither brings you shoppers.
which should you pick?
| if you… | start with | why |
|---|---|---|
| want the lowest monthly price to sell | squarespace basic | $19 a month billed yearly, plus 2% a sale |
| sell more than about $500 a month | squarespace core or wix core | $29 a month, no transaction fee |
| want the most design freedom | wix | drag-and-drop with lots of templates |
| want people nearby to find you | wareby | a shop page shown to shoppers within 25 miles |
what does each cost to sell?
| wix core | squarespace basic | squarespace core | |
|---|---|---|---|
| monthly, billed yearly | $29 | $19 | $29 |
| monthly, billed monthly | yearly only | $25 | $39 |
| transaction fee | 0% | 2% | 0% |
| card processing | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| on a $35 sale | $1.32 | $2.02 | $1.32 |
wix’s light plan ($17) and its free plan can’t take payments. squarespace has a 14-day free trial.
which one is right for you?
both make good-looking sites. squarespace’s templates look polished with little work; wix gives you more freedom to move things around. the bigger choice is whether you need a full website at all. a shop page or a free store may be all you need to start. how to decide.
what if your buyers live near you?
if your buyers live near you, there’s a third option. wareby only lists verified local businesses, shown to shoppers within 25 miles, with pickup and your own delivery. it’s free to open, with no listing or ad fees, and its fees are on the items only, never on shipping. we make wareby, so weigh that, but here’s how it compares with each.
questions people ask
is wix or squarespace cheaper?
to sell: squarespace basic at $19 a month billed yearly, but with a 2% fee on every sale. at $29, wix core and squarespace core cost the same and have no transaction fee.
can i sell on wix for free?
no. wix’s free plan can’t take payments. you need core ($29 a month billed yearly) or higher.
do wix and squarespace include a domain?
yes, free for the first year on yearly plans. after that you pay the yearly domain price.
sources
- wix: plans
- wix help center: upgrading wix stores
- wix help center: wix payments service fees
- squarespace: pricing
- wareby: seller plans
we checked every fee and fact about other companies on october 12, 2026, on their own pages. fees change, so check theirs before you decide. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com and we’ll fix it.
etsy, amazon handmade, ebay, shopify, square online, wix, squarespace, big cartel, hotplate, bakesy, castiron, instagram, facebook marketplace, nextdoor, doordash, uber eats and grubhub are trademarks of their owners. wareby isn’t affiliated with any of them, and we make wareby, so weigh our opinions with that in mind.
we started tandoco, a small bakery in minneapolis, and sold under a blue tent at farmers markets before we built wareby. our story
