Alternatives · Online Stores
Square Online alternatives
Square Online compared with 6 alternatives: Ecwid, Shopify, Wix, Big Cartel, Squarespace and 1 more.
Square Online has a free plan. Paid plans start at $49 per location / month (Square Plus). 2 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 18, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square OnlineThis tool | Free plan · from $49/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Ecwid | From $5/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Shopify | Free trial · from $29/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Wix | Free plan · from $17/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Big Cartel | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Squarespace | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Owner | From $249/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Square Online starts at $49 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 3 of the 3 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Ecwid, Shopify and Big Cartel.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Square Online
- From $5/mo
Ecwid
Online store you can add to any website or run as its own site
- Ecwid starts at $5 per month (Starter). Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus).
- Square Online has a free plan. Ecwid does not.
- Ecwid also covers digital downloads.
Suits: Owners of an existing website who want to add a store without rebuilding
- Free trial · from $29/mo
Shopify
Hosted commerce platform for online, in-person and social selling
- Shopify starts at $29 per month, billed yearly ($39 billed monthly). Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus).
- Square Online has a free plan. Shopify does not, though it has a free trial.
- Shopify also covers email campaigns.
Suits: Brands that sell online and in person from one stock count
- Free plan · from $17/mo
Wix
Drag-and-drop website builder with an AI agent and business apps
- Wix starts at $17 per site / month, billed yearly (Light). Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus).
- Wix also covers templates, AI agents and no-code.
- Square Online also covers inventory, online store and shipping labels.
Suits: Beginners who want to start free and upgrade when the site is ready
- Free plan · from $12/mo
Big Cartel
Simple online store for artists, makers and independent sellers
- Big Cartel starts at $12 per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly). Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus).
- Big Cartel also covers digital downloads.
Suits: Artists, bands and makers selling merch or small runs of their own work
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Squarespace
Template-based website builder with an online store and invoicing
- Squarespace starts at $19 per site / month, billed annually ($25 billed monthly). Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus).
- Square Online has a free plan. Squarespace does not, though it has a free trial.
- Squarespace also covers templates, forms and invoicing.
- Square Online also covers inventory, online store and shipping labels.
Suits: Creatives and small businesses who want a polished site from a template
- From $249/mo
Owner
Restaurant websites with online ordering, a branded app and marketing
- Owner starts at $249 per month, plus a 5% restaurant fee per order. Square Online starts at $49 per location / month (Square Plus).
- Square Online has a free plan. Owner does not.
- Owner also covers email campaigns, sMS marketing and review collection.
- Square Online also covers inventory and shipping labels.
Suits: Independent restaurants that want to move orders off delivery apps
Limits worth knowing in Square Online
- Square Free cannot connect a custom domain; that takes Square Plus at $49 a month per location.
- Online card payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free against 2.9% + 30¢ on Plus and Premium.
- Plus and Premium are Square-wide plans billed per location, which also cover point of sale, invoices, staff and booking tools.
- Real-time carrier shipping rates at checkout need Square Premium at $149 a month per location.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Square Online?
The alternatives to Square Online in this directory are Ecwid, Shopify, Wix, Big Cartel, Squarespace and Owner. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Square Online.
Is there a free alternative to Square Online?
Yes. Wix and Big Cartel have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.