Squarespace vs Etsy 2025

Hey creative business spirits, if you’re debating between Squarespace and Etsy, let’s get this sorted.

These two platforms couldn’t be more different: Squarespace is all about creating a gorgeous, customized website to call your own.

Etsy? That’s the bustling marketplace where you can jump into a ready-made community of shoppers looking for unique, handmade, and vintage goods.

The question is: what’s your vibe? Do you want full control over your brand and online presence with Squarespace, or are you ready to plug into Etsy’s massive audience of craft-loving buyers?

Let’s quizify the options, break it all down, and help you pick the perfect platform to showcase your creativity and grow your business.

Squarespace vs. Etsy: Quickfire Overview

Category	Squarespace	Etsy
Best For	Artists, small businesses, and creatives who want a custom website and full branding control.	Makers and sellers who want to plug into a massive marketplace.
Vibe	Sleek, minimalist, and all-in-one.	Marketplace-first, community-driven, and easy to set up.
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly, drag-and-drop builder.	Simple to start—just create a shop and list your products.
Hosting	Included—your site, your rules.	Not applicable—your shop lives within Etsy’s marketplace.
Customization	Moderate—template-based.	Limited—follows Etsy’s marketplace format.
E-commerce	Built-in tools for small-to-medium stores.	Marketplace-specific tools like listings and promotions.
Pricing	$16–$52/month (all-in-one).	$0 upfront, but 6.5% transaction fees and listing costs.

Part 1: Who Are You? (Quizify Your Match)

Question 1: What’s your business focus?

• A) "I want a professional website that’s all mine to showcase my brand."
  → Squarespace gives you full control and branding freedom.
• B) "I want a simple way to sell my products and reach a large audience fast."
  → Etsy is perfect for tapping into its massive marketplace of buyers.

Question 2: How important is customization?

• A) "Very important—I want my website to reflect my brand’s vibe."
  → Squarespace templates allow for customization to make your site uniquely yours.
• B) "I’m okay with sticking to a marketplace look if it’s easy to manage."
  → Etsy’s format keeps everything consistent but limits design flexibility.

Question 3: How do you plan to grow your business?

• A) "I want to build a long-term, branded website that’s not tied to a marketplace."
  → Squarespace is ideal for establishing an independent online presence.
• B) "I want fast access to buyers without worrying about driving traffic myself."
  → Etsy’s marketplace has the audience already built in.

Quiz Results

• Mostly A’s: You’re a Squarespace superstar! It’s perfect for creatives who want total control over their brand and website.
• Mostly B’s: Etsy is your bestie! It’s the go-to for makers and sellers looking to reach a marketplace of eager shoppers.

Part 2: Detailed Comparison

1. Ease of Use

• Squarespace: User-friendly and beginner-friendly, Squarespace offers a drag-and-drop builder to help you design a beautiful, professional website without coding skills.
• Etsy: Incredibly easy to set up. Just create an account, set up your shop, and start listing your products. Etsy does all the heavy lifting for hosting and marketplace visibility.

Aspect	Squarespace	Etsy
Beginner-Friendly	✅ Super easy	✅ Even easier
Visual Editor	✅ Drag-and-drop simplicity	❌ No customization tools

2. Design and Customization

• Squarespace: Offers sleek, modern templates that can be customized to reflect your brand. While you’re working within templates, the results look polished and professional.
• Etsy: Customization is limited to your shop’s logo, banner, and product images. Your shop’s overall design is dictated by Etsy’s marketplace format.

Feature	Squarespace	Etsy
Templates	Designer-quality, polished	Marketplace format
Customization	Moderate—template-based	Limited

3. Hosting and Setup

• Squarespace: Hosting is included in all plans, giving you a fully independent website.
• Etsy: Etsy handles all hosting, but your shop is part of Etsy’s marketplace and not a standalone website.

Aspect	Squarespace	Etsy
Hosting	Included	Included

4. E-commerce Capabilities

• Squarespace: Built-in tools make it easy to manage inventory, track sales, and process payments. Squarespace is ideal for small-to-medium stores with diverse product offerings.
• Etsy: Perfect for selling handmade, vintage, or craft supplies. It includes tools for listing products, promoting your shop, and managing orders, but fees can add up.

Aspect	Squarespace	Etsy
E-commerce Setup	Simple, versatile	Easy, marketplace-driven
Fees	No transaction fees	6.5% transaction fee + $0.20 per listing

5. Audience and Marketing

• Squarespace: You’re responsible for driving traffic to your website through marketing, SEO, and ads.
• Etsy: Taps into a massive, built-in audience of shoppers, making it easier for new sellers to reach customers.

Feature	Squarespace	Etsy
Built-In Audience	❌ None—you drive traffic	✅ Marketplace-ready
Marketing Tools	✅ SEO and email marketing	✅ Etsy Ads and promotions

6. Pricing Breakdown

Squarespace Pricing:

• Personal: $16/month
• Business: $24/month
• Commerce Basic: $28/month
• Commerce Advanced: $52/month

Etsy Pricing:

• Free to open a shop.
• $0.20 per product listing (renewed every 4 months).
• 6.5% transaction fee + 3% payment processing fee.
• Optional Etsy Ads and promotional tools (additional cost).

7. Support

• Squarespace: 24/7 chat and email support, with a reputation for being responsive and helpful.
• Etsy: Offers email and live chat support, plus a vast seller community for tips and advice.

Part 3: Which One Should You Choose?

Best For	Squarespace	Etsy
Artists/Photographers	Want a polished, custom site? Squarespace wins.	Want quick marketplace access? Etsy is your go-to.
E-commerce	Great for diverse product offerings.	Perfect for handmade, vintage, and craft items.
Audience	You’re responsible for traffic.	Built-in audience of millions.

Final Verdict: Squarespace vs Etsy

Squarespace:
Best for creatives and small business owners who want a custom, professional website with full branding control. If you’re building a long-term business and want to own your audience, Squarespace is the way to go.

Etsy:
Perfect for makers, artists, and crafters who want to jump straight into a bustling marketplace with minimal setup. While you don’t own your shop’s branding entirely, Etsy’s built-in audience can give your sales a serious boost.

Starting an online store can be a thrilling journey, and choosing the right platform is a crucial step. Whether you're leaning towards a fully customizable website on Squarespace or considering the vibrant marketplace of Etsy, each offers unique benefits for different types of sellers.

This guide will help you navigate the pros and cons of these popular options in the field of e-commerce and online stores, ensuring you make an informed decision that suits your business needs. Let's venture into the details and compare what Squarespace and Etsy have to offer.

Pros and Cons: Is Squarespace or Etsy Better for Your Business

When deciding whether Squarespace or Etsy is better for your business, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of each platform based on your business needs, the nature of your products, and your goals for growth and customer engagement.

Pros of Using Squarespace

Customization and Control

Squarespace offers extensive customization options through its website builder, allowing users to design their site according to their branding and aesthetic preferences. This control extends to the layout, color schemes, fonts, and overall site functionality, which is ideal for businesses looking to establish a unique online presence.

Integrated Features

The platform provides integrated features such as SEO tools, analytics, and e-commerce capabilities, which are crucial for businesses aiming to scale and track their performance without relying on third-party apps.

No Transaction Fees

Squarespace does not charge transaction fees on sales, meaning businesses keep more of their profits as long as they use Squarespace's commerce plans.

Cons of Using Squarespace

Pricing

Squarespace might be more expensive than other platforms, particularly for small businesses or startups. The cost includes not only monthly fees but also the need for potentially higher-tier plans to access certain e-commerce features.

Learning Curve

The breadth of customization options can also be a drawback as it comes with a steeper learning curve compared to more straightforward platforms like Etsy. This might be a barrier for those who are not as tech-savvy.

Less Built-in Audience

Unlike Etsy, Squarespace does not have a built-in marketplace, which means businesses must invest more in marketing and SEO to attract traffic to their independent websites.

Pros of Using Etsy

Built-in Audience

Etsy provides access to a large, established customer base specifically looking for unique, often handmade or vintage items. This can significantly lower marketing costs and the effort needed to attract initial customers.

Ease of Use

Setting up a shop on Etsy is straightforward, making it accessible for beginners and those who prefer a simpler, less technical approach to online selling.

Community and Support

Etsy has a strong sense of community and provides various forums and support channels where sellers can connect, share experiences, and get assistance.

Cons of Using Etsy

Fees

Etsy charges listing fees, transaction fees, and payment processing fees, which can add up, especially for businesses that operate on slim margins.

Limited Customization

While Etsy simplifies the process of setting up a shop, it offers limited options for customization. This can make it challenging to stand out in a vast marketplace where many products might look similar.

Dependence on Platform

Sellers are largely dependent on Etsy’s rules and algorithms, which can change, affecting visibility and sales. The reliance on a third-party platform also means less control over customer data and interactions.

Choosing between Squarespace and Etsy depends on the specific needs of your business. If branding and design autonomy are critical, and you are prepared to drive your own traffic, Squarespace might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you are starting out or prefer a community-driven, less technical approach, Etsy could be more suitable.

Flexibility and Scalability: Squarespace vs Etsy

Scalability

Squarespace's robust infrastructure supports scaling, making it suitable for businesses expecting to grow. Users can upgrade their plans as needed, which allows for expanding product lines, increased traffic, and enhanced functionalities without switching platforms.

Domain and Hosting

Squarespace users have the advantage of obtaining a custom domain and hosting as part of their package. This not only enhances the professional appearance of the business but also simplifies the process by keeping these essential services under one roof.

Market Saturation Challenges

One potential downside for sellers on Etsy is the challenge of market saturation. With many sellers offering similar products, it can be difficult to gain visibility and sales without additional marketing efforts or niche positioning.

Flexibility in Operations

Etsy offers less flexibility in operations compared to Squarespace. For example, sellers cannot customize their checkout process or integrate with a wide range of external tools and apps, which may be limiting for businesses looking to offer a unique shopping experience or streamline their operations.

Marketing and Customer Reach: Squarespace vs Etsy

SEO and Marketing Tools

Squarespace provides advanced SEO tools that help in optimizing content for search engines, potentially increasing organic reach.

Additionally, the platform supports various marketing integrations, including social media tools, email campaigns, and advertising, which are critical for businesses looking to broaden their reach and engage with customers across multiple channels.

Promotional Tools

Etsy offers promotional tools such as Etsy Ads and the ability to offer coupons, which can help sellers attract and retain customers. These tools are integrated into the platform, making it easy for sellers to manage their marketing efforts alongside their sales activities.

Global Reach

Etsy's global marketplace enables sellers to reach an international audience without the complexities of setting up a multi-regional website. This is particularly advantageous for small-scale sellers or those offering niche products who wish to expand their market without significant upfront investment in localization and marketing.

Tailoring Your Choice to Your Business Goals

Selecting between Squarespace and Etsy should be guided by the long-term goals and operational style of your business. Squarespace is ideal for those who require a high degree of customization and have the resources to drive their own traffic and sales.

Conversely, Etsy is a strong contender for sellers seeking ease of use, community support, and access to a built-in audience, especially useful for niche products and smaller-scale operations. Each platform offers distinct benefits, and the choice ultimately depends on the specific demands and growth trajectory of your business.

Conclusion: Squarespace vs Etsy

The decision between Squarespace and Etsy hinges on your specific business needs and objectives. If your priority is a highly personalized online presence and the ability to manage every aspect of your site, Squarespace offers the tools and freedom necessary for such customization.

Alternatively, if you're seeking ease of entry into the market with minimal setup and a supportive community, Etsy is an excellent choice, particularly for sellers with niche products.

Ultimately, evaluating both platforms in the context of your operational style, target market, and growth aspirations will guide you to the best choice for your online business venture.