Are you looking to create a website using Square but unsure about the Square website cost? You’ve landed at the right place.
In this article, LitExtension – #1 Shopping Cart Migration Expert will explore everything you need to know about Square pricing and help you understand what goes into building a website on this platform. Keep on reading to find out:
- How much does a Square website cost monthly
- Additional Square website pricing
- Best Square online store examples
Stay tuned!
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What is Square Online?
Before getting to the nitty gritty of Square website cost, let’s take a quick look at “What is Square online?“.
Square Online is an eCommerce platform provided by Square, a financial and business services company. It enables merchants to create an online store to sell their products and services to customers. This platform offers a variety of features, such as customizable website templates, secure checkout, inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping, and payment processing.
Square Online allows merchants to accept payments from various sources, including credit and debit cards. It works with the most popular providers, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
This platform also integrates well with other Square products, such as Square Point of Sale and Square Marketing. From our experience, these help you to manage your business operations more efficiently.
Square Online is designed for businesses of all sizes, from individuals and small businesses to larger enterprises. The platform is user-friendly and does not require any coding or technical expertise to set up and use.
Interested in this eCommerce website builder? For more insights, check out our article on Shopify vs Square: Which One is Best to Grow Your Online Store?
If you are still sitting on the fence, here are some pros and cons of Square Online that should consider:
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Square Website Cost – Monthly Fee
With a basic understanding of Square Online, let’s get to the most important part of this article, Square website cost.
Similar to other hosted eCommerce solutions like Shopify, Wix, or BigCommerce, Square Online charges its users a monthly subscription fee. This Square website cost comes in 4 different pricing plans, each offering different functions to help you grow your business.
If you are wondering which Square pricing plan is suitable for your business, here is our advice:
The free pricing plan is recommended for those who want to test the water and see if Square is the ideal solution. Though this option offers basic eCommerce features, there are several limitations that you should be aware of:
- Cannot add a custom domain.
- Cannot remove Square advertising banners and brandings.
- Do not allow consumers to log in to their customer's account and see past orders.
- Do not automatically send emails to remind customers of their abandoned carts.
- Charge high transaction fee.
On the other hand, the paid plans can surmount all the disadvantages of the free Square pricing option. They come with all the features that are included in the Free tier, as well as additional functions that might be beneficial for your store. Some notable features can be named are site analytics and reports, abandon cart emails, product reviews, customer accounts, and QR code ordering.
Additionally, when using these paid options, you can get a free custom domain name for the first year after registration. Besides that, you can add custom fonts and site icons to create a personalized eCommerce website and stay on top of customers' minds.
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Square Website Cost – Additional Fee You Need to Know
In the previous part of this article, we have walked you through a detailed analysis of Square pricing.
But that's not all. When it comes to Square website cost, there are more elements that should be put into consideration. Let's find out about them in this section.
Processing fee
The first additional charge in the Square website cost you should be aware of is the processing fee.
Square Online charges four different types of processing fees, as listed below:
Free | Plus | Premium | |
Online payments | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.6% + 30¢ |
In-person payments | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.6% + 10¢ |
On-demand delivery | $1.50/order | $1.50/order | $1.50/order |
In-house delivery | 50¢/order | 50¢/order | 50¢/order |
Overall, Square charges nearly the same amount of processing fee for all of its Square pricing plans. With that being said, if you want to lower this additional charge, the only way is to opt for the Premium pricing option. This tier only cuts 2.6% + 30¢ per online transaction, while the other pricing plans charge 2.9% + 30¢.
Square website templates
Square Online is one of the rare website builders that offer free website templates. This platform is already packed with free theme options to help you start selling quickly while minimizing the cost of the Square website.
With that being said, Square Online doesn’t come with a vast selection of themes like Shopify, Wix, or BigCommerce. You’ll only get ONE template to start with, based on your types of products or businesses.
All you can do with Square website templates is change the color scheme to match your store and upload custom site icons to fit your brand image (this option is only available for merchants on the Plus or Premium pricing plan). This might become frustrating for those who want to explore different themes before choosing the best one for them.
Nonetheless, if you’ve just started out and just need an adequate selection of themes to build your online business, Square website templates can certainly meet your needs.
Domain names
Another element that we need to take into account when calculating Square website pricing is the custom domain name. The cost for a personal URL may vary, but Square Online domains generally cost from $19.95.
The good news is that Square Online offers a complimentary custom domain for a year on all premium Square plans, allowing you to pick your own domain name (like www.yourstorename.com), and utilize it for free for the first year after registration. After that, you'll need to pay to keep using it.
Apps & integration
There’s no doubt that Square Online is already packed with good eCommerce features to help your business grow. With that being said, in many cases, third-party apps can reduce your manual work of managing your online presence, making your eCommerce journey a breeze.
This platform comes with several apps and integrations on its App Store. The pricing might vary depending on your choice, but generally, Square Online third-party apps can cost up to $119 per month.
Square POS pricing
If you want to sell both online and in-person, Square Point of Sale is an element that should not be missed. Though Square POS is free to set up and use, here are some additional fees that you might need to pay:
- Card transaction fees: Square charges a fee of 2.6% + 10 cents for each transaction made with a credit or debit card.
- Square hardware costs: If you require hardware such as a card reader, Square offers a range of options at various price points. For example, the basic magstripe reader is available for free, while more advanced options such as the chip card reader and contactless reader are priced at $49.
- Other fees: There are additional fees associated with Square POS, such as chargeback, dispute, and additional employee management fees. However, these fees are relatively low and are only charged in specific circumstances.
Best Square Online Store Examples for Inspiration
And that brings us to the end of our Square website cost. If you are satisfied with Square website pricing and ready to start a journey with this platform, here are 4 best Square online store examples to get you inspired.
Indigo Wolf
Founded in 2010, Indigo Wolf produces high-quality customized clothing and uniforms for sports teams, educational institutions, and companies. Their areas of expertise include jackets, hoodies, knitted rugby shirts, sublimation sportswear, beanies, and a wide range of personalized clothing items.
Embroidery Super Deal
This is one of the best Square Online website examples. Embroidery Super Deal offers a vast selection of high-quality embroidery machines, thread sets, and other related accessories. With a commitment to providing competitive prices, Embroidery Super Deal has become a go-to destination for both novice and professional embroiderers.
Whether customers are looking to start a home-based embroidery business or want to expand their existing one, the brand has everything they need.
The Green Pharmacy
This is a renowned online store that specializes in providing high-quality, natural health and wellness products. Founded with a mission to promote the use of plant-based remedies, The Green Pharmacy offers a wide range of supplements, herbs, and other natural products that support a healthy lifestyle.
Want to get more inspiration? Don’t forget to visit our article on 10+ Best Square Online Store Examples before starting your eCommerce journey!
Square Website Cost – FAQs
What does Square online offer?
Square Online is an eCommerce platform that provides businesses with the tools to create and manage an online store. It allows businesses to build a professional website, sell products and services online, and manage their orders and inventory all in one place.
Some of the features offered by Square Online include customizable website templates, payment processing, order management, shipping and fulfillment tools, customer management, and marketing tools to help businesses promote their online store.
Is Square online the same as Squarespace?
No, Square Online and Squarespace are two different platforms.
Square Online is an eCommerce platform that helps businesses create and manage an online store. It provides tools for businesses to build a website, sell products and services, manage orders and inventory, and process payments.
On the other hand, Squarespace is a website builder that allows businesses and individuals to create a professional-looking website without needing to know how to code. It provides customizable website templates, drag-and-drop tools to design the site, and features for managing content and hosting the site.
While both Square Online and Squarespace offer tools for building a website, they have different focuses. Square Online is geared specifically towards eCommerce and online sales, while Squarespace is more general-purpose and can be used for a variety of website needs.
Can Square be used for eCommerce?
Square provides an eCommerce platform called Square Online that allows businesses to create and manage an online store. With Square Online, businesses can build a website, list products, and process online payments.
Final Words
In conclusion, the Square website cost depends on several factors, such as the size and complexity of the website, the required features, and the level of customization. You can pick one from its wide range of pricing plans according to your business needs and budgets. Or, you may start with a free plan first and upgrade to a higher monthly fee for more advanced features later on.
Besides the pricing plans, don't skip through any additional costs, such as transaction fees and domain purchases, when budgeting for your website. Hopefully, this article on Square website cost has helped you decide whether Square is the right platform.
If you like this article, don’t forget to check out the LitExtension blog to find more topics like this. And last but not least, join our Facebook Community to connect with thousands of e-merchants around the world.
