AdaptiveShop vs Squarespace
E-commerce first or website builder with commerce? Different tools for different goals.
The Short Version
Squarespace is a website builder. It's designed for beautiful brand sites—pages, blogs, portfolios—with commerce as an added feature.
AdaptiveShop is e-commerce only. No page builder, no blogging. Just products and AI tools to help you sell them.
Website Builder vs E-commerce Platform
Squarespace excels at brand communication. Beautiful templates, drag-and-drop page building, blogging, portfolios. It's built for telling your story and looking professional.
Commerce is an add-on to that website experience. You can sell products, but the platform is designed around the website first.
AdaptiveShop is the opposite—it's built around selling. No website builder, no blog. Just products, checkout, and AI features designed to convert visitors into buyers.
Choose Based on Your Priority
Need a full website? If you want multiple pages, a blog, a portfolio, or a brand site with commerce—a website builder makes sense.
Just need to sell? If products are your focus and you don't need a full website, AdaptiveShop is simpler:
- AI-generated product descriptions from your photos
- Smart links that adapt to each visitor
- No template decisions—one clean design that works
- Built-in email capture, promo codes, and analytics
AdaptiveShop Pricing
- Basic ($7.99/mo) — 10 products, AI descriptions, in-person sales, analytics
- Growth ($14.99/mo) — 50 products, smart links, custom domain, promo codes
- Pro ($24.99/mo) — 150 products, print-on-demand, Google Shopping, cart recovery
Check Squarespace's website for their current pricing. Prices on all platforms may change.
The Bottom Line
Squarespace is great for brand sites with some commerce. AdaptiveShop is great for commerce without the website overhead.
The question is simple: do you need a website, or do you need a store?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a website builder and an e-commerce platform?
Website builders like Squarespace are designed for brand communication—beautiful pages, blogs, portfolios, with commerce as an add-on. E-commerce platforms like AdaptiveShop are designed specifically for selling, with features built around products and conversion.
Can I build a full website on AdaptiveShop?
No. AdaptiveShop is focused on selling products—there's no page builder, blog, or portfolio features. If you need a full website with multiple pages, you'll want a website builder. AdaptiveShop is for sellers who just need a store.
What if I need both a website and a store?
Some sellers use a website builder for their brand site and link to a separate store. Others use a website builder with commerce features. It depends on whether your priority is the website experience or the selling experience.
Which is better for selling products?
Dedicated e-commerce platforms are typically better for selling. They're built around products, checkout optimization, and sales tools. Website builders with commerce are better when you need a full website and selling is secondary.