Choosing the Right Website Builder: Square vs Wix

When you’re running a small business, it may appear simple to select an e-commerce software with website-building functionality, but there are many intricacies to consider.

Square Online and Wix are two well-known e-commerce platforms that share several features. Square Online is an offshoot of the well-known payment gateway Square, and it focuses on the logistical aspects of running an e-commerce business rather than the cosmetic aspects of having a website.

Square – Introduction

Square is a leading financial technology company that revolutionized the way businesses handle transactions and manage their operations. Founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey, the company’s primary mission is to simplify commerce for merchants of all sizes. Square offers a diverse range of products and services, making it a one-stop solution for businesses seeking modern and efficient payment processing solutions.

At its core, Square provides merchants with a point-of-sale (POS) system that allows them to accept various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments, making it easy for businesses to adapt to evolving consumer preferences.

One of Square’s most popular products is its small, square-shaped credit card reader that can be plugged into a smartphone or tablet, enabling anyone to accept card payments on the go. The company has since expanded its offerings to include software and hardware solutions such as Square Register, Square Terminal, and Square for Restaurants, catering to a wide range of industries from retail to food services.

Additionally, Square provides various back-end tools like inventory management, employee management, and sales analytics, empowering merchants to run their businesses more efficiently. With its innovative approach to payment processing and business solutions, Square has become a prominent player in the fintech industry, empowering countless businesses to thrive in the modern digital landscape.

Wix – Introduction

Wix is a renowned cloud-based website development platform that has transformed the way individuals and businesses create stunning websites with ease. Established in 2006 by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, and Giora Kaplan, Wix empowers users to build and customize websites without the need for any coding knowledge.

Its user-friendly interface, coupled with a vast array of templates and design options, makes it an attractive choice for individuals, entrepreneurs, and even established businesses looking to establish a compelling online presence.

At the core of Wix’s offering is its powerful drag-and-drop website builder, enabling users to effortlessly arrange and design website elements according to their preferences. With a diverse collection of templates covering various industries, users can create visually striking websites tailored to their specific needs.

Beyond aesthetics, Wix provides a host of features and add-ons, including e-commerce functionality, blog integration, SEO tools, and mobile optimization, ensuring that websites built on the platform are not only visually appealing but also functional and search engine friendly. Whether building a personal blog, an online store, or a professional portfolio, Wix remains a popular choice, democratizing web design and enabling users to showcase their ideas and businesses effectively on the internet.

Square vs Wix Comparison

Square and Wix are two distinct companies that cater to different aspects of the online business landscape. Let’s compare them in various key aspects.

1. Core Focus

Square: Square’s core focus is on providing payment processing solutions and tools for businesses. It was initially launched as a mobile credit card reader for smartphones, allowing small businesses and individuals to accept card payments on the go.

Over the years, Square has expanded its offerings to include a comprehensive suite of financial services, such as Square Point of Sale (POS) software, Square Register for larger businesses, Square Terminal for in-person sales, Square Online for e-commerce, and Square Invoices for easy billing and invoicing. Square’s main goal is to simplify the payment process for merchants, enabling them to accept a wide range of payment methods and manage transactions efficiently.

Wix: Wix’s core focus is on providing website creation and management tools. The platform offers a drag-and-drop website builder, making it accessible to users without technical expertise or coding skills.

Users can select from a vast library of templates, customize them to their preferences, and add various elements like text, images, videos, forms, and more. Wix also provides hosting services, domain registration, and SEO tools to help users create functional, visually appealing, and search engine-friendly websites.

2. Payment Processing vs. Website Building

Square: Square is not a website builder; it primarily deals with payment processing and financial services. It offers hardware solutions like card readers, stand-alone terminals, and contactless payment devices, enabling businesses to accept payments in-store or on the go.

Additionally, Square provides software solutions like the Square Point of Sale (POS) app, which turns smartphones and tablets into complete POS systems.

Wix: Wix is solely focused on website building and does not offer payment processing services. It aims to democratize website creation, allowing users to design and manage their websites independently.

Users can start from scratch or choose from over 500 templates across various industries, including business, e-commerce, portfolio, blog, and more. Wix also provides Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence), an advanced tool that can automatically create personalized website designs based on user inputs.

3. Integration with Other Services

Square: One of Square’s strengths is its ability to integrate with various third-party services, allowing businesses to streamline their operations.

It offers integrations with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, inventory management systems such as Stitch Labs and Shopventory, and CRM platforms like HubSpot and Zoho. This integration capability helps businesses manage their finances, inventory, and customer relationships more effectively.

Wix: Wix also supports integrations with numerous third-party apps and services through the Wix App Market. Users can add various functionalities to their websites, including e-commerce solutions like Ecwid and Shopify, email marketing tools like Mailchimp and Sendinblue, social media integrations, event management plugins, and more.

These integrations empower users to customize their websites and add specific features as per their business needs.

4. Pricing Models

Square: Square’s pricing model is transaction-based. Businesses using Square’s payment processing tools pay a fee for each transaction, which can vary depending on factors such as the transaction volume, payment method (e.g., in-person, online, keyed-in), and location. Square’s hardware and software solutions also have their respective pricing structures.

Wix: Wix offers a range of pricing plans, catering to various user needs. The basic plan is free and includes Wix branding on the website. Premium plans remove Wix branding and provide additional features, more storage, and custom domain names.

Wix also offers specialized plans for e-commerce businesses, which include additional e-commerce functionalities like shopping carts, inventory management, and order tracking. The e-commerce plans have different transaction fees based on the plan chosen.

6. Target Users

Square: Square primarily targets merchants and businesses looking for reliable payment processing solutions. It is well-suited for small businesses, startups, retail stores, restaurants, service providers, and even individual sellers or vendors at events or markets.

Wix: Wix is aimed at a broader audience, catering to individuals, entrepreneurs, and small to medium-sized businesses who want to create and manage their websites independently. It is versatile and can be used by various industries, including personal blogs, creative portfolios, online stores, professional websites, and more.

Final Word

In conclusion of Square vs Wix we reach that these are two distinct companies, each excelling in its respective domain.

Square focuses on payment processing and financial services for businesses, while Wix provides a user-friendly platform for website creation and customization. The choice between Square and Wix depends on individual or business needs – businesses looking for efficient payment processing solutions would benefit from Square, while those seeking to build and manage a website without coding would find Wix more suitable.

Book a demo with SubscriptionFlow to find how integrations with these sites can help your business.