Are you an entrepreneur looking to start selling online? In this Square Online Store review, we’ll give you a comprehensive look at what it offers, its pricing, pros and cons, features, and more.
With Square Online Store, setting up an ecommerce site has never been easier. Its user-friendly interface and seamless payment processing make it an attractive option for small business owners and ecommerce entrepreneurs alike. We will also answer commonly asked questions about Square Online Store, like whether you can use your own domain name or sell products on social media.
Square Online Store Pricing
If you are looking for an ecommerce platform that fits your budget, then Square Online Store may be worth considering.
When it comes to pricing plans, you have three tiers to choose from: Free, Plus, and Premium. All plans include an automatic tax calculator and the ability to accept Afterpay.
Free Plan
The Free version is perfect for startups that want to start taking online orders with your brick-and-mortar business. Though the features are limited, it is a great way to get started. You can upgrade as sales increase. The free plan doesn’t allow you to connect a custom domain.
Plus Plan: $29/month
The Plus plan is a moderately-priced option for businesses interested in enhancing their online store with some additional features. This plan incorporates tools such as abandoned cart recovery, gift cards and coupons, and shipping discounts, which can be useful for improving customer engagement and potentially increasing sales. While the Plus plan offers these extra capabilities, it still maintains the user-friendly interface and seamless integration with Square Point of Sale (POS) that the platform is known for in the market.
Premium Plan: $79/month
The Premium plan includes all the features in the Plus plan and advanced ecommerce tools like custom checkout pages and APIs.
Pros of Using Square Online
With the ease of use that Square Online offers, designing and managing your online store is a breeze. You can integrate it with other Square services like payment processing and inventory management to make things easier.
With customizable templates at your fingertips, you can design an online store unique to your brand. Moreover, you can sell digital products along with traditional physical goods and also offer gift cards to your customers.
Easy-to-Use Dashboard
With its drag-and-drop website builder and seamless inventory management system, setting up an online store has never been easier. Plus, Square offers various payment options like Apple Pay and credit card processing to make shopping even more convenient for customers.
Seamless Payment Processing
The seamless payment processing feature offered by Square Online has made it the go-to ecommerce platform for small businesses that want a hassle-free transaction process. It enables customers to use their preferred mode of payment, from credit cards like Visa or Mastercard to digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The security measures taken by Square ensure that there are no fraudulent transactions or loss of sensitive data during the transaction process. Moreover, it provides real-time updates about inventory and sales, which helps businesses in managing their online store efficiently.
No Transaction Fees
By using Square Online Store for your business needs, you can take advantage of not having to pay any transaction fees while selling products online. This means more revenue for your business in the long run compared to other ecommerce platforms that charge a percentage of every sale.
Note: You will still pay payment processing fees, but that is the case for any ecommerce platform. Banks charge fees to cover the cost of maintaining the payment network.
Cons of Using Square Online
While Square Online offers a variety of positives, it’s essential to consider its drawbacks before setting up an online store. It provides limited customization options that are comparatively fewer than other website builders like Wix or WordPress.
High shipping rates and limited functionality when it comes to modifiers can also lead to customer dissatisfaction.
Limited Customization Options
While Square Online Store is a great option for small businesses or those who don’t need extensive customization options and want an easy-to-use platform, the limited customization may be a deal breaker. Although the platform offers various templates for design and layout, users may find it challenging to fully customize their online store without assistance from a developer.
Square Online Store has fewer available third-party integrations than other ecommerce platforms, which can limit its functionality. If you want a blog, you’ll need to find a separate platform.
High Shipping Rates
Merchants need to be cautious and consider the impact of shipping rates while choosing an ecommerce platform. Square Online Store charges a flat rate for shipping that may be higher than other online store builders. Shipping rates can vary depending on the weight and size of the item being shipped, which may deter customers from making a purchase. So, merchants may have to adjust their prices or explore alternative shipping options to maintain customer satisfaction.
Square Online Store Features
Square Online Store provides a comprehensive range of functionalities that can help you build an online presence. You get access to unlimited products and bandwidth by upgrading to the paid plan, which starts at just a few cents per transaction. The platform also integrates with other apps like Google Pay, PayPal, and Apple Pay for added convenience.
You can customize your store’s layout using HTML modifiers or choose from various templates. With real-time syncing between your POS system and the online store, it becomes easier to manage your inventory across multiple channels. Additionally, Square Online Store offers customer support through email or social media channels like Facebook or Instagram.
User-Friendly Layout and Design Templates
Customizable layouts and design templates are the hallmark of Square Online Store. With its highly intuitive interface that allows you to tweak every aspect of your website’s appearance and functionality, you can create a beautiful online presence without any coding knowledge.
Additionally, all the templates are mobile-friendly so that your customers can shop on the go. The drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to add products, images, and modifiers while creating unlimited pages. Overall, the ease of use in designing web pages is one of the primary reasons why people choose this platform.
Seamless Integration with Other Apps
Square Online Store offers seamless integration with several apps, including Square POS, Instagram, and Facebook. This feature enables you to manage both your physical and online stores efficiently while ensuring a more personalized customer experience by syncing customer data across all platforms. The platform’s functionality extends to integrating with shipping carriers like UPS and USPS, making order fulfillment and shipment tracking effortless. With such ease of use, small businesses can benefit significantly from Square Online’s online presence without worrying about complicated setup procedures.
Built-in SEO Tools
To boost your online presence and increase online sales through the Square Online platform, it is essential to leverage the built-in SEO tools. These powerful tools enable you to optimize your store for specific keywords without having to worry about expensive third-party solutions.
Customizable URLs alongside meta descriptions and page titles offer flexibility in targeting keywords, while auto-generated sitemaps assist search engines such as Google in crawling and indexing your site. Integration with Google Analytics provides real-time insights into website traffic and performance.
Comparison with Other Ecommerce Platforms
When compared to other ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, Square Online Store holds its own in terms of user-friendliness and ease of use. It’s an excellent choice for businesses already using Square POS, as the integration is seamless and simplifies inventory management.
However, when it comes to advanced features and customization options, Square Online falls short compared to competitors like Shopify. If you require more flexibility or advanced features, you may want to consider alternative platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Square Online Store
The Bottom Line: Is Square Online Worth It?
Square Online Store is a solid ecommerce platform that has a lot to offer, with easy-to-use features and seamless payment processing. The pricing plans are affordable and scalable, making it accessible to everyone.
However, some limitations in customization options might be a deal-breaker for more established brands looking for complete aesthetic control over their store. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution to launch your online store quickly and efficiently, Square Online Store is worth considering.
