For a Canadian side hustle store, Shopify is the most sales-focused of the three: it lists Canadian-dollar prices, starting at $49 CAD a month for Basic (or $37 a month billed yearly), online card rates from 2.8% plus 30 cents, and a 3-day free trial followed by $1 a month for three months. Squarespace suits sellers who want a portfolio or brand site with a shop attached; its Basic plan is 25 USD a month (19 USD yearly) and adds a 2% online store fee, removed on the Core plan. Wix lets you build a site free and upgrade, with eCommerce on its Core plan and above, but its prices vary by location and are confirmed at checkout. Pick on what you sell and how many orders you expect, not on the headline price.
For the full store setup, see the Shopify store side hustle guide, no-code web design, and Etsy vs Shopify.
How do Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix compare on price?
Shopify’s Canadian page shows CAD prices; Squarespace’s page loaded in USD from the server used for this guide; Wix says prices and currency vary by location. Figures were checked on October 4, 2026. USD amounts are converted at the Bank of Canada daily rate of 1.4246 CAD per USD for October 2, 2026, and conversions are approximate.
| Factor | Shopify | Squarespace | Wix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry selling plan | Basic: $49 CAD/mo monthly, $37/mo yearly (pricing) | Basic: 25 USD/mo monthly (about $35.62 CAD), 19 USD/mo yearly (pricing) | Core (Basic eCommerce); price shown at checkout for your location (plans) |
| Mid plan | Grow: $132 CAD/mo, $99 yearly | Core: 39 USD/mo, 29 USD yearly | Business (Standard eCommerce) |
| Higher plans | Advanced $517 ($389 yearly); Plus from $3,400 | Plus 65 USD (49 yearly); Advanced 139 USD (99 yearly) | Business Elite (Advanced eCommerce) |
| Free option | 3-day trial, then $1/mo for 3 months | 14-day free trial | Free plan, no credit card required; 14-day money-back guarantee on paid plans |
| Platform fee on sales | 2% on Basic, 1% Grow, 0.6% Advanced, only if you use a third-party payment provider | 2% online store fee on Basic; 0% on Core and up | Not stated on the plans page; confirm before you sell |
| Online card rate | 2.8% + 30¢ Basic, 2.6% Grow, 2.4% Advanced (Shopify Payments) | From 2.9% + 0.30 USD on Basic and Core, 2.7% Plus, 2.5% Advanced (Squarespace Payments) | Confirm in Wix’s payments settings |
Squarespace’s card rates apply to Squarespace Payments; confirm which payment processors are available for your Canadian account before you build.
Which fees matter most for a small Canadian store?
At low volume the monthly plan matters most; as sales grow, card rates and any platform transaction fee take over.
- Shopify: no setup fees, CAD pricing, and in-person card payments at 2.6% if you also sell at markets. The third-party transaction fee only applies if you skip Shopify Payments.
- Squarespace: the 2% store fee on Basic adds up as sales grow, so Core can be cheaper overall at higher volume. Courses and memberships carry separate digital content fees of 7% on Basic, 5% on Core, 1% on Plus, and 0% on Advanced.
- Wix: the plans page lists features such as Accept payments and Basic, Standard, or Advanced eCommerce by tier. Check the checkout price in CAD and payment rates in your dashboard.
Illustrative example
Assume $1,000 CAD a month in online sales from 20 orders of $50, on each platform’s entry selling plan billed monthly. Order counts and sales are assumptions; Squarespace’s USD figures are converted at 1.4246 and treated as if they applied in CAD terms for comparison.
- Shopify Basic: plan $49. Card fees: 2.8% × $1,000 = $28, plus 20 × $0.30 = $6. Total about $83 a month.
- Squarespace Basic: plan about $35.62. Store fee: 2% × $1,000 = $20. Card fees: 2.9% × $1,000 = $29, plus 20 × about $0.43 = about $8.55. Total about $93.17 a month.
- Squarespace Core: plan about $55.56 (39 USD). No store fee. Card fees about $37.55. Total about $93.11 a month.
At this volume the totals are close; the choice depends more on features. Wix is left out of the arithmetic because its prices are confirmed at checkout.
Which builder should a Canadian side hustler choose?
Choose by what the site is for. This is a decision rule from the published plans, not a ranking.
| If you… | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mainly sell physical products online | Shopify | Selling-focused plans in CAD, no store fee with Shopify Payments |
| Also sell in person at markets | Shopify | In-person card rate listed on the same plan |
| Want a portfolio or service site with a small shop | Squarespace | Design-led plans; Core removes the store fee |
| Want to start free and upgrade later | Wix | Free plan with no credit card |
| Sell courses or memberships | Compare Squarespace’s digital fees with dedicated tools | Squarespace charges 7% on Basic |
If you choose Shopify, you can start a trial through Shopify TODO-AFFILIATE. If you only need a simple site with a domain and email, a host such as Hostinger TODO-AFFILIATE is another route covered in the no-code web design startup costs guide.
What mistakes do Canadian sellers make choosing a store builder?
The common mistakes are comparing monthly prices without fees and forgetting currency.
- Comparing plan prices only. Add card rates and any platform transaction fee.
- Ignoring currency. A USD plan costs more in CAD and moves with the exchange rate.
- Using a third-party processor on Shopify without noticing the fee. Shopify adds 2% on Basic in that case.
- Picking the cheapest Squarespace plan at high volume. The 2% store fee can outweigh the Core upgrade.
- Building on a free plan you cannot sell from. Check which Wix tier includes eCommerce.
Which tax rules apply to online store sales in Canada?
Store profits are generally business income on Form T2125, and plan fees, card fees, and apps are generally deductible. Once your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, you generally must register for GST/HST and charge it; see GST/HST registration. For where to keep store payouts, see Wealthsimple vs a bank business account.
This is not tax or legal advice.
Which guides sit next to Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix?
This comparison sits beside Shopify store pricing, your first Shopify sale, no-code web design pricing, and your first no-code web design client. If you plan to sell printed products, see Printful vs Printify.
What are the common questions?
Is Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix best for selling online in Canada?
Shopify is the most selling-focused and lists CAD prices for Canada, starting at $49 a month for Basic. Squarespace suits design-led sites with a shop, and Wix offers a free plan with eCommerce on paid tiers. The best fit depends on what you sell and your order volume.
How much does Shopify cost in Canada?
Shopify's Canadian pricing page lists Basic at $49 CAD a month, or $37 a month billed yearly, Grow at $132 ($99 yearly), and Advanced at $517 ($389 yearly), after a 3-day free trial and $1 a month for three months.
Does Squarespace charge transaction fees?
Squarespace's pricing page lists a 2% online store transaction fee on the Basic plan and 0% on Core and higher plans. Card processing fees are separate.
Can I sell on Wix for free?
Wix offers a free plan to build a site, but its plans page lists eCommerce features on paid plans starting with Core. Wix says prices and currency vary by location.
Do I need to charge GST/HST on my online store?
Generally, once taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters you must register and charge GST/HST. Below that you can register voluntarily. This is not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Shopify pricing (Canada) — Shopify
- Squarespace pricing — Squarespace
- Wix plans and pricing — Wix
- Daily exchange rates — Bank of Canada
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency
- Form T2125, Statement of Business or Professional Activities — Canada Revenue Agency