Updated September 29, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Kartra vs Squarespace
Kartra
Squarespace
Higher score in this comparison
Where Kartra and Squarespace differ
| Compare | KartraReviewVisitVisit | SquarespaceReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $59 | €15 |
| E-commerce plan price | $59 | €15 |
| Transaction fee | 0% to 5%Lower | 2% |
| Builder type | Site, Store, LandingCovers more | Site, Store |
| Templates | 100 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free plan (No), Free trial length (14 days).
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Key differences
- Squarespace scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Transaction fee is lower at Kartra: 0% to 5% vs 2%.
- Builder type: only Kartra offers Landing.
Our verdict on each
Kartra
Kartra suits beginners and small businesses who want a site, a store and a help desk in a single subscription, but its entry price sits above the middle of the field. Entry pricing runs from $59, and the only no-cost look before paying is a trial.
Squarespace
Squarespace suits beginners and small businesses who want site and store building handled for them, with plans starting at €15 and a free trial of 14 days. The opening term is an introductory €11 for 12 months, and the plan then renews at €15.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7The cost part of the score is 3 against 5.2 overall, and entry price ranks 177 of 199. | 8.8HigherRenewal of €15 matches €15 with no hike after the €11 intro, but a 2% transaction fee and no free plan weigh on it. |
| Offer | 9.4A single subscription for site, store and landing, plus help desk and automation, with 100 templates to start from. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.8 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Website builders | 52 of 370 | 31 of 370 |
| Ecommerce platforms | 36 of 190 | 23 of 190 |
| Email marketing software | 13 of 100 | 5 of 100 |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fee | 0% to 5% | 2% |
| Free trial length | 14 days | 14 days |
Where these facts come from
Kartra
- kartra.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Squarespace
- squarespace.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners, Small business | Beginners, Small business |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Legal entity | Kartra Inc. | Squarespace, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2003 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre, Community |
CRM and helpdesk
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user from | $59 | Not confirmed |
| Plan tiers | Essentials, Starter, Growth, Professional | Not confirmed |
| Product | Help desk | Not confirmed |
Business tools
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Usage limits | 500 contacts | Not confirmed |
| Tool type | Automation | Not confirmed |
Email marketing
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Price at 1,000 contacts | $119 | Not confirmed |
Web hosting
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | Not confirmed | €11 |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | €15 |
| Hosting types | Not confirmed | Website, Ecommerce, Commerce, Domains, Email |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Features | Not confirmed | Free SSL, Email |
| Intro price term (months) | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Domain registrars
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Free WHOIS privacy | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kartra | Squarespace | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction fee | 0% to 5%at the median | 2%highest quarter | 0 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysat the median | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Templates | 100below the median | Not confirmed | 150 |
Median across 141 listed software products.
Pros and cons
Kartra
Pros
- A single subscription covers site, store and landing, so a site, a store and a landing page do not need separate tools.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, which covers most questions without a call.
- Automation and a help desk sit in the same bundle as the builder, widening what the subscription covers.
Cons
- No free plan, so every feature has to be judged inside the trial.
- Entry pricing of $59 asks for more than the group median of €7.89 for website builders.
- Transaction fees run 0% to 5% on store sales, where the group median is 0%.
Squarespace
Pros
- Site and store building are both covered, site and store, with the commerce plan priced at €15.
- Included features cover free ssl and email, so a free SSL certificate and email come as standard rather than as add ons.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, so a help centre and a community sit behind email and chat.
Cons
- The free plan is marked no, so entry starts at €15 and every plan is paid for from the first term.
- Renewal of €15 sits above the introductory €11, so later terms cost more than the opening term.
- Sales carry a transaction fee of 2%, a cost on top of the plan price for stores.
Who each suits
Kartra
Who it suits
- Beginners and small businesses in beginners and small business who want one paid subscription for site, store and support.
- Solo sellers who also want a help desk and automation in the same place.
- Buyers who would rather test a full plan than stay on a limited free tier.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on a tight budget: Ko-fi starts at $12.
- Sellers comparing in a local currency: Mitienda Uruguay starts at UYU 400.
- Automation buyers shopping elsewhere: Shafrik starts at XOF 9,900.
Squarespace
Who it suits
- Beginners who want design handled for them, since the stated audience is beginners and small business.
- Small businesses selling online, because site and store building is covered in the same subscription.
- Buyers who want domains, commerce and email in a single account: hosting runs website, ecommerce and commerce.
Who should look elsewhere
- Ko-fi, listed at $12, if you need a cheaper way to test a paid page, because Squarespace has no free plan.
- Mitienda Uruguay, whose plans start at UYU 400, if your budget is set in Uruguayan pesos.
- Shafrik, whose plans start at XOF 9,900, if your budget is set in West African francs.
Current offers
Kartra
Current offer
Free trial
14 days free on any plan: 14 days
Limited time offer; trial limited to one trial per person per product; payment information must be on file before the account is created; 30-day hold period before a trial rebill counts as a sale
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
30-Day risk-free money back guarantee: 30 days
Applies to new customers; refund request must be made within 30 days of the start of a subscription; trial payments non-refundable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Squarespace
Current offer
Discount code
Take 10% Off: 10% off an annual website plan with code GIMME10
First purchase only; annual website plans
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
50% off for students: 50% off an annual website plan via Student Beans
Eligible students only, annual plans, first year
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free trial
Free 14-day trial: 14 days
No credit card required, cancel anytime
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
One year free custom domain with annual plan: 1 year of free domain registration
Annual-term website plans, cheapest pricing tier, one free domain per website, renews at standard rate
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Kartra
How much does Kartra cost to start?+
Entry pricing runs from $59, and the e-commerce plan price is $59. Both point at the same starting figure, so a shop and a plain site begin in the same place. Renewal is the number to watch once the trial ends.
Is there a free plan?+
No. There is no free plan, so the 14 day trial is the only no-cost way in. The builder, the store and the help desk can all be tried before anything is paid, which suits a buyer who wants to feel the templates out first.
Squarespace
What does Squarespace cost to get started?+
Squarespace plans start at €15, and the opening term is an introductory €11 for 12 months. That entry figure sits above the site median €13.15 and below the upper quartile €29, so the opening year is the cheaper part of the deal.
What do I pay when the plan renews?+
The plan renews at €15, the same figure as the standard starting price €15, so the introductory €11 does not carry into later terms. Budget for the full rate once the intro period ends, and check the transaction fee 2% on each sale if you run a store.