What it actually costs to put your shop online.
Shopify, Square, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy and Lightspeed, priced in Canadian dollars for an independent shop. Plus the free Google feature most shops don't use, and an honest answer to whether you need an online store at all.
Prices checked on 24 September 2026 · Shawn Mann, Glass Floor Studio
Selling online, priced
The cheapest plan on each platform that can actually take an online order, in Canadian dollars before tax, from each company's own page.
| Platform & plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly | Online card rate | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Online Free | $0 | $0 | 2.8% + 30¢ | Syncs with a Square register. A custom domain needs Plus, $36/mo billed yearly. |
| GoDaddy Commerce | $44.99 | $26.99 | 2.7% | The yearly price is for the first term only; the renewal price isn't shown. |
| Squarespace Core | $45 | $32 | 2.9% + 30¢ | No in-store selling in Canada. Basic ($30/$21) adds a 2% fee on store sales. |
| Wix Core | not listed | $33 | 2.9% + 30¢ | The cheapest Wix plan that can sell. Light ($21) can't take payments. |
| Shopify Basic | $49 | $37 | 2.8% + 30¢ | Simple in-store selling included; POS Pro for in-store stock tools is $119/mo per location. 2% extra if you use another payment processor. |
| Lightspeed Retail Basic | $139 | $119 | not published | A full retail register with an online store included. Pickup in store needs Core ($239/$199). |
Card rates are for standard Canadian cards through each platform's own payments. BigCommerce isn't included because it only lists US-dollar prices. First-month promotions aren't shown; they change weekly.
What a year really costs
Plan plus card fees, for the sales you expect online. Put in your own numbers. Yearly plan prices are used, since that's what most shops pay.
In-store card rates and pickup
| Platform | Credit card in store | Interac debit | Card reader from | Buy online, pick up in store |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | 2.5% | 0.75% + 7¢ | $69 | Included, free plan and up |
| Shopify | 2.6% (Basic) | 15¢ | $69 | Included on every plan |
| GoDaddy | 2.3% | 10¢ | $379terminal | Included on Commerce |
| Wix | 2.7% | 15¢ | US$69 | Included once you can take payments (Core) |
| Lightspeed | 2.6% + 10¢ | not listed separately | not published | Core and Plus only |
| Squarespace | No in-store selling in Canada | Included | ||
Google can show what's on your shelf
Google's "See what's in store" shows your products on your Google Business Profile, so someone searching for a thing can see that you have it before they drive over. It's free.
The conditions: a physical store, a verified Google Business Profile, products with manufacturer barcodes, and either a barcode scanner or a register that connects to it. Square, Clover and Lightspeed are among the registers that connect. Handmade or baked goods with your own barcodes won't match Google's product list, so it suits a hardware or gift shop better than a bakery.
Which one fits your shop
You already use Square
Turn on Square Online. The free plan syncs with your register and handles pickup in store. Add Plus when you want your own domain.
You want to ship across Canada
Shopify is built for it and the Basic plan covers most small shops. Budget for POS Pro only if you need its in-store stock tools.
Big inventory, several locations
Lightspeed is a proper retail register with the online store included, a Canadian company, and priced like it.
You don't really want to ship
Most independent shops don't need an online store. They need people to know what's in stock, that the door is open, and why the trip is worth it. That's the site I build for shops.
A site that gets people through the door
A custom site that shows what you carry, when you're open and why you're worth the drive, live in about two weeks. If what you need is a full online store with hundreds of products, Shopify or Lightspeed is the better tool, and I'll say so. The domain and your customer list stay in your name.
Questions people ask
How much does Shopify cost in Canada?
Shopify Basic is $49 a month, or $37 a month billed yearly, in Canadian dollars. Online card payments are 2.8% + 30 cents. Simple in-store selling is included; POS Pro, with in-store stock tools, is $119 a month per location.
Is Square Online free in Canada?
Yes. Square Online's free plan has no monthly fee and charges 2.8% + 30 cents per online order. It syncs with a Square register and includes pickup in store. A custom domain needs the Plus plan, $36 a month billed yearly.
What is the cheapest way for a shop to sell online in Canada?
Square Online's free plan costs nothing a month; you pay card fees only. Among paid plans, GoDaddy Commerce is $26.99 a month billed yearly for the first term, and Squarespace Core and Wix Core are about $32-$33 a month billed yearly.
Does Squarespace work for in-store sales in Canada?
No. Squarespace's in-person selling is only available in the US and UK, so a Canadian shop would need a separate register.
Can Google show what's in stock at my store?
Yes, for free, through "See what's in store" on your Google Business Profile. You need a physical store, a verified profile, products with manufacturer barcodes, and a barcode scanner or a register that connects to it, such as Square, Clover or Lightspeed.
Do I need an online store for my shop?
Often not. If most customers buy in person, a site that shows what you carry, your hours and where you are usually does more than an online store nobody orders from.
Tell me about your shop
Tell me what you sell and how customers buy from you now. I'll tell you what I'd set up in your position, even if it's a free Square store and not me.