Final verdict
Appy Pie and Square Online are closely matched, each with a final verdict score of 7.2, indicating their strong and competitive offerings in the website builder market.
-
Appy Pie
excels with its user-friendly interface, comprehensive AI capabilities, and excellent customer support. It’s particularly suited for users looking for a no-code solution that offers ease of use, flexibility in design, and a wide range of features for creating both websites and mobile apps. Appy Pie’s strengths in AI-driven design and content generation, along with its robust marketing tools, make it a great choice for businesses and individuals aiming for a quick and efficient way to establish an online presence. -
Square Online
shines with its seamless ecommerce integration, superior hosting quality, and strong security measures. It is the go-to platform for businesses, especially retailers, restaurants, and service providers, looking to expand their operations online with minimal hassle. Square Online’s direct integration with Square’s payment processing and business management tools offers a cohesive solution for managing online sales and operations, making it ideal for users seeking a comprehensive, all-in-one platform for their ecommerce needs.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
6.8 |
7.4 |
|
Ease of use |
8.3 |
8.4 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.2 |
7.3 |
|
Website Editors |
7.7 |
6.6 |
|
Product testing options |
8.9 |
7.8 |
|
Price |
7.4 |
7.5 |
|
Hosting quality |
6.9 |
7.8 |
|
Website speed optimization |
5.0 |
6.2 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.4 |
7.6 |
|
Marketing features |
7.5 |
7.4 |
|
Customer support |
8.2 |
6.7 |
|
Security |
7.5 |
8.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
7.2 |
7.4 |
|
User Management |
7.3 |
5.2 |
| Overall |
7.2 |
7.2 |
Best for ecommerce
7.2
7.3
Verdict
: With nearly identical scores in ecommerce capabilities, Square Online slightly edges out Appy Pie due to its comprehensive POS features and better payment processing options, making it more suitable for businesses looking for an integrated online and in-person sales solution.
-
Appy Pie
: Offers a no-code, user-friendly platform with a focus on ease of use and speed. It’s best for individuals and small businesses wanting to quickly set up an online presence with basic ecommerce functionalities. -
Square Online
: Tailored for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses seeking to blend online and offline sales seamlessly. Its direct integration with Square’s payment processing and business management tools provides a robust solution for managing all aspects of a business.
Best for informational & business websites
7.4
7.4
Verdict
: With identical scores for informational and business websites, the choice between Appy Pie and Square Online comes down to specific user needs and preferences. Both platforms offer robust features for building professional websites, but their strengths cater to different audiences.
-
Appy Pie
: Best suited for users looking for a straightforward, no-code solution to quickly establish an online presence. Its focus on ease-of-use and quick deployment, along with a vast library of templates, makes it ideal for individuals and small businesses aiming to create simple, effective informational websites without requiring deep technical knowledge. -
Square Online
: Offers a more comprehensive solution for businesses that need integrated online sales and operations capabilities. With its seamless integration with Square’s payment and business management tools, it’s particularly attractive for retail, restaurant, and service businesses looking to expand or transition online. Its emphasis on e-commerce functionality makes it a strong candidate for businesses that need more than just an informational site.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
6.8
7.4
🏆
Winner: Square Online.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers more creative control and a wide array of design features, Square Online is the preferred choice.
Appy Pie offers a wide array of website templates with over 10,000 options, catering to various needs and budgets. Categorized across industries, these templates are mobile-friendly and customizable, allowing users to edit colors, fonts, layouts, and add features. The platform’s pre-designed themes, layouts, and user-friendly drag-and-drop builder enhance visual appeal and customization ease, making it accessible for users without coding knowledge.
Compared to Appy Pie, Square Online offers a flexible website builder with a focus on e-commerce, providing a variety of design options through integration with platforms like Weebly. Users can customize their sites extensively, choosing from themes and preset styles to best represent their brand. While the exact number of templates available directly from Square is not specified, the integration with Weebly provides about a hundred themes, including 15 for online stores, emphasizing professional design and mobile responsiveness. This setup caters well to users seeking a blend of ease of use and e-commerce functionality without requiring deep technical knowledge.
Get a head start on website creation with AI
Create a custom website tailored to your business needs 10X faster with 10Web AI Website Builder!
No credit card required
Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
8.3
8.4
🏆 Winner: Square Online
. With a score of 8.4, Square Online slightly edges out Appy Pie, which scored 8.3. Both platforms offer user-friendly, drag-and-drop interfaces, but Square Online’s comprehensive set of ecommerce tools and seamless integration with Square’s broader ecosystem make it a slightly more intuitive choice for users.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. While both platforms offer learning resources, Appy Pie provides a more comprehensive set of materials, including written guides, video tutorials, webinars, and a blog. Square Online’s resources are also valuable, but users have noted a need for more depth, especially for advanced topics.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
7.2
7.3
Appy Pie and Square Online both offer robust ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs. Appy Pie is a no-code platform that allows users to create websites and online stores quickly and easily. It offers key ecommerce functionalities such as product listings, inventory management, a secure shopping cart, diverse payment gateways, support for multiple currencies, promotions, order management, shipping options, tax calculation, and analytics.
On the other hand, Square Online is designed to help businesses create professional, fully integrated online stores and websites. It is particularly tailored for retailers, restaurants, and service businesses, aiming to provide a seamless transition from brick-and-mortar operations to online sales. The platform offers a range of customizable templates, easy drag-and-drop tools, and direct integration with Square’s suite of payment processing and business management tools.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
6.0 |
6.8 |
|
Product page customization |
7.0 |
7.6 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
6.5 |
7.9 |
|
POS capabilities |
6.0 |
9.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.5 |
7.5 |
|
Product numbers |
6.5 |
7.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
7.0 |
7.2 |
Appy Pie ecommerce features:
- Product and Inventory Management
- Shopping Cart
- Multiple Currencies
- Promotions and Discounts
- Order Management
- Shipping Options
- Analytics
- Tax management
Square Online ecommerce features:
- Product Listing and Inventory management
- Payment Processing and POS features
- Shipping and Fulfillment
- Marketing features
Ecommerce themes & templates
Appy Pie offers a small selection of ecommerce website templates. These templates are designed to help users create online stores quickly and efficiently, without the need for coding skills. Appy Pie’s ecommerce templates feature mobile-first designs, customizable product galleries, and various other features aimed at enhancing the online shopping experience for both the store owner and their customers.
Square Online offers a range of eCommerce templates designed to meet various business needs, enabling users to customize their sites to match their brand identity. It includes dynamic styling tools, personalized user experiences, and integrated payment solutions, including Square’s own payment gateway.
Product page customization
Appy Pie’s Website Builder provides users with extensive customization options for product pages, enabling the creation of unique online stores or product showcases without requiring advanced coding skills. Users can personalize product details like descriptions, images, and pricing, ensuring they can offer comprehensive information to assist customers in making informed purchasing choices.
In Square Online, you can add up to 250 variations per item, like different sizes or versions, through “Selectable Options” in the item details section of your online store. Additionally, “Item Modifiers” allow for further customization by letting customers choose options or input custom text, such as engraving names on jewelry, without affecting inventory levels.
Payment processing
Appy Pie offers a user-friendly platform for integrating payment processing and POS capabilities into mobile apps and online stores, supporting multiple payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square for secure and versatile customer transactions.
Square’s website builder supports a variety of payment options including Square Pay, Apple Pay, Cash App Pay, Google Pay, and Afterpay, catering to diverse customer payment preferences. The platform charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction for its free plan, with a discounted fee available on the Premium plan. Additionally, Square offers comprehensive POS capabilities, with a range of hardware solutions that seamlessly integrate with its online store and point of sale systems, ensuring a unified management system for both online and in-person sales.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
7.7
6.6
🏆
Winner: Appy Pie
. With a score of 7.7, Appy Pie’s Website Builder is a user-friendly, cloud-based platform that allows individuals, professionals, and small businesses to create mobile-friendly websites without needing to code. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and various features like social media integration, ecommerce capabilities, and SEO tools. This makes it an ideal solution for quickly creating a wide range of websites, from landing pages to online stores, tailored to users’ specific needs and brand identities.
Square Online’s website builder, scoring 6.6, is designed for businesses looking to establish an online presence with ease, focusing on e-commerce functionality. It offers limited customization options, aiming to simplify the design process, yet includes essential e-commerce and marketing tools suitable for a variety of business needs. The platform supports an unlimited number of products and integrates with Square’s payment processing, albeit with limited external payment options. While Square Online is user-friendly and efficient for quickly setting up a website, it may not cater to those seeking extensive design flexibility or advanced e-commerce features.
Mobile editor/app
5.5
5.5
🏆
Draw: Appy Pie vs Square Online
. Both Appy Pie and Square Online do not have a dedicated mobile app for editing websites. However, they allow users to edit their websites using a mobile browser. This feature provides convenience for users who want to make quick changes or updates to their websites on the go. However, it’s important to note that editing websites on a mobile browser may come with certain limitations compared to editing on a desktop. Therefore, for more complex edits or updates, using a desktop may be more suitable.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
8.9
7.8
Overall Result
:
Appy Pie Wins
. Appy Pie scores 8.9 in product testing options, slightly higher than Square Online’s 7.8. Both platforms offer a 30-day free trial, but Appy Pie allows users to test all premium features during this period without requiring billing information. On the other hand, Square Online also allows testing of premium features during the trial, but users are required to enter their billing information.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | Yes |
|
Trial Duration |
30 days | 30 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
All features during free trial |
Yes, but requires billing information |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No | No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.4
7.5
Appy Pie and Square Online have similar price scores, indicating that they offer comparable value for their cost.
However, Appy Pie offers a discount for annual subscriptions, while Square Online does not. Both platforms offer enterprise plans, with Appy Pie providing a custom quote and Square Online offering a Premium plan with lower transaction fees and advanced features.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
No offering at this amount. |
Free ($0/month): For businesses who want to start selling online fast. Online payments with 2.9% + 30¢, basic-site layouts and design controls, tax calculation, unlimited items, SEO tools, blog feature, Facebook ads. |
|
$10-$20 |
Start ($18/month): Suitable for personal projects, offering 50 GB storage and access to professional theme templates, domain connection, no Appy Pie ads, CSS & Java customization, etc. Value for price: 6.5 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$20+ |
Grow ($36/month): Aimed at small businesses, providing unlimited storage, advanced marketing and monetizing tools, multiple payment gateways, etc. Value for price: 8.5 |
Plus ($29/month): For businesses looking to drive online growth and streamline operations. Includes all the features of the free plan, plus, free custom domain for a year, professional branding, custom embed code, manage multiple sites, pre-orders, abandoned cart recovery, free shipping and delivery progress bar, product reviews, discounts, website statistics. Value for Price: 7.5 |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
6.9
7.8
🏆
Winner: Square Online
Square Online edges out Appy Pie with a slightly higher uptime of 99.96% and unlimited bandwidth. While both platforms offer hosting services, Square Online does not specify its hosting type or data center locations. Appy Pie, on the other hand, relies on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and guarantees a 99% uptime. Despite the lack of specific details, Square Online’s superior uptime gives it the edge in this category.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Data Centers: |
AWS |
Not disclosed |
|
Type of hosting: |
Proprietary hosting |
Not specified |
|
Uptime: |
99% |
99.96% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Yes, 99% |
No |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
5.0
6.2
🏆 Winner: Square Online
Both Appy Pie and Square Online have strategies in place for website speed optimization, but Square Online’s specific strategies like Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, and Image optimization give it an edge over Appy Pie.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
User-driven optimization |
Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, Image optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
User-driven optimization tools |
Built-in optimization tools |
|
Key Strategies |
User-driven optimization |
Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, Image optimization |
|
Load Times |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location |
Varies depending on optimization and website complexity |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
No information disclosed |
No information disclosed |
Square Online, as a comprehensive website builder, implements specific speed optimization strategies like Lazy Loading, Code Minification, Caching, and Image optimization. These strategies, combined with the platform’s built-in optimization tools, help to improve the load times and PageSpeed scores of websites built on Square Online. However, these metrics can still vary depending on the level of optimization and the complexity of the website.
On the other hand, Appy Pie, as an AI website builder, does not directly implement specific speed optimization strategies. Instead, they offer various tools and features that can help users optimize their website’s speed on their own. This means that the load times and PageSpeed scores of websites built on Appy Pie can vary widely, depending on the level of optimization implemented by the user and the user’s location.
Neither Appy Pie nor Square Online disclose any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements.
Get a head start on website creation with AI
Create a custom website tailored to your business needs 10X faster with 10Web AI Website Builder!
No credit card required
Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
6.4
7.6
🏆 Winner: Square Online.
With a score of 7.6, Square Online outperforms Appy Pie, which scores 6.4. Square Online offers a wide array of app integrations that facilitate various aspects of business operations, including eCommerce, accounting, marketing, and employee management. These integrations span from free options to premium services, allowing businesses to tailor their Square setup to their specific needs.
On the other hand, Appy Pie provides a range of plugins and extensions for website enhancement, with the availability differing across plans. While it offers basic features like contact forms and social media icons, paid plans grant access to the Appy Pie marketplace, which includes over 100 plugins across categories such as marketing, design, social media, SEO, analytics, payments, and more.
However, the diversity and depth of Square Online’s integrations give it the upper hand in this comparison.
Marketing Features
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
7.5
7.4
🏆
Overall Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie edges out Square Online with a slightly higher score, indicating a more comprehensive set of marketing tools. However, both platforms offer a robust suite of features, making them suitable for a variety of marketing needs.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
Platform supports content creation and management |
Basic blogging features |
|
Social Media Integration |
Simplifies content sharing and audience engagement |
Range of integrations to enhance online shopping |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Integration with Google Workspace |
Comprehensive suite of analytics and reporting tools |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Tools for creating and managing promotional content |
Comprehensive suite of tools for creating and managing |
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
8.2
6.7
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie takes the lead in this category with a customer support score of 8.2, compared to Square Online’s score of 6.7. Appy Pie offers 24/7 customer support through various channels including live chat, email, and phone. They also provide extensive documentation and tutorials on their website to help users troubleshoot common problems on their own.
Square Online, on the other hand, provides customer support through phone, live chat, and email, but their availability is limited to specific hours on weekdays. Their level of support also varies by subscription tier, with more extensive support available for higher tiers. However, they do offer 24/7 phone support for premium plan users.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
7.5
8.5
🏆
Winner: Square Online
. Square Online takes the lead in security with a score of 8.5 compared to Appy Pie’s 7.5. Square Online provides free SSL security for every site, ensuring that personal and financial information remains confidential and protected. This level of security is essential for building trust with customers, as it secures online transactions and sensitive data.
Appy Pie also offers secure private data storage and protection for its users, with advanced encryption and strict access controls. However, Square Online’s comprehensive security measures, including constant security monitoring and compliance with GDPR for EU and UK users, give it an edge over Appy Pie.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
7.2
7.4
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Website Builder |
Appy Pie uses AI algorithms to design and customize websites |
|
|
Personalized Shopping |
AI-driven personalized shopping experiences |
AI algorithms for personalized product recommendations |
|
Customer Service |
Chatbots for 24/7 customer service |
|
|
Content Generation |
AI content generation for blogs, marketing, and social media |
AI-generated photo environments, website content, and menu generation |
|
Additional AI Features |
Chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI-powered analytics |
AI-crafted messages, auto-imported services, and kitchen categories |
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie, with a score of 7.2, utilizes AI in a more comprehensive manner, offering an AI website builder, personalized shopping experiences, chatbots for customer service, and AI content generation. It also provides additional AI features like virtual assistants and AI-powered analytics.
Square Online, scoring 7.4, does not have an AI website builder but it does utilize AI for personalized product recommendations and content generation. It also offers additional AI features that enhance productivity and communication for businesses.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
7.3
5.2
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. Both Appy Pie and Square Online offer different user access levels, but Appy Pie provides more detailed and flexible options.
- Appy Pie offers different user access levels based on the plan chosen. For the Free Plan, one user has full editing privileges. Paid plans include the Starter Plan (3 users), Hobby Plan (5 users), Professional Plan (10 users), and Enterprise Plan (unlimited users). Each plan designates an Admin with full access and additional Editors with varying editing rights. Additionally, paid plans allow for customization of roles, enabling tasks such as content editing or design adjustments.
- Square Online allows multiple staff accounts, however the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported.
Unfortunately, neither platform provided a detailed table of user roles and access levels.
Additional Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SSL Certificate |
|
|
|
Custom Domain |
|
|
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
|
|
|
International Domains |
|
|
|
Mobile Responsive |
|
|
|
Page Speed |
|
|
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
|
|
|
Convert a Website To An App |
|
|
|
Website Analytics |
|
|
|
Multilingual Sites |
|
|
|
Multiple Users |
|
|
User Feedback
Appy Pie receives positive feedback for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support. It offers low-code solutions for app and website building, which users appreciate for its ease of use, extensive features, and ability to create apps and websites quickly. Some users expressed a desire for more customization options and templates, but overall, Appy Pie is seen as a valuable tool for businesses and individuals seeking to create apps and websites efficiently.
Square Online is appreciated for its ease of setup, no initial payment requirement for registration, and dependable payment processing. Users laud its simple user interface, which allows for quick product sales and efficient inventory management. However, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the limited design customization options and the simplicity of the store layouts. They also highlighted limitations in scheduled order processing and a desire for more advanced features and better support for custom HTML and SEO.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is better for ecommerce, Appy Pie or Square Online?
Can I use Appy Pie and Square Online for building informational websites?
How do Appy Pie and Square Online compare in terms of design and customization?
Which platform offers better customer support, Appy Pie or Square Online?
How do the AI capabilities of Appy Pie and Square Online compare?
Which platform is more user-friendly for managing multiple users?
Are there any significant differences in the additional features offered by Appy Pie and Square Online?
Build a website with AI in one minute
Build a website with AI in one minute
Create your dream website with 10Web AI Builder and take your business online!
