ChatGPT answers, unedited

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, two particularly relevant options are:

Square

Square is especially suited to a physical studio. Its booking system supports single and recurring classes, capacity limits, instructors, online/in-person booking, and payments. Square Square

You can also run an online store where customers book classes and purchase merchandise, with the online orders and bookings connected to your Square POS. Square Square

It also supports prepaid packages—for example, selling a package of five classes and letting customers redeem those classes when booking. Square

Wix

Wix gives you more emphasis on the website/ecommerce storefront. Wix Bookings supports group sessions, classes, workshops, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles merchandise. Wix Support wix.com

Importantly, Wix lets customers put services and physical products into the same cart, so someone could book a class and buy a T-shirt in one checkout. Wix Support

What I'd look at for your studio

If your business is primarily a physical studio with scheduled classes, I'd investigate Square first because its booking, POS, customer records, payments, and merchandise sales are designed to work together.

If your priority is a beautiful branded website that functions as both your class-booking site and online shop, I'd investigate Wix.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, pottery, dance, art, fitness, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have per week, I can compare the relevant plans, fees, memberships/packages, and checkout experience for Square vs. Wix.

Square and Wix both fit well; I’d shortlist those two.

• Square — particularly strong if your physical studio already uses Square POS. It supports online class booking, capacity, recurring classes, payments, and merchandise sales/shipping/pickup in the same ecosystem. squareup.com squareup.com
• Wix — better if you want a more customizable branded website. Wix Bookings handles classes, courses, appointments, memberships, and packages, while Wix Stores handles merch; customers can even combine services and products in a cart. support.wix.com support.wix.com

For a brick-and-mortar studio, Square is worth considering first if in-person checkout/POS is important; Wix is worth considering if the website/storefront experience is the priority.

For a brick-and-mortar studio that needs both class bookings and merchandise sales, I’d look first at Square, Wix, and Squarespace.

Square

Square is particularly well suited to your setup. Its class-booking system supports one-time and recurring classes, capacity limits, instructors, online booking, payments, cancellations, and reminders. Square Square

At the same time, Square Online lets you sell physical products with shipping, pickup, or local delivery, and its booking site can combine bookings and product purchases. Square Square

That means you could have, for example:

• Classes: Tuesday Ceramics — 6:00 PM — 8 spots
• Merch: Studio T-shirt — $32
• Checkout: A customer books the class and buys the shirt in the same ecosystem
• Studio: The same Square system handles your in-person sales and inventory

One important consideration: class booking is part of Square's higher-tier/advanced booking capabilities, rather than simply the most basic Square setup. Square Square

Wix

Wix is another good all-in-one option. Wix Bookings supports appointments, classes, and courses, while Wix Stores handles physical merchandise. Wix Help Center Wix Help Center

I'd lean toward Wix if the website/branding experience is as important to you as the operational side.

Squarespace

Squarespace can also do both. Its commerce system supports physical merchandise, while its service products can be used for classes and events; for classes at specific times with limited capacity, Squarespace also points users toward its booking functionality. support.squarespace.com support.squarespace.com support.squarespace.com

For your particular brick-and-mortar use case, I'd investigate Square first, especially if you want your online bookings, merch, inventory, payments, and physical studio checkout connected rather than stitching several systems together.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, dance, pottery, fitness, art, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have per week, I can compare the actual plans and costs for Square vs. Wix vs. Squarespace.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

Best fits

1. Wix — probably the simplest all-in-one choice

• Wix Bookings handles classes, workshops, private sessions, schedules, payments, memberships/packages, and client reminders. Wix Support wix.com
• Wix Stores handles merch, inventory, shipping, variants, and checkout. You can put both services and products in the same cart. Wix Support Wix Support
• This is particularly attractive if you want one website, one customer database, and one checkout experience.
• Squarespace + Acuity — best if the website/brand experience matters most

• Squarespace Commerce supports physical products, while Acuity Scheduling handles scheduled classes and appointments. Squarespace Help Squarespace
• Acuity supports classes, packages, subscriptions, gift cards, payments, reminders, and attendance-oriented scheduling. Squarespace Acuity Scheduling Help Center
• Squarespace also specifically supports selling classes/workshops with limited spots through its store. Squarespace Help
• I'd choose this if you want a polished, design-forward studio website.

My recommendation

Start with Wix if your priority is operational simplicity:
Class → book/pay → customer gets reminders → merch → same site/cart → inventory/order management.

Choose Squarespace + Acuity if your studio is highly brand-driven and you care more about having a beautiful, premium-looking site.

One important distinction: if by "classes" you mean fixed-time group classes with limited capacity (e.g. pottery Tuesday at 6 PM, 12 seats), I'd favor Wix Bookings or Acuity rather than treating classes merely as ecommerce products. Both are designed for actual scheduling. Wix Support Squarespace

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, dance, photography, ceramics, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have per week, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and compare monthly cost, booking fees, POS/in-person sales, memberships, and merch inventory.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Square

For your specific situation, Square is probably the cleanest fit. Square Appointments supports scheduled and recurring classes, capacity limits, instructors, online booking, and online payments. Its online store can sell physical products alongside the classes, with shipping and in-store pickup. Square Square

The big advantage for a physical studio is that your in-person POS, online store, inventory, customer records, payments, and bookings can live in the same ecosystem. Square Square

squareup.com

When I'd choose Wix instead

Wix is attractive if your priority is a beautiful, content-heavy studio website—e.g. showcasing instructors, photos, class descriptions, your story, and merchandise.

Wix Bookings and Wix Stores can coexist, and customers can put services and merchandise into the same cart. Wix Support

wix.com

When I'd choose Shopify

I'd choose Shopify if you expect the merchandise side to become a serious ecommerce operation. Shopify is extremely strong for inventory, shipping, product variants, discounts, and scaling an online store, but class booking isn't as native—you'd add a booking app. Shopify currently has numerous appointment/class booking apps available. Shopify App Store Shopify App Store

shopify.com

Bottom line: If you're primarily a studio that sells classes + some merch, go Square. If you're a brand/content website that also sells classes + merch, consider Wix. If you're building a merch-heavy ecommerce business with classes attached, go Shopify.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, pottery, art, dance, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/bookings you handle per week, I can narrow it down to the best 1–2 options and compare their costs.

Yes — for a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + merchandise, I’d narrow it to three:

My pick: Wix

Wix Bookings natively supports classes, appointments, and multi-session courses, including recurring classes and one-off workshops. Wix Help Center You can then use the same site for your merch store, payments, customer accounts, and inventory.

That makes it particularly well suited if your business looks something like:

• 🧘 Studio classes: “Tuesday 6 PM — Beginner Workshop”
• 🎟️ Class packages: 5-class or 10-class passes
• 🗓️ Bookings: customers choose a class/time and pay online
• 👕 Merch: shirts, bags, equipment, etc.
• 🏠 In-person: the same system handles your physical studio and online sales

When I'd choose Squarespace instead

Squarespace is compelling if your studio is highly brand/design-driven. It supports physical products alongside classes and workshops, and its scheduling system can handle appointments and classes. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

It's a particularly good choice if you want the website to feel more like a polished creative studio/brand than a traditional ecommerce store.

When Shopify wins

I'd choose Shopify if you're expecting the merchandise side to become substantial — lots of SKUs, inventory, shipping, multiple sales channels, or eventually a significant online retail business. Shopify is much more commerce-centric, while bookings generally require an app. Shopify AFCommerce

So, based on what you've described: I'd start with Wix unless you expect merch to become the primary revenue stream.

If you tell me what kind of studio/classes you run (e.g. pottery, fitness, dance, art, photography, yoga) and roughly how many classes/students per week, I can recommend the best setup and plan, including Wix vs Squarespace vs Shopify + booking app.

For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, you’ll want an ecommerce platform that handles both appointments/class scheduling and physical product sales. The best fit depends on whether your studio is more service-focused or retail-focused.

Best all-in-one options

My shortlist for a studio

1. Best overall for most studios: Squarespace

Choose this if your main business is teaching + community, with merch as an add-on.

Good fit for:

• Yoga, dance, art, fitness, music, pottery, wellness, workshops
• A polished branded website
• Selling class passes, workshops, memberships, and shirts/totes/products

Squarespace supports selling services/classes and physical products from the same site. Squarespace Help

2. Best if you already sell in person: Square

Choose this if you need:

• A checkout counter/POS in your studio
• Inventory syncing between your studio and online store
• Staff/instructor management
• Class capacity tracking

Square’s class booking tools support online reservations, recurring classes, capacity settings, and payments. Square

3. Best if merch could become a major revenue stream: Shopify

Choose Shopify if you expect:

• Lots of SKUs
• Apparel collections
• Drops/releases
• Shipping operations
• Wholesale later

You’d typically add a class-booking app rather than relying only on Shopify’s core features.

A common setup that works well

• Squarespace or Wix → website + branding + classes + merch
• Square → in-studio payments/POS
• Shopify → only if merch grows into a major ecommerce business

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, dance, music, beauty, etc.), roughly how many classes per week, and whether merch is a side offering or a big goal, I can narrow it down.

For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, you’ll want an ecommerce platform that treats classes as bookable services while also handling physical products, inventory, payments, and customer accounts. Good options:

My general recommendation by studio type

• Yoga, dance, art, fitness, pottery, music, wellness, workshops:

Start with Wix. It’s usually the cleanest “one login does everything” option: website + class calendar + checkout + merch. wix.com

• A studio where merch is a major revenue stream (shirts, gear, retail items):

Choose Shopify + a booking app. Shopify’s product ecosystem is stronger, especially if you plan to grow into shipping, POS, and inventory management. Sesami

• A boutique creative studio where branding matters most:

Consider Squarespace for the polished storefront experience. Squarespace

Before choosing, check whether you need:

• recurring memberships (“monthly unlimited classes”)
• class capacity limits and waitlists
• instructor/staff schedules
• waiver forms
• package passes (10 classes for $X)
• POS integration for in-studio purchases
• inventory tracking for merch

If you tell me what kind of studio it is (fitness, art, dance, photography, etc.), your approximate class volume, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it to the best fit.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling bookable classes + physical merch from the same website, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix is probably the closest match to what you described. Wix Bookings specifically supports recurring classes, courses, appointments, workshops, participant limits, online payments, memberships and packages. Wix Support wix.com

At the same time, Wix's ecommerce functionality lets you sell physical products, including merchandise, from the same site/dashboard. wix.com

So your customer could, for example:

• Book a Tuesday pottery/yoga/dance class
• Buy a studio T-shirt
• Purchase a 5-class package or membership
• Pay online
• Receive booking/payment communications

—all within one ecosystem.

Squarespace is a close second

Squarespace is particularly attractive if you care a lot about having a polished, visually strong studio website. Squarespace currently supports service products for classes/workshops as well as physical products for merchandise. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

For appointment-style services, it integrates Acuity Scheduling, which handles online booking, reminders, payments, cancellations and rescheduling. Squarespace Help

When I'd choose Shopify instead

Shopify makes more sense if merchandise is going to be a serious ecommerce business—lots of SKUs, shipping, inventory, discounts, abandoned carts, product marketing, etc. You'd generally add a booking/class app rather than relying on Shopify's native ecommerce functionality for the scheduling side.

Bottom line: For a physical studio where classes are the core business and merch is an additional revenue stream, I'd start with Wix. If the studio's brand/design is paramount, I'd consider Squarespace; if merch is likely to become equally important or larger than classes, Shopify becomes more compelling.

If you tell me what kind of studio it is (fitness, art, dance, pottery, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/week, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and compare their current pricing/features.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merch, I’d shortlist these:

1. wix.com — probably the best all-in-one fit

Wix is particularly strong if classes are the core business. Wix Bookings supports:

• Recurring and one-time classes
• Multi-session courses
• Group sessions and workshops
• Capacity limits
• Staff/instructor scheduling
• Online payments
• Memberships and packages
• Client management and reminders Wix Support wix.com

You can also run a normal Wix Store alongside the booking system, so your shirts, equipment, supplies, etc. live in the same website/store.

Best for: a studio where booking classes is just as important as selling products.

2. squarespace.com + Acuity — best for a polished brand/site

Squarespace is excellent if the website/brand experience is a major priority. Its Commerce tools handle physical products and inventory, while Acuity handles scheduled classes and appointments. Squarespace specifically supports selling in-person classes and workshops, and Acuity can handle scheduled classes with payments and reminders. Squarespace Help Squarespace Squarespace Help

Best for: a design-forward studio selling merch plus relatively straightforward classes.

3. shopify.com + a booking app — best if merch/ecommerce is the bigger business

Shopify is the one I'd choose if you expect the merchandise side to become substantial. Its ecommerce/inventory/shipping ecosystem is much deeper, but class booking generally requires adding a booking app rather than being as natively integrated as Wix Bookings.

Best for: a studio that wants to become a serious online retail operation.

My pick for your situation

If you're essentially saying:

“I have a physical studio. People come in for classes, and I also want them to buy our branded merchandise online.”

I'd start with Wix. Its booking system is purpose-built around classes/courses, while you still get a conventional online store. Wix Support Wix Support

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, dance, art, pottery, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/bookings and merch SKUs you have, I can compare Wix vs Squarespace vs Shopify specifically for your setup, including likely monthly cost and payment/booking fees.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merch online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

wix.com is probably the simplest fit if you want one system. Wix Bookings supports appointments, group classes, workshops, courses, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles your physical products. Wix Help Center Wix Help Center

So your site could have:

• Book a Class → customers choose a date/time and pay
• Class Packages/Memberships → e.g. 5-class pass or monthly membership
• Shop → shirts, equipment, branded merchandise, etc.
• Studio info → location, instructors, policies, contact
• One customer/account and checkout ecosystem

Strong alternative: Squarespace + Acuity

squarespace.com is especially attractive if your studio is brand/design driven. Squarespace supports physical merchandise and service products, while Acuity Scheduling handles appointment/class booking and payments. Squarespace specifically supports selling scheduled classes and workshops through its Commerce tools. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

One distinction: Squarespace's basic "service products" are better for things that don't require choosing a particular time; for scheduled classes/appointments, Acuity is the better mechanism. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

Shopify if merch is the priority

shopify.com is the strongest choice if you expect the merchandise side to become a serious ecommerce operation. Shopify itself is excellent for products, inventory, POS, shipping, etc., and you add a booking app for classes.

For example, Shopify's current Bookable app is specifically designed for studios and can sell classes, workshops and appointments through Shopify checkout, including group bookings, recurring sessions, waivers and attendance/check-in. apps.shopify.com apps.shopify.com

Bottom line:

• Want simplest all-in-one: Wix
• Want beautiful studio website + excellent scheduling: Squarespace + Acuity
• Want serious merch/inventory/ecommerce: Shopify + booking app

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, dance, pottery, photography, wellness, etc.) and roughly how many classes you run per week, I can recommend the best setup and compare the actual monthly costs.

shopify.com is the strongest choice if you expect the merchandise side to become a serious ecommerce operation. Shopify itself is excellent for products, inventory, POS, shipping, etc., and you add a booking app for classes.

For example, Shopify's current Bookable app is specifically designed for studios and can sell classes, workshops and appointments through Shopify checkout, including group bookings, recurring sessions, waivers and attendance/check-in.

Bottom line:

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix is probably the simplest match for what you're describing. Wix Bookings supports workshops, courses, private sessions, online/in-person services, payments, memberships and packages. support.wix.com

You can run Wix Stores alongside Wix Bookings on the same site, so a customer could book a class and buy a T-shirt/merchandise from the same website. Wix even supports putting services and merchandise into the same cart. support.wix.com

Squarespace is a very close second

Squarespace is particularly attractive if your studio is visually/brand driven. Its Commerce system supports physical products and service products such as classes, while Acuity Scheduling handles appointments and scheduled classes. support.squarespace.com

So, for example, you could have:

Studio website → Classes → Book a class → Checkout
Studio website → Shop → T-shirts / bags / equipment → Checkout

The deciding question

If your classes are mostly fixed group classes (e.g. “Tuesday 6 PM pottery class, 12 spots”), I'd lean Wix.

If they're more appointments/private sessions (e.g. “book a 60-minute private lesson”), Wix or Squarespace + Acuity both work very well.

If merchandise is going to become a major revenue channel, I'd consider Shopify + a booking app instead, because Shopify is much more ecommerce-centric.

If you tell me what kind of studio/classes you run, roughly how many classes per week, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow this down to the best platform and setup for you.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise online, I’d narrow it to three strong options:

My pick: Wix

wix.com is probably the closest match to what you're describing. Wix Bookings handles classes/services, while Wix Stores handles physical merchandise, and customers can put services and products in the same cart and check out together. Wix Support Wix Support

That makes a setup like this straightforward:

• Classes: Beginner class, advanced class, workshops, private lessons
• Scheduling: Customers choose an available class/date/time
• Payments: Pay when booking
• Merch: T-shirts, apparel, supplies, gift cards, etc.
• Website: One branded studio website
• Checkout: Classes and merchandise can coexist in the shopping cart

When I'd choose Squarespace instead

squarespace.com is excellent if your studio's website/brand presentation is particularly important. Squarespace supports physical products as well as service products such as in-person classes and events. Squarespace Squarespace Help

For more sophisticated appointment scheduling, Squarespace's Acuity Scheduling is the stronger component; it supports things like packages, subscriptions, reminders, rescheduling and payments. TechRadar

When I'd choose Shopify

shopify.com is my choice if you expect merchandise to become a significant revenue stream. Shopify's core ecommerce is excellent, and its App Store has numerous booking systems specifically supporting classes, services, appointments and events. Shopify App Store Shopify App Store

The downside is that booking isn't as inherently integrated as it is with Wix—you'll generally add a booking app.

Bottom line: If you're primarily a studio that sells classes and also happens to sell merch, I'd start with Wix. If you're a retail/ecommerce business that also happens to offer classes, I'd use Shopify.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, dance, art, pottery, photography, music, etc.), roughly how many classes you run per week, and whether you need memberships/packages, I can recommend the exact platform and setup I'd use.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix is probably the cleanest fit if your main goal is “one website where people can book a class and buy a T-shirt.”

Wix Bookings supports classes, multi-session courses, and appointments, including participant limits, schedules, payments, locations, and memberships. wix.com Wix Support Wix Support Wix also lets you sell physical products through the same ecommerce setup. wix.com

Choose Square if your physical studio is the priority

Square is especially compelling if you already take payments at the studio. Square can handle online class bookings, in-person bookings, merchandise, shipping, pickup, inventory, and POS, with sales connected in one system. Square Square

That's a big advantage if someone buys a $25 shirt at the front desk and you need your online inventory to immediately reflect that sale.

Choose Squarespace if aesthetics matter most

Squarespace can sell physical products alongside classes, workshops, events, memberships, and other services. Its current setup supports classes with fixed times and limited spots, while Acuity Scheduling handles appointment-style bookings. Squarespace Squarespace Help

Bottom line:

• Wix → best overall for a studio that needs bookings + ecommerce + a polished website.
• Square → best if you want your online and brick-and-mortar sales/POS tightly integrated.
• Squarespace → best if your brand/design and website experience are the priority.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (dance, pottery, fitness, art, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/bookings you have per week, I can narrow it down to the best 1–2 options and compare their current pricing/features.

Wix is probably the cleanest fit if your main goal is “one website where people can book a class and buy a T-shirt.”

Wix Bookings supports classes, multi-session courses, and appointments, including participant limits, schedules, payments, locations, and memberships. wix.com Wix Support Wix Support Wix also lets you sell physical products through the same ecommerce setup. wix.com

Choose Square if your physical studio is the priority

Square is especially compelling if you already take payments at the studio. Square can handle online class bookings, in-person bookings, merchandise, shipping, pickup, inventory, and POS, with sales connected in one system. squareup.com squareup.com

That's a big advantage if someone buys a $25 shirt at the front desk and you need your online inventory to immediately reflect that sale.

Choose Squarespace if aesthetics matter most

Squarespace can sell physical products alongside classes, workshops, events, memberships, and other services. Its current setup supports classes with fixed times and limited spots, while Acuity Scheduling handles appointment-style bookings.

Bottom line:

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Square

For your particular setup, Square is probably the simplest choice. Square Appointments supports both individual appointments and one-time or recurring group classes, including capacity, instructors, pricing, and online booking. Square Square

You can then use Square Online to sell your merch from the same website, with online ordering, shipping, and pickup. Your bookings and online orders can sync with your POS. Square Square

It also supports packages, such as selling a 5-class pass that customers can redeem when booking classes. Square Square

squareup.com

When I'd choose Wix instead

If the website/brand experience is especially important—lots of photos, polished class pages, storytelling, etc.—Wix is a strong alternative. Wix Bookings handles appointments, group classes and courses, while Wix Stores handles merchandise on the same site. wix.com Wix Support

Wix also has a POS specifically for brick-and-mortar businesses, with products and bookings connected to the online operation. Wix Support

wix.com

Bottom line: If you want one system with minimal complexity, I'd start with Square. If your studio is highly brand/design-driven and the website is a major part of attracting customers, I'd look closely at Wix.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, pottery, dance, art, fitness, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have per week, I can recommend the best platform and plan for your situation.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

• Wix — best all-in-one fit. Wix Bookings handles group classes, workshops, appointments, payments, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles merch. Customers can even put services and physical products in the same cart. Wix Support Wix Support
• Shopify — best if merch/ecommerce is the bigger business. Shopify has a very strong product/checkout/inventory system, and its App Store has numerous booking apps specifically for classes, services and events. Shopify App Store Shopify App Store
• Squarespace — good for a design-focused studio. It supports service products such as in-person classes/events plus physical merchandise; for actual appointment scheduling, Squarespace points users toward Acuity Scheduling. Squarespace Support

My pick

I'd choose Wix if classes are central to the studio. You get the booking calendar, class capacity, client management, payments, memberships/packages, website, and merch store under one ecosystem rather than stitching together several services. Wix Support wix.com

Choose Shopify instead if you expect the merch side to become substantial—lots of SKUs, shipping, inventory, discounts, abandoned carts, etc.—and you're comfortable adding a booking app.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, pottery, dance, art, fitness, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/week, I can recommend the best platform and setup for your specific workflow.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

My top pick: Square

Square is particularly well suited to your situation because Square Appointments supports single and recurring classes, while Square Online lets you sell physical products through the same ecosystem. It can also connect your online sales with your brick-and-mortar POS and inventory. Square Square

That means you could have:

• Classes: “Tuesday Pottery Class — 6:00 PM — 8 spots remaining”
• Private sessions: customers choose an available time
• Merch: shirts, mugs, supplies, prints, etc.
• In-studio POS: sell the same merchandise at your physical studio
• Online checkout: customers book/pay for classes and buy merch
• Inventory: online and in-person product sales can be managed together

Square specifically says its booking site can let customers book services and purchase items, with bookings and orders syncing to its appointments/POS system. Square

squareup.com

When I'd choose Wix instead

Wix is excellent if the website/brand experience matters more than having your POS and booking system under one roof. Wix Bookings supports appointments, group sessions, classes, workshops, courses, memberships and packages. Wix Help Center wix.com

I'd lean Wix if you're envisioning a highly customized studio website with lots of content, galleries, instructor bios, class descriptions, etc.

Squarespace is another strong option

Squarespace has recently expanded its service-selling capabilities. Its current tools support in-person classes, workshops, events, physical products, memberships and other services. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

It's especially attractive if you want a beautiful, editorial-looking storefront and your classes are more like scheduled workshops/events than appointment-based services.

For your specific setup, I'd start with Square unless having a highly customized/beautiful website is your #1 priority.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (art, pottery, dance, fitness, photography, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes you run per week, I can narrow it down to the best 1–2 options and explain the likely monthly cost.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise, I’d shortlist Square and Wix, with Square being my first choice if your in-person POS and studio operations are important.

🥇 Best overall: Square

Square is unusually well suited to this combination because its system handles class bookings + online retail + in-person sales together.

• Customers can book one-time or recurring classes online. Square Square
• You can sell merchandise through the same online site, with shipping, pickup, or local delivery. Square Square
• Your online orders and bookings connect with your in-studio POS/inventory, rather than requiring separate systems. Square
• You can sell class packages, such as 5 or 10 classes for a fixed price. Square
• You can also take payments in person and online within the same ecosystem. Square

squareup.com

🥈 Best if website/design is the priority: Wix

Wix is another strong option. Wix Bookings supports classes, courses, appointments, workshops, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles your merchandise. Wix Support wix.com

Importantly, Wix lets customers put services and merchandise into the same cart when Wix Stores and Bookings are configured together. Wix Support

wix.com

My recommendation

For your particular setup, I'd start with Square. It avoids the common headache of having one system for online classes, another for your physical checkout, and another for merchandise inventory.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, dance, art, ceramics, fitness, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have per week, I can compare Square vs Wix vs Shopify specifically for your business, including estimated monthly costs and which one I'd pick.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merch, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

For your particular setup, Wix is probably the easiest fit. Wix Bookings supports appointments, group classes, and multi-session courses, including in-person sessions, capacity limits, online payments, packages/memberships, and scheduling. Its store can also sell physical products and branded merch. www.wix.com

So your site could have:

• Book a Class → customers see the schedule, available spots, price, and book/pay.
• Shop → T-shirts, hoodies, equipment, etc.
• Memberships / class packages → e.g. 10-class pass or monthly membership.
• Studio info → location, instructors, policies, contact.
• One customer account/payment ecosystem rather than stitching together separate systems.

Squarespace is a close second

If the visual presentation of your studio brand is especially important, I'd seriously consider Squarespace. Its Commerce system supports both service products (including classes) and physical products, while Acuity Scheduling handles appointments and classes that need specific time slots. support.squarespace.com

One distinction matters: Squarespace's ordinary "service products" are better for classes/events that don't require appointment-style scheduling; for recurring/scheduled bookings, Acuity is the more appropriate tool. support.squarespace.comsupport.squarespace.com

Shopify

I'd choose Shopify if your studio is going to become merch/ecommerce-heavy—lots of SKUs, inventory, shipping, discounts, product marketing, etc. For class scheduling, however, you'll generally be adding a booking solution rather than relying on Shopify's core store functionality.

Bottom line:
Classes are the core business → Wix.
Beautiful branded website + classes + moderate merch → Squarespace.
Merch/ecommerce is becoming a major revenue stream → Shopify.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, dance, art, pottery, fitness, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/bookings you have per week, I can narrow it down to the best 1–2 options and compare their actual pricing, payment processing, booking fees, memberships, and POS/in-person selling.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes/services and merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

My top pick: Square

squareup.com is particularly well suited to your situation because its system combines class scheduling, online bookings, ecommerce, inventory, payments, and in-person POS. Square supports both one-time and recurring classes, and its online store can sell physical products with shipping, pickup, or delivery. Square Square

That means you could have something like:

YourStudio.com

• Classes → “Book a Class”
• Workshops → “Book a Workshop”
• Merch → T-shirts, bags, supplies, etc.
• Gift cards
• Existing studio → same Square system handles checkout and inventory

It also lets customers book classes and buy products through the same website, with bookings/orders syncing back to your Square systems. Square Square

Wix is a strong alternative

wix.com is worth considering if the website/brand experience is more important to you. Wix Bookings supports classes with schedules, capacity, pricing, rooms/resources, etc., while Wix Stores handles merchandise. Customers can even put services and products into a shared cart. Wix Help Center Wix Help Center

Squarespace

squarespace.com is another good option if you want a polished, design-forward website. Its Commerce system supports physical products, while its newer service-product functionality specifically supports classes, workshops, and events with registration and payment. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

For your particular business, I'd start with Square unless having a highly customized/beautiful marketing website is a major priority. The fact that your physical studio, class schedule, online store, inventory, and payments can live in one ecosystem is a big advantage.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, pottery, art, dance, fitness, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/students you have, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and compare monthly cost + booking fees + ecommerce fees.

For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, you’ll want a platform that combines:

• Class/service bookings (calendar, capacity limits, reminders, payments)
• Ecommerce (products, inventory, shipping, checkout)
• In-person + online sales (ideally synced)

Good options:

My shortlist for a studio:

• Mostly classes, with some merch: Squarespace or Wix
• Mostly merch, with classes as an add-on: Shopify + a booking app
• Already using Square terminals: Square Online

A few things to check before choosing:

• Can students book group classes with limited spaces?
• Can you sell multi-class packs or memberships?
• Does it sync with your in-studio calendar/POS?
• Can you sell merch with shipping and local pickup?
• Do you need waivers, reminders, or automated emails?

If you tell me what type of studio it is (fitness, art, dance, pottery, music, beauty, etc.), your country, and whether you already use a POS system, I can narrow it down.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

1. squareup.com — best all-around fit

Square is particularly strong if you already run your studio in person with Square POS. Square Appointments supports classes, recurring classes, online booking, prepayments, and staff/resource scheduling, while Square Online handles merchandise, shipping, pickup, and inventory. Everything can live in the same ecosystem. Square Square Square

Good for: fitness, yoga, dance, art, music, wellness, workshops, etc.

2. wix.com — best if website/design matters

Wix combines Wix Bookings + Wix Stores on one website. Bookings supports group classes, workshops, appointments, memberships and packages, while Stores handles physical products. Customers can even put services and merchandise into the same cart. Wix Help Center wix.com Wix Help Center

Good for: a polished, brand-heavy studio website where you want more design flexibility.

3. shopify.com — best if merch will become a major business

Shopify is excellent for ecommerce and inventory, but class/service booking isn't as native. You'd generally add a booking app to Shopify. I'd choose it if your merchandise operation is likely to become substantially larger than your class-booking operation.

My recommendation

For your specific setup, I'd lean Square first:

Studio → Square POS
Classes → Square Appointments
Merch → Square Online
Payments → Square
Customer/order information → one system

That means someone can book a class online, buy a T-shirt, and then walk into your studio and have their in-person purchase recorded in the same ecosystem. Square explicitly supports selling products alongside services and syncing online orders with appointments/POS. Square Square

If your website/branding is the priority, I'd pick Wix instead.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, dance, art, fitness, pottery, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare their monthly cost, booking features, merch/inventory, memberships, and payment fees.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, I’d narrow it to Square and Wix.

My top pick: Square

squareup.com is probably the best fit if you already operate a physical studio.

• Class bookings: You can create one-time or recurring classes, set capacity, pricing, instructors, and let customers book online. Square Square
• Merch: Sell physical products online, manage inventory, shipping, pickup, and in-studio sales from the same ecosystem. Square Square
• In-person + online: Your studio POS, online store, bookings, payments, and inventory can work together rather than living in separate systems. Square
• Packages: You can sell prepaid packages that customers then redeem for classes/services. Square
• Good for growth: Multiple instructors, locations, rooms/resources, waitlists, deposits, cancellation policies, etc. are supported on the higher booking plans. Square

If your priority is running the actual studio efficiently, I'd choose Square.

Best alternative: Wix

wix.com is stronger if you care more about having a polished, highly customizable brand/website experience.

Wix Bookings supports classes, workshops, group sessions, appointments, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles physical merchandise. Customers can put services and merchandise into the same cart. wix.com Wix Support

Wix also specifically supports selling physical goods, digital products, and print-on-demand merchandise. wix.com

Quick decision

For your particular setup, I'd start with Square unless you already have a Wix website you're happy with. It was designed around combining bookings and physical sales, which is exactly the brick-and-mortar + online model you're describing. Square Square

If you tell me what kind of studio (yoga, dance, art, ceramics, fitness, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/instructors you have, I can tell you which platform I'd use and what plan/features you'd actually need.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Square

For a studio with an actual physical location, Square is probably the cleanest fit. Square Appointments handles class schedules, recurring classes, capacity and online booking, while Square Online handles your merch store. Your bookings, online orders, inventory and in-person POS can live in the same ecosystem. squareup.com

For example, you could have:

Book a Class

• Monday 6 PM — Beginner Class — 12 spots
• Wednesday 7 PM — Advanced Class — 15 spots
• Recurring memberships/packages
• Online payment and automated reminders

Shop

• T-shirts
• Studio merchandise
• Equipment/accessories
• Online shipping or in-studio pickup

Square specifically supports selling products alongside services and combining service/product transactions. squareup.com

When I'd choose Wix instead

If you want your website to feel more like a premium branded studio website rather than a POS/e-commerce site, Wix is compelling. Wix Bookings supports classes, workshops, group sessions, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles physical merchandise. Customers can even put services and products into the same cart. www.wix.com

Bottom line:

• Square → best operational choice for a physical studio.
• Wix → best if website/design/marketing flexibility matters more.
• Squarespace → best if visual branding is the top priority. Squarespace explicitly supports selling classes/events as service products alongside physical merchandise. support.squarespace.com

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, dance, art, pottery, fitness, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/students you have, I can narrow it down to the best 1–2 options and compare pricing/features.

For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, you’ll want an ecommerce platform that combines:

• Class scheduling/booking
• Online payments
• Customer management
• Product inventory and shipping/POS
• Memberships or class packages (if needed)

The strongest options are:

My recommendation by studio type

• Yoga, Pilates, dance, art, photography, workshops, small creative studio:

Start with Squarespace or Wix. They let you run your website, sell classes, and sell shirts/merch without stitching together many systems. Squarespace specifically supports selling classes/workshops and physical products from the same site. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

• Your merch is becoming a major business (hundreds of SKUs, frequent drops, shipping operations):

Use Shopify for the store and connect a dedicated booking tool.

• You run a membership-based fitness/wellness studio with many instructors:

Consider Mindbody or a studio-specific platform.

A practical setup for many small studios:

1. Website + branding: Squarespace or Wix
2. Class booking: built-in scheduling/booking tools
3. Merch: built-in store
4. Payments: Stripe/PayPal/Square depending on your needs

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, music, beauty, dance, etc.), approximate class volume, and whether merch is a side offering or a major revenue stream, I can narrow it down.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, I’d narrow it to Square and Wix.

🥇 Best overall: Square

Square is especially strong if you already sell in person and want your online and physical operations under one system.

• Classes: Create one-time or recurring classes, set capacity, instructors, schedules, and online booking. squareup.com
• Merch: Sell physical products online, with shipping and pickup options. squareup.comsquareup.comsupport.wix.com
• In-studio POS: Your online and in-person sales can run through the same Square ecosystem.
• Packages: You can sell prepaid packages, such as 5 or 10 classes. squareup.com
• Website: Square can provide the actual storefront/booking website, or you can embed booking into an existing site. squareup.com
• Inventory: Particularly useful if your merch is also sold at the studio.

I'd pick Square if: your studio is primarily a physical business and you want booking + POS + inventory + ecommerce to work together with minimal complexity.

🥈 Best for a more polished website: Wix

Wix is attractive if the website/branding experience is a major priority.

Wix Bookings supports classes, workshops, group sessions, private appointments, memberships and packages, while Wix Stores handles your merchandise. support.wix.com

Customers can also put services and physical products into the same cart and check out together. support.wix.com

I'd pick Wix if: you want a beautiful, highly customizable studio website and your ecommerce needs are relatively straightforward.

My recommendation

One important distinction: Shopify is excellent for merchandise, but I wouldn't make it my first choice for a class-based studio unless your merch business is going to become the dominant part of the operation.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, pottery, dance, photography, music, etc.), roughly how many classes you run per week, and whether you already use Square/Wix/Shopify for anything, I can tell you which setup I'd actually use and what it would cost.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise from the same website, I’d put Wix at the top of your list.

Best fits

Wix: Wix Bookings supports classes, courses, workshops, and appointments, including recurring classes, capacity limits, staff/resources, online payments, memberships and packages. Wix Stores handles your physical products, and customers can put services and merchandise into the same cart/checkout. support.wix.com

That combination is particularly good for a studio. For example, someone could book a Saturday pottery class and add a $25 studio T-shirt to the same order.

Squarespace: Also worth considering if your website/branding is a major priority. Its current commerce tools specifically support selling classes, workshops and retreats as service products, including limited-capacity, scheduled events. support.squarespace.com

Shopify: I'd choose this if your business is going to become primarily a merchandise ecommerce operation and classes are secondary. Its ecommerce ecosystem is stronger, but you'll generally be assembling booking functionality rather than getting the studio-booking experience as naturally integrated as Wix.

My recommendation

For your particular model:

Wix → best overall
Squarespace → best if visual/design quality is the priority
Shopify → best if merch will eventually dominate

One other nice Wix feature: you can run in-person and online classes, and connect online sessions to Zoom or Google Meet. support.wix.com

Wix · Squarespace · Shopify

If you tell me what kind of studio/classes you run (yoga, art, pottery, dance, fitness, etc.) and roughly how many classes/appointments per week, I can narrow it down further—including fees, POS/in-person sales, memberships, class capacity, and merch shipping.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix is probably the simplest fit for what you described. Wix Bookings supports appointments, classes, and courses, while Wix Stores handles physical merchandise. Customers can even put booking services and merchandise into the same cart. support.wix.com

It also supports memberships/packages, online payments, reminders, and both online and in-person sessions. support.wix.com

Strong alternative: Square

Square is particularly compelling if your studio already takes payments through Square. Square Appointments supports single and recurring classes, while Square Online lets you sell products, handle shipping/pickup, and keep bookings and product sales in the same ecosystem. support.wix.comsquareup.comwww.squarespace.com

When I'd choose Squarespace

Squarespace + Acuity is a good choice if the visual presentation of your studio brand is especially important. Acuity handles scheduled classes/appointments, while Squarespace Commerce handles physical products. www.squarespace.com

Bottom line:

• Wix → easiest all-in-one solution
• Square → best if your physical studio/POS is central
• Squarespace → best design/branding
• Shopify → best if merch/ecommerce is going to become a major revenue stream

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, pottery, dance, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/students you have, I can narrow this to the best 1–2 options and compare their current pricing/features.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + physical merchandise, I’d narrow it to three:

My pick: Squarespace

Squarespace is probably the cleanest fit if your primary business is a studio rather than a retail store. It supports physical products alongside classes, workshops, events, appointments, memberships, and digital offerings. Its current documentation specifically describes selling scheduled classes/workshops as service products with online registration and payment. support.squarespace.comwww.wix.com

Example setup:

• “Beginner Pottery — Tuesdays 6 PM” → bookable class
• “8-Class Package” → membership/package
• “Private Studio Session” → appointment
• T-shirts, mugs, tools, etc. → normal ecommerce products
• One website, checkout, customer database, and marketing system

Wix is a very strong alternative

Wix is especially attractive if you have lots of different classes, instructors, schedules, or memberships. Wix says customers can put services and merchandise in the same cart and check out together, while Wix Bookings handles group-class capacity, scheduling, cancellations, and rescheduling. www.wix.com

Shopify if merch is going to be big

Shopify is the one I'd choose if you expect the merchandise side to become substantial—lots of SKUs, shipping, inventory, promotions, potentially selling through Instagram/in-person POS, etc.

The catch is that Shopify doesn't natively give you the same studio-booking experience out of the box. You add a booking app. There are currently apps specifically designed for classes and workshops; for example, Bookable supports classes, recurring sessions, group/private bookings, capacity, waivers, and checkout through Shopify. apps.shopify.com

So my ranking for your use case:

1. 🥇 Squarespace — easiest all-in-one studio website + classes + merch
2. 🥈 Wix — best if scheduling/classes are complex
3. 🥉 Shopify — best if ecommerce/merch is the bigger growth engine

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, art, pottery, dance, photography, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes per week, I can tell you which one I'd actually choose and what the setup would look like.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

My top pick: Square

Square Appointments is particularly well suited to a physical studio. You can create one-time or recurring classes, set capacity and instructors, take online bookings/payments, and sell physical products through the same ecosystem. api.squareup.com

The big advantage for a brick-and-mortar business is that your online sales and in-studio POS can run through Square, so inventory, customer records, payments, and orders don't have to be split across different systems. my.squareup.com

It also supports packages—useful if you want to sell something like "10 classes for $150" rather than only individual class bookings. my.squareup.com

Wix is a strong alternative

Wix is attractive if your website/branding is a major priority. Wix Bookings supports appointments, classes, and courses, while Wix Stores handles merchandise. Customers can put services and physical products into the same cart. support.wix.com

Squarespace is worth considering for a design-heavy studio

Squarespace Commerce supports physical products and service products, including classes, workshops, and events with set times and limited spots. support.squarespace.com For appointment-style services, it integrates with Acuity Scheduling. www.squarespace.com

For your particular setup, I'd choose Square if the studio is the center of the business and you want online + physical sales tightly integrated. I'd choose Wix instead if having a highly customizable, polished website is more important than having the strongest POS/studio operations.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, dance, art, ceramics, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/customers you have, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and compare their current pricing and transaction fees.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and physical merchandise, I’d narrow it to these three:

🥇 My pick: Square

Square Appointments is unusually well suited to your situation because classes, appointments, merchandise, online checkout, and your physical studio POS can all live in the same ecosystem.

Square supports single and recurring classes, including setting capacity and pricing, and lets you sell products alongside services. squareup.com

You can also have a single online storefront where customers book a class and buy merch, with options for shipping and in-store pickup. squareup.comsupport.wix.comapps.shopify.com

That's particularly attractive for a studio because your customer could, for example:

Book Saturday pottery class → add a studio T-shirt → pay once → pick up the shirt at the studio.

And your in-person sales and online sales stay in the same Square system.

🥈 Wix — if the website experience matters more

Wix + Wix Bookings is a strong alternative if you want a more polished, highly designed website.

Wix allows customers to put services and physical merchandise into the same cart, provided you add Wix Stores. support.wix.com

I'd favor Wix if your studio is visually driven—fitness, dance, art, beauty, wellness, creative workshops, etc.—and the website/branding is a major part of selling.

🥉 Shopify — if merch is going to become substantial

Shopify is excellent for ecommerce, but bookings aren't as native. You generally add a booking app; Shopify's App Store has numerous apps specifically for appointments, workshops, events and classes. apps.shopify.com

I'd choose Shopify if you expect the merchandise side to grow into a significant retail business—lots of SKUs, shipping, inventory, promotions, etc.

Bottom line: If your primary business is studio + classes + some merch, I'd start with Square. If it's brand-heavy studio + classes + beautiful online store, consider Wix. If it's ecommerce/merch first with classes as an additional revenue stream, choose Shopify.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run and roughly how many classes/bookings and products you expect per month, I can recommend the best one and compare the actual monthly costs.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling scheduled classes + physical merchandise, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix is probably the cleanest fit if your studio is primarily a service business that also sells merch.

Wix Bookings handles classes, courses, appointments, online payments, calendars, and client booking, while Wix Stores handles your physical products. Customers can even put services and merchandise into the same cart before checkout. support.wix.comsupport.squarespace.com

That means you could have something like:

• Classes: Beginner Pottery — Tuesdays 6 PM
• Workshops: Saturday Wheel-Throwing Workshop
• Private sessions: 60-minute studio lesson
• Merch: T-shirts, mugs, tools, branded supplies
• Packages/memberships: e.g. 5-class pass or monthly studio membership

Squarespace is a very close second

Squarespace is particularly attractive if your studio's visual brand and website design are important.

It supports physical products and "service products" such as classes and workshops. For classes that occur at specific times, Squarespace recommends Acuity Scheduling, which can handle booking and payment. support.squarespace.com

I'd choose Squarespace over Wix if you're thinking "beautiful studio website with a shop attached." I'd choose Wix if you're thinking "studio management + bookings + shop in one place."

Shopify makes sense if merch is the priority

Shopify has a much stronger ecommerce ecosystem, but scheduled classes generally require a booking app. Shopify's App Store currently has numerous apps specifically for appointments, classes, and events. apps.shopify.com

So I'd use Shopify if you expect to eventually have lots of SKUs, inventory, shipping, promotions, multiple sales channels, or a substantial online merchandise business.

Bottom line: For most brick-and-mortar studios, I'd start with Wix. If you tell me what kind of studio you run (dance, art, fitness, pottery, photography, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes you run per week, I can narrow it down to the best platform and plan for your setup.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise online, I’d narrow it to these:

My pick: Square

Square is probably the cleanest fit for your situation. Square Appointments supports online appointment booking and classes, while Square Online lets customers purchase merchandise from the same site. It also keeps your online and in-studio sales, inventory, payments, and customer information in the same ecosystem. squareup.comsupport.squarespace.com

That matters for a studio because you can have, for example:

• Classes: “Saturday Pottery — 10 AM” → customer books and pays
• Merch: T-shirts, mugs, supplies, gift cards → customer purchases online
• In person: Same Square system handles your studio checkout
• Inventory: Online and physical-store sales can stay synchronized
• Website: Booking and shopping can live together rather than sending customers to separate systems. squareup.com

When I'd choose Shopify instead

Choose Shopify if you expect merchandise to become a substantial ecommerce operation—lots of SKUs, shipping, promotions, email marketing, etc. Shopify has a large ecosystem of booking apps specifically supporting appointments, services, events, and classes. apps.shopify.com

The tradeoff is that booking isn't as native: you'll generally add a booking app to Shopify.

Squarespace is the middle ground

If your priority is a beautiful studio website and relatively straightforward selling, Squarespace is attractive. It supports both service products such as classes/events and physical products, and also has a scheduling/appointments capability. support.squarespace.com

Bottom line:
Square → best for a physical studio where classes + in-person operations + merch all need to work together.
Shopify → best if you're building a serious online merch business.
Squarespace → best if website/design is the priority and operations are simpler.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, ceramics, dance, fitness, art, etc.) and roughly how many classes you run per week, I can tell you which one I'd actually choose and what the setup would look like.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling both classes and merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix is particularly well suited to your setup because Wix Bookings supports classes, courses and appointments, including recurring classes, capacity limits, pricing and online payments. support.wix.com

You can also add Wix Stores and let customers put merchandise and bookable services into the same cart before checkout. support.wix.com Wix also supports memberships/packages, which could be useful if you eventually want something like a 10-class pass or monthly studio membership. support.wix.com

Squarespace is a close second

Squarespace has specifically added tools for selling in-person classes, workshops and retreats, including limited-capacity events and online registration/payment. support.squarespace.comapps.shopify.com It also handles physical merchandise through its Commerce tools. support.squarespace.com

For appointment-style services, Squarespace uses Acuity Scheduling, which adds scheduling, payments, reminders and client management. support.squarespace.com

Shopify if merch is a major part of the business

Shopify is excellent if you're going to build a substantial merchandise operation. The catch is that booking isn't as native: you'd typically install a booking app. Shopify's App Store currently has numerous apps specifically supporting appointments, events and classes. apps.shopify.com

So for a studio, I'd rank them:

1. Wix — best balance of classes + bookings + merch + simplicity
2. Squarespace — best if your website/branding is especially important
3. Shopify — best if merchandise/inventory will eventually dominate

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (dance, art, fitness, pottery, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes per week, I can narrow it down further and compare pricing, booking features, memberships, POS/in-person sales, and transaction fees for the best 2–3 options.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, I’d narrow it to three:

My pick: Wix

For your specific setup, Wix is probably the simplest fit. Wix Bookings supports recurring classes, courses, appointments, group sessions, participant limits, online payments, memberships and packages. support.wix.com

You can then use Wix Stores for your physical merch, so customers can buy a class and a T-shirt from the same website. Wix even supports selling services alongside store products. support.wix.com

Wix Bookings

When I'd choose Squarespace instead

If your studio is design/arts/fashion/creative-focused and the website's visual presentation matters a lot, Squarespace is particularly compelling. It now explicitly supports selling in-person classes and workshops with limited spots, alongside physical products and ecommerce. support.squarespace.com

Squarespace

When Shopify makes more sense

Choose Shopify if you're expecting merch to become a substantial ecommerce operation—lots of SKUs, shipping, inventory, product variants, promotions, etc. Shopify's core strength is ecommerce; classes/bookings are handled through apps. Its app store currently has numerous booking apps specifically supporting classes and events. apps.shopify.com

Shopify

Bottom line:

• Classes are the core business + some merch → Wix
• Creative studio + classes + polished website + some merch → Squarespace
• Merch/ecommerce is becoming a major revenue stream → Shopify

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (dance, fitness, art, ceramics, photography, music, etc.) and roughly how many classes/week + how much merch, I can tell you which one I'd actually choose and what the setup would look like.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise, I’d narrow it to three:

My pick: Squarespace

For a studio, Squarespace is probably the cleanest fit. It combines an online store with appointment/class scheduling, payments, subscriptions, and in-person POS. Its Acuity scheduling system handles booking and calendar management, while the store handles physical merchandise. www.squarespace.comecommerceparadise.com

That means you could have:

• Classes → customers choose a class/date/time and pay online
• Merch → shirts, branded goods, equipment, etc.
• In-person sales → POS at your physical studio
• Memberships/packages → useful if you eventually sell class packs or memberships
• Website → one branded site rather than stitching several services together

When I'd choose Wix instead

If your studio is class-heavy—yoga, dance, fitness, art, pottery, etc.—I'd seriously consider Wix. Wix Bookings supports group classes and courses in addition to regular appointments, and you can manage bookings, customers, payments, and the store from the same ecosystem. www.squarespace.comecommerceparadise.com

When I'd choose Shopify

If you're thinking, "The studio is the physical location, but I ultimately want a serious online merch business," I'd choose Shopify. It's much stronger for inventory, shipping, product variants, marketing, and scaling an online store, but class booking generally comes through a third-party booking app rather than being native. technologyadvice.com

My rule of thumb:

• 🎨 Studio/brand first, merch second → Squarespace
• 🧘 Classes/bookings first, merch second → Wix
• 👕 Merch/ecommerce first, classes second → Shopify

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (yoga, photography, ceramics, dance, music, fitness, etc.) and roughly how many classes you run per week, I can tell you which one I'd actually use and what the setup would look like.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, I’d narrow it to Square, Wix, and Shopify:

My pick: Square

For your particular setup, Square is probably the cleanest choice. Square Appointments supports online booking, including classes, while Square Online lets customers purchase merchandise from the same site. It also connects your online sales and bookings with your physical studio/POS. squareup.com

You can even have a customer book a class and buy merch in the same checkout flow, which is particularly useful for a studio. squareup.com

Square Appointments

Wix is a close second

Wix is attractive if you want a more polished, highly customizable studio website. Wix Bookings handles services/classes, while Wix Stores handles merchandise, and customers can put services and products into the same cart. support.wix.com

Wix

Shopify makes sense if merch is the priority

Shopify is excellent for ecommerce, but booking classes isn't its native strength. You'd typically add a booking app. Shopify's App Store currently has numerous apps specifically for appointments, services, and classes. apps.shopify.com

Shopify

Bottom line: If your business is primarily a physical studio with scheduled classes and merch as an additional revenue stream → Square. If you're building a beautiful branded website and online experience → Wix. If you expect merch/ecommerce to become a major revenue channel → Shopify + booking app.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, dance, art, pottery, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/students you have, I can recommend the specific platform and plan I'd choose.

Yes. For a brick-and-mortar studio selling classes + merchandise online, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Square

Square is particularly well suited to a physical studio because its system handles online class booking, appointments, payments, POS, inventory, and ecommerce together.

Square lets you create individual or recurring classes, set capacity and pricing, and allow customers to book online. squareup.com

It also lets the same website sell physical products, with shipping or in-store pickup, and bookings/orders sync with the Square system. squareup.com

That means you could have something like:

YourStudio.com

• Classes → Book a class
• Private sessions → Book appointment
• Packages → Buy 5 classes
• Merch → Shop
• Gift cards
• In-studio checkout → same Square system

Square even supports prepaid packages such as a five-class package. squareup.com

When I'd choose Wix instead

Wix is a strong alternative if the website/branding experience matters more than having the deepest connection to your physical POS. Wix Bookings supports workshops, courses and private sessions, while Wix Stores can sell merchandise; customers can put services and products into the same cart. support.wix.com

One caveat with Squarespace

Squarespace can absolutely sell both merchandise and classes. Its Commerce system supports physical and service products, and Squarespace specifically documents selling workshops/classes through service products and its calendar tools. support.squarespace.com

But for a studio where class scheduling and in-person operations are central, I'd put Square ahead of it.

Bottom line: If you're starting from scratch and want the fewest moving parts, I'd choose Square. If you already have a beautiful Wix/Squarespace site and mainly need to add bookings + ecommerce, I'd consider staying there.

If you tell me what kind of studio you run (fitness, dance, art, pottery, photography, etc.) and roughly how many classes/clients you have, I can narrow it down to the best platform and plan.