Building a successful eCommerce business starts with the right platform. If you’re someone who sells or shops online, you’ve probably heard of Shopify. It’s the world’s biggest e-commerce platform that helps people run a store online.
But have you ever wondered: What if Shopify isn’t the right platform for me?
Maybe you’re on the lookout for more affordable pricing, unique features, or specialized tools for your niche. Well, you’re in luck! The world of eCommerce is packed with powerful alternatives that are built for every business model and size!
In this article, we’ll explore 12 of the best Shopify alternatives and compare them so you can find the right one for your needs!
Key Takeaways:
- Shopify is one of the world’s biggest eCommerce platforms, but there are several other alternatives to fit your needs.
- Finding the right Shopify alternative is based on several important factors, like customization, ease of use, pricing, and scalability.
- Pairing the right platform with reliable tools ensures a seamless eCommerce experience and supports business growth.
- Tools like Vendoo enhance efficiency through cross-listing and inventory management.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is among the world’s biggest and most well-known eCommerce platforms that lets businesses create and manage their online stores effortlessly.
Loved by users for its user-friendly interface, Shopify offers tools for:
- Building customizable websites
- Managing inventory
- Processing payments
- Integrating with third-party apps
Do you find Shopify interesting? Learn more at What You Need to Know to Start Selling on Shopify.
Why Should You Consider Shopify Alternatives?
While Shopify is a great tool packed with seller-friendly features, it certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. As a business owner, you might be looking for Shopify alternatives for a variety of reasons. Some of them might include:
- High Transaction Fees: Based on your plan, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee in addition to payment processing fees. This rings particularly true if you use a third-party payment gateway. The usual range for these fees is between 0.5% to 2% of the transaction’s value.
- Limited Customization: If you don’t have coding expertise or access to premium apps, getting advanced features and designs might be very costly.
- Pricing Concerns: Shopify's base plans range from $39 to $399/month. If you subscribe to apps, your costs will be pushed further. This makes it expensive for small businesses.
Key Features to Look for In Your Next Shopify Alternative
. When evaluating your next eCommerce platform, it’s crucial to identify features that are in line with your business goals.
Look for tools that enhance scalability, simplify store management, and help you deliver a delightful shopping experience for customers. Not only does this help you save money by paying for what you’ll actually use, but it’s also great for scaling!
When checking out key features in your next Shopify alternative, here’s what you should look for:
- Ease of Use and Customization Options: A user-friendly platform with breezy navigation makes it easier to set up and manage your store. Look for platforms that have customizable templates and drag-and-drop editors. These can help you align your store’s design with your brand identity without losing yourself in lines of code.
- Inventory and Order Management: Seamless inventory tracking and order fulfillment tools are vital for any business that wants to scale its operations in the long run. Features like automated stock updates, low-stock alerts, and bulk order processing are great for saving time and avoiding errors.
- Payment Gateways and Transaction Fees: Try to look for platforms that support multiple payment gateways, ensuring convenience for your customers. Also it’s also important to consider transaction fees. Lower fees mean more profit margins for your business.
- SEO and Marketing Tools: Built-in SEO features like meta tag editing, URL customization, and blogging tools can help your store rank higher on search engines. Look for marketing tools such as email campaigns, discount codes, and social media integrations to supercharge your traffic and conversion rates.
Want to go beyond ecommerce and explore the potential of reselling platforms? You might enjoy checking out Reselling Platforms: 11 Marketplaces Every Reseller Should Consider.
Top 12 Shopify Alternatives
Now that we’ve discussed why you might need a Shopify alternative and what to look for in your next one, let’s check out some top contenders.
WooCommerce
Say hello to WooCommerce! It’s an open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress, ideal for businesses seeking extensive customization. If you already have a WordPress site, you can basically use WooCommerce to turn it into a full-fledged store. The best part? WooCommerce stores grow alongside your business, so whether you’re just starting out or have a huge business, you’re sorted.
Pros
Integration with WordPress: WooCommerce seamlessly integrates with WordPress, making it super easy to benefit from its content management capabilities.
Customization: The customization potential with WooCommerce is endless. It has a vast array of plugins and themes for tailored functionality and design.
SEO-Friendly: WooCommerce inherits WordPress's strong SEO features. This makes it a treat for those who prioritize search engine visibility.
Cons
Technical Expertise Required: If you’re looking for advanced customizations, you might need to have some coding knowledge beforehand.
Maintenance: Users are responsible for updates, security, and backups.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a SaaS ecommerce service provider that helps you create and manage online stores. It’s famous for its scalability and comprehensive built-in features. The best part? You can benefit from all of this without needing any experience in web development or eCommerce.
Pros
Scalability: BigCommerce is designed to support businesses as they grow. This makes it a great option for handling large product catalogs and high traffic.
Built-in Features: Offers extensive out-of-the-box features, which greatly reduce your dependency on other third-party platforms.
No Transaction Fees: BigCommerce does not charge any additional transaction fees on top of your chosen plan, which leaves you with more money in your pocket at the end of the day.
Cons
Complexity: The platform has an abundance of features, some basic and some very sophisticated. Based on your experience and requirements, this can be both good and bad. Beginners might feel overwhelmed by so many features.
Design Limitations: Customization options on BigCommerce can be limited compared to other similar open-source platforms.
Pricing: If you have a small business with low margins, you might find the higher-tier plans to be really expensive.
Squarespace
Famous for its design-centric approach, Squarespace is a website builder and hosting service with tons of integrated eCommerce capabilities. The platform lets users create websites, sell products, track analytics, and manage their businesses with one simple subscription.
Pros
Eye-catching Designs: For users with an artistic flair, Squarespace offers a delightful selection of professionally designed templates with a special focus on aesthetics.
Integrated Features: Includes hosting, security, and analytics, simplifying website management.
Responsive Design: Most Squarespace templates are mobile-responsive. This is great for delivering a consistent user experience across devices.
Cons
Transaction Fees: Unless you use their own payment gateway, Squarespace charges transaction fees on lower-tier plans.
No control over website speed: There are no options for altering your website’s code to make it load faster, which might lead to a slow and laggy experience.
Wix
Wix is a website development platform with a range of tools to help users build and scale their websites. It’s an all-in-one solution for web hosting and designing. Thanks to Its user-friendly drag-and-drop tools and over 500+ ready-made templates, Wix has become the go-to website builder for millions of users worldwide.
Pros
User-Friendly: Thanks to its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, Wix makes it easy for newbies and non-techies to kickstart and grow their businesses.
Affordable Pricing: Many Wix templates and features are almost free, or super affordable. This makes it a great option for new businesses who don’t have a lot of cash to spend on their websites.
Extensive Integration: Wix comes with over 200 apps and services to help businesses build and grow their brand.
Cons
Template Restrictions: Once you select a template, migrating from one template to another can be a tedious task and may require you to rebuild your entire website.
Scalability Limitations: In the long run, Wix may not be suitable for large-scale businesses with complex needs.
Non-transferable Websites: One serious limitation of Wix is that users can’t migrate or transfer their websites to other platforms. This can be a problem for businesses whose needs have outgrown Wix’s capabilities.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is primarily famous for being a domain registrar and web hosting company. However, it also offers an intuitive and beginner-friendly website builder that’s great for businesses looking to kick-start their online presence.
Pros
Extensive Domain Selection: GoDaddy offers an extensive database of domain names to help you pick one that best aligns with your business.
Free Domain With Hosting: Comes with free domain hosting whenever you sign up for a GoDaddy plan.
Affordability: Designed to suit every business and budget, GoDaddy offers very affordable hosting options compared to other platforms.
Cons
Limited Customization Potential: Compared to other platforms, GoDaddy offers less customizations and leaves you restricted in terms of design.
Less Server Control: When compared to other providers, users have less control over server configurations.
Hostinger
Hostinger is a web hosting provider that offers a website builder with numerous eCommerce functionalities. It offers a wide range of plans for building websites, blogs, online stores, and more.
Pros
AI Tool Suite: Hostinger comes with a powerful suite of AI tools that are great for staying on top of your website design, blog posts and SEO.
Uptime Guarantee: Hostinger comes with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, ensuring that your website is always live.
Fully Functional Mobile Editor: The handy mobile editor lets you tweak and build your website on the go, no matter where you are.
Cons
No Phone Support: Hostinger has many articles and tutorials to walk you through their features and platforms. You can also contact them via email and live chat. However, if you prefer speaking to a support member over the phone, you’ll be left disappointed.
High Domain Renewal Costs: While the initial signup on Hostinger is free, domain renewals can be pretty pricey compared to other providers.
Weebly
Weebly is one of the most popular website builders to exist on the market. It’s packed with a ton of integrated eCommerce features that help you build excellent-looking, responsive web pages.
Pros
Easy & Simple to Use Editor: Weebly comes with many ready-made templates and has a simple drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for non-techies to design a website.
Free Domains: Weebly offers free domains with each account, making it affordable to take your business online.
Easy to Switch Themes: One huge benefit of Weebly is that it lets you easily switch themes without having to rebuild your entire website.
Cons
Transaction Fees: Weebly charges transaction fees for users who aren't using higher-tier plans.
You Need to Pay for Help: Members on the free plan only have access to the community forum for their questions. If you need to speak to a customer support team, you’ll have to pay for the higher-tier plans.
Adobe Commerce
Adobe Commerce, previously known as Magento, underwent a rebranding back in 2021. It is a powerful ecommerce platform that lets businesses deliver a personalized shopping experience to their customers and B2B clients. It’s a great resource for large-scale businesses with huge operations that require dedicated and uninterrupted support.
Pros
Multichannel Commerce: Adobe Commerce offers support for a variety of channels, including B2B and B2C, making it the ideal choice for versatile, large-scale businesses.
Advanced SEO Tools: The platform comes packed with a host of handy SEO tools that can help you get to the top of search engine rankings.
Top Tier Security: With Adobe Commerce, you can be confident that your business and customer data are in safe hands, thanks to a host of sophisticated security measures.
Cons
Technical Expertise Needed: The initial setup for Adobe Commerce not only requires a lot of time, but also some technical knowledge and coding abilities.
High Costs: Compared to other platforms, an Adobe Commerce subscription can cost you thousands of dollars. While the price you pay depends on your revenue, this is still a huge upfront cost for many small businesses.
OpenCart
With PHP at its core, OpenCart is a free, open-source ecommerce platform. It’s an excellent platform for businesses to build, manage, and run their online stores. The platform is well-known for its innovative and handy features, as well as its user-friendly and intuitive dashboard.
Pros
Free to Use: OpenCart is free to download and use, making it affordable to build a website.
Multilingual: Offers support in more than 40 languages.
Multi-Store Support: You can manage multiple stores all from one user-friendly dashboard.
Cons
Paid Extensions: There may be hidden costs associated with using OpenCart. These can include web hosting, extensions, themes, and maintenance.
Scalability Limitations: For growing businesses, having a store on OpenCart might not allow much room for long-term scalability.
Sellfy
Sellfy is a simple, yet unique ecommerce platform that caters to folks who want to sell digital, physical, subscription, and print-on-demand products from a single online store. It’s a great platform for those who want to sell things like digital courses, artwork, or software. This simple website hoster and builder boasts a variety of features, including secure file hosting, automated download link delivery, analytics, data collection, and more.
Pros
Helpful Analytics: Users can benefit from Sellfy’s helpful analytics features that help understand how the store is performing.
Promotional Tools: Sellfy comes with many promotional tools that can help users set up full-fledged campaigns in minutes.
Instant Payments: Earnings are quickly and directly deposited straight into the user’s linked bank account.
Cons
Monthly Fee: Sellfy charges a monthly fee to all users, as well as some transaction fees as well. Based on the chosen plan, this can cost anywhere between $22 to $119 each month.
Lack of Integrations: Compared to other platforms, Sellfy offers limited integrations, especially for email marketing.
Volusion
Volusion is an online ecommerce and website builder that lets you create simple and manage online stores. It comes with many handy features and is well-known for its simple and intuitive administrative dashboard.
Pros
Supports a Huge Range of Payment Gateways: Volusion is compatible with just about any kind of payment gateway, including Stripe, Paypal, Apple Pay and Amazon.
Integration with Over 1000 Apps via Zapier: There’s a lot of customization potential with Volusion, since you have a variety of apps to connect to your store.
Cons
Tricky Web Builder: The drag-and-drop builder on Volusion isn’t as smooth and user-friendly as other platforms, making it a bit tricky for newbies.
No Free Plans: Volusion does not offer any free plans, with the basic plan costing $29/month. This can put a dent in your wallet as a new business owner.
Prestashop
Prestashop is another open-source eCommerce solution that's well-known for its flexibility and international capabilities.
Pros
100% Free & Open-Source: It’s absolutely free to build a store on Prestashop, and it’s also fully open-sourced, so you can customize just about any functionality the way you want.
Tailored for Ecommerce: Prestashop was built with ecommerce in mind. It has a variety of tools that can help you build, manage, and grow your online store.
Cons
No Free Support: Prestashop is completely free to use, but if you’re stuck in a problem and need to contact their help center, you’ll have to buy their rather expensive support plans.
Limited Free Modules: Most modules, even important ones, can be very expensive. Prestashop has a limited selection of free modules, which can lock you in a box when it comes to adding free integrations.
What to Look for in Your Next Shopify Alternative
Choosing the right eCommerce platform is something that has the potential to make or break your business. It’s one of the most crucial steps you can take when you build your online store. As we’ve seen above, every platform comes with its own set of features, pros, and cons. The ideal choice depends on your business goals, scale, and budget.
That said, there are still some very important factors to be mindful of when choosing a Shopify alternative.
Here are a few to consider:
- Ease of Use and Customization: Look for an intuitive interface that simplifies store setup and management. Platforms offering customizable templates can help you tailor your store to your brand.
- Scalability: Choose a platform that is ready to grow with your business. Be it adding products, handling more traffic, or expanding into international markets, your ecommerce platform should be capable of supporting your endeavors.
- Pricing and Transaction Fees: Compare subscription costs and additional transaction fees. Low upfront costs might be appealing at first, but there’s usually a catch. Nothing is ever truly free. Hidden fees can add up over time.
- Payment Gateway Options: The ideal platform should be one that supports multiple payment methods. This should include credit cards, PayPal, and regional options, to cater to a diverse customer base.
- SEO and Marketing Features: In today’s world, SEO is everything. Built-in SEO tools and marketing integrations (email, social media, etc.) can help drive traffic and boost conversions.
- Third-Party Integrations: At some point, you’ll definitely want to connect third-party apps to your site. Look for compatibility with tools you already use, such as accounting software, analytics, and email marketing services.
Turbocharge Your Ecommerce Journey with Vendoo
Choosing the right eCommerce platform is one of the most important things you can do to build a successful online store. Whether you go with Shopify or one of its versatile alternatives, each platform has unique strengths to match different business needs. From customizable designs to powerful marketing tools, these platforms can help you establish a strong digital presence and connect with your audience.
However, managing your online store goes beyond the platform itself. That’s where tools like Vendoo come into play. Vendoo is designed to complement your eCommerce efforts, helping you streamline operations and save valuable time. With its intuitive features, Vendoo empowers resellers to maximize their reach and focus on what matters most: growing their business.
Vendoo makes it easy to cross-list products across multiple marketplaces, manage inventory, and track performance metrics—all in one place. It’s an ideal solution for sellers looking to scale their operations without getting bogged down by repetitive tasks. By simplifying the day-to-day management of your store, Vendoo allows you to concentrate on perfecting your product offerings and engaging with customers.
No matter which eCommerce platform you select, Vendoo is here to help you optimize and scale your business with ease.
FAQs
- What should I consider when choosing a Shopify alternative?
When choosing a Shopify alternative, consider things like ease of use, pricing, customization options, available payment gateways, scalability, and integration with tools you already use.
- Are Shopify alternatives cheaper?
Some alternatives may have lower upfront costs, but this varies. Be mindful of hidden fees, such as transaction fees or costs for premium features.
- Can I migrate my store from Shopify to another platform?
Yes, most platforms provide tools or guides for migrating your store from Shopify. The ease of migration varies a lot, so choose one with strong support for this process.
- How does Vendoo work with eCommerce platforms?
Vendoo helps streamline your operations by offering features like cross-listing, inventory management, and performance tracking. It integrates with various platforms, making it easier for resellers to manage their businesses efficiently.
