Best Shopify Competitors: Alternatives to Consider
September 26, 2024
Best Shopify Competitors: Alternatives to Consider
Shopify is a leading name in eCommerce platforms, but it’s not the only option available for building and managing an online store. While Shopify is known for its versatility and scalability, there are other platforms that might offer features, pricing, or ease of use better suited to your business. Whether you're looking for more customization, lower costs, or advanced design tools, several Shopify competitors provide great alternatives.
In this article, we’ll explore the best Shopify competitors, their unique features, pricing, pros, and cons, to help you find the best platform for your eCommerce needs.
1. What to Look for in a Shopify Competitor
Before we dive into the best alternatives, it’s important to understand the key factors that make an eCommerce platform suitable for your business. Here's what you should consider:
Flexibility and Customization
Flexibility is crucial in choosing an eCommerce platform, especially if you want to stand out in a crowded market. The platform should offer design flexibility and customization options, allowing you to personalize your store according to your brand identity. The ability to add features and functionality through apps and plugins is also important.
Pricing
Different platforms offer various pricing tiers to cater to businesses of all sizes. It’s essential to understand the total cost, including monthly fees, transaction fees, and any hidden costs like paid apps or themes. Ensure that the platform fits your budget without compromising on the features you need.
Features
An ideal Shopify competitor should provide robust eCommerce tools such as inventory management, payment gateways, marketing tools, and analytics. Integration with third-party apps, including options like the ReelTok app, which allows you to add Shoppable videos, can enhance your store’s functionality and drive customer engagement.
Scalability
Your business is likely to grow, and the platform you choose should be able to grow with you. Scalability means that the platform should handle increasing traffic, product catalog expansion, and advanced features as your business needs evolve.
Support and Resources
Customer support is vital, especially if you're new to eCommerce. Platforms that offer 24/7 support, detailed tutorials, and active community forums will help you troubleshoot issues and continue improving your store.
2. BigCommerce
Overview
BigCommerce is a major competitor to Shopify, known for its extensive range of built-in features and focus on scalability. It caters to businesses of all sizes, particularly those looking to grow and expand internationally.
Features
BigCommerce offers a complete set of tools for building and managing your online store. You can sell across multiple channels, including Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms, all from a single dashboard. Its no-transaction-fee policy, even for third-party payment gateways, is a significant advantage over Shopify. Additionally, BigCommerce provides powerful SEO tools, product filtering, and a highly customizable checkout system.
Another standout feature is the ease of creating Shoppable videos by integrating apps such as the ReelTok app, enhancing customer engagement and streamlining the shopping experience.
Pricing
BigCommerce offers four pricing plans:
Standard: $39/month.
Plus: $105/month.
Pro: $399/month.
Enterprise: Custom pricing for large businesses.
While the pricing is similar to Shopify, BigCommerce includes more built-in features, reducing the need for additional apps.
Pros:
Excellent for scaling businesses with large inventories.
No transaction fees.
Advanced SEO tools and multi-channel selling.
Cons:
Fewer design templates compared to Shopify.
Learning curve for advanced features.
3. WooCommerce
Overview
WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin that transforms any WordPress site into a fully functional online store. It’s one of the most popular Shopify competitors due to its flexibility and control over customization.
Features
Since WooCommerce is built on WordPress, you have total control over the design, functionality, and user experience of your store. WooCommerce supports unlimited products, product variations, and digital downloads. You can also extend your store’s features by adding plugins for payment gateways, marketing, or SEO.
With WooCommerce, you can leverage the WordPress community’s vast library of themes and plugins. You can even enhance customer engagement with Shoppable videos using third-party integrations similar to those available in Shopify’s app store.
Pricing
WooCommerce is free to install, but you will need to pay for hosting, domain registration, and premium plugins. Depending on your hosting provider and the extensions you choose, the costs can add up, but WooCommerce gives you more flexibility in choosing services.
Pros:
Completely customizable.
No monthly subscription fees for the core plugin.
Strong community support and extensive plugin library.
Cons:
Requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage.
Maintenance costs can be high with premium extensions.
4. Wix eCommerce
Overview
Wix started as a website builder and has since expanded into eCommerce. It’s ideal for beginners looking to create visually stunning websites with integrated online stores.
Features
Wix uses a drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for anyone to design an online store without technical knowledge. You can choose from over 500 templates, many of which are specifically designed for eCommerce. Wix also offers basic inventory management, marketing tools, and SEO features. While not as advanced as Shopify, Wix does allow you to sell digital and physical products and supports multiple payment gateways.
Wix also supports multimedia content, including Shoppable videos, which can be created and embedded into your store to boost engagement.
Pricing
Wix’s pricing for eCommerce includes:
Business Basic: $27/month.
Business Unlimited: $32/month.
Business VIP: $59/month.
These plans are generally more affordable than Shopify, but they come with fewer eCommerce-specific features.
Pros:
Easy to use with no technical skills required.
Great for small stores and visually appealing websites.
Affordable pricing plans.
Cons:
Limited advanced eCommerce features.
Not as scalable for larger businesses.
5. Squarespace
Overview
Squarespace is known for its beautiful design templates and is a great option for creative entrepreneurs and small businesses. While it’s primarily a website builder, its eCommerce tools make it a worthy competitor to Shopify for those prioritizing aesthetics.
Features
Squarespace’s templates are among the best in the industry, making it an excellent choice for design-focused brands. It includes basic eCommerce features like product management, inventory tracking, and payment gateways. Squarespace also supports subscription products, which makes it ideal for businesses offering recurring services.
Its integrated SEO tools and the ability to create and sell products through Shoppable videos make Squarespace a good option for creatives looking to merge content and commerce.
Pricing
Squarespace’s eCommerce plans are:
Business: $33/month.
Basic Commerce: $36/month.
Advanced Commerce: $65/month.
While Squarespace is slightly more expensive than Wix, it provides a better balance between design and eCommerce capabilities.
Pros:
Gorgeous design templates.
All-in-one solution with built-in hosting and domains.
Perfect for creative businesses and service-based brands.
Cons:
Limited eCommerce functionality for larger stores.
Fewer integrations compared to Shopify.
6. Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Overview
Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce, is a powerful open-source eCommerce platform used by large-scale businesses. Its advanced customization options make it a strong competitor to Shopify, particularly for companies with in-house development teams.
Features
Magento allows for complex product management, customizable checkout processes, and detailed reporting. With its open-source nature, you can build any type of store with the right development resources. Magento also supports integrations with other Adobe tools, which can help enhance the overall marketing and analytics experience.
Pricing
Magento offers a free open-source version, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, security, and any custom development. For large businesses, Adobe Commerce offers custom enterprise solutions, starting at around $22,000 per year.
Pros:
Extremely flexible and customizable.
Scalable for businesses with large inventories and complex needs.
Open-source with access to a global developer community.
Cons:
Requires significant technical expertise.
Expensive for enterprise users.
7. Volusion
Overview
Volusion is another eCommerce platform known for its simplicity and ease of use. It’s designed for smaller businesses looking to set up an online store without the complexity of larger platforms like Shopify or Magento.
Features
Volusion offers basic eCommerce functionality, including product management, order tracking, and analytics. It also provides a drag-and-drop site builder, making it easy to create and customize your store. However, its limited app marketplace means you won’t find as many third-party integrations compared to Shopify.
Pricing
Volusion offers four pricing plans:
Personal: $35/month.
Professional: $79/month.
Business: $299/month.
Prime: Custom pricing.
These plans are competitively priced, but Volusion lacks many of the advanced features available on Shopify.
Pros:
Easy-to-use interface.
Low starting cost for beginners.
Basic eCommerce features included in all plans.
Cons:
Limited scalability for larger businesses.
Fewer third-party apps and integrations.
8. Shift4Shop (Formerly 3dcart)
Overview
Shift4Shop is an eCommerce platform that offers a free solution for businesses using the Shift4 payment processor. It provides all the basic tools needed to run an online store, making it a cost-effective alternative to Shopify.
Features
Shift4Shop offers features like unlimited products, SEO tools, and multi-channel selling. It’s suitable for small to medium-sized businesses and comes with a decent range of templates. While it’s not as robust as Shopify in terms of third-party apps, it still provides enough tools for most small businesses.
Pricing
Shift4Shop offers a free plan for users who use Shift4’s payment processing. Paid plans start at $29/month for users who prefer third-party payment gateways.
Pros:
Free plan available for Shift4 payment users.
Solid eCommerce features for small businesses.
No transaction fees.
Cons:
Limited customization and scalability.
Fewer integrations compared to Shopify.
9. Weebly (by Square)
Overview
Weebly is a simple website builder now owned by Square. It’s known for its ease of use and is ideal for small businesses and individuals looking to sell online with minimal effort.
Features
Weebly offers basic eCommerce features, including inventory management, order tracking, and SEO tools. Its integration with Square’s payment processing makes it perfect for brick-and-mortar businesses looking to expand online.
Pricing
Weebly’s pricing plans include:
Pro: $12/month.
Business: $25/month.
Business Plus: $38/month.
Weebly’s pricing is one of the lowest among Shopify competitors, making it an attractive option for small businesses.
Pros:
Affordable and easy to use.
Great for small businesses using Square POS.
Simple drag-and-drop interface.
Cons:
Limited eCommerce features for larger stores.
Fewer design customization options.
10. Final Verdict: Which Shopify Competitor is Right for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing a Shopify competitor. The right platform for you depends on your business needs, budget, and growth potential. If you’re a growing business that needs scalability, BigCommerce or Magento might be the best alternatives. For smaller businesses or beginners, Wix, Squarespace, and Shift4Shop offer affordable and easy-to-use solutions.
For creative brands that prioritize design and multimedia content like Shoppable videos, Squarespace is an excellent choice. If you’re tech-savvy and prefer control over customization, WooCommerce is a flexible alternative.
Ultimately, the best Shopify competitor is the one that aligns with your specific goals and resources. Most of these platforms offer free trials, so we encourage you to try a few and see which fits your business needs.
Conclusion
While Shopify is one of the best eCommerce platforms available, it’s not the only option. The Shopify competitors we’ve discussed each have their strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of businesses. Whether you’re looking for a platform that offers more customization, lower costs, or simpler design tools, there’s an alternative to suit your needs.
Before making your decision, assess your business goals, budget, and technical capabilities. Trying out free trials or demo versions can give you a better understanding of which platform will work best for your online store.
