The 8 Best Shopify Alternatives & Competitors (Free+Paid)

Shopify has grown into an e-commerce powerhouse. It powers more than 28% of online retailers in the United States, generating billions of dollars in income. But what if Shopify does not meet your needs? Exploring Shopify alternatives can lead to systems that are more suited to your needs. Whether you desire more customization, lower prices, or specific features, researching many choices will help you find the right match for your online store.

Why You May Need a Shopify Alternative

While Shopify is a popular option nowadays, it may not be the best option for all businesses. Here are some reasons you might need to look into alternatives.

Cost: Shopify’s charges can be heavy on the pockets of small businesses.
Business Needs: Shopify offers some limitations on Customizations which could curtail some of your branding aspects.
Flexibility: The platform may not have the needed flexibility and control that is core of your particular business approach.

In the quest for Shopify substitutes, it is imperative that consider a platform that suits the requirements of your business. Let’s look at a couple of major players that offer a lot of control, and the ability to customize, and do not cost an arm and a leg.

1. WooCommerce

Rating: 4.4 ⭐️ (1159+ reviews)

Features

WooCommerce can easily be considered one of the most robust and multi-functional ecommerce enabler platforms on WordPress. It possesses a great number of features suitable for both small and large businesses. Take advantage of strong SEO features, a large theme library, plenty of connectors, and free and premium extensions. Therefore, WooCommerce can be a highly appealing solution for anyone seeking to adapt their online store to specific needs.

Pros

Customization: A great deal of control for customizations is offered by WooCommerce which allows you to create a one-of-a-kind store.
Cost-Effective: It is one of the cheap options, primarily if you already have a WordPress account.
SEO-Friendly: The system is tailored toward search engines to help in gaining more customers.

Cons

Complexity: Due to the technical aspect, it can be difficult for newbies.
Maintenance: Automation is not present, and all updates and security have to be managed manually, This requires a good amount of time.

Pricing

WooCommerce is completely free with possible payments respective of hosting, premium themes, and extensions. This wide variation in the pricing may be beneficial depending on how much you want to spend.

2. Wix

Rating: 4.2 ⭐️ (1679+ reviews)

Features

Wix is the ideal solution for users who enjoy the benefits of simplicity because of the drag-and-drop interface it provides. Wix comes with a wide range of ecommerce functionality through its built-in package, Ascend Business Tools, and external apps. While an ecommerce plan is necessary to make the most out of it.

Pros

User-Friendly: The interface is so simple and well-organized that even a novice can operate it.
Design Flexibility: With the help of a selection of templates, satisfying eye-catching stores is possible using Wix.
Integrated Tools: Ascend Business Tools helps to facilitate the workings of your business.

Cons

Limited Scalability: It is more desirable for stores that are not too large.
Dependence on Apps: Other applications may perform some services which increases the costs.

Pricing

Wix allows users to create a straightforward website for free, but e-commerce features are only available on a paid plan. They are quite affordable, and the plans are excellent for small firms.

3. Magento

Rating: 4.0 ⭐️ (510+ reviews)

Features

Magento, officially known as Adobe Commerce now, is a strong content management system that is highly regarded for its great scaling features and wide range of customization. It’s more suitable for bigger organizations that are looking for a solid ecommerce platform. And there’s also Magento’s robust ecosystem for the dozens of resources that are available to use.

Pros

Scalability: Ideal for companies that are looking out for massive expansion.
Customization: Has the right tools to customize a business to fit its specifications.
Community Support: A sizable number of developers and users from the helpful community.

Cons

Complex Setup: Setting it up and running requires some technical forces.
Higher Costs: There are high costs related to hosting and development.

Pricing

While Magento has a free version, the enterprise edition is extremely expensive. It is more suitable for businesses that can afford to put down money on a sophisticated solution.

These Shopify alternatives are worth exploring because they can help you with platforms that can reach out to your business structure and your plans for its growth. Whether you enjoy customizing your platform the ease of using it or its scalability, there is one for you.

4. Ecwid

Rating: 4.7 ⭐️ (399+ reviews)

Features

Ecwid is quite an interesting eCommerce model in which one can see its integration with the existing websites or it could be used to build new individual stores from scratch such as standalone sites. Since it is multi-channel selling, customers can go to Ecwid stores from Facebook, Instagram, eBay, or Amazon. Such ease makes it a competitor to some of the Shopify alternatives.

Pros

Integration: Integration becomes a lot easier as it has access to platforms like WordPress and Wix.
Multi-Channel Selling: You can easily sell on multiple online platforms, thus increasing your chances of selling.
User-Friendly: The experience is not complicated due to a simple way of setting it up which makes it beginner-friendly.

Cons

Limited Customization: While intake and onboarding are easy, some platforms have restrictions on customization.
Advanced Features: More advanced versions of the same features can be located on higher plans which increases the investment.

Pricing

Shops on Ecwid can go for the free version as it has some basic features that allow small businesses to thrive. But If you are keen on having more features then you can choose from multiple paying plans most of them are still competitive in the simple alternatives industry.

5. BigCommerce

Rating: 4.2 ⭐️ (532+ reviews)

Features

BigCommerce is a strong purchase compared to Shopify as it is a fully hosted ecommerce platform for large-scaling businesses with ecommerce websites. They have a full array of e-commerce website development and management tools. Selling on multiple online channels is possible with BigCommerce, hence it is a good fit for growing businesses.

Pros

Scalability: This software fits right to the plans of businesses looking to grow.
Built-In Features: It has many of built in tools, hence the need to download extras is minimal.
SEO Tools: Has good standard SEO tools that can help improve the store visibility.

Cons

- Complexity: There are too many features to master so this application can be burdening at the start.

- Cost: If you are a small firm the pricing tiers on the high side can be steep.

Pricing

Try their product free for 15 days using a trial offer with no charges. Paid plans portray the image of great value for businesses searching for free Shopify alternatives as they have basic scalability to them considering this software is not fully free.

6. Square

Rating: 4.7 ⭐️ (791+ reviews)

Features

Square is straightforward to make use of hence such clients pick this for their small businesses. The point-of-sale system ensures that both online and physical sales are integrated. Square also provides a basic ecommerce system that allows for quick deployment of essential tools for setting up an online store.

Pros

- Ease of Use: Good for e-commerce beginners due to its ease of navigation. ecommerce.

- Integrated POS: All sales, whether physical or online, are done without any challenges.

- No Monthly Fees: Startups will love this because you only have to pay after making a sale.

Cons

- Limited Features: Such businesses may not have the necessary advanced features to be able to use ecommerce.

- Customization: Other Shopify alternatives allow for more creative design than this one.

Pricing

Basic ecommerce features are available for Square without being charged on a monthly subscription basis. A transaction fee is charged on every successful sale so this is ideal for small businesses looking to try out alternatives to Shopify.

7. Shift4Shop

Rating: 3.9 ⭐️ (37+ reviews)

Features

Shift4Shop is a cheap software for ecommerce website development catering to different types of businesses, however, its consent would have to be obtained from 3DCart, which was previously known as 3D Cart. You may benefit from means of optimization; a significant number of payment options and a layout that is suitable for mobile devices. Also, Shift4Shop allows for an unlimited number of products and categories further enhancing its suitability as one of the most feasible options against other Shopify alternatives.

Pros

- Cost-Effective: It is free of cost and does not require payment for monthly bills as long as shift4 payment processing is being used.

- SEO Tools: SEO tools are available here, which are very essential for making your store more visible.

- Variety of Features: Includes essential ecommerce tools without needing additional apps.

Cons

- Learning Curve: The platform might be challenging for beginners due to its extensive features.

- Design Limitations: Fewer design templates compared to other platforms.

Pricing

Shift4Shop provides a unique pricing model. You can access the platform for free if you use Shift4’s payment processing. Otherwise, paid plans start at competitive rates, offering a cost-effective solution for those exploring Shopify alternatives.

8. Sellfy

Rating: 3.9 ⭐️ (53+ reviews)

Features

Sellfy is a creator-oriented eCommerce platform that allows digital product selling. The integration is simple and you can start selling in no time. With Sellfy, you can trade in digital products, subscriptions, and physical products. There are also built-in marketing functions such as email marketing and coupons making it one of the best Shopify alternatives.

Pros

- Ease of Use: Simple interface, perfect for beginners.

- Digital Product Support: Ideal for selling digital goods and subscriptions.

- Built-In Marketing Tools: Includes features like email marketing and discount codes.

Cons

- Limited Customization: Fewer design options compared to other platforms.

- Basic Features: May lack advanced ecommerce functionalities for larger businesses.

Pricing

Sellfy offers a free trial, allowing you to explore its features before committing. Paid plans start at an affordable rate, making it accessible for small businesses and creators looking for Shopify alternatives.

How to Choose a Shopify Alternative?

Choosing the most appropriate platform for your online store might be challenging, but narrowing down on some important aspects could make the process easier.

Security

It is important to have strong security so as to safeguard customer information. BigCommerce and Shift4Shop are some platforms that secure the transaction by providing SSL certificates and PCI compliance.

Ease of Use

Go for a website builder that is easy to use. Both Wix and Square allow users to build their stores using a drag-and-drop design interface, which is very easy and quick for novices.

Customization Options

For additional specific store layouts, it’s recommended to go for WooCommerce and Magento, but these may require extra technical know-how as they have more customizable options.

Customer Support

Assured support remains one of the important elements. BigCommerce and Shift4Shop offer full support for their customers via live chat and phone calls day night and week.

To sum up, consider the following criteria – security, usability, functionality, and customer support – and choose the best platform for your business. Take your time, consider different options, and choose the one that meets the needs of your business.

Conclusion

You have reviewed various Shopify competitors that fit different requirements. Each solution is special because of its functionalities and advantages. Let’s sum it up:

WooCommerce and Magento are great for users who want to uniquely fit their needs by customizing their stores.
Wix and Square are suitable for new people as they contain easy interfaces.
Shift4Shop and Sellfy are excellent as they come at an affordable price that still delivers great e-commerce functions.

Consider your business objectives and needs. There is a platform for everyone regardless of the need for easy navigation, flexibility, or even a tight budget. Check out these choices and make the best decision for your store.

Working on your website is not only an improvement in the design but also an opportunity to increase your sales, for example, by referring to chat software such as QuickCEP. The chat software QuickCEP is compatible with multiple e-commerce platforms and can provide 24/7 support to your customers, respond to frequently asked questions, and even assist them in the buying process. Try for free today!

The 8 Best Shopify Alternatives & Competitors (Free+Paid)

In this article

Why You May Need a Shopify Alternative

How to Choose a Shopify Alternative?

Security

Ease of Use

Customization Options

Customer Support

Conclusion