15+ Top Shopify Alternatives for E-Commerce Success

Shopify is a top choice for online stores, with over 4.6 million live sites. But, there are many other options that offer special features for different business needs. Shopify scores a high 4.3/5 on G2 from over 3,881 reviews. Yet, WooCommerce and Squarespace also shine with ratings of 4.4/5 from many happy users.

Not every business fits the Shopify mold. Some find it too complex or pricey. Others don’t need all its features. This article looks at 15+ top Shopify alternatives. They help you find the best website builder for your e-commerce goals.

Key Takeaways

• Shopify alternatives offer unique features and benefits tailored to various business needs.
• WooCommerce and Squarespace are highly-rated Shopify competitors with user ratings of 4.4/5.
• Some businesses may find Shopify too complex or expensive for their requirements.
• This article explores 15+ top Shopify alternatives to help you find the perfect online store builder.
• Alternative ecommerce platforms cater to different preferences, budgets, and levels of technical expertise.

Why Consider Shopify Alternatives

Shopify is a top choice for ecommerce sites, but it’s smart to look at other options for your business. Think about pricing, hosting, and design to pick the best platform for your store.

Pricing and Fees

Ecommerce sites have different pricing, from free to custom plans. Shopify has a monthly fee and charges on each sale. BigCommerce doesn’t have sale fees but costs more monthly. Think about your budget and sales when comparing prices.

Hosting

Hosting is key when picking an ecommerce platform. Wix and Squarespace include hosting in their fees, making setup easy. WooCommerce and Ecwid need you to find hosting on your own. Think about your tech skills and resources when choosing.

Themes and Design Options

Your online store’s look and feel can boost sales. Shopify alternatives offer different custom options. Wix and Shopify have hundreds of themes, while Squarespace has fewer but lets you customize more. Look at your brand and design needs when checking out each platform’s options.

Looking at pricing, hosting, and design can help you find the right Shopify alternative for your business. This way, you can set your online store up for success.

Squarespace: A Shopify Alternative for General-Purpose Website Building

Many businesses choose Shopify for its strong ecommerce features. But Squarespace is a great choice for those who care about design and content too. It’s one of the top places to create an online shop. Squarespace offers features that make it a great option for businesses looking for a full website solution.

Standout Features

Squarespace is different from other Shopify alternatives because of its amazing features. Some key ones are:

• Visually stunning templates made by professional designers
• An easy drag-and-drop editor for customizing your site
• Strong tools for blogging and managing content
• Integrated ecommerce for easy online sales
• Responsive designs that work well on mobiles

This mix of features gives a full website building experience. It suits both design lovers and ecommerce experts.

Advantages Over Shopify

Squarespace has some big advantages over Shopify:

1. It’s more affordable, starting at $12 a month
2. No transaction fees on any plan, unlike Shopify’s fees
3. It focuses more on design and looks, with lots of beautiful templates
4. Great for businesses that need to show off their work, like artists and photographers

These points make Squarespace a great choice for businesses that value design and content as much as ecommerce.

Potential Drawbacks

Squarespace has some downsides compared to Shopify:

For businesses needing complex ecommerce or advanced shipping and payment, Shopify might be better. But for small to medium businesses, Squarespace’s focus on design and content makes it a great Shopify alternative.

Wix: A Shopify Alternative for Small Businesses and Creatives

Small businesses and creatives looking for an easy website builder might want to consider Wix. It’s a great alternative to Shopify. Wix lets users design their sites easily with a drag-and-drop editor, no coding needed. It has many features like blogging, SEO tools, and sending newsletters, perfect for making engaging websites.

Wix isn’t as full-featured as Shopify for ecommerce, but it still has a lot to offer. It has three pricing plans for eCommerce: $23/month for the basic, $27/month for unlimited, and $49/month for VIP. These plans cater to different business needs and budgets.

“Wix, as the best alternative to Shopify, has an Overall rating of 4.8, starting at $29.” – Recent industry review

Wix stands out with over 900 customizable templates for various industries and styles. This means businesses can easily find a design that fits their brand and highlights their products or services. Plus, Wix’s app market has free integrations like Wix Chat and Wix Schedule to boost website functionality.

Wix has a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee, similar to other builders. It supports over 80 payment options, including PayPal, Wix Payments, Stripe, and Square. This gives businesses and their customers a lot of flexibility.

Wix is known for its 99.98% uptime, ensuring sites are always available to customers. With a user base of about 200 million, Wix is a top choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It’s great for quickly launching a professional website.

Square: A Shopify Alternative for In-Person Businesses

Square Online is a top choice for businesses that focus on in-person sales. It’s a great alternative to Shopify, especially for those with brick-and-mortar stores or pop-up shops. Square offers features designed to make offline sales smoother and customer interactions better.

Intuitive POS System

Square’s POS system is easy to use, making it simple to accept payments and manage stock. It has a user-friendly interface that lets owners quickly process sales and track their progress. This easy integration of online and offline sales makes Square a great choice for businesses aiming to improve their operations.

Offline Payment Processing

Square is unique in its offline payment processing. With its card readers, businesses can take payments without internet, keeping sales going smoothly. This is especially useful for businesses at events, markets, or trade shows where internet access might be a problem.

Customer Loyalty Programs

Building strong customer relationships is key to success, and Square gets this. It lets businesses create customer profiles and loyalty programs. This encourages customers to come back and stay loyal. With Square’s tools, businesses can learn more about their customers, tailor their marketing, and keep customers coming back.

While Square might not have as many online features as Shopify, it’s perfect for businesses that focus on in-person sales. Its easy POS system, offline payment options, and loyalty programs make it a top choice for brick-and-mortar stores and pop-up shops.

WooCommerce: A Shopify Alternative for WordPress Websites

For businesses already using WordPress, WooCommerce is a great choice for adding e-commerce to their site. It’s a free plugin that turns a WordPress site into an online store. This makes it a good option for those who want to customize and control their store.

Seamless Integration with WordPress

WooCommerce works well with WordPress right out of the box. This means users can manage their store from the WordPress dashboard they’re already familiar with. The main benefits of this include:

• Unified dashboard for managing content and products
• Ability to leverage existing WordPress plugins and themes
• Seamless synchronization of product data and content updates

Customizable Design Templates

WooCommerce has many customizable design templates. This lets users create stores that look unique and appealing. There are many free and premium themes to choose from, making it easy to match your brand and audience. Some key features of these themes include:

1. Responsive designs optimized for mobile devices
2. Customizable product pages and checkout processes
3. Integration with popular page builders like Elementor and Beaver Builder

WooCommerce’s wide range of themes and customization options makes it a flexible choice for businesses of all sizes and types.

Potential Challenges

WooCommerce has many benefits, but it’s important to know some potential downsides when comparing it to Shopify:

Despite these challenges, WooCommerce is still a top choice for businesses looking for a customizable and affordable e-commerce solution. Its easy integration with WordPress and wide range of design options make it a strong alternative to Shopify for those who value flexibility and control over their online store.

BigCommerce: A Shopify Alternative for Large-Volume Sellers

BigCommerce is a top choice for ecommerce, especially for businesses with lots of sales. It has many features to make selling online easier and help businesses grow.

BigCommerce lets businesses customize their online stores a lot. With many themes and an open design, they can make their store look unique. This is a big plus for businesses wanting to stand out online.

BigCommerce also has lots of built-in tools, like automated taxes and shipping help. These tools make selling easier and save time and money. Plus, it works with many apps and services to add more features to your store.

BigCommerce has been a game-changer for our business. The platform’s powerful features and customization options have allowed us to scale our online sales while maintaining a unique brand identity.

When looking at BigCommerce vs Shopify, think about fees and sales limits. Shopify charges a fee on each sale, but BigCommerce has sales limits based on the plan you pick. This can really affect businesses with a lot of sales.

BigCommerce is great for SEO too. It lets businesses control technical SEO stuff like robots.txt and URLs. This is super useful for businesses that know a lot about SEO, helping them get more visible online.

In short, BigCommerce is a strong choice for ecommerce. It has lots of ways to customize, great features, and good SEO tools. It might not have as many apps as Shopify, but its focus on customization and good pricing make it great for businesses with lots of sales and specific needs.

Ecwid: A Free Shopify Alternative

Ecwid is a great choice for businesses wanting a simple and affordable way to sell online. It’s a top e-commerce platform that lets users start selling without needing a website or coding skills. This makes it perfect for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to quickly set up an online store.

Quick Setup

Ecwid stands out for its easy setup. Users can create an online store and list products in just a few minutes. It’s designed for people of all skill levels, offering a smooth and easy experience.

Flexible Design Options

Ecwid lets businesses create a unique online store that matches their brand. It has many customizable themes and templates. This means users can make their store look great without needing to know a lot about coding or design.

Integration with CMS Platforms

Ecwid also works well with many content management systems (CMS). It has integrations with popular website builders like WordPress, Wix, and Joomla, even on the free plan. This makes it easy for businesses to add their online store to their website, creating a better user experience.

Ecwid also focuses on keeping its e-commerce solutions safe. It’s a Level 1 PCI DSS certified service provider. This means businesses can trust that their customers’ sensitive info is secure.

Ecwid’s free plan is a game-changer for small businesses looking to establish an online presence without significant upfront costs.

While Shopify is a top choice for many e-commerce businesses, Ecwid is a strong alternative. It offers a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution. With its quick setup, flexible design, and easy CMS integrations, Ecwid helps businesses succeed in the online selling world.

Magento: An Open-Source Shopify Alternative

For businesses wanting a customizable and scalable ecommerce solution, Magento is a great choice. It’s open-source, giving you full control over your online store. Whether big or small, Magento can meet your unique needs with its wide range of features and architecture.

Magento shines with its huge selection of extensions and themes. You can easily boost your store’s features and look to make shopping special for your customers. With everything from better product search to support for many currencies, you can make your store fit your business perfectly.

Magento’s open-source nature allows for full control over hosting, design, and functionality, in contrast to Shopify’s hosted solution with limited server control.

Magento needs more tech know-how than Shopify but offers huge rewards for those who know their stuff. Its strong API and design lets you link up with other business systems easily. This means a smoother workflow across all your business areas.

The open-source Magento is free, great for budget-conscious businesses. But remember, you’ll need to pay for hosting, development, and upkeep. For big businesses, Adobe Commerce offers more features and support for about $2,500 a month based on sales.

Magento is built to grow with your business. It can handle lots of traffic and big product lists, perfect for ambitious businesses. It also has strong B2B features like user roles and price talks, great for wholesalers and manufacturers.

In summary, if you want an ecommerce platform that values flexibility, customization, and growth, Magento is a solid choice. Its open-source setup, big extension market, and strong features help businesses create unique online stores that grab attention in a crowded market.

PrestaShop: A Shopify Alternative for Customization and Flexibility

PrestaShop is a strong choice for building an online store. It’s an open-source ecommerce platform that lets businesses customize their online presence. This makes it a great option for those who want more control over their online shop.

Open-Source Platform

PrestaShop is open-source, unlike Shopify. This means users can change the code. This gives businesses the power to make their online store fit their needs perfectly.

Also, PrestaShop has a big community of developers who help improve the platform. This keeps PrestaShop up-to-date with new ecommerce trends.

Extensive Add-On Marketplace

PrestaShop has a huge marketplace for add-ons. With over 4,000 modules and themes, businesses can add new features easily. You can find everything from payment gateways to marketing tools.

PrestaShop supports more than 65 languages, making it great for businesses worldwide. This lets you reach more customers and enter new markets easily.

Let’s look at how PrestaShop compares with other online shop platforms:

PrestaShop might be harder to learn than Shopify, but it’s worth it for businesses that value customization and flexibility. With its open-source nature and wide range of add-ons, you can make a unique online store that matches your brand and needs.

Volusion: A Shopify Alternative Focused on Simplicity

Volusion is an ecommerce site builder that makes things simple and easy to use. It’s a great choice for businesses looking for a straightforward solution. It has many built-in features like managing inventory, SEO tools, and analytics. This lets users create and manage their online stores without needing a lot of technical knowledge.

Volusion is known for its easy-to-use interface. This lets merchants quickly set up and customize their online stores. The platform offers many design templates and integrations. This means businesses can make professional-looking storefronts that match their brand.

When comparing Volusion to Shopify, we need to look at different factors. These factors affect how well the platform works and how easy it is to use. Shopify is a top choice for big businesses, scoring 4.8 out of 5. Volusion, however, got a 3.3 out of 5 rating.

Even though Volusion scored lower than Shopify in some areas, it’s still a good choice for businesses that value simplicity. It focuses on being easy to use and offers important features. This makes it a great option for merchants who want to start an online store without dealing with complex technical stuff.

Volusion’s commitment to simplicity and user-friendliness sets it apart as a Shopify alternative for businesses seeking an uncomplicated ecommerce solution.

Volusion might not be as flexible or customizable as Shopify. But, it still gives businesses a strong base to build and grow their online stores. It focuses on the main parts of ecommerce, like managing inventory and SEO. This helps merchants streamline their work and focus on selling more.

3dcart: A Shopify Alternative with Robust Features

For those looking for a Shopify alternative, 3dcart (now Shift4Shop) is a great choice. It has over 20 years of experience in ecommerce. This makes it a reliable platform for creating and managing online stores.

3dcart stands out with its wide range of built-in features. It has tools for managing inventory, SEO, email marketing, and more. This lets businesses handle different parts of their online store from one place.

Extensive App Store

3dcart also has an app store with over 200 extensions. These apps cover many areas like shipping, payment processing, marketing, and customer service. The app store lets businesses add more features to their stores and work with their favorite tools.

Built-In Features

3dcart has a lot of built-in features for online businesses. Some key features include:

• Customizable shopping cart options to reduce abandoned carts and boost sales
• Drag-and-drop website builder with many customizable themes
• Comprehensive order management system with real-time order tracking
• Inventory management with bulk product upload and unlimited variants
• Secure web hosting with free SSL certificates and daily backups
• SEO optimization tools to improve search engine rankings
• Built-in blog functionality to engage customers and drive traffic

These features help businesses create professional online stores without needing a lot of technical knowledge.

Shopify might be easier to use and cheaper, but 3dcart is a strong choice. It has a lot of features, an app store, and great customer support. This makes it a good option for businesses wanting to grow their online presence.

Weebly: A Shopify Alternative for Ease of Use

Weebly is a great choice for ecommerce website builders. It’s easy to use, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface and ecommerce tools. This means businesses can make professional online stores without needing to know a lot about tech or coding.

Drag-and-Drop Website Builder

Weebly’s drag-and-drop builder lets users easily change their online store’s look and feel. Just drag and drop elements like text, images, and products to create a unique storefront that matches their brand.

Weebly has many pre-designed templates for different industries and styles. These templates look good on any device, giving customers a great experience whether they’re on a computer, tablet, or phone.

Integrated eCommerce Functionality

Weebly also has ecommerce features that make running an online store easy. Some of these features include:

• Product management: Easily add, organize, and update product listings, including descriptions, images, pricing, and variations.
• Inventory tracking: Keep track of stock levels and receive notifications when products are running low or out of stock.
• Secure payment processing: Accept payments through various methods, such as credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay, with built-in security measures to protect sensitive customer data.
• Shipping and tax calculations: Automatically calculate shipping rates and taxes based on customer location and product weight, ensuring accurate pricing for both the business and the customer.

Weebly’s ecommerce plans also have features like abandoned cart recovery, gift cards, and coupon codes to help businesses boost sales and loyalty. Plus, it works with popular services like MailChimp for email marketing and Square for in-person payments, making it even more useful.

Shopify has more advanced ecommerce features and can grow with businesses. But Weebly is great for small businesses and new online sellers because it’s simple and affordable. By looking at both platforms’ features, pricing, and ease of use, businesses can choose the best ecommerce website builder for their needs and goals.

OpenCart: An Open-Source Shopify Alternative for Developers

OpenCart is a strong and flexible ecommerce platform. It’s a great choice for developers and businesses wanting more control and customization. It’s perfect for small to medium-sized brands aiming to grow online and make selling easier.

OpenCart stands out with its affiliate marketing module. This feature lets businesses easily start and manage affiliate programs. It helps them reach more customers and boost sales. OpenCart also has a rewards program tool to keep customers coming back, helping online businesses grow.

OpenCart has tools to help increase sales and draw in customers, like discounts and special offers. These tools help businesses run targeted campaigns and encourage more buying. But, it doesn’t offer low-stock alerts or support for inventory from multiple locations yet.

OpenCart is a fantastic choice for small to medium-sized DTC businesses seeking a simple yet powerful platform with advanced marketing capabilities.

OpenCart is also very affordable. It’s free to use, making it a great option for businesses on a budget. For extra support and features, OpenCart Cloud plans start at $59 a month. This makes it a budget-friendly choice for growing businesses.

OpenCart has a big community of developers who have made over 13,000 extensions and more than 2,700 themes. This means businesses have many ways to customize and improve their online stores. With so many add-ons and designs, developers can make unique stores that match their brand and audience.

In summary, OpenCart is a strong and flexible ecommerce platform. It’s a great alternative to Shopify for developers and businesses that value customization and control. With its easy-to-use interface, advanced marketing tools, and good prices, OpenCart is perfect for small to medium-sized DTC brands aiming to succeed online.

Jimdo: A Shopify Alternative for Beginners

For entrepreneurs and small businesses, Jimdo is a great choice for an easy ecommerce solution. It has a simple interface and a quick setup process. This lets users make an online store fast, even if they don’t know much about web design.

Jimdo is known for its easy design, scoring an 8.0 in a recent review. This makes it perfect for those who want a simple and easy online store setup.

Shopify has more advanced features, but Jimdo is great for new ecommerce businesses. It offers design templates and SEO tools. These help create stores that look good and rank well in search engines, without needing a lot of tech knowledge.

Jimdo also has affordable pricing, starting at $9.50 a month. This is great for businesses on a budget. They can use essential ecommerce features without spending too much.

Jimdo’s easy interface and low prices make it a top pick for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It’s perfect for starting an online store and selling products or services.

Jimdo might not have all the advanced features of Shopify. But, it has the basic tools needed for a successful online store. It works with popular payment gateways, making transactions secure and inventory management easy.

In summary, Jimdo is a great Shopify alternative for beginners. It’s easy to use, affordable, and has the key features needed for an online store. It’s ideal for those wanting to start selling without the complexity and cost of Shopify.

Alternatives to Shopify: Key Features to Consider

Looking for Shopify alternatives? You should think about several key features. These include payment gateways, SEO, catalog management, and customization. These features can greatly affect your e-commerce success.

Payment Gateway Options

Choosing a Shopify alternative means looking at payment gateways. Find platforms that support many payment methods. This way, you can meet your customers’ needs.

• PayPal
• Stripe
• Square
• Authorize.net

Also, check the fees for each payment gateway. Some platforms, like WooCommerce, offer over 30 payment options. BigCommerce gives you many choices without extra fees.

SEO Capabilities

SEO is key for getting more visitors to your store. Look for platforms with strong SEO features. These include customizable URLs, automatic sitemaps, schema markup, and mobile-friendly designs.

BigCommerce and WooCommerce are great for SEO. They have built-in features and extensions to help your store rank better.

Catalog Management

Managing a large product catalog is important. Choose platforms that make it easy. Look for features like custom product attributes, bulk import and export, inventory management, and product variations.

Magento and PrestaShop are good for businesses with many products. They offer great catalog management tools.

Customization Opportunities

Being able to customize your store is key for a unique brand. Look for platforms that offer many customization options. This includes themes, plugins, and drag-and-drop builders.

By thinking about these features and your business needs, you can find the best Shopify alternative. This will help you succeed in e-commerce.

Honourable Mentions

Tilda: Ideal for visually-driven eCommerce with a focus on storytelling. Offers a simple, user-friendly interface with plans starting from $0/month, but may be less robust for traditional eCommerce needs.

Jumpseller: Tailored for Latin America with multilingual and multi-currency support. Pricing starts from $29/month, providing a straightforward platform for local and international sales.

Duda: Known for its design flexibility and ease of use. Plans start from $19/month, offering a strong focus on customizable templates and responsive designs.

Mydukaan.io: Indian-focused platform enabling quick online store setup with minimal tech skills. Offers a free basic plan, with premium plans starting from INR 299/month, catering specifically to Indian businesses.

ShopBase: Great for print-on-demand and dropshipping. Pricing starts from $19/month, providing a tailored solution for niche eCommerce models.

Sellfy: Best for selling digital products and subscriptions, with plans starting at $19/month. Simple to use but not ideal for traditional physical product sales.

Strikingly: Perfect for creating single-page stores or landing pages with ease. Basic plan starts at $8/month, offering simplicity and minimal setup but limited features for larger inventories.

Conclusion

Choosing the right e-commerce platform is key to your online business’s success. Shopify is a top choice but might not suit every business. Think about pricing, hosting, design, and features to find the best Shopify alternative for you.

FatherShops is great for dropshipping businesses, offering an all-in-one platform at a good price with no hidden fees and 24/7 support. WooCommerce is free but might cost more with premium extensions and hosting. Magento is perfect for big businesses, offering customization and scalability for free.

Squarespace has affordable plans with great e-commerce features and templates. Wix is easy to use, perfect for small businesses and beginners, thanks to its drag-and-drop builder.

BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees and supports many payment gateways and shipping options. Stats show Shopify has the lowest costs compared to WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Adobe Commerce. Shopify is fast to launch stores, has better checkout rates, and faster server speeds.

Whether you’re a small business owner, creative, or developer, there’s an e-commerce platform for you. It can help you build and grow your online store easily and flexibly, leading to ecommerce success.

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