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Top 10 Shopify Alternatives For Businesses – [Free & Paid]

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Shopify has achieved an almost synonymous status with eCommerce, and rightfully so.

With over one million businesses in more than 175 countries relying on it, it stands out as one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the market.

Nevertheless, popularity alone does not guarantee it’s the ideal solution for everyone.

This is evident as you seek Shopify alternatives, implying that you understand the need to explore other options.

Undoubtedly, Shopify stands as a solid eCommerce platform.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that numerous exceptional alternatives exist to Shopify, which are equally worthy of consideration.

Take, for instance, WooCommerce – a remarkable eCommerce platform that outshines Shopify competitors. What sets WooCommerce apart is its open-source nature, complete customizability, seamless migration capabilities, and remarkable scalability.

As your online store expands, so will your requirements, making selecting a platform that can effortlessly adapt to your evolving needs imperative.

Whether you are a current Shopify user searching for alternatives or someone beginning to explore various eCommerce platforms, we are here to assist you. 

Our review will encompass the finest alternatives to Shopify, presenting the advantages and disadvantages of each eCommerce solution, and delve into why certain business owners have chosen to migrate from Shopify to eCommerce platforms like Shopify.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is an eCommerce software that empowers you to run an online store seamlessly. With this platform, you can effortlessly create your website, handle product management, calculate shipping rates, and expand your reach across multiple channels, among other functionalities.

One of the significant advantages of Shopify is that it operates as a cloud-based, hosted solution, often called SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). This means you are relieved of the software maintenance burden, as the platform takes care of it.

Moreover, Shopify caters to businesses of all sizes, extending its services to both small enterprises and larger corporations through its Shopify and Shopify Plus eCommerce plans.

Shopify:

This offering is tailored to small businesses, presenting three pricing tiers: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. Each plan grants access to distinct features, allowing you to select the one that best aligns with your needs and preferences.

Shopify Plus:

Shopify Plus targets enterprise businesses. With custom pricing based on a percentage of revenue, where a minimum of $2,000 per month is applicable, Shopify Plus offers these customers access to many advanced features specifically designed to cater to higher volume stores.

Note: Although Shopify does not provide a free plan, they offer Shopify Lite as an alternative for those wishing to integrate a buy button into their existing website or blog.

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ClickySoft delivers expert Shopify website development services, empowering your online store for success in the digital marketplace.

Why You Seek Alternatives to Shopify

Now that you understand Shopify and its features, we will give you some compelling reasons why people search for websites like Shopify.

1. Selection of Payment Gateway

One reason for considering Shopify competitors is the freedom to select your preferred payment gateway without incurring additional charges. While Shopify offers its proprietary payment gateway, Shopify Payments, powered by Stripe, external payment gateways can result in transaction fees of up to 2% per sale.

Moreover, opting for external payment gateways might mean sacrificing access to certain features, like the ability to process transactions in multiple currencies. Additionally, it may not be viable if you wish to use Shopify Payments but deal in higher-risk products, such as vaporizers.

2. Want to Control Their Website SEO

Marketing features, including search engine optimization (SEO), play a significant role in an eCommerce solution. While Shopify effectively handles fundamental SEO tasks, you might seek greater control over your website, particularly if organic search is a crucial aspect of your strategy.

One limitation is that Shopify does not grant users access to and editing capabilities of robot.txt files. These files are essential as they instruct Google on how to index your site, ensuring that only specific web pages appear in the search engine results.

Although this may not be an immediate concern, as your website expands, you may eventually desire more influence over how Google crawls and indexes your site. As such, having the ability to modify robot.txt files becomes increasingly important.

3. Your Product Catalog is Large

As your product catalog grows, it is likely to become more intricate. However, with Shopify’s limitations of a maximum of 100 SKUs per product and only three options per product, you might find it challenging to accommodate the increasing complexity.

For instance: You own a clothing store that you want to make inclusive, so you make efforts to add:

  • An array of size options, spanning from extra small to 6XL 
  • Multiple color choices available for each item 
  • A diverse selection of designs, including tank tops and long sleeves 
  • Variety of options catering to men, women, children, and babies

This is where your product cap will limit your efforts. Searching for the best Shopify alternatives might allow you to expand your product catalog. 

4. Some Options/Limitations Might Frustrate You

There might be other aspects causing frustration, leading you to explore alternative eCommerce platforms. It could be as simple as disliking the Shopify Help Center’s design or facing customer support issues.

You might have heard about someone else’s negative experience and fear a similar situation could occur. Whatever the reason, rest assured you have many other options.

What is Better Than Shopify – Points to Consider

Regardless of the challenges you encounter with Shopify, ensuring that your next platform effectively addresses those issues without introducing new ones is essential.

Though each online business is unique, there are certain features that you may wish to consider during your evaluation process.

1. Multiple Payment Options

Each customer has their preferred payment method. While some may opt for Visa to accumulate reward points, others might prefer PayPal for its convenience of not manually entering card details. 

As you assess new platforms, ensure they offer a diverse selection of payment processing providers. For instance, BigCommerce supports over 55 payment gateways, giving you flexibility in catering to various customer preferences.

Additionally, as your business grows, you may be eligible for more favorable rates, ultimately reducing ecommerce site costs.

Similarly, Shopify offers free transactions if you use their gateway or else it charges a fee for any other gateway integrated.

Learn about Shopify payment processing fee for a better understanding.

Even if you are currently focused on domestic sales, it’s prudent not to limit your potential for international expansion.

Look for platforms that provide payment gateways that handle transactions and settlements in multiple currencies. This foresight can prove invaluable as your business expands globally.

2. Customization

Your business is distinct and reflects your unique identity; you wish to convey that individuality to your customers.

Moreover, how you manage your business differs from how others manage theirs. It makes customization a vital aspect of web design.

Effective product page design can significantly enhance this customization, ensuring your unique products are showcased optimally.

Moreover, how you manage your business differs from how others manage theirs. It makes customization a vital aspect of web design.

When choosing an eCommerce platform, ensure that it allows for easy customization to suit your specific business model and cater to your unique customers.

If you possess coding skills and desire to create distinctive functionalities, prioritize platforms that accommodate your coding preferences.

On the other hand, if website design is not your area of expertise, consider the ease of use. How much time and effort will it take for you to implement changes?

For example, when building an “about us” page, can you effortlessly incorporate elements other than text? Can you conveniently rearrange pictures and videos?

For those who don’t wish to invest excessive time in website development, a drag-and-drop website builder can be an ideal solution, offering all the necessary functionality for making changes without requiring additional coding expertise.

3. Supports Catalog Growth

We’ve previously discussed a scenario where a large catalog might be challenging, but what if your catalog is currently small? In such cases, Shopify could be a suitable fit for your needs.

However, it’s essential not to let your current situation dictate your future requirements.

As a business owner, it’s crucial to anticipate growth and consider the various technologies you may need to implement as you expand.

Reflect on whether your chosen eCommerce platform can seamlessly integrate with those technologies and support your evolving business needs.

Being forward-thinking and planning for future developments will ensure your chosen platform remains viable and scalable as your business grows.

Shopify Alternatives - Best eCommerce Platforms like Shopify

Shopify Alternative 1: WooCommerce

Shopify-Alternative

When delving into research about eCommerce applications, you’ll inevitably come across WooCommerce, a highly regarded Shopify alternative. Setting up your own WooCommerce store is made easier with the help of a dedicated tutorial we have crafted for your convenience.

One of the most attractive aspects of WooCommerce is that it’s completely free, open-source, and garners excellent visitor experience ratings. Many entrepreneurs even assert that it outperforms Shopify in various aspects.

Regarding scalability, it does require investment in the more expensive version to access advanced functionalities. Nevertheless, WooCommerce offers a comprehensive package with a quick and straightforward setup for an online store, including an efficient shopping cart.

Mobile-friendly websites are a breeze to create with their responsive design, requiring only payment for hosting. Unlike Shopify, you won’t encounter monthly premiums; you can access advanced features through a one-time payment. However, it’s worth noting that troubleshooting might not be its strongest attribute.

You can significantly enhance your website’s speed by pairing WooCommerce with reliable eCommerce hosting solutions. Incorporating abandoned cart plugins can boost your store’s performance by encouraging conversions.

Furthermore, upselling opportunities can be seamlessly integrated into your website, allowing customers to add new products or recommendations with just one click after making a purchase.

WooCommerce Benefits

  • No fee for a transaction
  • WordPress Integration
  • Maximum creativity with multiple features
  • One-click upsells
  • Easy setup with the freedom to sell unlimited products
  • Access to free and premium extensions

WooCommerce Disadvantages

  • Hosting not included
  • Need tech skills to operate as it might be clunky

WooCommerce Pricing

  • As long as you have a website and hosting, WooCommerce is free to use. It charges only if you use an external payment gateway.

Shopify Alternative 2: BigCommerce

Shopify-Alternative-2-BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an excellent option for those seeking a straightforward and uncomplicated experience, complemented by the convenience of a drag-and-drop editor during website setup.

The platform offers an array of stunning themes, although only seven are available for free across all industries. Premium themes require payment, which differentiates it from Shopify regarding customization options.

However, BigCommerce lags slightly behind other platforms in terms of load times.

Pricing for BigCommerce starts at $29.95 per month for the basic plan and can go up to $299.95 per month, depending on your specific needs. Costs will be influenced by factors such as the number of products you sell and the revenue generated by your store. It’s important to select the plan that aligns with your requirements accordingly.

BigCommerce Advantages

  • Multiple drag-and-drop tools and editors to customize your store
  • Secured payment gateways
  • Selling on multi-channels
  • Multiple free apps and tools for customization
  • Ideal for every business model

BigCommerce Disadvantages

  • Complex pricing for a new subscriber
  • Difficult setup with only 5 themes
  • Inconsistent speed

BigCommerce Pricing

  • Standard ($29.95/mo)
  • Pro ($79.95/mo)
  • Plus (299.95/mo)
  • Enterprise (customized accordingly)

Shopify Alternative 3: Magento

Shopify Alternative 3 Magento

You might be familiar with Magento already, as it was acquired by eBay in 2011 and later purchased by Adobe in 2018.

This highly popular platform caters to established store owners and boasts a widespread and well-established global community.

One of the key factors contributing to Magento’s popularity is its pricing, which closely resembles that of WooCommerce, making it one of the top alternatives to Shopify.

While the content management software is free, you must invest in hosting, themes, and plugins.

Essentially, Magento is a comprehensive CMS platform that empowers you to focus on selling all your products within an open-source ecosystem, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking to expand their reach.

Magento Advantages

  • Very flexible to scale
  • Functionality for full-customization
  • Multiple secured payment gateways
  • Responsive design, add-ons, and extensions
  • Community support

Magento Disadvantages

  • Requires technical and coding knowledge
  • Difficult to manage for new users and quite expensive

 

Check our Magento vs Shopify guide to compare which is better for you.

Magento Pricing

  • Magento provides a free download option called Magento Open Source. Nonetheless, although the software itself is available at no cost, you will still incur expenses for web development, web hosting, and other essential integration costs to establish and sustain your website.

Shopify Alternative 4: Prestashop

Shopify Alternative 4 Prestashop

Prestashop stands out as a popular alternative to Shopify, especially for eCommerce entrepreneurs operating on a tight budget.

While the platform is technically free, like others on this list, you must purchase a hosting package and domain name separately.

Prestashop has established partnerships with Azure, WebHostingHub, and 1&1.

Prestashop may not be as advanced as some competitors when comparing themes and templates. However, in terms of usability, it is on par with Shopify.

An advantage of Prestashop is that it does not impose any additional transaction fees, and it supports up to 25 languages, making it a suitable choice for international businesses.

The platform also facilitates transactions in multiple currencies.

With the assistance of a skilled developer experienced in working with Prestashop, you can effortlessly create an impressive online store without breaking the bank.

Prestashop Advantages

  • Open source and free of cost Shopify alternative
  • No transactional fee with a range of features and multi-language support
  • Hosting is available on any server or provider

Prestashop Disadvantages

  • Limited features, themes, and templates
  • Requires good technical knowledge to operate

Prestashop Pricing

  • PrestaShop can be downloaded for free, but you are responsible for acquiring hosting, a domain name, and covering the maintenance costs on your own.

Shopify Alternative 5: Dukaan

dukan

Dukaan presents an excellent option for B2C and D2C businesses seeking a comprehensive eCommerce solution.

As a robust SaaS platform, Dukaan lets you launch your eCommerce store in less than a minute. Its standout feature is its remarkable ease of use and exceptional scalability, making coding skills unnecessary to leverage its capabilities.

The platform boasts many powerful eCommerce functionalities conveniently accessible through its dashboard. Despite its advanced offerings, Dukaan stands out for its user-friendly nature, eliminating any learning curve typically associated with such platforms.

Customizing your store is a breeze as well. The platform offers a library of free themes optimized for fast loading and mobile responsiveness. Those with technical expertise can also tailor their store using custom CSS. All modifications made to your store take effect instantly.

Additionally, Dukaan has integrated plugins and built-in business tools, enhancing its overall functionality.

Advantages

  • Highly intuitive and easy to setup
  • No transaction fee when using their payment gateway
  • No need for technical knowledge
  • Supported by global data centers

Disadvantages

  • Not good for B2B models
  • Limited themes with a basic analytics
  • Does not support drop shipping

Pricing

  • Entrepreneur ($149.99/year)
  • Agency ($499.99/year)
  • Enterprise (Customized)

Shopify Alternative 6: Shift4Shop (formerly 3Dcart)

Shopify-Alternative-6-Shift4Shop

In 2020, 3DCart underwent an acquisition by Shift4 and is now recognized as Shift4Shop.

Shift4Shop is a commendable hosted platform for eCommerce store owners, making it a strong contender among the top Shopify competitors.

Notably, it provides free end-to-end eCommerce services exclusively for residents of the USA.

For international users, Shift4Shop offers pricing starting at $29 per month, with plans increasing to $229 monthly. These packages include a comprehensive set of SEO tools, email functionalities for following up on abandoned carts, and personalized product options.

In addition, users benefit from Facebook sync, highly versatile functionalities, and an excellent web design service that offers SSL certificates at reasonably affordable rates.

However, the platform’s performance may experience some sluggishness, and there is limited variety in available themes. Furthermore, customer reviews often highlight less-than-satisfactory support offerings.

Shift4Shop Advantages

  • Supports several payment gateways
  • Excellent speeds with customizations on HTML and CSS
  • Unlimited listings and no transaction fee
  • Affordable 

Shift4Shop Disadvantages

  • Sluggish services on mobile
  • Support is not very highly rated
  • Issues during upgrades
  • Shopify has a better drop shipping option
  • Difficult for beginners

Shift4Shop Pricing

  • Shift4Shop has varying prices according to different activities such as shipping modules, order processing or fulfillment as it offers a complete eCommerce package.

Shopify Alternative 7: Volusion

Volusion

Volusion emerges as a popular alternative to Shopify, attracting over 200,000 businesses with its cloud-based shopping cart solution. It is particularly favored among smaller businesses and those aiming for upward scalability. Notably, Volusion’s one-click checkout feature provides added convenience for your customers.

The platform offers a vast array of plugins and features seamlessly integrating into your online store, enhancing its functionality.

Volusion proves highly suitable for shipping businesses, though it is crucial to manage shipping costs effectively.

It’s important to be mindful that Volusion employs metered bandwidth, and exceeding the limit may incur additional charges, approximately $7 per GB.

Pricing typically falls within the $15 to $35 per month, granting access to various new features such as categories, subcategories, and gift certificates.

While most tasks can be accomplished through a GUI, some basic coding skills are necessary for setting up your store. Additionally, the product function may be relatively weaker compared to other platforms. Notably, the bandwidth limit can be a limiting factor as your store grows, requiring additional payments.

Volusion Advantages

  • Very easy to setup and use
  • Responsive mobile app
  • Multiple free themes 
  • No transaction fee
  • Unlimited listings
  • The calculation for shipping and taxes

Volusion Disadvantages

  • Limited hosting options
  • Coding skills required 
  • Monthly limited bandwidth
  • Limited apps compared to Shopify

Volusion Pricing

  • Personal ($29/mo)
  • Professional ($79/mo)
  • Business ($299/mo)
  • Prime (customized)

Shopify Alternative 8: OpenCart

shopify competitors

OpenCart presents itself as a free alternative to Shopify, offering a modernized platform that facilitates creating professional-looking websites with ample customization options to suit individual needs.

Additionally, several Shopify development companies can assist in streamlining the process and creating feature-rich, custom Shopify stores.

The platform boasts robust documentation and enjoys a substantial user base.

It also supports a vast array of add-ons and third-party modules, catering to the preferences of most eCommerce clients.

OpenCart Advantages

  • Supports most eCommerce business models
  • Flexible with multiple payment channels
  • Very easy setup

OpenCart Disadvantages

  • Difficult to operate compared to Shopify
  • Support and documentation are difficult for people with fewer coding skills
  • Limited add-ons

OpenCart Pricing

  • OpenCart is an open-source e-commerce platform that comes at no cost, offering a dependable and professional foundation to construct a thriving online store.

Shopify Alternative 9: Squarespace

Squarespace

Squarespace could be an ideal solution if you’re seeking to launch your online business and have a relatively small product portfolio.

The platform offers an excellent website-building tool and provides a variety of templates to select from, simplifying the process of creating a visually appealing online store.

You can easily build an outstanding online store with just a few adjustments.

The pricing starts at $19 per month for the basic plan. At the same time, the advanced package costs $49, offering numerous benefits such as unlimited pages, blogs, galleries, contributors, a free domain, ample storage, and more.

However, it’s essential to note that Squarespace exclusively accepts online payments through PayPal and Stripe.

Squarespace also incorporates some marketing features, including AdWords, MailChimp, and tracking options for Amazon Affiliates, enhancing your ability to promote and expand your online business.

Squarespace Advantages

  • Best for small stores
  • Very easy setup
  • No coding skills required
  • Freedom to use self-made portraits and templates with built-in features

Squarespace Disadvantages

  • Does not allow integration with tracking code APIs
  • Limited support and multi-channel features
  • Slow website loading speed and very few add-ons

Squarespace Pricing

  • Personal ($12/mo, $144 annually)
  • Business ($18/mo, 216 annually)
  • Basic Commerce ($26/mo, 312 annually)
  • Advanced Commerce ($40/mo, 480 annually)

Shopify Alternative 10: BigCartel

BigCartel

Big Cartel was primarily created with a niche audience, catering to content creators, artists, and artisans.

It can be perceived as a direct alternative to Etsy, boasting a tidy and minimalist aesthetic.

Since its establishment in 2005, the company proudly asserts to have facilitated sales of more than $2.5 billion worth of goods and services.

The platform offers three distinct packages, commencing with the free gold package and ascending to the Diamond package, priced at $19.99 per month and providing support for up to 500 products.

Big Cartel Advantages

  • Designed for a specific niche and very easy to manage
  • Quick setup with basic eCommerce features to support growth

Big Cartel Disadvantages

  • Limited functionality
  • Non-competitive pricing
  • No freedom to sell any other product or service

Big Cartel Pricing

  • Free (5 products)
  • $9.99/mo (50 products)
  • $19.99/mo (250 products)
  • $29.99/mo (500 products)

Which is the Best Alternative for Your Shopify Store?

Shopify AlternativesEase of UseSupportSetupStarting priceCustomer Ratings
WooCommerce8.57.58.4Free8.8
BigCommerce8.58.38.4$29.95/mo8.4
Magento7.176.2Free8
PrestaShop7.87.48Free8.6
Dukaan9.47.6N/A$14.999
Click4Shop8.17.77.9$29/mo7.6
Volusion77.26.6$15/mo6.4
Opencart8.56.88.8Free8.6
Squarespace8.88.58.8$18/mo8.8
BigCartel9.38.19.4Free8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

What is better than Shopify?

If you’re considering migrating your Shopify store, two viable options to explore are WooCommerce and Magento, as both platforms offer all the features present in your current Shopify store.

Who is Shopify’s biggest competitor?

Two of the biggest competitors of Shopify are WooCommerce and BigCommerce. You can check their features and ratings to understand why they rank higher as the best alternatives to Shopify.

What is a free alternative to Shopify?

  • WooCmmerce
  • BigCommerce
  • Magento
  • PrestaShop
  • Dukaan
  • Click4Shop
  • Volusion
  • Opencart
  • Squarespace
  • BigCartel

What websites are similar to Shopify?

Shopify competitors encompass both paid options (such as Squarespace and Volusion) and free alternatives (like WooCommerce and Magento). Nonetheless, it’s essential to conduct a thorough comparison of various platforms to ensure you do not miss out on any crucial features that Shopify provides.

Final Word

As evident, many Shopify alternatives are available in the market.

The key question is, which one is the best fit for you? To make an informed decision, it’s crucial to outline your specific requirements and compare them with the features offered by each shopping cart platform.

If a platform does not fulfill your needs, there is no obligation to invest in it. Always prioritize selecting the platform that aligns perfectly with your unique needs and preferences.

ClickySoft is a professional Shopify app development company that allows you to hire Shopify developers for dedicated projects. Our team is ready to take your business to the next level with expertise in eCommerce and the best Shopify alternatives. 

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