Are you looking for the best Shopify alternatives that can help you create a more personalized strategy for your eCommerce business?
No doubt, choosing the right platform for your store can feel overwhelming. You have so many options, each with its own set of benefits.
I want to help make this process easier for you. So in this guide, I’ll discuss some of the top Shopify alternatives that might be a great match for your business.
In This Article
12 Best Shopify Alternatives for 2024
When selecting the best Shopify alternative, what works best for you will depend on your specific needs. Here are some recommended options:
1. WPForms
WPForms is not just a form builder plugin, but it’s also an excellent solution for startups looking for a straightforward way to start selling their products online.
It allows business owners to create payment forms for a cartless checkout experience and offers numerous payment monitoring features.
You can access payment screens and order summaries while accepting subscriptions, performing refunds, etc, all from within your WordPress dashboard!
My Experience
One of the best things about using WPForms is that both the free and paid versions allow you to create a full-fledged payment form via a drag-and-drop builder.
I love that the plugin provides support for various payment providers, such as Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net, and Square, with a simple setup process.
Moreover, I appreciated the ability to add coupon code/discount fields to payment forms and estimate shipping costs, tax deductions, etc, by setting up calculations.
Once orders start coming in through your payment form, WPForms also offers the ability to access comprehensive payment dashboards.
What I Liked
- Integration with Payment Services: Easily connects with payment services like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net, and Square.
- Payment Dashboards: You can get detailed stats related to your online store and can issue refunds and cancel subscriptions directly from WordPress.
- Offers Numerous Addons: Offers addons for various email marketing tools, CRMs, and even for creating custom calculators!
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: Simplifies form creation with an intuitive interface and tooltips to guide users throughout their form creation process.
- Embedding Flexibility: Forms can be embedded in posts, pages, widgets, and footers to maximize your conversions and orders.
- Page Builder Integrations: Ensures compatibility with popular page builders like Elementor, Divi, and SeedProd.
How Much Does WPForms Cost?
The best form builder plugin, WPForms Lite, is 100% free forever. Meanwhile, if you want access to additional tools and integrations, the Pro version starts at $49.50/year, making it a worthwhile investment for startups and new entrepreneurs.
Create Your WordPress Form Now
2. WooCommerce
If you’re running a WordPress website and looking for an eCommerce solution, WooCommerce is one of the best options available.
With the platform, you can sell anything from digital downloads to physical products and take advantage of advanced store customization features.
This allows you to create a more personalized experience for your customers, which eventually leads to more sales and conversions.
My Experience
I was amazed by how seamlessly WooCommerce integrated with WordPress, making the store setup process incredibly smooth.
Adding products and customizing the store layout was intuitive, thanks to the user-friendly WordPress interface and pre-designed templates.
I particularly appreciated the customization options WooCommerce offered. I could easily adjust the look of my store with different themes and plugins.
Additionally, the built-in analytics tools provided valuable insights into my sales and customers, helping me tailor my strategies.
What I Liked
- Flexibility in Product Types: WooCommerce allows the sale of physical, digital, and even affiliate products.
- Customization Options: With access to thousands of themes and plugins, customizing the look and functionality of a store is a breeze.
- User-Friendly Interface: The integration with WordPress made managing my store straightforward, from product management to order tracking.
- Strong Community Support: Whenever I faced challenges, the vast community of WooCommerce users and developers was there to assist me.
- Comprehensive Analytics: The built-in analytics tools provided valuable insights into my sales and customers.
How Much Does WooCommerce Cost?
If you want to grow your online business, you can pay extra for WooCommerce paid extensions and plugins that give you access to more features. Otherwise, the WooCommerce plugin itself is free to use.
Get started with WooCommerce now!
3. BigCommerce
Just like WooCommerce, the BigCommerce platform is another excellent Shopify alternative to create an online store that scales as your business grows.
One of the biggest strengths of BigCommerce is its built-in sales tools and integrations. You can connect your store with various ERPs and CRMs.
BigCommerce is also known for having strong SEO features that can help your store rank higher in search results and get more customers.
My Experience
When I decided to try BigCommerce as an alternative to Shopify, I was immediately impressed by the straightforward setup process.
The platform guided me through each step, from choosing a template to adding products and setting up payment methods.
Customization was another area where BigCommerce excelled. Without extensive coding knowledge, I could easily modify my store’s layout, colors, and functionality.
It also takes away a lot of the hard work by giving you a lot of advanced choices for things like currency, gift certificates, carts, checkout, and more.
What I Liked
- Comprehensive Security: From SSL certificates to fraud protection, BigCommerce keeps your store and customers safe.
- Robust SEO Features: BigCommerce’s SEO tools are designed to help your store rank higher in search results, driving more traffic.
- Ease of Setup: BigCommerce offers a straightforward setup process, making it easy to launch your store quickly.
- Customization Capabilities: With customizable templates and an extensive app marketplace, personalizing your store is simple.
- Built-in Sales Tools: The platform includes powerful sales and marketing tools to help you reach a wider audience and increase revenue.
How Much Does BigCommerce Cost?
BigCommerce lets you try the platform for free for 15 days, so you can see how it works before committing to it for good. After the trial, there are several pricing plans, starting at a minimum of $29/year.
Get started with BigCommerce now!
4. Squarespace
As compared to BigCommerce and WooCommerce, Squarespace stands as a simpler and more elegant alternative to Shopify.
It’s known for its stunning design templates, which make any product look premium, and the learning curve is also quite low.
This makes it a go-to for creatives and small business owners who want a visually appealing online presence without the fuss.
My Experience
From the moment I started using Squarespace, the drag-and-drop interface stood out. I was able to select a template that matched my brand’s vibe perfectly and customize it without any trouble.
Squarespace also makes your site look good on phones and tablets. Everything automatically adjusts to fit any screen, ensuring a great look across devices.
Setting up products, managing inventory, and processing orders via Inflow Cloud were all straightforward, which can be a game-changer for many!
What I Liked
- SEO Tools: Built-in features help improve your site’s visibility on search engines, guiding you through the basics of SEO.
- Integrated E-commerce: Squarespace provides powerful tools for selling online, from product display to checkout.
- Responsive Design: Sites automatically look great on any device, which is crucial for attracting mobile shoppers.
- Stunning Templates: The design options are both beautiful and professional, setting the stage for any type of business.
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: This feature makes site customization easy and enjoyable, even for beginners.
How Much Does Squarespace Cost?
Squarespace offers a range of pricing plans to fit different needs and budgets, ranging from $25/month and going all the way up to $72/month for all the tools necessary for a more advanced seller.
Get started with Squarespace now!
5. Wix
Wix is famous for its ability to create websites instantly, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface, but it’s also a great Shopify alternative.
It allows you to create your online store quickly with an affordable pricing system that new business owners will particularly appreciate.
Wix also offers a suite of tools designed to help you leverage complex eCommerce features at the click of a button.
My Experience
After testing Wix thoroughly, I found that the platform has a well-crafted approach to website design, which is rather refreshing to see.
You don’t have to dive too deep into coding, and setting up all the essentials of your store, like product pages, add to cart, etc, was quick and easy.
The many customization options and templates also make it possible to match your brand’s aesthetics to create a personalized experience for customers.
I also loved the fact the SEO Wiz tool from Wix that provides guidance and helps startup businesses boost their online visibility.
What I Liked
- eCommerce Features: You get access to numerous eCommerce tools, from payment solutions to product galleries for selling products.
- SEO Tools: The SEO Wiz offered by Wix is incredibly handy, as it enables startups to improve their online visibility.
- Template Variety: Designing a store for any business or industry is super easy, thanks to the wide range of templates available.
- Mobile Optimization: Once you’ve designed your website, it’s automatically configured to be responsive on all devices, including tables and mobiles.
How Much Does Wix Cost?
Basic website design plans for Wix start at $24.50/month, however, if you want to set up an online store, the business and eCommerce plans start at $35/month, which is still quite reasonable considering the features you get access to!
6. Ecwid
Ecwid is not a full-fledged eCommerce platform, but it allows startups to add a shopping cart to their existing websites.
This makes it possible to start selling products online without rebuilding your website and while leveraging a comprehensive set of features.
For instance, once set up, you can use Ecwid to add products easily, configure payment options, manage inventory, and track orders.
My Experience
My experience with Ecwid was overwhelmingly positive. It allowed me to add eCommerce functionality to an already established blog.
The integration was incredibly smooth, and Ecwid did not disrupt the site’s current layout or design, which is a huge plus for the less tech-savvy.
Ecwid’s mobile app also allowed me to manage my store on the go, providing the freedom to run my business from anywhere.
What I Liked
- Global Selling: Support for multiple currencies and languages helped me expand my reach to international customers.
- Advanced Features: From inventory management to integrated shipping and tax calculators, Ecwid provides all the tools and tricks.
- Ease of Use: The setup process is user-friendly, with clear instructions and a straightforward dashboard for managing my store.
- Mobile Management: The Ecwid mobile app allows for easy store management from anywhere, a huge plus for on-the-go business owners.
- Customizable Design: Ecwid offers customization options to match the look and feel of my existing site, ensuring a cohesive user experience.
How Much Does Ecwid Cost?
Ecwid offers a free plan that’s perfect for small businesses just starting out. For access to more advanced features like selling digital goods, the mobile store management app, and live chat support, pricing starts at $14.08/mo (billed annually).
7. Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop is another eCommerce platform that stands as a compelling Shopify alternative for all your online store’s needs.
From advanced SEO tools to a wide array of payment processors, Shift4Shop aims to deliver a complete solution for online retail.
Those who value deep customization options and comprehensive built-in features will particularly appreciate the Shift4Shop solution.
My Experience
While testing Shift4Shop, it became clear that setting up stores, importing products, and customizing the design is incredibly easy.
The platform’s built-in features meant I could do more from the get-go and view detailed reports without relying heavily on third-party apps.
The platform offers powerful SEO tools that helped my store rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic.
Another significant advantage was the ability to choose from various payment gateways without extra transaction fees.
What I Liked
- Deep Customization: You can customize all aspects of your store, including the product display pages, checkout page, and more.
- Built-in SEO Tools: A highly intuitive and user-friendly SEO tool that helps boost visibility on search engines.
- Variety of Payment Options: Supported numerous payment gateways, offering flexibility for my customers without extra fees.
- Comprehensive Features: From inventory management to marketing tools, everything I needed was integrated into the platform.
How Much Does Shift4Shop Cost?
Shift4Shop offers competitive pricing, including a unique free plan for businesses using Shift4 as their payment processor. Premium plans with advanced eCommerce store features start at $29/month, which is quite budget-friendly.
Get started with Shift4Shop now!
8. Sellfy
Sellfy has been in the marketplace since 2011. It is a worthy Shopify alternative that is designed for creators and digital marketers.
You can use the platform to sell merchandise or digital products all from one tool while even offering the ability to set up subscriptions.
As a result, it is a great option for entrepreneurs looking to get their online store up and running without encountering any technical hurdles.
My Experience
My journey with Sellfy was overwhelmingly positive, as it was successfully able to handle selling digital products without complicating the process.
Setting up a store was incredibly easy, and it only takes a few minutes to add products and customize the store design to match your brand.
What I appreciated most about Sellfy was its focus on the needs of digital creators. The platform allows instant payouts, which is crucial for maintaining cash flow.
The platform’s straightforward dashboard also made it easy to manage my products, orders, and customer interactions,
What I Liked
- Multiple Product Types: The platform allows new businesses to sell both physical and digital products without any hassle.
- Customizable Storefront: You can easily customize your online store to match the aesthetics of your brand.
- Instant Payouts: Support for multiple payment gateways and instant payouts greatly helps in managing finances.
- Built-in Marketing Tools: You can also leverage email marketing and directly integrate discount codes to promote products effectively.
How Much Does Sellfy Cost?
Selly does not offer a free plan, but they do have a 30-day, money-back guarantee on all plans. The pricing for a small-to-medium-sized business starts at $19/mo, which is billed at $456 every two years.
9. Magento
Now part of Adobe Commerce, Magento‘s open-source platform is a great solution for eCommerce websites looking for a Shopify alternative.
Unlike other solutions, Magento is focused on the more technical-savvy audience with features and customization options that require a bit of PHP knowledge.
Regardless, it’s still a great choice for medium to large businesses that want to grow their online presence and enhance the customer buying experience.
My Experience
After testing Magento, it became clear that the platform is incredibly helpful for expanding online businesses.
I could also integrate complex functionalities like advanced inventory management and multi-store capabilities through Magento.
The stability of Magento is one of the factors behind its success despite its steeper learning curve than other platforms in this list.
Whenever I encountered a challenge, there was always a developer or a forum where I could find solutions or get advice.
What I Liked
- Customization: Magento offers a range of customization options that allow you to create a personalized eCommerce experience.
- Scalability: You’ll appreciate Magento’s ability to support expanding businesses from small shops to large enterprises.
- Advanced Features: Magento offers many advanced eCommerce features like customer segmentation, inventory management, and multi-store support.
- Community Support: A vast community of developers and users provides invaluable resources and support.
How Much Does Magento Cost?
Magento’s open-source version is free to use, making it an attractive option for businesses with the technical capability to develop and maintain their sites.
However, for businesses looking for additional support and features, Magento Commerce offers a premium solution with a pricing model that scales with your success.
10. PrestaShop
Similar to Magento, PrestaShop is another open-source alternative to Shopify, which allows startups to build and manage their online stores.
While it requires some expert technical knowledge to understand, PrestaShop still offers an extensive array of features and modules.
This enables businesses to enhance their shop’s functionality, from payment solutions to shipping options and more, without hassle.
My Experience
Every platform on this list has something favorable and unique to them. PrestaShop also offers something of value to its customers.
Thanks to its multilingual and multicurrency support, this open-source solution is particularly appealing to those looking to expand their business globally.
As a result, the product is incredibly scalable, allowing you to plan for the future in advance and tailor online stores to accept orders worldwide.
Moreover, the analytics and reporting tools provided me with insightful data to make informed decisions, enhancing my customer engagement.
What I Liked
- Global Reach: With support for multiple languages and currencies, it’s an excellent choice for businesses aiming for international markets.
- Open-Source and Free: PrestaShop’s open-source nature means it’s free to use, offering significant savings on development costs.
- Customization: The platform offers extensive customization options, allowing for a personalized shopping experience.
- Community Support: A large and active community provides tips, plugins, and themes to enhance your store.
How Much Does PrestaShop Cost?
While PrestaShop is free to download and use, running a store will incur costs related to hosting, themes, modules, and potential developer fees for customization.
Get started with PrestaShop now!
11. Weebly
A product of Square, Weebly is a web hosting and web development company that primarily focuses on assisting eCommerce store owners.
It allows you to create a free website for starters and provides all-in-one eCommerce tools to simplify order management, shipping, and payments.
Weebly is also renowned for its marketing integrations and tools that allow you to automate email campaigns and improve conversions through Google Ads.
My Experience
As part of the Square product suite, my expectations with Weebly were relatively high. And the platform didn’t disappoint at all!
Setting up an online store was quick and easy due to the range of customizable templates available (premium themes can be purchased with Pro plans).
I also didn’t have to face any issues with setting up a payment mechanism, as most templates automatically integrated the Square payment gateway.
The product listing page was also easy to customize, making Weebly an all-in-one solution for startups looking to start selling products online.
What I Liked
- Customizable Templates: You can change many templates to fit your business and make your site look better.
- Integrated Payment Processing: Effortless and safe processing of payments through seamless connection with Square.
- Analytics Dashboard: Gives you helpful information about how your website is doing and how people use it.
- eCommerce Tools: Comprehensive set of tools for managing inventory, shipping, and taxes, making it easier to run an online store.
How Much Does Weebly Cost?
Weebly follows a freemium pricing model, which means you can get started with using the platform for free. And if you require additional features and integrations, premium plans start at $10 /month (billed annually).
12. Volusion
Volusion is a highly customizable eCommerce solution that helps businesses create, manage, and expand online stores.
As a Shopify alternative, it boasts an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface, making it an excellent choice for newbies and experts.
You can easily create a professional-looking store, thanks to its user-friendly site builder and pre-designed templates that are 100% responsive.
My Experience
I was immediately impressed with how simple Volusion made creating an online store, thanks to its pre-designed templates.
You can even enjoy a huge range of customization capabilities that make adding products, modifying colors, and adding new design elements incredibly simple.
I also appreciated the ability to integrate a smooth checkout process due to its many payment gateway integrations.
Volusion’s inventory management system also ensured that I could keep track of stock levels in real time, preventing any sales issues before they could arise.
What I Liked
- Ease of Use: Setting up and managing my store was straightforward, thanks to Volusion’s intuitive dashboard.
- Customizable Templates: The variety of templates allowed me to design a store that mimics the representation of my brand.
- Comprehensive Marketing Tools: Built-in SEO and marketing features helped promote my store effectively.
- Secure Checkout: Enhanced security measures provide customers peace of mind during transactions.
How Much Does Volusion Cost?
Volusion’s pricing plans are designed to accommodate the needs of businesses at various stages of growth, from startups to established enterprises. The entry-level plan is reasonably priced at $35/month.
Get started with Volusion now!
FAQs about the Best Shopify Alternatives
Shopify is a popular topic of interest among our readers. Here are answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about its alternatives:
What is the best alternative for Shopify?
The best alternative for Shopify depends on your specific needs. WooCommerce is excellent for those who want more control and are familiar with WordPress. BigCommerce is another strong option, offering scalability and various built-in features.
Who is Shopify’s biggest competitor?
Shopify’s biggest competitor is BigCommerce, known for its comprehensive set of eCommerce tools and scalability, making it a favorite among businesses looking to grow.
Is there a free app like Shopify?
Yes, WooCommerce is a free app like Shopify that you can use with WordPress. It’s ideal for those who want flexibility and have some technical know-how.
Why big companies don’t use Shopify?
Big companies may not use Shopify due to the need for more customized e-commerce solutions or specific integrations that Shopify might not support as effectively as a custom-built platform or an enterprise-level solution like Magento.
Is Shopify or Wix better?
Whether Shopify or Wix is better depends on your needs. Shopify excels in eCommerce capabilities, while Wix offers more design flexibility, making it better for those prioritizing website aesthetics.
What is better to use Etsy or Shopify?
Choosing between Etsy and Shopify depends on your business model. Etsy is better for handmade or unique items and those looking to tap into an existing market. Shopify gives you more control and is suited for building a brand and scaling a business.
How much does Shopify take per sale?
Shopify takes a per-sale fee that varies by plan. On the Basic Shopify plan, it charges 2.9% + 30 cents for online credit card rates, with fees decreasing on higher-tier plans.
Next, Check Out these Best WordPress Plugin Guides
And there you have it. We hope this list helped you select the best Shopify alternative that meets your requirements. For more of our recommended WordPress plugins, see the following posts:
- Best WordPress Theme Builders
- Best WordPress Affiliate Marketing Plugins
- Best Free WordPress Plugins
- Best SEO Plugins for WordPress
Create Your WordPress Form Now
Ready to build your form? Get started today with the easiest WordPress form builder plugin. WPForms Pro includes lots of free templates and offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
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