Best Shopify alternatives: Rated
Here are some of the best Shopify alternatives:
- Squarespace – excellent Shopify substitute for operating an online business
- SITE123 – simple website editor for businesses
- Zyro – low-cost, eCommerce-focused Shopify substitute
- GoDaddy website builder – simple Shopify substitute
- Gator website builder – a low-cost and simple-to-use website builder
Squarespace – beautiful designs, supreme simplicity
Shopify’s template selection isn’t all that exciting, is it? That makes sense: its free themes aren’t exactly mind-blowing, and if you want something really good, you’ll have to open your wallet wide.
Squarespace excels in this area. It has over 110 beautiful and modern templates that are ideal for a modern website. Combine that with in-house eCommerce and business features that are tightly integrated into the platform. What is the end result? It received high marks in my Squarespace review as a mission control centre, ideal for any small business looking to establish a serious online presence.
The Squarespace process is extremely streamlined. First, you select a starter theme:
Shopify is an excellent eCommerce solution, but it is not for everyone and everything. I’ll go over the top 5 Shopify alternatives that can be even better.
There are several reasons why Shopify is so popular. This is an excellent choice for many businesses because it includes advanced eCommerce tools, excellent third-party plugins, and everything needed to create a successful online store.
However, there are some situations in which I simply do not recommend Shopify.
Shopify is crazy expensive:
- With monthly plans ranging from $29.00 to $299.00, it’s out of reach for many small businesses and personal projects.
The themes are average at best:
- There are only nine free themes available, and the remaining themes can cost up to $200.
Site editing is strictly limited:
- With no coding knowledge, there are significant constraints on what can and cannot be edited.
Continue reading if any of these concerns you. This is a post for you.
Here, I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 Shopify alternatives, each of which provides excellent options for launching an online store. They all have their own unique selling points – better pricing, better themes, better site editing…or something entirely different!
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best options available.
After a few quick tutorials, you’ll be in the site editor, which strikes the perfect balance between freedom and simplicity. The elements can be changed, replaced, and rearranged as desired, but you must still adhere to a grid. That is what I mean by a suitable approach.
But by far my favourite aspect of editing a Squarespace website is its sections. They are pre-built sections of the website that include text, media, interactive elements, and other similar information. They will adjust to your chosen theme, fonts, and colour scheme, allowing you to keep a consistent design throughout your company.
When you’re done with website modification, you can easily transition to creating your business: unlike Shopify, Squarespace doesn’t rely on third-party applications all that much, and most of such capabilities are easily accessible from the dashboard.
Given that we’re comparing Shopify competitors, let’s get right to it and see what it’s like to utilise Squarespace for an online store.
In a nutshell, it’s directed. That suits me just fine. The setup wizard is quite simple to use.
It’s just a question of deciding what you want to sell, what you want to achieve, and how much you know.
When it comes to payments, you have the choice of using PayPal, Square, or Stripe.
True, neither the applications nor the payment choices are as extensive as those available on Shopify. But they get the job done. And if you’re suffering from choice fatigue as a result of having to sort through hundreds of possibilities every hour, a simple, streamlined approach is the ideal remedy.
That is precisely where Squarespace excels.
Squarespace Pricing Review
Squarespace has four tiers, but only three of them contain eCommerce capabilities. They are as follows:
There are four alternatives available to you:
You may notice an issue straight away: the lowest, $23.00/month package may appear quite appealing. However, an extra 3% transaction cost on top of your payment processor fees is simply…too much!
So, if you like what Squarespace has to offer: the simplicity, the attractive themes, and the built-in features, I recommend taking a step further and going with the Basic Commerce plan, which costs $27.00 per month.
Aside than that, Squarespace is fantastic. It’s an easy method for beginners to create something genuinely professional – and it’s a wonderful Shopify option for attractive websites.
pros
- Excellent templates
- Features of a beginner-oriented business
- Excellent website editor
cons
- The lowest eCommerce package includes an additional transaction cost.
- There are just a few third-party apps.
SITE123 – a simple business solution
SITE123 is a service provider that focuses on relaxed, simple website creation. If you enjoy the idea of pre-made blocks joining to form a page in Shopify, you’ll appreciate it here as well. But it gets much simpler. Could it be as easy as 1, 2, 3?
Most website builders, including Shopify, have one constant. That’s what templates are: pre-made example pages that you can subsequently customise using the platform’s editor. SITE123 takes an alternative approach and does not employ templates. First, you choose a niche for your website…
SITE123 Pricing Review
It’s worth remembering that these pricing are only available when purchased 12 months in advance. If you commit to a longer term plan, you can save more than double.
Looking at the options, while the $12.80/month Basic plan sounds appealing, there is one item to keep in mind. You may only place 10 orders per month and accept PayPal payments. That is essentially nothing.
The advanced plan isn’t much better however, with the order limit raised to a meagre 50.
But it’s the Professional plan that becomes really intriguing. It supports up to 500 orders per month and accepts credit card payments. The Gold plan then offers a plethora of email marketing options, a large amount of storage, and the removal of any selling constraints. Finally, while the most costly Platinum plan is quite identical to the Gold plan, the storage and bandwidth restrictions are more than three times more.
SITE123‘s purpose is straightforward. It aspires to be an alternative to Shopify for individuals looking for a straightforward approach to develop a large website. That one is very much nailed down.
pros
- Very simple to use
- Setup and editing are simple.
- Long-term discounts are available.
cons
- Customization is quite restricted.
- eCommerce functionalities are limited.
Zyro – the cheapest website builder
Zyro is a relative newcomer to website development, much alone eCommerce – but don’t let that deter you. I was pleasantly delighted by the great value-for-money ratio. It may not offer everything Shopify does, but it does it at a far lower rate.
First, the topics. Zyro offers around 130 alternatives to pick from, indicating that they are a relatively new company. Why? The templates, on the other hand, are contemporary, elegant, and undeniably current. My Zyro review is an in-depth study of my adoration for them!
There’s even an AI website generator – Zyro stole a page from Wix’s book and provides a straightforward method to put up a website with all the necessary parts.
However, there is only one site editor – it is simple and straightforward.
There are additional features for intelligent automated content creation!
You receive all of the essential eCommerce functions, such as real-time tax computation, selling physical and digital goods, and so on. Furthermore, there are no product restrictions and no commission costs, even on the most basic programmes.
Zyro is simple, elegant, and inexpensive. Zyro is a wonderful alternative to Shopify if you want to keep your wallet large and your calendar free.
Zyro Pricing Review
Here are two Zyro plans that may be utilised to sell online.
However, I’m getting ahead of myself. Here are some examples of these premium options:
Because none of these plans has any significant limits, I would suggest either of them. The Advanced Store plan only includes a few amazing options, such as abandoned cart recovery and Amazon integration, which will help your business go even further.
Overall, Zyro is an excellent alternative with exactly the appropriate features and affordability.
pros
- Excellent templates
- Excellent value for money
- Excellent for beginners.
cons
- There are very few third-party features.
- eCommerce suite outsourced
GoDaddy website builder – all business, all day
What’s a little tedious? Making websites. Especially if you’re not a designer and just want to rapidly create an internet presence for your company. Once the website is constructed, you must deal with everything else – internet marketing, adverts, management, and so on. And if you don’t know anything about it, you might end up in big trouble!
If that concerns you, GoDaddy website builder is the perfect option. It’s more than just a website builder; it’s an all-in-one Websites+Marketing package that combines useful elements to help you not only represent, but also expand your brand.
It contains an easy-to-use editor that allows you to design your site using several pre-made parts and sections: Check out my GoDaddy website builder review for more information on its individual features, templates, and design complexities.
After that, you can focus on growing your business, which will be as simple as it gets with GoDaddy InSight.
InSight, as a concept, is essentially your “personal marketing assistant.” You begin by informing it about your company and what you want to achieve with it.
Then you instantly receive a personalised plan with a list of actions to perform in order to meet your objectives. It might entail sending out email newsletters, expanding your website, and so on. There will be no need to download third-party apps or for extra services since everything you need will be easily available.
As you go, the assistant evaluates you on a scale of 0 to 100, comparing you to other websites with comparable aims and duties.
That’s GoDaddy website builder for you – a fantastic mix of websites and marketing tools. It’s a good Shopify option if you want a business-focused solution that focuses on what your website does rather than how it appears.
GoDaddy Pricing Review
GoDaddy provides four options in all, however only one of them supports eCommerce.
The Ecommerce package, which costs $16.99 per month, lets you to send 25,000 monthly emails, connect your social media accounts and publish directly from your GoDaddy interface, and, of course, sell online.
It’s substantially less expensive than Shopify and its $29 starting plan, but there’s one additional item to consider. When your trial time finishes, this plan will renew at a higher rate of $24.99/month. Still, it’s something to think about.
Even so, GoDaddy website builder is a cost-effective, time-saving option that many of you will undoubtedly appreciate.
pros
- Excellent built-in marketing tools
- Affordably priced eCommerce plan
- Excellent for busy small enterprises.
cons
- There are few theme options.
- When the introductory term expires, the price increases.
Gator website builder – cheap and clean Shopify alternative
Gator website builder offers the most affordable eCommerce-capable package on this list. But that’s only one aspect of its allure. The other feature is its amazingly quick Express editor, which allows you to create a completely customised online store without ever using a conventional site editor.
No, seriously, the new version of Gator has a “Express” editing mode that is far superior to its predecessor. I mentioned it in my Gator review as the only realistic alternative to employ, and I’ll reiterate it here as well.
When you choose Express, you just select your chosen site design options. Regardless of navigation type…
Or a color scheme…
After that, you’ll be sent to your site, where you may use the editor to add new sections, choose from different layouts, and make the same design decisions you had to make when you signed up.
In terms of eCommerce, it also strives for simplicity, employing a minimal setup process.
That’s GoDaddy website builder for you – a fantastic mix of websites and marketing tools. It’s a good Shopify option if you want a business-focused solution that focuses on what your website does rather than how it appears.
Adding and maintaining goods is as straightforward as putting up discount coupons or shipping.
Gator Builder Pricing Review
Saving money is something on which all parties can agree. This is why there will be many joyful faces in this section. Gator offers three options, all of which enable eCommerce. They are as follows:
Yes, $3.46 for an eCommerce-ready website builder. Isn’t it cool?
Okay, OK. With one exception: the dreaded transaction charge. Each purchase will incur an extra 3% transaction fee on both the Starter and Premium plans.
However, the $8.30/month Express Store plan remains the lowest eCommerce package with no transaction cost. Sure, it’s the most costly on Gator, but it’s still cheaper than everyone else.
So, there you have it, folks. If you’re looking for the cheapest choice, you’ve come to the right place. You are quite welcome.
pros
- Prices are quite low.
- Simple site administration with the intuitive Express editor
cons
- There will be no templates, thus site designs will be relatively similar.
- Rather simple features
Shopify alternatives: Final Recommendations
Shopify is a wonderful choice for many people, but not for everyone – and that’s fine. With so many great Shopify competitors, everyone can find something that suits them.
Some choices allow for more creative freedom, while others streamline the process as much as possible to assist make website construction as accessible as feasible. Others are just dead inexpensive, allowing you to create an internet business without a large initial expenditure.
In any case, these are the best Shopify alternatives:
- Squarespace provides fantastic layouts and strong in-house business tools, making it ideal for a modern business.
- SITE123 is a Shopify alternative that is ideal for small business owners that want to quickly create a strong website.
- Zyro is inexpensive and provides good templates, serving as a low-cost contemporary Shopify competitor.
- GoDaddy website builder includes excellent business options, allowing anybody to manage a business and create a website on the same platform.
- Gator website builder is the most affordable Shopify alternative for selling online, providing an easy method to create and modify your site.
- WordPress.org is all about liberty: liberty in how you spend your money and liberty in how you modify your site.
- Wix is a great Shopify alternative since it has so many great tools and features that it’s an all-around company choice for everyone.
And there you have it – the greatest solutions available. Choose the finest Shopify alternative for you and create a memorable online company.
Shopify alternatives - FAQs
Why would you not use Shopify?
Shopify’s primary fault is that it’s expensive; with monthly rates ranging from $29.00 to $299.00, it’s a tad pricey for many small enterprises. You may also need to spend extra for templates and various selling tools.
What is the best Shopify alternative?
Because of its great adaptability and customizability, Wix is the finest overall option to Shopify. Squarespace, WordPress, SITE123, and others are also viable possibilities.
Is there a free Shopify alternative?
WordPress is an excellent free alternative to Shopify since it is free software that you may use whenever you want. However, running and maintaining WordPress will continue to cost money in the form of hosting and domain fees.
