You may start from scratch or develop from templates when you use Shopify to establish your online business. In addition to this, you may use it to handle product inventories, shipping, payments, and a variety of other tasks.
Shopify has established a standard for excellence in the online industry.
However, it seems that the requirements of internet merchants have changed, and a lot of them are seeking for alternatives.
Reasons to look for websites like Shopify
1. Shopify is NOT as intuitive as it seems.
The essential capabilities, which you would anticipate being offered, often need for the use of third-party software, a basic understanding of coding, and a lot of effort in order to be set up correctly.
A Shopify user commented as follows:
There is a good probability that you won’t get much use out of the paid templates if you don’t know how to code.
2. Shopify can get expensive over time.
The initial investment required to begin using Shopify is not very high and is on level with the costs of similar eCommerce systems.
On the other hand, the cost increases with time.
You should expect to be asked to pay more fees when your company expands.
You will need supplementary components and integrations, such as international pricing, checkout analytics, and sales channels (i.e., Amazon).
3. You can’t use Shopify Payments in certain countries.
Shopify is compatible with the majority of the most popular forms of payment, including credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. However, merchants located in some nations are unable to utilise the Shopify Payments system.
You are going to have to come up with a solution to get around this if you chance to reside in a country.
If you feel that Shopify isn’t for you as well, we got you.
You could have more success selling your wares on one of these other marketplaces.
Let’s dig in.
Shopify Alternatives (Free, Paid, and Open Source)
1.Dukaan
You can get your very own online shop up and running with Dukaan in under a minute. After you’ve listed the items, you can begin selling them by sending links to potential buyers using platforms like WhatsApp and social media.
In contrast to other platforms, Dukaan’s platform has been designed to be user-friendly and uncomplicated. In addition to assisting customers in the construction of digital shops, Dukaan is in the “business of developing entrepreneurs” and helping them realise their ambitions.
How does Dukaan compare with Shopify?
Dukaan is best for…
Dukaan is ideal for business owners who have been putting off taking their company online until the last minute. It is well suited for conventional companies that wish to build an online presence so that they may access a greater number of clients.
In addition to the low start-up and ongoing costs, it is handy for companies since Dukaan does not collect a commission on any purchases placed via their platform.
Dukaan pricing
2. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is an open software as a service (SaaS) platform that assists merchants in rapidly scaling their online businesses.
It provides strong tools that businesses may employ to make rapid changes to their business operations. This manner, company needs are fulfilled as they emerge.
With in-depth assistance, you may receive a comprehensive solution experience. Setup, data transfer, and account administration are all areas in which the team may provide assistance.
BigCommerce is best for…
BigCommerce is ideal for rapidly expanding enterprises because of its streamlined and flexible platform. This is the greatest choice to go with when you require an environment that is incredibly adaptable so that you can swiftly fulfil rigorous business demands.
If you’ve outgrown your existing platform’s capabilities, you may make the switch to BigCommerce in order to continue expanding your business without adding unnecessary layers of complexity.
pros
Open SaaS platform with flexible APIs.
World-class support team.
Powerful analytics.
Has 3rd party developers that help implement solutions.
Strong SEO support for organic growth.
cons
Customization is not free.
Limited free themes.
The steep learning curve in implementing advanced features.
bigcommerce pricing
You may begin selling products online for a low starting price of $29.95 per month. The price each month is $79.95 if you wish to build your business with marketing services such as automatic cart recovery.
The shopping experience is elevated to a whole new level thanks to features such as dynamic filters. If you want to make this an investment, you should be prepared to pay a minimum of $299.95 each month.
The fees for using a third-party payment gateway begin at 2.9% plus $0.3 per transaction.
Why choose BigCommerce over Shopify?
Advanced features come built-in.
Over 1000 apps and built-in tools.
Allows you to send transactional emails.
3. WooCommerce
A free plug-in for WordPress called WooCommerce can assist you in establishing a fully-customizable online shop on your own website.
It enables you to set up a new business in a matter of minutes, provides safe payment processing, and allows you to customise delivery choices. It is a useful strategy that may help you extend your present reach and increase sales. Because it does not need knowledge of code, even someone who is not technically savvy may put this up.
They will, however, leave the security up to you, which means that you will be responsible for taking certain precautions on your own to ensure the safety of your shop.
WooCommerce is best for…
If you want to operate your store using WordPress as your platform, WooCommerce is the greatest decision you can make since it works wonderfully with WordPress.
WooCommerce is the best option to go with if you already have a well-established WordPress website and you want to start selling products to your audience.
pros
Fully integrates with WordPress.
Boosts SEO performance.
Free and open source.
Fast integrations with other platforms.
Available extensions for advanced features.
cons
Not enough personalization options.
Learning some of its tools is quite challenging.
woocommerce pricing
Why choose WooCommerce over Shopify?
Covert WordPress site into an online store.
Build an advanced eCommerce store.
Over 50,000 apps and extensions.
4. wix
Wix is a website builder that allows users to construct websites for a variety of purposes, including photography, education, design, and more. It contains over a thousand templates that provide a basic framework that may be changed in terms of its aesthetic appearance.
It is initially and foremost a website, but with the help of its online store designs, it can be quickly converted into an online shopping cart platform.
wix is best for…
Wix is the greatest option for those individuals seeking a platform for their online businesses that is simple to administer. It provides you with the stunning themes, marketing features, and eCommerce capabilities that you need to begin selling products over the internet.
However, there is a limit on the level of customisation. It will not be possible for you to integrate complex user flows, add your tracking pixel, or relocate your online shop (or its content) to another location in the future.
pros
Beautiful online store templates.
Simple drag-and-drop interface that’s easy to use.
Provides high-quality marketing tools such as video-making.
eCommerce tools like subscriptions, loyalty rewards, and social channel selling.
cons
Can’t easily change the page structure.
Lacking tools (e.g. subpages within subpages).
wix pricing
The most basic eCommerce package has a month-to-month cost of $17 and provides unlimited bandwidth, 20 GB of storage, and everything else required to sell products online (i.e., domain, secure payments, customer accounts, and more).
You will want the Business Unlimited Package, which costs $25 per month, if you intend to sell products via social media platforms or if you provide subscription services.
The Business VIP Plan, which costs $35 a month, is suggested for serious business owners who wish to view customised reports, sell more than 250 goods, or provide prizes to loyal clients. Also included in this plan is a referral programme.
Why choose wix over Shopify?
Can build individual pages for products.
Very innovative website builder.
Dedicated customer support team.
5. squarespace
Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that differentiates you from the other online retailers by drawing attention to your business.
How?
owing to the fact that its designs are cutting edge, fashionable, and expressive. You will be able to present your goods (or your services) in the most favourable light possible by using Squarespace.
Yes, Squarespace allows you sell your services too.
SquareSpace can assist the way you conduct business since it offers a booking function. This means that whether you are an artist preparing to release your newest work, an online magazine that wants to sell memberships, or a restaurant that needs a booking system, SquareSpace can help.
squarespace is best for…
For creative business owners that place a high priority on appearance, Squarespace is the platform of choice. It is a site building tool that allows users to “write and go,” making it ideal for individuals who want to make an impressive first impression on their clients.
Because of the online shop layouts that have won several awards.
pros
Provides a variety of sleek templates to choose from.
Works well even for the non-tech savvy.
Lets website visitors book your services too.
Flexible payments, checkouts, and taxes.
cons
Expensive.
Limited web features and plug-ins.
squarespace pricing
The price of the Business Package, which is the most popular option, is $18 per month. It already has a fully integrated eCommerce shop that is equipped with powerful administration tools for orders, inventories, and catalogues.
The Basic Commerce Plan is $26 per month and provides access to key marketing services as well as POS, customer accounts, checkouts, and other similar features. If you want to avoid the 3% transaction fees as well as access these other features, choose this plan.
Do you need abandoned cart recovery, subscriptions, and the entire shebang when it comes to eCommerce? At a cost of about $40 per month, the Advance Commerce plan grants users unrestricted access.
Why choose squarespace over Shopify?
Website builder with strong eCommerce features.
Sleek and well-designed website themes.
High-quality eCommerce features.
6. volusion
When you are just starting out in the world of eCommerce, Volusion claims to supply you with all you will need.
So far, it delivers.
It provides a user-friendly shop builder, an eCommerce solution, and a marketing platform all in one.
You won’t need to spend extra money on add-ons since it provides a comprehensive solution for eCommerce. Your shop may be quickly created, managed, and expanded upon without breaking the money on your end. The dashboard provides quick access to tools such as SEO and integrations, as well as eCommerce functionality.
Additionally, their customer service is excellent, so using Volusion is a good idea if you need additional hand-holding while installing plugins.
volusion is best for…
For those just starting out in the world of online commerce, Volusion is an excellent starting point. It can help you get started without blowing a hole in your wallet in the process.
You won’t need to buy (or install) any add-ons since the functionalities are already included within the dashboard. Because of this, it is an option that is both financially and practically feasible to execute.
pros
Great customer service.
Simple set-up and lean system.
Easy to collect payments.
cons
Complicated to use on tablets or smartphones.
No A/B testing environment.
volusion pricing
The personal plan begins at $29 per month and comes with restricted features, 100 goods, and a one-man team (you cannot add more members to the team).
In addition, if you want to access online and phone assistance in addition to other extra services, you will be required to pay an additional $79 each month. It will cost you $299 a month if you want to offer an infinite number of goods and add up to 15 team members.
Why choose volusion over Shopify?
Best set of analytics and data tools.
Includes all advanced features.
Provides mobile app to manage on the go.
7. weebly
You’ll have complete control over how your e-commerce company develops and expands when you use Weebly to set up and manage your online shop. Weebly claims that they are one of the few platforms that can assist the growth of businesses while also catering to their needs.
Your website will load quickly even after it has been expanded to 100 pages. In addition, if you need more functionality, you have the option of using either Weebly’s own apps or third-party software.
weebly is best for…
Weebly is ideal for business owners who wish to set up an online shop and manage all aspects of it from a single location. Start with Weebly if you want to save yourself the future hassle of moving your business to a new platform.
Because it serves as a one-stop shop for small enterprises, the platform will provide you with everything that your company need. It is merely going to be difficult to switch to other platforms in the future, so make sure you keep this in mind.
pros
Almost non-existent learning curve.
Can be used with any device (mobile optimized).
Can handle large stores with 100s of pages.
cons
Can’t easily migrate to other platforms.
Heavy Weebly branded advertising.
weebly pricing
It will cost you $12 per month to have a simple online shop with your own domain name. There is a Business Plan available for $25 that you may purchase if you want inventory management, promotional codes, and other advanced e-commerce tools like shipping calculators on your website.
At a cost of $38 a month, Power Sellers can take advantage of abandoned cart emails and real-time shipment.
Why choose weebly over Shopify?
Very simple and easy to set up a store.
Best for budget-conscious businesses.
Create an aesthetically pleasing store.
8. Big cartel
Big Cartel is primarily concerned with the development of a platform that will enable artists to display and sell their wares online.
It offers user-friendly shopping cart software, shipping tracking, discounts and promotions, sales tax automation, and other features, all of which make selling a breeze.
There are no hidden fees or odd data-sharing methods on Big Cartel since the company aims to promote aspiring musicians and artists. Additionally, if you just have up to 5 things to offer, you are able to make use of the platform at no cost.
big cartel is best for…
Big Cartel is ideal for artisans, crafters, and creatives who are just starting out in the business of selling their works of art since it has a simple and straightforward interface.
Big Cartel is the platform to use if you want to keep your creative energy focused on your artistic endeavours rather than being sapped by the demands of internet sales.
You are able to sell up to 5 goods without incurring any costs, and you can even provide your customers with discounts and coupon coupons.
pros
Made for artists and makers.
Simple to run.
Access advanced features (like discounts and promos) in the free plan.
Easy to modify payment and shipping options.
cons
Limited features and integrations.
Customization needs HTML knowledge.
big cartel pricing
The free plan on Big Cartel allows you to list up to 5 of your items, but nothing more than that. Still a wonderful place to begin for artists who are trying to develop their brand, and there is no need that they pay a listing fee.
You should subscribe to the next plan, which costs $9.99 per month, if you want to take use of the bulk editing, shipping tracking, and sales tax automation features. You will be required to pay $19.99 a month more if you want to list up to 500 goods and provide a variety of options to your customers.
Why choose big cartel over Shopify?
Suited more for artisans and creatives.
Niche platform for handmade products.
You can sell online for free.
9. Sellfy
Do you want to offer digital items in addition to your physical products? Have a look at Sellfy.
It is a web-based platform that makes it simple for online influencers to make money off of their audience. You may use it to sell print-on-demand merchandise such as t-shirts or mugs, digital items such as filters or social media themes, and even subscriptions to whatever it is that you are selling to your dedicated fans.
It simplifies the process of operating an online business, allowing you to devote more of your attention to the production of enjoyable content.
sellfy is best for…
Sellfy is ideal for content providers that are interested in beginning to monetize their audience. You may also sell subscriptions in addition to digital content, physical goods sold online (they even provide print on demand), and online merchandising.
pros
Can be used to sell digital products, merch, and subscriptions.
User-friendly interface.
Easy to collect payments.
Sell directly on social.
Custom storefront.
cons
Inefficient customer service.
Restrictive pricing plans.
sellfy pricing
Why choose sellfy over Shopify?
Can add sales features to an existing website.
Great platform to sell digital products.
Very simple and easy to use for beginners.
10. Squareup
Square’s primary goal is to ensure the prosperity of companies of all sizes. They began by providing small companies with a method to accept payments by credit card, but since then, they have developed more capabilities.
They are also deeply integrated with hundreds of technologies developed by other parties (including the online stores mentioned here like Woo and Wix).
Choose Square as your payment processing solution if you want to improve efficiency throughout your whole company, cut down on wasted time, and maintain access to the familiar tools you’ve come to rely on. Instead of doing things the other way around, run your company the way you want to using the resources that currently serve you.
Square Online is best for…
Established companies that seek to expand their consumer base via new sales channels would benefit most from using Square Online. It is most well-known for the third-party integrations it offers, which make it simple to link up with the tools you already use.
In this manner, you are able to conduct your organisation in the manner that best suits you using the myriad of tools that you already adore.
In addition, Square Online offers free services all the way up to the point when you make your first sale. This allows you to become used to the world of online marketing without incurring any costs.
pros
Heavy on 3rd-party integrations.
Offers payments, POS, hardware, and more.
Flexible and versatile.
Efficient customer service.
cons
Strict verification and fraud measures.
Customer service can be better.
squareup pricing
You won’t have to pay anything to utilise Square until you make your first sale. The only time you will incur costs is when you make a sale, at a rate of only 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. It will cost you an additional $12 per month if you want to elevate your brand, eliminate any branding that is associated with Square, and have a personalised domain.
You would have to pay an extra $26 per month in order to get greater support and other services like abandoned cart emails. However, if your business has expanded to the point where you may profit from bulk reductions on transaction fees, the Premium Plan, which costs $72 per month, is the best option for you.
Why choose Squareup over Shopify?
Cloud-based POS system.
Cheaper subscription plans.
Sell simultaneously on social media.
Shopify Alternatives in various countries
Shopify Alternatives India
Dukaan
BigCommerce
WooCommerce
Wix eCommerce
Squarespace
In India, Dukaan is the most competitive alternative to Shopify. It addresses one of the most significant problems with Shopify, which is the high learning curve that it imposes. Creating and managing your own online shop has never been easier than it is with Dukaan, which allows you to do both.
People also choose WooCommerce due to the fact that it is free, but the ability to establish an online shop is limited to those who are skilled in web design. A portion of the money saved from the membership fees will also be allocated to the design and development of the website.
Shopify Alternatives in the UK
EKM
ShopWired
The United Kingdom is now the fourth biggest eCommerce market in the world as a result of its rapidly expanding online retail sector, which has been on the rise for some time.
With more than $3 billion being spent each week in the UK online retail market, consumer eCommerce now accounts for more than 36% of the entire retail market in the UK, which is an increase from 2019’s figure of 20%.
EKM is the dominant player in this market for eCommerce and provides services to a wide variety of enterprises of varying sizes.
Shopify Alternatives in Australia
WooCommerce
Wix
BigCommerce
WordPress
Squarespace
At the moment, the eCommerce market in Australia is the tenth biggest in the world based on sales; the market value is approximately $33.1 billion, and it is expected to increase at a pace of 8.9% by 2021.
In Australia, WooCommerce, along with Wix, BigCommerce, and WordPress, is considered to be among the best alternatives to Shopify.
Shopify Alternatives in Canada
Square Online
Squarespace
Wix
BigCommerce
Ecwid
The field of online shopping has seen phenomenal expansion in recent years in Canada, just as it has everywhere else in the globe.
Over 27 million people in Canada used eCommerce platforms in 2021, which was equivalent to 72.5% of the country’s total population. This percentage is projected to increase to 77.6% in 2025.
In addition to platforms like as Squarespace, Wix, BigCommerce, and Ecwid, Square Online is consistently ranked among the most popular eCommerce solutions in Canada.
Last Words…
Now, everything has been covered, from the reasons why you should seek for Shopify alternatives to the provision of a comprehensive list of Shopify alternatives that you can test out.
We believe that Dukaan and BigCommerce have established themselves as the most well-liked choices for companies since they are able to satisfactorily meet the ever-evolving requirements of these companies.
Even if you may discover several platforms on various websites, the primary consideration should be whether or not your company’s requirements are satisfied.
The platform that is able to properly fit your requirements, financial constraints, and skill set is the “best Shopify alternative” for you. Conduct your own independent research, and bear in mind the ultimate purpose of your efforts. The rest is simple.
FAQ’s
1. What are the best Shopify alternatives for small businesses?
Wix and Dukaan are two options for small businesses that do not need a difficult and highly technical platform to develop their companies on. These options are less complicated, more user-friendly, and convenient, and they are an overall better match for the requirements of small enterprises.
2. What are the best Shopify alternatives for large businesses?
Large companies may make the most of the adaptability and customisation possibilities offered by BigCommerce, making it the ideal alternative to Shopify for these kinds of organisations.
3. Are there any free alternatives to Shopify?
There are, in fact, free Shopify alternatives available, such as WooCommerce, which may be used in place of Shopify.
The WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is open source and free to use. However, you will be need to provide your own hosting. This indicates that you will need to spend money in order to have WordPress host your website.
4. What is a cheaper Shopify Alternative?
There are other less expensive alternatives to Shopify, including Weebly, Dukaan, and WooCommerce.
Both the Lite ($26.36 per month) and Premium ($92.30 per year) plans are available from Dukaan.
Weebly has two different pricing tiers: Pro (which costs $9 per month) and Business (which costs $16 per month).
The WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is free to use, however there are expenses associated with website hosting.
5. Who are Shopify’s competitors?
Some of Shopify’s most formidable rivals on the market include e-commerce platforms with names like BigCommerce, Wix, Dukaan, WooCommerce, and Squarespace.
When searching for alternatives to Shopify, you may give any of these choices some thought, depending on which one meets your requirements the most effectively.
