12 Shopify Alternatives that are Better (Free and Paid) by 2022
Shopify is an extremely popular e-commerce platform that is used by millions of retailers. There are some drawbacks that can turn people off from staying with the site. There are many merchants who fail because of the high cost of the monthly subscription especially when their store isn't profitable yet. Many leave because other costs like app purchases creep up and eat the profit margins. Some find Shopify too complicated, especially for people who aren't experts. Therefore, even though Shopify could be a great option for certain types of customers users, it's an excellent idea to look at some Shopify alternatives to ensure you've chosen the right ecommerce platform to meet your requirements as a business owner. We'll take an in-depth look at the Shopify rivals.
What exactly is Shopify?
Shopify is an ecommerce platform which focuses on selling physical items. Whether you dropship or wholesale it is possible to find Shopify applications that permit you to find products to sell through your store, in order to become an online merchant the within the same day. Shopify provides e-commerce services like hosting on the web, a no-cost domain under their subdomain as well as over 100 payment gateways, unlimited products, and more. However, there isn't a free plan and only a 14-day trial trial. This means that this project could cost a lot in the beginning.
4 Benefits of Using Shopify Rivalry Instead
1. To find a more affordable option
Out of their traditional pricing levels, the most economical plan is their Basic plan that starts at $29/month. But, Shopify also offers a 9-month subscription, but you won't have your own online store. You'll need to sell products via social media, a third-party website, or some other way. Unfortunately, Shopify doesn't offer an affordable plan for merchants who aren't making any money. If you're paying for themes, a monthly subscription, apps, and marketing that you'll have to invest lots of cash into beginning your journey, and there's the nil chance of success if you select the best area or product to sell. Unfortunately, not everyone builds an empire as large as Kylie Cosmetics or Fashion Nova. Therefore, alternatives like Shopify could be an excellent option for people seeking a less expensive option.
2. To earn a larger profits
Another reason people may be interested in Shopify alternatives is that they can earn an even higher profit margin when selling online. Apart from your monthly payment and app fees, and transaction fees of 2.9% + 30 cents with the Basic plan. Depending on where you source the products you sell, you might have to pay for the shipping costs, products as well as the app subscription. And that's all prior to launching your product. Since there are many charges paid before you've made the first couple of dollars, it could make it difficult to maintain your margins. Therefore, you decide to start advertising, which has an expense for marketing that is higher as compared to other methods of advertising to make sales. But ads don't always convert profitably. You'll need the trial and error method, product market fit, and experience to run a successful ecommerce store. This can be a huge burden for novices who just want to earn a little extra cash to supplement their income. There is no reason to be unable to make it however, some platforms are too expensive upfront expenses, which could be detrimental financially to someone.
3. Find a platform that is easier to use
Shopify has drag-and-drop functionality that makes it relatively easy for beginners. However, building a website isn't the most challenging aspect of operating an online store. The process of marketing your merchandise is perhaps the most difficult aspect of becoming the owner of an online store. The number of ecommerce options a platform provides is an added benefit However, it is the marketing aspects that have a significant impact. Being able to get connected to your target audience more efficiently and faster is the thing that the majority of e-commerce platforms don't make up for. But, it's possible to find an ecommerce solution that functions as a marketplace, allowing customers come to you instead of you having to do all the work. And for store owners looking to find a reliable marketing platform such as Shopify, the Shopify alternative might be an ideal choice.
4. So that you can ease your pain
From writing numerous product descriptions, to challenges with transferring from one platform to the one that follows, and the absence of a reliable CMS (CMS), to the excessive cost There are many reasons to search for alternatives to Shopify alternative. A store that sells online isn't just a website; it's a business. The easier it is to manage your company instead of just creating it, the more likely people select the option that is most suitable for them. Shopify provides customer service to all its merchants, but for some people they don't have enough support for them to generate revenue.
12 Shopify Alternatives That are Better (Free and Paid)
1.
On , you can accept transactions from everywhere. If you wish to sell via social media, on your blog, or another site, you are able to. The checkout on your site is designed for conversions, so it will convert more customers on your store. Additionally, when customers place an order through you, they'll get immediate download. It's time to put an end to lengthy delivery wait times.
Securely hosts your content files, and they'll only receive the file once they've landed on the download page following the purchase. And, unlike the major e-commerce platforms there's no need to wait to get paid. Instead, customers earn money through PayPal or Stripe instantly.
2. BigCommerce
Alternatives to Shopify similar to BigCommerce are great options for creating an online shop. BigCommerce provides a variety of services, like hosting for websites. The biggest advantage BigCommerce has over Shopify is that there are zero transaction charges in the pricing plans. BigCommerce permits you to create up to 600 variations for every product, whereas Shopify only allows 100 variations for each product. BigCommerce provides a longer free trial period than Shopify so that you can investigate the platform as well as build your own online store. BigCommerce additionally has larger drag-and-drop function which lets you design your online store using any element easily. BigCommmerce offers more free themes and paid themes than Shopify offers, making it one of the Shopify alternatives to check out.
3. WooCommerce
Shopify alternatives such as WooCommerce are ideal for those seeking to set up an online store that has the highest flexibility for customization. If you're serious about building an online store, WooCommerce is an open-source platform that is available for free. In addition, WooCommerce can be an WordPress plug-in. So, if you've been contemplating building your site with the largest blog available for organic traffic to it, this is the best Shopify solution to achieve that. You'll need to pay for your own web hosting but. However, this also means that you're in control of choosing. WooCommerce is one of the most popular Shopify competitors , having more than 3 million users than that green bag of shopping.
4. Etsy
If you're looking for advertising features, Etsy is one of the Shopify alternatives to check out. Etsy is an online marketplace where people can purchase and sell their products. Even though you don't have an shop on the internet, buyers will find you organically when searching on Etsy which makes it a great choice for people who are struggling to market. There's no monthly subscription however it isn't a guarantee that Etsy is fee-free. You'll need to pay charges for listing that amount to $0.20 per item you list and an additional 6.5 per cent transaction fee. Plus, you'll be required to pay payment processing fees dependent on your chosen payment provider. However, if you don't have to dish out much for marketing costs, it's a worthwhile Shopify alternative for companies selling physical goods.
5. PinnacleCart
Like Shopify, PinnacleCart offers a free plan for users who earn upwards of $250,000. It is possible to add up to five admin accounts on this free plan too. This ecommerce platform is stacked with more than 400 features for ecommerce which allow you to modify and build your shop to your own specifications. The platform offers no transaction charges with all plans. Alternatives to Shopify like this include a QR code generator, the ability to leave testimonials, an wishlist for customers as well as gift message when you place an order. And you don't need to install an app in order to include these features in your online store.
6. Wix
Wix is among the few Shopify alternatives that offer ad vouchers in their monthly subscription so that you are able to run your own online shop and concentrate on the most important thing: generating sales. You can run subscription services on Wix. Wix account, which makes it one of the most advanced options that online merchants can incorporate into their websites. Your ecommerce business can also permit you to add as many as 250 items when dropshipping via Modalyst. In addition to product sales, online tools such as Wix can allow you to build personal websites, freelance businesses as well as offer tickets to special events. Restaurants frequently make use of Wix because it allows ordering food online. Hotel reservations can be made via Wix too. This goes further than simply creating an online store.
7. PrestaShop
Another Shopify alternative using an open-source ecommerce platform is PrestaShop. As an open-source and self-hosted platform, it's totally accessible for use in online stores. However, there are cost of running shops, even with e-commerce options like PrestaShop. Nevertheless, this platform is simple to use and lets you customize your store. It is possible to edit the sources files, but with Shopify changing the code of your theme can make your online business ineligible for future upgrades. PrestaShop offers more than 2,000 themes on their website, whereas Shopify offers less than 100.
8. Elementor
The ecommerce solution Elementor is an alternative to Shopify alternative worth considering. With more than 300 professionally-designed templates available, you'll be able to build a striking online business. Shopify is a great choice for businesses. Shopify alternative also allows you to do responsive editing that means you are able to adjust your site from up to seven devices at once. Additionally, you can live edit your site for fast fixes. Additionally, thanks to auto-save technology the website will not need to manually update your site when you change something on the site. Additionally, in contrast to Shopify you are able to create multiple pages, such as the landing page, templates for pop-up windows blocks templates, about us pages and many more, all with distinctive features in design.
9. Square
The Shopify alternatives to point-of-sale solutions include none other than Square. It is popular with small-scale restaurants, brick-and-mortar stores, and smaller retailers. If you use the Square application for transactions, it's completely totally free. You'll only need to pay 2.65 per swipe. Unlike Shopify which is a service, you are able to buy a register to the physical location for the cashiers at your shop to put into the orders. Businesses that generate over $250,000 in annual revenue can receive additional savings for operating their POS solution through Square.
10. Squarespace
Alternatives to Shopify like Squarespace allow you to create more features for your online store. Squarespace has better blogging capabilities than Shopify for those looking to incorporate blogs into their ecommerce store. There are also many more templates for free on Squarespace than on Shopify, giving you more choice for a template. The Shopify option also lets the user to include more options for each product. This can be up to 250, versus Shopify's 100. Additionally, you can register your domain name no cost when you purchase an annual subscription of an Squarespace plan.
11. Poshmark
Poshmark is an ecommerce platform that lets you offer your products to their customers. If you're in search of Shopify alternatives that have their marketplace of their own, Poshmark is a great choice, mainly when you are selling brand name clothing and cosmetics. Brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers with excess inventory can use Poshmark for selling their items at more affordable prices. This ecommerce platform even has Posh Stories, where you could promote your product with images or videos via their application. Although you'll not have your own online store on Poshmark, you'll be able to communicate with the Poshmark customer base.
12. WordPress
Alternatives to Shopify like WordPress permit e-commerce capabilities through the use of plug-ins. If you're trying to launch an online shop like one that is an Amazon affiliate site, WordPress could be a suitable option. The most effective CMS you'll find online is WordPress. Millions of people choose WordPress to build a website even though they may not specialize in ecommerce functionality, there are many ways to go about this. As an example that there are more WordPress themes than the other eCommerce platform, as it's the largest. The Shopify alternative is free and lets you customize your site to suit your needs for a truly unique online store. While Shopify has more than 1,000,000 customers, WordPress manages over 455 million sites.
FAQ
Are there any free alternatives to Shopify?
Yes! is a no-cost alternative to Shopify. Sign up to's Free Forever plan. It's a free option, and you only pay a 5 per cent transaction cost when you make a sale. Even on the Free Forever plan will you have access to all of 's features that allow you to design your store online in the manner you want.
Which are the Shopify's biggest competitors?
The primary competitors of Shopify include digital goods, Square for point-of-sale solutions, Etsy for marketplace sellers, and BigCommerce and WooCommerce for physical products.
Is Shopify worth it?
It depends. Shopify is a good ecommerce platform for some people however, beginners may encounter excessive costs when the beginning of a business with Shopify. As an example, other platforms have a free plan for a monthly subscription with every feature you need to create your online shop.