39 Shopify Alternatives – Unleash eCommerce with GPT

Online shopping is the most lucrative business in the past decade, and that has led to an increase in the number of websites facilitating ecommerce.

That, in turn, has resulted in a flourish in the business of commerce platform providers. Shopify is one such ecommerce platform that enables businesses to set up a store online.

It would be impossible not to discuss Shopify when the discussion is about the ecommerce business.

Shopify helps users set up a business from anywhere around the world with the help of some of the best features that help improve sales, manage day-to-day operations, find customers, and much more.

The marketing tools in Shopify help create & execute marketing campaigns, the reporting & analytics tools enable to analyze the effectiveness of the marketing campaigns, and much more. Shopify also offers a payment gateway that enables businesses to accept online payments. Shopify is easy to use and set up, making it the hot favorite among small and medium businesses.

Features

Shopify features help businesses set up the website in multiple languages, making it easy for customers worldwide to shop. The Customization of the store, email templates, and branding enables them to create a professional image. Payment gateways help customers to pay through various channels. The marketing features help businesses to create engaging content that plays a vital role in improving website traffic.

The other dropshipping features are easy to use and enable businesses to flourish with minimal risks.

Order fulfillment, refunds, and taxation help businesses manage unlimited products, abandoned carts, and much more, making it one of the best ecommerce platform.

When running a Shopify store, business owners focus also on finding different ways to manage their finances. E-commerce checking accounts are an excellent solution for them since they streamline transactions, minimize fees, and allow access to funds that can be used for inventory management or other cost-related needs. They are designed with the business owner in mind and incorporate features like budgeting and expense-tracking tools that help keep track of incoming and outgoing payments.

The analytics feature helps business owners to get a better understanding of the customer requirements/ behavior.

Shopify is the best ecommerce platform that enables business owners to manage their online stores with tons of exciting ecommerce features. Email marketing, Shopify payments, and other user-friendly features help businesses to improve their website traffic. However, like any other ecommerce solution provider, Shopify also has its own set of challenges:

1. Challenging to manage the conversion of a purchase order into a receipt.
2. Limited Customization and pre-designed templates make all the Shopify stores look the same.
3. Orders with different currency payments are difficult to be changed.
4. Shopify has control over the access, and that does not seem to change.
5. Designing pages other than your first page can get challenging if you do not have a technical background.
6. The pricing is not based on the volume of orders and makes it difficult for small businesses to survive the initial months.

Above list summarize the common limitations users may encounter with Shopify when evaluated against other e-commerce platforms.

While Shopify offers various excellent features, there are quite a few challenges for businesses to manage. It makes the business owners want to explore the other providers, referred to as Shopify alternatives. Whether it is the ease of use, business plan, unlimited bandwidth, support, price plans, reports in real-time, or the payment gateways, business owners consider tons of factors as the vital feature they are keen to explore.

The market offers tons of providers that offer similar features to Shopify with a variety of pricing plans. Sellfy, BigCommerce, Sam cart, Pay Hip, Selz, Squarespace, and a few others can be used instead of Shopify. We can discuss the features, pricing plans, integrations, advantages, use cases, and how to get started with various Shopify alternatives.

Is there a free Shopify alternative?

Wix is an ecommerce platform that works well as a Shopify alternative that is available for free. Wix offers a free drag and drop editor that helps business owners to create an online store. Wix does not require its users to code and choose their favorite theme from dozens of free themes. Cart & Checkout, store management, store analytics, payments, Marketing, and mobile apps are a few features that work well for small businesses.

Is DashNex better than Shopify?

DashNex offers automatic security, updates, hosting, and backups and does not collect any transaction fees. DashNex manages maintenance and website hosting with flexible pricing plans. DashNex works well for business owners with no technical knowledge. DashNex is powered by Amazon cloud and enables users to build an ecommerce website without costing them a fortune with the order processing fees and recurring payments.

With DashNex, business owners can launch a customized ecommerce or a dropshipping store and a mobile responsive website effortlessly.

Is Shopify better than Wix?

Both Wix and Shopify aims at offering to set up a website for business owners without any coding skills/ technical knowledge and sell products online. Wix worked well as a provider to build a content-based website where content showcasing like news sites, blogs, brochures, and photography portfolios.

Shopify was built to offer solutions for businesses to create an online store.

• Pricing – Wix offers a free plan, whereas Shopify offers a fourteen-day free trial.
• Transaction fees: Both Wix and Shopify charge transaction fees of 2.4% to 2.9% for their in-built payment processors.

However, Shopify payments are not available in all countries, and this leads to the sites using third-party payment gateways and ending up paying two different sets of transaction fees.

But Wix does not charge its users for any third-party payment gateway usage.

Templates – With a Wix account, users can choose from more than five hundred templates.

Shopify offers about two to three variants in the entire bundle of up to nine themes. Shopify users can always purchase a premium theme for $100 – $180.

Payment gateway – Both Wix and Shopify offers a payment gateway to accept payments but are not available in all countries, and the users may have to use third-party payment platforms for the same.

However, Wix does not charge its users for any third-party payment gateway usage.

Still, Shopify charges transaction fees, which means its users may have to pay twice the transaction fees for the third party payment gateways that they use.

Point of Sales – The point of Sales feature enables its users to sell online, in a shop, or a stall. Both Wix and Shopify offer POS. While Shopify offers POS in most countries, Wix offers it in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. POS Systems are a crucial feature with Shopify integrations, whereas, with Wix, users would be required to add Square to their platform if they would like to use the Point of Sale feature.

We performed a detailed review of each Shopify alternatives, highlighting robust built-in features and compelling pricing structures. Reflecting on usage within a eCommerce business setting, we’ve assessed these alternatives on a scale from 1 to 5 stars as shown below:

1. Squarespace 

Squarespace is an ecommerce platform that enables users to create a website with engaging and attractive themes and content.

It is a great fit for users looking to improve their online presence/ branding. Integrations, customizations, and the in-built templates help users to build online stores with multiple payment gateways. Navigations, editing tools, and tons of other robust features with affordable price plans are a great fit for businesses of all sizes.

Comparative Analysis: Shopify vs. SquareSpace

2. PrestaShop

PrestaShop stands out from Shopify with its open-source platform, offering extensive customization capabilities without the need for a monthly subscription. Unlike Shopify, PrestaShop allows users to modify the source code to meet specific needs, making it ideal for businesses with unique requirements. It supports a wide range of international languages and currencies natively, providing a robust solution for global e-commerce operations. PrestaShop’s community-driven modules and themes further enhance its adaptability.

Comparative Analysis: PrestaShop vs. Shopify

Above table shows how PrestaShop flexibility and cost-effectiveness make it suitable for businesses requiring detailed customization, in contrast to Shopify’s streamlined but costlier service.

3. Wix Stores

Wix Stores provides a user-friendly platform that integrates seamlessly with Wix websites, distinguishing itself from Shopify by focusing on simplicity and design flexibility for smaller operations. Unlike Shopify, which is primarily e-commerce-focused, Wix offers a broader range of website functionalities along with e-commerce capabilities, making it ideal for businesses that prioritize overall website design along with online selling. Wix also provides a wide array of visually appealing templates specifically optimized for various industries.

Comparative Analysis: Wix Stores vs. Shopify

Above table illustrates that while Wix Stores is excellent for businesses seeking an easy-to-use platform with strong design capabilities, Shopify remains a better option for those needing advanced e-commerce functionalities.

4. Weebly

Weebly, known for its simplicity and drag-and-drop website builder, distinguishes itself from Shopify by offering an incredibly user-friendly interface ideal for beginners. Unlike Shopify, which is designed with a strong focus on e-commerce, Weebly provides a balanced approach suitable for both website building and online selling. It offers a range of ready-to-use design templates that make it easy for anyone to set up a site quickly without needing design or technical skills.

Comparative Analysis: Weebly vs. Shopify

Above table highlights Weebly strengths in simplicity and ease of use for small business owners new to online selling, compared to Shopify’s robust but more complex e-commerce solutions.

5. Shift4Shop

Shift4Shop, formerly known as 3dcart, offers distinct advantages over Shopify, particularly in its comprehensive built-in features at no extra cost. Unique to Shift4Shop are its advanced SEO tools, which include AMP support on all themes and optimized URLs across the board. Additionally, Shift4Shop provides more payment gateways without additional transaction fees, a boon for businesses aiming to minimize operational costs. Its all-in-one platform is also noted for extensive customization options that don’t require app integrations.

Comparative Analysis: Shift4Shop vs. Shopify

Above table underscores Shift4Shop focus on providing a feature-rich e-commerce solution with lower operational costs compared to Shopify, which offers greater ease of use and a larger ecosystem of apps.

6. Volusion

Volusion stands out from Shopify with its focus on data and analytics tools tailored specifically for tracking inventory and customer insights. Unlike Shopify, which offers broader third-party integrations, Volusion provides more robust in-house data tools that help businesses understand their sales trends without needing additional apps. Volusion also emphasizes a straightforward pricing structure with no transaction fees, appealing to small to mid-sized businesses looking for a clear and predictable cost model.

Comparative Analysis: Volusion vs. Shopify

Above table highlights how Volusion specialized features for inventory and data analytics offer a compelling choice for businesses prioritizing these aspects over Shopify broader ecosystem and customization options.

7. Square Online

Square Online, distinct from Shopify, integrates seamlessly with Square’s point of sale systems, making it an ideal choice for businesses that operate both online and offline. Unlike Shopify, which focuses primarily on e-commerce, Square Online provides a unified experience that syncs inventory and sales data across physical and digital channels. This integration simplifies operations for businesses looking to maintain a dual presence effectively.

Comparative Analysis: Square Online vs. Shopify

Above table emphasizes Square Online strength in integrating with physical retail, offering a smooth transition for businesses operating in both realms, whereas Shopify offers more depth in pure e-commerce features.

8. GoDaddy Ecommerce

GoDaddy Ecommerce, powered by their Websites + Marketing suite, offers an integrated approach to website building and e-commerce that is distinct from Shopify. One of the standout features of GoDaddy Ecommerce is its simplicity and the integration of marketing tools directly within the e-commerce platform, such as email marketing and SEO tools. Unlike Shopify, GoDaddy provides a more straightforward setup process, aimed particularly at novices without prior e-commerce or web development experience.

Comparative Analysis: GoDaddy Ecommerce vs. Shopify

Above comparison shows that GoDaddy Ecommerce is ideal for those new to online selling who prefer a more guided and straightforward approach, whereas Shopify serves well for businesses that desire deeper customization and broader scalability.

9. PinnacleCart

PinnacleCart differentiates itself from Shopify with its focus on tailored e-commerce solutions that are designed to maximize conversion rates. Unlike Shopify, PinnacleCart offers more customized and marketing-focused features out of the box, such as advanced SEO capabilities, a focus on mobile optimization, and conversion-enhanced templates. It also provides an option for hosting on their own servers or a self-hosted setup to give users complete control over their environment.

Comparative Analysis: PinnacleCart vs. Shopify

This table shows that PinnacleCart is suited for businesses that need a more robust, customizable platform and are capable of handling more complex e-commerce setups compared to Shopify’s more straightforward, managed approach.

10. Payhip

Payhip helps users sell and promote design assets, eBooks, memberships, digital products, and much more to their customers.

Payhip is another excellent Shopify alternative that works like a complete package for ecommerce.

Comparative Analysis: Payhip vs. Shopify

11. SamCart

SamCart is another Shopify alternative that helps its users to showcase products to boost sales.

Comparative Analysis: Shopify vs SamCart

12. Thrivecart

Thrivecart is an ecommerce platform that helps users sell their products and services, market with affiliated programs, and bump offers. Thrive cart enables users to create high converting checkout pages, sales funnels, upsells, and improve revenue.

Comparative Analysis: Shopify vs ThriveCart

13. Kartra

A cloud-based solution that helps small and large business owners to create and manage an ecommerce platform with its analytics, customizable templates, affiliate management, and in-built Checkout.

Kartra offers various modules that cover most of the requirements of a business ranging from payment processing to marketing strategies.

Comparative Analysis: Shopify vs Kartra

1. Selz

Selz is another Shopify alternative that offers various themes, integrations, drag and drop for a store building, and much more. Easy to set up, 24/7 support, customized store themes, various payment gateways that accept all major debit and credit card, selling through various social media channels, and improving website traffic is all made possible with Selz.

Selz also offers features that enable business owners to manage marketing, shipping, orders, inventory, and customers.

Comparative Analysis: Selz vs. Shopify

2. Simvoly

Simvoly is an excellent choice for small and medium business owners, freelancers, and agencies looking to build customized websites for their stores, funnels, and blogs without any hassle. Simvoly does not require users to have any technical knowledge. Customized templates and the drag and drop interface make website creation a breeze and a hot favorite among the Shopify alternatives.

Comparative Analysis: Simvoly vs. Shopify

3. Big Cartel

Big Cartel is specifically designed for artists and small-scale crafters, offering tools that simplify the selling process for small inventory shops. Provides a straightforward platform without the complexities of larger e-commerce systems, focusing on ease of use. Offers a free plan that supports small shops with a limited number of products.

Comparative Table: Big Cartel vs Shopify

Big Cartel is best for artists and crafters who need a straightforward and budget-friendly platform to start selling online with minimal fuss.

4. Sellfy

Sellfy enables users to create an online store for selling digital products and subscriptions. It can be embedded on any of the social media pages. Sellfy enables effortless transaction and product browsing to your customers and improves sales due to better outreach. The analytics tools help improve ROI and maximize the earning potential of businesses.

Comparative Analysis: Sellfy vs. Shopify

5. Gumroad

If you are an individual with creative skills and are stuck in a nine to five job, then Gumroad helps you step out of the routine and enable its users to get paid for their skills. Gumroad helps you create, build your audience, start selling your products/ services, and improve ROI through analytics.

Comparative Analysis: Shopify vs Gumroad

Gumroad is particularly effective for creators looking to start selling quickly with a focus on digital goods and direct engagement with their customers.

6. InstaMojo

InstaMojo is tailored to the needs of Indian online sellers, offering integrated payment solutions that support local payment methods. Provides tools for digital products, physical goods, and subscriptions all within one platform. Features like free payment gateway setup and instant bank settlements make it attractive for small to medium-sized businesses.

Comparative Table: InstaMojo vs Shopify

InstaMojo is ideal for Indian businesses seeking a localized e-commerce solution that simplifies payment and sales processes.

7. Dukaan

Dukaan provides a platform specifically designed for rapid deployment of online stores in India, focusing on ease of use and speed. Offers features suited for the unique requirements of Indian businesses, including local payment and shipping integrations. Minimalistic interface designed for non-technical users to quickly start and manage their online sales.

Comparative Table: Dukaan vs Shopify

Dukaan is particularly suited for new Indian businesses that need a straightforward and quick solution for entering the online market.

When exploring alternatives to Shopify for drop shipping, it’s essential to consider platforms that offer robust features tailored to your business needs. The table below highlights some of the top options available, ranging from full-featured e-commerce platforms to specialized drop shipping services. Each option has unique strengths, whether you’re looking for ease of use, extensive customization, or cost-effectiveness. By comparing their key features and pricing, you can find the best solution to power your drop shipping business efficiently.

1. OpenCart

OpenCart offers a range of unique features that distinguish it from Shopify, particularly appealing to users looking for a more customizable and open-source solution. It provides a free, community-driven platform with extensive support for multiple currencies and languages, which is ideal for international sales. Unlike Shopify, OpenCart allows full control over hosting options, which can be a significant advantage for businesses with specific performance or security requirements. OpenCart also supports an unlimited number of products, categories, and manufacturers, giving users a lot more scalability without additional costs.

Comparative Analysis: OpenCart vs. Shopify

Above table highlights the core strengths and limitations of both platforms, helping you decide which fits better based on your business needs and technical capability.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a powerful, open-source eCommerce solution designed for WordPress users. It stands out from Shopify by integrating directly with WordPress, making it ideal for those who are already familiar with or using WordPress for their website. WooCommerce is highly customizable through plugins and extensions, and unlike Shopify, it does not require a monthly subscription fee. This platform allows for extensive customization with access to source code, giving users full control over their store’s functionality and appearance.

Comparative Analysis: WooCommerce vs. Shopify

Above table emphasizes the core advantages and challenges of using WooCommerce compared to Shopify, helping you decide which platform suits your needs based on your familiarity with WordPress and your budget for web operations.

3. Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento (Adobe Commerce) is a highly scalable e-commerce solution that stands apart from Shopify with its robust feature set designed for complex, large-scale operations. It offers powerful out-of-the-box capabilities, extensive customization through extensions and direct access to the underlying code. Magento supports complex catalog and inventory management, allowing businesses to manage multiple stores from a single instance. It also offers strong B2B functionality not typically found in Shopify, such as quote management and credit purchasing options.

Comparative Analysis: Magento (Adobe Commerce) vs. Shopify

This table highlights Magento’s suitability for large enterprises or businesses that require advanced e-commerce functionalities and are prepared for a significant investment in their platform setup and maintenance.

4. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an ecommerce platform that is designed to suit businesses of all sizes. Excellent page builder tools, customizable templates, features enabling inventory management, and store design are all a part of BigCommerce. SEO and social sharing features make it one of the best Shopify alternatives. The integrations enable customers to shop from third-party apps.

Comparative Analysis: BigCommerce vs. Shopify

1.NopCommerce

NopCommerce offers a distinct set of features compared to Shopify, emphasizing its open-source nature which provides complete access to the backend source code. This allows for extensive customization and integration capabilities, ideal for tech-savvy users and businesses with specific e-commerce needs. NopCommerce supports multi-store management from a single admin panel and multi-vendor functionality, enabling different vendors to sell on your platform. It is also optimized for SEO and supports multiple languages and currencies, enhancing its appeal for global commerce.

Comparative Analysis: NopCommerce vs. Shopify

Above table highlights the core advantages and potential limitations of using NopCommerce in comparison to Shopify, providing a clear view of which platform might better suit different types of business requirements and technical user levels.

2. Medusa

Medusa is an open-source headless commerce platform designed to offer a flexible and developer-friendly alternative to traditional e-commerce systems like Shopify. Unlike Shopify, which combines the front and back ends in a closely integrated environment, Medusa separates these layers to provide more control over the user experience and integration capabilities. It supports a wide range of databases and can integrate smoothly with various front-end frameworks, making it ideal for businesses looking to tailor unique customer experiences or leverage existing systems.

Comparative Analysis: Medusa vs. Shopify

Above table outlines the strengths and challenges of Medusa compared to Shopify, emphasizing Medusa’s appeal to those with development resources who need custom e-commerce solutions.

3. Magento

Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce, offers robust features that set it apart from Shopify, especially for enterprise-level needs. It provides advanced customization options, allowing businesses to create unique shopping experiences tailored to their specific requirements. Magento supports complex product configurations, customer segmentation, and personalized promotions, features not as readily available in Shopify. It’s particularly strong in handling large catalogs and multiple stores from one platform, making it ideal for B2B and global commerce.

Comparative Analysis: Magento vs. Shopify

Above table provides a concise view of how Magento offers more depth for customization and scale compared to Shopify, which is more suited for those looking for an easier start-up and maintenance experience.

4. Ecwid

Ecwid stands out from Shopify by offering a plugin that integrates with existing websites rather than requiring users to build a site from scratch. This makes it highly appealing for small businesses or individuals who already have a website and want to add e-commerce capabilities without migrating to a new platform. Ecwid also excels in multi-channel selling, allowing users to sell simultaneously on websites, social media platforms, and marketplaces. It’s known for its ease of integration, straightforward pricing, and simplicity.

Comparative Analysis: Ecwid vs. Shopify

Above table illustrates Ecwid utility for small businesses or individuals looking to extend their existing digital presence into e-commerce, contrasting with Shopify’s broader, more feature-rich environment aimed at users who may require a more comprehensive e-commerce solution.

5. Zen Cart

Zen Cart is a free, open-source shopping cart software, distinct from Shopify with its strong community-driven support and flexibility. It offers deep customization options for users comfortable with web development, allowing more control over their store’s functionality and design than Shopify’s more managed environment. Zen Cart supports numerous languages and currencies, making it suitable for international businesses, and it does not require a monthly subscription, appealing to businesses looking for a cost-effective solution.

Comparative Analysis: Zen Cart vs. Shopify

Above table highlights the key differences between Zen Cart and Shopify, focusing on Zen Cart’s appeal for those with the technical skills to manage and customize their e-commerce solution independently.

6. X-Cart

X-Cart stands out from Shopify with its flexibility as an open-source eCommerce platform that allows users to host their online store on their own servers or choose a cloud-based option. Unlike Shopify, X-Cart is known for its customizable capabilities, providing full access to the source code for deep customizations. It supports a wide variety of add-ons and integrations directly tailored for more technically adept users or businesses that require specific functionalities.

Comparative Analysis: X-Cart vs. Shopify

Above table highlights X-Cart appeal to businesses that need a highly customizable platform and are comfortable with managing their technical infrastructure, as opposed to Shopify’s more user-friendly but less flexible service.

When selecting a Shopify alternative, it’s crucial to consider the unique needs of your business, especially in relation to your geographic location. The table below categorizes top e-commerce platforms based on their suitability for businesses in Australia, India, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Each option is evaluated for its key features and pricing, making it easier to find the best platform tailored to your specific regional market. This guide aims to help you make an informed decision by highlighting the best alternatives available in your country.

Shopify Alternatives in Australia

Shopify Alternatives in India

Shopify Alternatives in United Kingdom

Shopify Alternatives in Canada

This selection guide helps you find the most suitable Shopify alternatives based on your country, providing key features and pricing details to assist in making an informed decision.

Shopify offers software that enables users to build online stores that are mostly suitable for ecommerce. Shopify features help businesses to build a stunning website with its pre-designed templates, blogging platform, payment gateways, integrations, and mobile apps. These Shopify features help businesses to improve their website traffic, improve their sales, and increase revenue.

However, Shopify also comes with a set of disadvantages, just like any other provider. Multiple currency payments, limited Customization with the pre-designed templates, pricing, and a few other limitations lead businesses to explore other providers.

Squarespace, Prestashop, Wix Stores, Weebly, Selz, Samcart, BigCommerce, Thrivecart, and a few others top the list among some of the best Shopify alternatives. Sales funnels, popups, email marketing tools, coupons, gift cards, discounts, drag and drop features for website building, and many other features offered by these Shopify alternatives the best in their space. Shopify and its alternatives enable businesses to create an online store with a shopping cart.

Payment gateways enable debit and credit card payments, integrations of third-party apps, drag and drop features, lesser/ zero transaction fees, and pricing plans that help improve revenue and drive more traffic to the website.

Shopify and its alternatives, like Squarespace, offer everything you need to build a website.

The website builder features offer unlimited bandwidth, 3d cart, a price plan, and many add ons that make them a better choice when you do a bit of research on the pros and cons of using Shopify. Many Shopify alternatives offer free plans, no transaction fee, and are simple and easy to get started.

However, choosing the perfect ecommerce platform might require you to consider many vital factors, along with critical business needs. We have discussed the features, pricing, use cases, and advantages in detail. The pros and cons of all the Shopify alternatives can be easily analyzed to pick the most suitable provider.

39 Shopify Alternatives – Unleash eCommerce with GPT

• 1About Shopify
• 2Limitations of Shopify
• 3Top Shopify Alternatives
• 4Top Alternatives in a Chart
• 513 Top Alternatives
• 67 Top Alternatives for Small Businesses
• 711 Drop Shipping Alternatives
• 8Top 4 Alternatives for Enterprise
• 95 Open Source Alternatives
• 10Country-wise Top Alternatives
• 11Our Experience
• 12FAQs