Shopify is without a doubt one of the most popular eCommerce solutions.
It has built-in features that simplify setting up an online store for beginners by eliminating writing a single line of code.
When your technical skills are limited and you don’t have the funds to hire a web developer, Shopify is a clear winner.
But, that is not all!
After all, when you’re on an article focused on Shopify alternatives, the platform’s lacking in some ways.
And that is true!
Shopify isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and it can’t handle some specific requirements.
If you’re already paying for a content management system (CMS), such as WordPress, you could be annoyed by the extra cost of the second platform.
And if you’re an artist, you can end up paying for features you don’t need or want to learn how to utilize!
The following are some of the most common Shopify issues:
- Fees for additional transactions: Be prepared to pay up to 2% for each transaction unless you want to process payments directly through Shopify’s in-house solution
- Liquid: The syntax of Shopify’s custom template markup language isn’t the easiest to understand
- Advanced options: Only the higher-tier plans have real-time shipping prices and the ability to take gift cards. Many advanced features of the platform are behind a paywall. As a result, if you require additional capabilities, your monthly price may become excessively more
- SEO tools: Inflexible URL structures and a WordPress plugin that employs iFrames don’t always transfer to the greatest potential ranking results, especially when it comes to huge sites where information architecture is critical. You also won’t be able to customize your checkout page
In addition to the above, some people find Shopify payment plans expensive, while some find the back-end interface complicated. But whatever the reason be,, many find the need to find the correct Shopify alternatives!
Because selecting an eCommerce platform isn’t a black-and-white choice. That’s why we’ve done some research and compiled a list of the finest Shopify alternatives.
12 cost-effective Shopify alternatives in 2021
- Vetrina Live
- Wix
- WooCommerce
- Magento
- Volusion
- Sellfy
- BigCommerce
- Shift4Shop (formerly 3Dcart)
- Squarespace
- PinnacleCart
- BigCartel
- Square ECommerce (formerly Weebly)
*All the tools are listed randomly and are not based on our preference order.
Vetrina Live
Vetrina Live is an eCommerce platform that assists businesses in setting up online stores and selling products. Without the assistance of designers or developers, users can construct web stores in a matter of minutes.
Vetrina Live enables businesses to sync products with Facebook’s inventory and launch dynamic ads with ease. It enables you to set up your online store and begin selling right away in just a few clicks.
You can also add your pixel, sync your inventory, and use the Facebook Chat plugin with Vetrina Live because it’s integrated with Google Analytics and Facebook. It will also be indexed by Google, which will assist you in reaching out to new and potential customers.
The following are the features you get access to while using this Shopify alternatives:
- Vetrina Live can help you get your business online or build one from scratch. You’ll learn about the features that will assist you in setting up your online store in only a few minutes!
- Even if you don’t have any technical skills, you will be able to add and edit your products autonomously and easily start selling them online
- To track users and optimize advertising based on the same user data, you can add Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel connections
- On a single platform, you can receive orders, manage their progress, and connect directly with customers to fulfill requests
- Vetrina Live is distinguished by a responsive and simple-to-use template that is focused on displaying products and encouraging purchases
- You may easily set up a Facebook Instagram Shop and begin selling on the social media platform
- Vetrina Live is designed to work on any device. When you’re at work, use your laptop or tablet to update the catalog, and when you’re on the go, use your smartphone to manage your orders
- Whatever your business is, you have the option of accepting payments by traditional methods such as cash or wire transfer, or by connecting your PayPal Business and Stripe accounts to accept credit card payments
- Before and after making a purchase, contact customers/shop owners via the WhatsApp button to simply ask for more information about the goods
- Facebook Catalog Synchronization allows you to design and deploy dynamic remarketing and prospecting campaigns based on your product catalog, as well as open your Facebook Shop
Pros:
✅Affordable pricing plans with no commissions on sales or extra transaction fees
✅Their open-source platform is simple and user-friendly and gives all tools you need to run an online business
✅Their customer support service is very active and helpful
✅Vetrina Live can also be turned into a full-fledged digital menu that not only replaces the paper menu but also allows for a wide range of direct ordering
✅You can handle the orders received, print them for the kitchen, and organize them in the best possible way through the showcase’s admin panel, which is accessible from both a smartphone and a PC
Cons:
❌Layout customization is limited, and there is no possibility to include product videos
❌The page speed should be increased
❌Ecosystem integrations are lacking
Pricing:
- Vetrina: $12.84 /month + VAT – max 50 products
- Store: $24.61/month + VAT – max 300 products
- Megastore: $41.10/month + VAT – unlimited products
- White label: contact for pricing – unlimited products
Now, while looking at the above pricing (standard plans as well as advanced plans) information, the prices look pretty affordable.
But what if we tell you there’s an even better pricing choice that you can opt for?
Therefore, this Shopify alternatives gives its customers a better variety of plans.
The best part of these deals? You only pay once and reap the benefits for a lifetime!
Checkout the following plans you can get for a one-time lifetime cost:
- Plan A (Shop-Window) – $49/lifetime
- Plan B (Store) – $97/lifetime
- Plan C (Megastore) – $145/lifetime
- Plan D (Unlimited & White Label) – $245/lifetime
Wix
Wix is a well-known, simple-to-use website builder. It enables almost anyone to easily construct a great website using easy basic features and drag-and-drop tools.
Most individuals can easily create a website that looks exactly how they want it to without working with code. Because it’s a hosted solution, there’s no software to install, and you can start building your website for free.
Wix’s app store has over 280 apps, add-ons, and plugins that allow you to integrate social media, live chat, payment gateways, coupons, and other services.
You can also use HTML codes, light boxes, several box features, and a variety of button types – all for a very low price.
This Shopify alternatives gives a great user interface to its users through the following box features:
- Customizations
- Alternate templates
- Drag and drop
- HTML input
- Domain name
- Growth
- SEO
- Site analytics
- Marketing features and tools
- eCommerce
- Hosting
- Content
- Digital products
- Email integrations
- Content management
- Customizable themes
- Permissions
Pros:
✅It’s simple to get your store up and running quickly with a drag-and-drop website builder with additional functionality
✅You get support for six product alternatives and 300 variant SKUs in total.
✅This Shopify alternatives provides a comprehensive, well-organized help center that is simple to navigate
✅Each of their eCommerce premium plans includes a one-year free domain
Cons:
❌You’re limited to 50GB unless you’re on an enterprise plan with configurable storage space
❌Apple Pay and Amazon Payments are not available as payment options on Wix
❌There is no live chat help available right now, so you’ll have to call or send a ticket
❌Because Wix offers so many different website alternatives that aren’t focused on eCommerce, searching through the app store might be difficult
Pricing:
- eCommerce: $16.17 per month
- Unlimited: $12.45 per month
- Combo: $9.25 per month
- Connect Domain: $4.08 per month
WooCommerce
This Shopify alternative, which powers over 24% of all online stores, allows you to sell anything and everything!
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create an online store. It implies you’ll have more options when it comes to designing your storefront.
However, it necessitates a thorough understanding of web hosting, domain names, and fundamental site design. WooCommerce’s adaptability is one of its strongest features.
When it comes to designing your store, it allows you complete control through the following extra features:
- Merchandising/marketing
- Storefront design tools
- Product variants and visualization
- Recommendations / personalization
- Promotions and discounts
- Product catalog
- Content management
- Product configuration
- Product search and filtering
- Order process
- Checkout process
- Shipping options
- Real-time shipping rates
- Tax Display and processing
- Payment processing
- Order management
- Platform
- Customization
- Security
- Performance and reliability
Pros:
✅There are numerous add-ons and useful extensions available for this Shopify alternatives
✅100% customizable if you have coding experience
✅There are a lot of WooCommerce users who are willing to assist you
✅The WooCommerce plugin comes with a very easy WordPress setting
✅It is free
Cons:
❌Having to manage all of your site’s technical aspects while also keeping it secure is complex and difficult
❌To launch an online store using this Shopify alternative, you’ll need a website developed on the WordPress platform
❌WooCommerce appears to be a less expensive option, but due to plugins, themes, and hosting, it may end up being more expensive than others
❌Not the best option for beginners
❌There is no direct technical assistance available
Pricing:
- The WooCommerce plugin is available for free. However, keep in mind the costs of custom domain hosting, plugins, extensions, and even web design.
Magento
Magento is a PHP-based open-source eCommerce platform. It also makes use of other PHP frameworks like Laminas and Symfony.
The Open Software License v3.0 governs the distribution of Magento source code.
Thousands of retailers and companies rely on Magento’s leading eCommerce platforms and versatile cloud solutions to innovate and expand quickly.
Magento is suitable for mid-sized to large enterprises with in-house programmers and the resources to adapt the platform to their needs because it is free, open-source, feature-rich, and downloadable.
As long as you know how to code, this Shopify alternatives enables advanced changes.
At the same time, it’s not the kind of plug-and-play solution that novices with little technical knowledge could require.
Pros:
✅Because it’s open-source, you can tweak everything in your business from the backend
✅This Shopify alternative has a strong developer community of over 260,000 people working on adding new features to the platform
✅Magento Commerce enterprise customers can choose between a cloud-hosted solution included in the package hosted on AWS or a self-hosted solution
✅For third-party apps and add-ons, you have access to a broad partner ecosystem
Cons:
❌Magento Open Source is an on-premise solution, which means you must either host it yourself or use a third-party web hosting service
❌Patches and upgrades are provided by Magento, but you are responsible for installing and managing them
❌You’ll need a developer, in-house IT staff, or an agency to manage the creation and maintenance of your website, regardless of which version you choose or how you host it
❌Magento is a very complex setup, which means that building it costs a lot of money
Pricing:
- Contact for pricing (custom pricing)
Volusion
Volusion is a trustworthy Shopify alternatives that serves over 200,000 enterprises in handling their eCommerce active stores. It’s a cloud-based shopping cart saver that’s popular among small businesses and solopreneurs with basic technical skills.
You don’t have to bother about hosting or integrating applications using this Shopify alternative.
The number of add-ons and plugins you can connect to your Volusion store determines your plan.
The plans include a slew of useful features, like the option to generate “Add to Cart” links, gift certificates, and the ability to categorize and subcategorize things in your store.
It has a mobile app that allows you to manage your store while on the road.
Volusion outperforms Shopify with its wide variety of features and values.
One should keep in mind that setting up your e-store backend with Volusion involves some coding knowledge, therefore inexperienced shop owners will have to pay for a developer.
Pros:
✅Unlimited product options in an easy-to-use Format
✅Affordable plans with no additional transaction costs
✅Free quality themes
✅Adaptive mobile app
✅Multiple payment processors
Cons:
❌There is a monthly bandwidth limit
❌Coding skills are required
❌Lack of integration with PLAs and Pinterest
❌Weak product search function
Pricing:
- Mini: $15/ per month
- Plus: $35/ per month
- Pro: $75/ per month
- Premium: $135/ per month
Sellfy
Sellfy is a cloud-based eCommerce platform for digital content creators such as writers, illustrators, designers, singers, and filmmakers who want to sell their work online.
Users can create a Sellfy shop to display their digital products, as well as include product widgets or “Buy Now” buttons on their own website or blog.
Individual product pages are available on Sellfy stores, allowing customers to present their products from various perspectives with several photos and previews from Soundcloud, Vimeo, and YouTube.
This Shopify alternatives allows you to upload product files up to 2GB in size and provides you with limitless bandwidth and safe product storage.
Users can also use the widgets to incorporate their complete store or specific project widgets into their websites.
Users can also embed their complete store or specific project widgets in their website with the ability to preview and change how the widgets appear.
In addition to the above, here’s what makes Sellfy an amazing Shopify alternative:
- Merchandising/Marketing
- Storefront design tools
- Product visualization
- Promotions and discounts
- SEO
- Product catalog
- Content management
- Modern templates
- Product configuration
- Product search and filtering
- Intangible products
- Order process
- Checkout process
- Shipping options
- Payment processing
- Order management
- Multi-channel support
- Omnichannel
- Social commerce
- Customer service
Pros:
✅Simple user interface with advanced functionality
✅Mobile app for on-the-go management along with unlimited product options
✅Hassle-free checkout
Cons:
❌Limited checkout and customization tools
Pricing:
- Premium: $129.00 a month
- Business: $59.00 a month
- Starter: $29.00 a month
BigCommerce
BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) eCommerce platform that enables merchants of all sizes to start, develop, and innovate their companies online.
BigCommerce, as a leading open SaaS solution, gives merchants powerful enterprise-grade features, flexibility, and performance while keeping things simple and easy to use.
It is, without a doubt, one of the most popular Shopify alternatives right now.
It is a hosted all-in-one solution that enables you to create an online store without the need for coding or advanced technological knowledge.
It’s simple to use for beginners while also having the power to create a large online store.
When you join up with BigCommerce, you’ll have access to the phone, live chat, email, and a forum for help.
Pros:
✅It has a simple interface and you don’t have to do any coding
✅This Shopify alternatives gives ample tools for store management
✅SEO and marketing are tools built-in
✅There are no transaction costs
✅With any package, you can have an unlimited number of staff accounts
✅Product review functionality is built-in
Cons:
❌Premium themes can be quite costly
❌When selling digital things, managing VAT MOSS rates is nearly impossible
❌It has a limit to annual sales
❌All of the retail themes appear to be very identical
Pricing:
- Standard: $29.95/ per month
- Plus: $79.95/ per month
- Pro: $299.95/ per month
- Enterprise: Custom
Shift4Shop (formerly 3Dcart)
Shift4Shop is a complete and robust eCommerce platform that was founded in 1997 to help online store owners succeed in a competitive industry.
Merchants can open, operate, and maintain a profitable eCommerce website with relative ease and efficiency thanks to the software’s hundreds of features.
This Shopify alternatives also has a large free plan for US citizens who don’t mind using the native Ship4 payment method. Paid Shift4Shop subscriptions provide you access to over 300 different payment providers, as well as services like real-time delivery with leading partners.
This platform offers a robust inventory system as well as a plethora of essential tools, such as SEO functions that can help you rank better in search engines.
This Shopify alternatives continues to be the solution of choice for industry experts all around the world since it is fully scalable and highly customized.
Pros:
✅No transaction fees
✅User-friendly interface for an experienced user
✅Built-in marketing tools
✅Creation and calculation of discount/promo codes
✅300+ payment gateways
Cons:
❌Their interface isn’t intuitive
❌It has no multilingual capabilities
❌Their free templates are not appealing
❌They have a poor customer service
❌It has a steep learning curve
❌There are revenue limits on paid plans
Pricing:
- Basic: $29 monthly
- Plus: $79 monthly
- Pro: $229 monthly
- Enterprise: Starts at $799 monthly
Squarespace
Squarespace creates beautiful tools to assist people who have innovative ideas.
Millions of people use their platform to share their stories and establish a powerful, stylish, and easy-to-manage online presence, from individuals and local artists to entrepreneurs shaping the world’s most iconic businesses.
Squarespace is regarded as the “king of design.” They provide a collection of attractive, responsive store templates that are simple to customize.
Although they have more than 80 templates, you can rest assured that they are of the finest quality. If you want a more designer look for your website, Squarespace is without a doubt the builder to use.
Pros:
✅A free domain name is included in their annual plan
✅Possibility of selling an infinite amount of items
✅They offer an excellent technical assistance
✅A large number of designer themes are available.
Cons:
❌The dashboard is not so intuitive
❌Its editor page is pretty tricky to navigate
❌There are no marketing tools available
❌Third-party app limitation
❌Payment choices are limited
❌There isn’t an integrated marketplace for add-ons
Pricing:
- Commerce: $26 per month billed annually
- Business: $18 per month billed annually
- Personal: $8 per month billed annually
PinnacleCart
PinnacleCart is a self-hosted eCommerce platform for businesses looking to expand to the next level.
If you’re planning to open an online business, it’s an eCommerce platform to consider.
To begin with, it has a plethora of built-in functions. Its dashboard provides all of its users with a reasonable amount of user-friendliness. Furthermore, it supports a variety of languages and currencies.
Pros:
✅You have the option of using PinnacleCart’s hosting or managing
✅Schema.org tags and custom URLs are SEO-friendly features
✅Every package includes an unlimited number of goods and categories
Cons:
❌Less number of themes available
❌If you choose to host with PinnacleCart, their most basic $79.95 plan has bandwidth and storage limits, so as your traffic grows, you’ll either have to pay more or change to a more expensive plan with unlimited capacity.
❌You’ll need to manage upgrades because PinnacleCart has versions
❌It only interfaces with 64 apps, therefore it has a small partner network
Pricing:
- Standard: $79.95/ month
- Advanced: $199.95/ month
BigCartel
Big Cartel is aimed at artists and creators, so if you fall into this category, you might want to explore it as a Shopify replacement.
Big Cartel is one of the few eCommerce platforms that will let you sell things for free without requiring you to give them your credit card information to open your store.
Because of its price, limitless bandwidth, inventory tracking, HTML and CSS customization, and key features, BigCartel has become popular among users.
It has fewer features than Shopify, but it is less expensive and suitable for solopreneurs and small firms.
It’s integrated with Google Analytics, Facebook, and PayPal, and setting up your shop is simple even if you don’t know how to code.
BigCartel doesn’t have an inventory search feature, so it’s perfect for shops with a limited amount of products.
Pros:
✅There are no additional transaction fees
✅PayPal integration
✅For shops with five or fewer products, this Shopify alternative offers a free plan
✅It’s easy to use and budget-friendly
Cons:
❌There is no live chat or phone support, and the features are limited
❌No inventory search function
Pricing:
- Titanium: $29.99 per month (300 products)
- Diamond: $19.99 per month (100 products)
- Platinum: $9.99 per month (25 products)
- Gold: free forever (5 products)
Square eCommerce (formerly Weebly)
Weebly is an excellent option for the other platforms if you’re seeking another easy-to-use platform.
You won’t receive quite as many features as Shopify, but their highest plan is somewhat less expensive than Shopify’s basic plan, so if you’re on a budget, Weebly is a good option.
Weebly is an excellent choice for anyone looking for simplicity right out of the box.
Weebly is a user-friendly website builder that provides easy access to everything from social media plugins to Google analytics and payment processing capabilities.
There’s even a free trial with all the following features to check out your Shopify alternative before you invest.
- Personalized customization
- Alternative templates
- Drag and drop
- Domain name
- Growth
- SEO
- Site analytics
- Marketing tools
- eCommerce
- Hosting
- Content
- Email integrations
- Content management
- Permissions
Pros:
✅One of the simplest tools on the market and ideal for beginners
✅There are a variety of responsive theme alternatives to pick from
✅There are a lot of apps to explore
✅Areas for team collaboration and membership
✅Affordable pricing with a free tier
Cons:
❌The checkout options aren’t optimal
❌Not suited to international stores
❌In some instances, customizing options are limited
Pricing:
- Free
- Starter: $8 per month
- Pro: $12 per month
- Business: $25 per month
How To Choose Your ECommerce Platform?
One needs to face many challenges while working in the eCommerce industry. To name a few, they are:
- Security
- Chances of site crash
- No possibility of getting a tried and tested product
- Late delivery to customers
- Lack of privacy
- Tax concerns
- Legal concerns
- High technical costs to maintain eCommerce websites
- Shipping problems of ordered products
- High labor costs
- Lack of personalization
- Credit card frauds
- Severe competition online
Looking at the above list one can understand that you have to be very careful in this field. Hence it becomes very important that you choose the best eCommerce website builder.
The above were the top 12 best Shopify alternatives on the web in 2021 for quickly and easily building the greatest eCommerce websites.
As picking the best eCommerce website builder can be quite overwhelming, you must do your complete research, figure out the pros and cons of all available websites, and only then go for your best Shopify alternatives!
Our Verdict!
Among the platforms on this list, Vetrina Live, in our opinion, is the best.
This Shopify alternative is extremely user-friendly and lets you increase your revenue returns on your website in addition to simply creating your online store.
Along with the lifetime deal offered on the platform, it is an ideal investment when you look at the monetary qualms of its competitors.
At the end of the day, filtering among Shopify affordable alternatives is about having a realistic grasp of your needs, talents, and budget, not about picking the best or worse.
With that, you can easily select a platform that meets all of your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should business owners create an eCommerce site?
An eCommerce platform is a software that facilitates the purchasing and selling of goods and services via the internet.
Customers need a search option to find a specific product, a cart feature to handle their order, and a payment feature in an eCommerce platform.
People nowadays have a lot less time to go to real stores and buy things. They prefer to shop online using their smartphones or computers.
Having an eCommerce site for your company will enable you to tap into this market and keep your clients up to date on all of your new products and services.
- How do I select the most appropriate platform for my eCommerce website?
Consider the following fundamentals before beginning your eCommerce web development. They will assist you in selecting the right platform.
Always think about the products you’re selling.
While some eCommerce platforms can handle inventory management and many product variations, others cannot.
Before deciding on a platform, think about the design possibilities, payment methods, site security, integration with other tools, features, and pricing.
- What characteristics distinguish an excellent eCommerce platform?
To persuade visitors to make a purchase, a good eCommerce web design relies on using the proper colors, fonts, images, text, and graphics.
The design of your eCommerce website should appeal to potential customers, create a positive user experience, and showcase your store in the best light possible.
So while choosing the best Shopify alternatives, it’s important you keep these details in mind.
- What features distinguish an eCommerce platform?
The following are the most important eCommerce features:
- Capabilities for content management
- Promotional and promotional code generators
- A simple checkout process
- The code and layout have been optimized for search engines
- Tools for reporting and the ability to create bespoke reports
- A blog or articles area that is integrated
- Features or integration for email marketing
