Online stores are like busy street shops—they need the right tools to attract customers, manage inventory, and keep sales flowing. Shopify is a perfect option for that.
Well, this is the most popular eCommerce platform, with sleek website templates and powerful automation tools.
However, in reality, not every business needs Shopify due to its hidden fees, limited customization, and overpriced add-ons. Some businesses may find other platforms better suited to their specific needs or budget (e.g. EzyCourse).
So, if that's the case for you, don't worry. There are many great Shopify alternatives out there.
Top 10 Shopify Alternatives in 2025
Let's come up with the best Shopify alternatives for your business. Here’s a sneak peek of the top alternatives that you can consider choosing in 2025:
EzyCourse
WooCommerce
BigCommerce
Wix eCommerce
Squarespace Commerce
Adobe Commerce (Magento)
Ecwid
Shift4Shop
Sellfy
Big Cartel
However, statistics still highlight Shopify as a leading e-commerce platform having a larger audience base.
Key Shopify Statistics
Shopify powers over 12% of the U.S. e-commerce market, making it a dominant player in the industry
As of 2025, Shopify supports over 2.49 million merchants across 175 countries, showcasing its global scalability.
Shopify achieved a 26% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3 2024, reflecting its consistent financial performance and ability to attract merchants.
Shopify merchants generated a record-breaking $11.5 billion in sales during Black Friday–Cyber Monday 2024, a 24% increase from the previous year.
Over 50% of Shopify stores benefit from repeat purchases, highlighting its effectiveness in fostering customer retention.
The average Shopify store generates approximately $67,000 in annual revenue, with top performers achieving even higher margins.
Shopify hosts over 2.1 million active users daily, demonstrating its widespread adoption and reliability as an e-commerce platform.
So, What Is Shopify? A Detailed Look
Shopify is an e-commerce platform where individuals and businesses can create online stores, sell products, and manage their businesses online or offline.
As a complete platform, it offers store design, payment systems, marketing, shipping, and customer interaction tools.
Let's say you want to start a business -- a boutique clothing line, a candle shop, or a sneaker brand. You have excellent products but need a suitable online shop to sell them. Shopify can help you with that! |
There are more than 175 countries in which Shopify hosts 5.6 million active stores as of 2024.
It combines website creation, safe payment processing, inventory control, marketing, shipping, and analytics to help budding entrepreneurs succeed.
Real-Life Example Example: 1 Example: 2 In another example, Stellar Eats benefited from a one-page checkout on Shopify and raised their online conversion rate by 3.5%. This allows customers to complete their purchases quickly. (Source) |
But, In What Way Does Shopify Work?
Think of Shopify as your digital storefront. When you sign up, you get access to an easy-to-use dashboard where you can:
Build a website using customizable themes
List and sell products (physical, digital, or services)
Accept payments securely
Manage inventory and orders
Handle shipping and fulfillment
Promote your store with built-in marketing tools
Unlike traditional website builders, Shopify is optimized for e-commerce. You don’t need coding skills to launch a store, and you can start selling in minutes.
Notable Features of Shopify
Uses mobile-ready themes and rendering editors that need no coding for adjusting the store.
Shopify Checkout accepts numerous payment types, including one-tap Shop Pay, helping increase conversion rates.
Offers tools for creating shipping labels, order tracking, and utilizing Shopify's Fulfillment Network.
Sales can be made from websites, social networks, and even marketplaces like Amazon using a single dashboard.
Provides reports on sales, customers, and stores.
Automated sitemaps, social networking, and sales-boosting plugins.
Merges online and offline sales with inventory linkages and in-store purchase order management.
Monitors stock, and processes returns automatically.
Add features through Shopify's app store, such as dropshipping, advanced reporting, etc.
Enables different languages, currencies, and over 100 international payment methods for cross-border businesses.
Pricing Plans of Shopify
Shopify offers different pricing plans to cater to businesses of different sizes and needs. Here's a detailed breakdown:
1. Starter Plan
Cost: $5/month
Ideal For: Side hustles or businesses selling through social media.
2. Basic Plan
Cost: $39/month (or $29/month if billed annually)
Transaction Fees:
2.9% + $0.30 USD per online transaction.
2% fee for third-party payment providers.
Ideal For: Small businesses starting their e-commerce journey.
3. Shopify Plan
Cost: $105/month (or $79/month if billed annually)
Transaction Fees:
2.6% + $0.30 USD per online transaction.
1% fee for third-party payment providers.
Ideal For: Growing businesses that need advanced tools.
4. Advanced Plan
Cost: $399/month (or $299/month if billed annually)
Transaction Fees:
2.4% + $0.30 USD per online transaction.
0.6% fee for third-party payment providers.
Ideal For: Established businesses with complex operations.
5. Shopify Plus
Cost: Starting at $2,300/month (custom pricing available).
Transaction Fees: Competitive rates tailored for high-volume merchants.
Ideal For: Large-scale retailers and enterprises.
Quick Note: Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, followed by a promotional deal of $1/month for the first three months. |
8 Reasons Why Shopify Might NOT Be Right For You
Shopify is indeed the e-commerce giant, but it's not perfect.
If you've ever used it, you've probably felt the frustration of unexpected fees, limited customization, and overpriced add-ons. Right?
So, before you hand over your hard-earned money to Shopify, let's break down why you might want to look at better alternatives.
Reasons 1. Hidden Costs Add Up Fast
Shopify’s basic plan is $29/month, but that’s just the start. Want a better theme? That’s $100–$350. Need essential features? Prepare for expensive apps. Suddenly, your “affordable” store is draining your profits.
Reasons 2. Shopify Takes A Cut of Every Sale
If you don’t use Shopify Payments, they charge you an extra 0.5%–2% per transaction—on top of what PayPal or Stripe already take.
So, why pay Shopify just to make money?
Reasons 3. Customization Is A Struggle
Shopify’s free themes are generic. If you want a unique look, you either pay for a premium theme or hire a developer.
Plus, Shopify uses its own Liquid coding language, which isn’t beginner-friendly.
Shopify’s core platform is missing essential features like:
SEO tools
Email marketing
Multi-currency support
Abandoned cart recovery
Most of these require expensive third-party apps.
Reasons 4. Not as "Easy to Use" as Advertised
Shopify claims it’s simple, but once you add products, customize layouts, or integrate apps, it gets complicated fast.
Switching themes? You’ll have to reformat everything manually.
Reasons 5. Small Businesses Get the Short End of the Stick
Shopify is built for scaling businesses—not small, niche stores. If you’re only selling a few products, you’ll pay for features you don’t need.
Reasons 6. Scaling = Higher Costs
As your store grows, Shopify forces you to upgrade.
Want better analytics? Upgrade plans.
Need advanced features? Upgrade plans.
Want Shopify Plus? That’s $2,000/month.
Reasons 7. The “Free Trial” Is a Tease
Shopify’s free trial sounds great, but here’s the catch:
You can’t launch a store without subscribing.
Some features are locked behind paid plans.
You waste time building something you can’t even test properly.
Reasons 8. Shopify Owns Your Store, Not You
Shopify hosts your store on their servers. If they shut you down (even by mistake), you lose everything. Want to move your store elsewhere? Migrating is a nightmare.
So, If you love overpaying, being nickel-and-dimed, and giving up control, Shopify is perfect for you!
But if you want lower costs, more freedom, and better tools, plenty of alternatives won’t hold you hostage.
Essential Things To Look For In Shopify Alternatives
Shopify might be the biggest name in e-commerce, but it’s not always the best choice you already know that, I guess.
Hidden fees, limited customization, and overpriced add-ons can hurt your business.
So, before committing, explore alternatives that offer more flexibility, lower costs, and better built-in features
Avoid hidden costs, transaction fees, and pricey add-ons.
Choose platforms with drag-and-drop editors or open-source flexibility for unique designs.
Look for one-click product imports and pre-configured settings.
Get SEO, email marketing, and multi-channel selling without extra app costs.
Avoid forced upgrades and rising fees as your business grows. Shopify charges extra for third-party gateways.
Ensure automatic currency conversion, localized checkouts, and flexible shipping options.
Look for 24/7 phone, chat, and email support, not just chatbots.
Your store should connect easily with CRM, marketing, and inventory tools.
Avoid platforms that can shut down your store or make migration difficult.
Top 10 Shopify Alternatives With Best Features Comparison
As I mentioned earlier, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for Shopify. Numerous alternatives are available based on specific business needs.
Check out this guide for a comprehensive comparison of the 10 best Shopify alternatives.
1. EzyCourse
EzyCourse is one of the best Shopify alternatives which is designed to create any type of website. You will get more than 250 pre-built templates to get started in no time.
The no-code platform serves all types of creators to sell courses, communities, physical or digital products, and memberships. Plus, you can sell services like coaching, and market whatever you sell, all from the platform.
What’s more, EzyCourse comes with email marketing features, landing page builders, event and appointment scheduling, and more.
Unlike Shopify, you don't have to pay extra fees or charges for anything with Ezycourse.
Shopify forces you to depend on third-party apps for memberships, accounts, courses, or even digital sales. But EzyCourse integrates it all.
It is genuinely an E-Commerce Business Suite for all types of businesses. Interestingly, the platform offers a free branded Android & iOS mobile app in their Unlimited plan.
Best Thing About It:
Affordable pricing with no transaction fees.
Supports over 20 revenue streams (courses, memberships, digital & physical products).
Fully customizable with white-label options.
Offers branded mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Advanced course creation tools like quizzes and certificates.
SCORM compliance for professional e-learning standards.
Built-in marketing tools like email campaigns and community features.
Some Downsides
Primarily focused on course creators, limiting broader e-commerce features.
No free plan; only paid tiers are available.
Exclusive Features of EzyCourse:
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So, How Much EzyCourse Charge?
Essential Plan: $59/month
Pro Plan: $139/month
Unlimited Plan: $199/month
Elite Plan: $299/month
Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing (for large-scale businesses).
2. WooCommerce
Shopify charges extra for templates and plugins, and affiliated payments are also assessed on payment services. These charges make it feel like a store owner has to pay for every slight modification they wish to implement.
But With WooCommerce, you have complete control over your brand.
However, WooCommerce is free, and being open-sourced means you can modify it however you like.
Unlike Shopify's limited expansion business model, WooCommerce offers flexibility with hosting services and even design.
For no additional cost, you can use any payment processor, SEO software, or marketing tool instead of Shopify's.
Best Thing About It:
Free to use as a WordPress plugin with no subscription fees.
Highly customizable with thousands of plugins and themes.
Scalable to handle growing traffic and product volumes.
Supports physical, digital, and subscription-based products.
SEO-friendly with integration into WordPress SEO tools like Yoast.
Large community support for troubleshooting and advice.
Some Downsides
Requires separate hosting, which can increase costs.
Dependency on WordPress limits flexibility for non-WordPress users.
Hidden costs from premium themes or plugins can add up quickly.
Exclusive Features of WooCommerce
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So, How Much WooCommerce Charge?
Free plugin; hosting starts at $10/month (basic hosting).
Premium Themes: $50–$200 (one-time cost).
Paid Plugins: $20–$300/year depending on functionality.
3. BigCommerce
There are no hidden fees or product restrictions with BigCommerce, unlike with Shopify's preset packages.
BigCommerce stands at a perfect price point for vendors looking to lower their expenses and maximize their product variety and offers.
You will not have to worry about added fees, as Shopify provides everything you need. Multi-currency capabilities, along with advanced SEO services, are included in the complete toolset.
The biggest advantage of BigCommerce is its zero transaction fees. It's the perfect solution for rapidly growing sellers since it doesn't charge additional fees.
BigCommerce lets you expand as needed without constantly feeling like you have to pay for things.
Best Thing About It:
No transaction fees, even with third-party payment gateways.
Unlimited products, bandwidth, and staff accounts across all plans.
Comprehensive built-in features reduce reliance on third-party apps.
Strong SEO tools, including automatic image optimization.
Multi-storefront management from a single account.
Supports selling in multiple currencies for global reach.
Real-time shipping calculations for accurate checkout experiences.
Some Downsides
Limited customization options on lower-tier plans.
Expensive premium themes compared to competitors.
Sales limits on lower-tier plans require upgrades as businesses grow.
Exclusive Features of BigCommerce
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So, How Much BigCommerce Charge?
BigCommerce offers transparent pricing with no hidden transaction fees.
Standard Plan – $39/month – Best for small businesses
Plus Plan – $105/month – Ideal for growing brands
Pro Plan – $399/month – Designed for scaling businesses
Enterprise Plan – Custom pricing – Advanced features for large businesses
Every plan includes unlimited products, storage, bandwidth, and staff accounts, making BigCommerce an excellent investment for businesses of all sizes.
4. Wix eCommerce
When compared to Shopify, Wix eCommerce is an easy-to-use tool for beginners and small businesses.
Instead of worrying about custom code drops or complex integrations, users get hundreds of drag-and-drop customizable designs along with shipping marketing tools.
With Wix Payments, there are no transaction fees when dropshipping.
It may not be a giant-scale solution, but it is perfect for those who value pricing and ease of use.
Best Thing About It:
Affordable pricing compared to Shopify’s plans.
Beginner-friendly drag-and-drop website builder.
Hundreds of customizable templates designed for e-commerce.
Built-in marketing tools like email campaigns and social media ads.
No transaction fees when using Wix Payments.
Integrated dropshipping through Modalyst and Printful.
Supports multi-currency transactions for global sellers.
Some Downsides:
Fewer advanced e-commerce features compared to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Transaction fees apply if using external payment gateways.
Exclusive Features of Wix eCommerce
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So, How Much Wix eCommerce Charge?
Business Basic: $27/month (basic e-commerce features).
Business Unlimited: $32/month (advanced marketing tools).
Business VIP: $59/month (priority support + advanced tools).
5: Squarespace Commerce
While Shopify might be the heavyweight e-commerce platform, Squarespace Commerce is the ideal choice for small businesses and creatives.
You can sell anything from physical or digital products to subscription-based services.
Also, the award-winning templates enhance your store, transforming it into an artwork as well as an online portfolio.
With the Business Plan, there are no extra fees aside from marketing tools and domain registration. If you do not require integrations but want simplicity and aesthetics, Squarespace is a great choice.
Best Thing About It:
All-in-one platform with hosting, domain registration, and e-commerce tools.
Built-in blogging and SEO tools for content marketing.
No transaction fees on higher-tier plans.
Supports digital, physical, and subscription products.
Integrated email marketing and social media tools.
Mobile-optimized designs for seamless user experiences.
Some Downsides:
Limited payment gateway options compared to Shopify (Stripe and PayPal only).
Less scalable for large businesses with complex needs.
Limited advanced e-commerce features like multi-currency support.
Exclusive Features of Squarespace Commerce
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So, How Much Squarespace Commerce Charge?
Personal Plan: $16/month (no e-commerce features).
Business Plan: $23/month (basic e-commerce tools + 3% transaction fee).
Commerce Basic: $27/month (no transaction fees + advanced e-commerce features).
Commerce Advanced: $49/month (subscriptions + advanced shipping options).
6: Adobe Commerce (Magento)
If Shopify is too restrictive for you, then Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) is for you.
With this open-source platform, you can manage multiple storefronts, advanced inventory, and more.
Businesses looking for total control over scalability and functionality will find what they are looking for in Adobe Commerce.
But be warned, this isn't for the faint-hearted. Setting up a system like this will take extensive technical knowledge.
For enterprise-level businesses looking for global reach, Shopify lacks the flexibility that Adobe Commerce provides. And that's precisely where enterprises flourish.
Best Thing About It:
Open-source platform offering complete customization and flexibility.
Scalable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises.
Multi-storefront capabilities from a single admin dashboard.
Supports multiple languages and currencies for global sellers.
Extensive third-party extensions are available via the Magento Marketplace.
Strong developer community offering support and resources.
Some Downsides:
Requires technical expertise or developer assistance for setup and maintenance.
Hosting costs can be high depending on traffic and store size.
Premium features are only available in the paid Adobe Commerce version.
Exclusive Features of Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento)
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How Much Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) Charge?
Open Source Version: Free (requires separate hosting starting at $20/month).
Adobe Commerce Cloud: Starts at $22,000/year (enterprise-level solution).
7. Ecwid
Actually, Ecwid is the easiest way to add an online store to your website or social media account.
With support for Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon, Ecwid makes multi-channel selling simple.
Its free plan is great for small businesses with a limited number of products. The mobile-friendly application allows you to manage your store on the go.
Even though Shopify lacks expansion and customization, it offers a simple, cost-effective, and lightweight alternative.
Best Thing About It:
Easy integration with existing websites, blogs, or social media platforms.
Free plan available for small businesses with limited products.
Mobile-friendly storefronts and management apps.
Supports physical, digital, and subscription-based products.
No transaction fees on any plan.
Automatic tax calculations for various regions.
Some Downsides:
Limited customization compared to Shopify or WooCommerce.
Advanced features like abandoned cart recovery are only available on higher-tier plans.
Fewer design templates than competitors like Wix or Squarespace.
Exclusive Features of Ecwid
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So, How Much Ecwid?
Free Plan: $0/month (up to 5 products).
Venture Plan: $19/month (up to 100 products + advanced tools).
Business Plan: $39/month (up to 2,500 products + abandoned cart recovery).
Unlimited Plan: $99/month (unlimited products + priority support).
8: Shift4Shop
A Free Powerhouse for US Merchants, Shift4Shop is unparalleled among its competitors, offering the best features at no cost.
When you use Shift4 Payments, Shift4Shop offers a free plan with unlimited products and zero transaction fees.
With Shift4Shop, you get a full-featured SEO suite, abandoned cart recovery, and multi-channel selling on Facebook and Instagram.
Even though the free plan has a limited number of templates and a higher learning curve. It's still a great alternative to Shopify for smaller businesses looking to avoid overspending.
Best Thing About It:
Completely free plan available for U.S.-based merchants using Shift4 Payments.
No transaction fees on any plan.
Unlimited products, bandwidth, and storage across all plans.
Built-in SEO tools to improve search engine rankings.
Supports physical, digital, and subscription-based products.
Advanced marketing tools like abandoned cart recovery and email campaigns.
Multi-channel selling on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Some Downsides:
Limited design templates compared to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Customer support can be slow during peak times.
Exclusive Features of Shift4Shop
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So, How Much Shift4Shop?
Free Plan: $0/month (requires Shift4 Payments).
Basic Plan: $29/month (no payment restrictions).
Plus Plan: $79/month (advanced tools + priority support).
Pro Plan: $229/month (enterprise-level features).
9. Sellfy
Sellfy is an extremely simple e-commerce platform meant to empower small businesses, creators, and artists who want to sell digital downloads, subscriptions, and print-on-demand products.
In contrast to Shopify, it is extremely simple to set up and comes with print-on-demand.
However, due to its low transaction fees and low rates, Sellfy is an ideal option for solopreneurs and digital product sellers.
Still, it can't compete with the other options when it comes to complex customization.
Best Thing About It:
Simple and quick setup, ideal for beginners with no technical expertise.
Built-in print-on-demand services for selling custom merchandise.
No transaction fees on any plan.
Integrated marketing tools like email campaigns and discount codes.
Mobile-friendly storefronts for better user experience.
Affordable pricing compared to Shopify.
Some Downsides:
Limited customization options for storefront design.
Fewer advanced e-commerce features compared to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Not ideal for large businesses with complex needs or high traffic.
Limited third-party app integrations.
Exclusive Features of Sellfy
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So, How Much Sellfy?
Starter Plan: $22/month (up to $10k annual sales).
Business Plan: $59/month (up to $50k annual sales + advanced tools).
Premium Plan: $119/month (up to $200k annual sales + priority support).
10: Big Cartel
Small businesses and artists can list items for sale on Big Cartel using a simple e-commerce platform.
The platform is more affordable than Shopify, and it includes a free plan, no transaction fees, and automatic marketing tools.
Big Cartel is not very scalable as a business-level website, so it's best suited to small sellers and hobbyists.
Best Thing About It:
Free plan available for small businesses with up to 5 products.
User-friendly interface designed for creatives and artists.
No transaction fees on any plan.
Affordable pricing options compared to Shopify.
Mobile-friendly storefronts and management apps.
Easy integration with social media platforms like Instagram.
Some Downsides:
Limited scalability—best suited for small businesses or hobbyists.
Fewer features compared to Shopify or BigCommerce.
Limited design customization options.
Exclusive Features of Big Cartel
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So, How Much Big Cartel?
Free Plan: $0/month (up to 5 products).
Gold Plan: $9.99/month (up to 50 products).
Platinum Plan: $19.99/month (up to 500 products).
Final Say
So, there you have it—10 solid Shopify alternatives, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
All in all, the best platform really depends on what you need for your business.
As one of the best alternatives to Shopify, EzyCourse makes creating online course businesses simple. Instead of Shopify, which focuses primarily on eCommerce, EzyCourse combines course creation, memberships, and digital product sales with built-in community and automation tools.
Plus, with its straightforward pricing and no transaction fees, it’s a budget-friendly option for creators and entrepreneurs alike.
So, Give it a try and see if it’s the right fit for your business!
