Find the Perfect Shopify Alternative for Your Ecommerce Store in 2023
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Wix: A Shopify Alternative for Small to Medium Stores
- Squarespace: A Creative Website Builder with Decent Ecommerce Features
- Ecwid: A Plugin for Adding Ecommerce Functionality to Existing Websites
- WooCommerce: The Ideal Solution for Big Online Stores
- BigCommerce: A Feature-Rich Option for Medium to Large Stores
- Advantages of Shopify
- Limitations of Shopify
1. Introduction
If you're considering building an online store, Shopify is likely one of the first options that comes to mind. However, it's important to explore alternatives to ensure you're making the best choice for your business. In this article, we will discuss the top 5 Shopify alternatives, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. From user-friendly website builders to powerful ecommerce plugins, we'll cover a range of options to suit different needs and budgets.
2. Wix: A Shopify Alternative for Small to Medium Stores
Wix is widely regarded as one of the most popular website builders on the market, but it also offers robust ecommerce capabilities. For small to medium-sized stores, Wix is a great option for several reasons. Firstly, its ecommerce plans are generally more affordable than Shopify, especially when comparing the Business VIP plan with Shopify's mid-tier plan. Additionally, Wix doesn't charge any sales fees if you're not using their payment service, unlike Shopify. The platform itself is easier to use with its intuitive drag and drop editor, which offers more flexibility compared to Shopify's editor. Wix also excels in selling digital products and subscriptions, as these features are already built into the platform. Furthermore, Wix's vast range of apps allows for easy integration of additional features like online bookings or live chat. However, Wix may not be the best choice for selling internationally, particularly in terms of SEO. Its limitations when it comes to language translation in URLs can hinder effective international selling, whereas Shopify offers advanced multilingual and multicurrency features.
3. Squarespace: A Creative Website Builder with Decent Ecommerce Features
Squarespace is often associated with its sleek designs and powerful blogging tool, making it a favorite among creatives. However, it also offers noteworthy ecommerce features. One of the standout features of Squarespace is its product editor, which allows for easy customization of product pages with videos, forms, Instagram feeds, and more. It provides all the necessary tools to optimize your page for search engines. Squarespace's focus on visuals also extends to its marketing features, including an email marketing tool, a social content creation app, and a video maker. While Squarespace's cheapest ecommerce plan starts at $23 per month, it does come with a 3% transaction fee. Additionally, its library of extensions is more limited compared to Shopify's extensive App Market, which offers access to a wide range of apps for enhancing your site's functionality.
4. Ecwid: A Plugin for Adding Ecommerce Functionality to Existing Websites
If you already have an existing website and want to add ecommerce functionality without rebuilding your entire site, Ecwid is an excellent option. Unlike most website builders, Ecwid is a plugin that can be easily integrated into your website. It offers a free option to start selling and provides effortless integration regardless of the platform you're using. However, Ecwid does have some limitations, such as a lack of design flexibility. As it is embedded into an existing site, there is no drag and drop editor, and customization is limited to colors and fonts through CSS theme editing or third-party design apps. Ecwid's SEO capabilities also have some quirks, like the inability to fully edit product URLs. Nonetheless, Ecwid stands out for not charging any transaction fees on any of its plans.
5. WooCommerce: The Ideal Solution for Big Online Stores
For those planning to have a large online store, WordPress's WooCommerce plugin offers a comprehensive solution. What sets WooCommerce apart is the vast number of plugins available, enhancing its flexibility and adaptability to varying project needs. Both free and premium designs are available and can be customized either with coding knowledge or by hiring a developer. However, WooCommerce is best suited for experienced users or those already familiar with the WordPress platform. Setting up WooCommerce can be complicated, and official support is limited. Nevertheless, WooCommerce provides a robust ecommerce platform with extensive customization options.
6. BigCommerce: A Feature-Rich Option for Medium to Large Stores
BigCommerce is an ideal choice for mid-sized to large online stores, thanks to its extensive range of features and product variants. Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce does not charge any transaction fees on any of its plans, providing a cost-effective solution to businesses. However, it's important to note that exceeding the annual sales limit may result in automatic upgrades to higher-priced plans, potentially affecting cost control. BigCommerce falls short in terms of adding translations to your store, as it requires the installation of a paid app.
7. Advantages of Shopify
While exploring alternatives is essential, it's worth mentioning the advantages of choosing Shopify as your ecommerce platform. Shopify excels in ease of use, with an intuitive platform and easy-to-use editor that allows you to quickly set up your store. It offers scalability, making it suitable for stores of all sizes, and can grow with your business. Shopify provides flexibility by giving you full access to the code for customization and offering numerous additional features through its extensive App Store. It also offers integrations with popular sales channels like Amazon, eBay, Instagram, and TikTok. Additionally, Shopify provides comprehensive SEO features to optimize your store for search engines. Notably, Shopify stands out for its support of multilingual and multicurrency stores, making it an excellent choice for international selling.
8. Limitations of Shopify
While Shopify has many advantages, it may not be the best option for every business. If cost is a primary concern, alternatives like Ecwid and Wix offer more affordable options. Additionally, if Shopify Payments is not available in your country, transaction fees can quickly accumulate, making platforms like BigCommerce and WooCommerce more suitable for larger stores. For businesses that prioritize content marketing, Squarespace and Wix offer stronger blogging and marketing features. Lastly, if you already have an existing website and prefer a cost-effective solution, WooCommerce for WordPress or Ecwid can be more favorable options.
Highlights:
- Wix is a popular website builder that offers affordable ecommerce plans, ease of use, and flexibility in selling digital products or subscriptions.
- Squarespace is known for its visually appealing designs and powerful blogging tool, with decent ecommerce features such as customizable product pages and marketing tools.
- Ecwid is a plugin that can be added to existing websites, providing the convenience of selling without rebuilding the entire site and no transaction fees.
- WooCommerce is ideal for large online stores, offering a wide range of plugins for customization and scalability, but may require more technical expertise.
- BigCommerce is feature-rich and suitable for medium to large stores, with no transaction fees and a wide array of product variants.
- Shopify offers advantages such as ease of use, scalability, flexibility, SEO capabilities, and support for multilingual and multicurrency stores.
FAQ:
Q: Is Shopify the only option for building an online store?
A: No, there are several alternatives to Shopify that offer unique features and cater to different business needs.
Q: Which alternative is the most cost-effective?
A: Ecwid and Wix are more affordable options compared to Shopify, offering competitive pricing plans.
Q: Can Shopify support multilingual and multicurrency stores?
A: Yes, Shopify is known for its advanced multilingual and multicurrency capabilities, making it an excellent choice for international selling.
Q: Are there options for adding ecommerce functionality to an existing website?
A: Yes, plugins like Ecwid allow seamless integration of ecommerce features into existing websites without the need for rebuilding the entire site.
Q: What platform would you recommend for large online stores?
A: WooCommerce, with its extensive plugin library and customization options, is an ideal choice for big online stores.
