Explore the top Shopify competitors and ecommerce platforms better suited for your needs.
If you’ve ever run an online store—or even thought about starting one—you’ve probably heard of Shopify. It’s one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world. But is it always the best choice? Whether you’re looking for lower fees, more flexibility, or specific functionality, there are several Shopify competitors that deserve your attention in 2025.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the top alternatives to Shopify, breaking down their key features, pricing, and who they’re best suited for. If you’re in search of sites like Shopify, we’ve done the research to help you make an informed decision.
Why Look for Shopify Alternatives?
Before diving into the competitors, let’s address why someone might be looking for ecommerce platforms like Shopify in the first place:
- Cost Concerns: Shopify’s monthly fees can add up, especially when factoring in app subscriptions and transaction fees.
- Customization Limits: While easy to use, Shopify has certain limitations in terms of design and backend control unless you’re comfortable with coding.
- Third-Party Dependency: Many core features require paid apps, which can get expensive quickly.
- Payment Restrictions: Shopify penalizes merchants who use third-party payment gateways instead of Shopify Payments.
If these are deal-breakers for you, it might be time to explore other competitors to Shopify.
1. WooCommerce (Best for WordPress Users)
Overview: WooCommerce is a powerful, open-source ecommerce plugin built for WordPress. It turns your WordPress site into a fully functional online store.
Why It’s a Strong Shopify Competitor:
- Complete control over your website and data
- Thousands of themes and plugins
- Zero transaction fees
- Massive community and developer support
Who It’s For: Business owners who already use WordPress or want a highly customizable store.
Downside: Slight learning curve; you’re responsible for hosting, security, and maintenance.
2. BigCommerce (Scales With You)
Overview: BigCommerce is one of the closest Shopify alternatives in terms of ease of use and built-in features.
Why It’s a Strong Shopify Alternative:
- Built-in SEO tools
- No transaction fees
- Supports multiple sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and social media
- Better suited for growing businesses
Who It’s For: Medium to large businesses seeking scalability and robust features.
Downside: Themes and design flexibility are more limited compared to some platforms.
3. Wix eCommerce (Best for Small Stores)
Overview: Originally known for website building, Wix has significantly improved its ecommerce features in recent years.
Why It’s Better Than Shopify (for Some):
- Drag-and-drop design editor
- Affordable plans for startups
- Built-in marketing tools
- No need for separate hosting
Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs and creatives looking for simplicity and visual customization.
Downside: Not ideal for very large or complex stores.
4. Squarespace Commerce (Great for Visual Brands)
Overview: Known for its elegant design templates, Squarespace now offers a fully integrated e-commerce solution.
Why It’s a Good Shopify Competitor:
- Visually stunning templates
- Good for digital products and subscriptions
- Easy to use
- Built-in marketing tools and analytics
Who It’s For: Artists, designers, and boutique brands.
Downside: Limited payment gateways; fewer ecommerce-specific features than Shopify.
5. Magento Open Source (For Advanced Users)
Overview: Magento (now Adobe Commerce) is a robust, open-source platform designed for scalability and flexibility.
Why It’s a Top Shopify Competitor:
- Extremely customizable
- Enterprise-grade features
- Multilingual, multi-store capabilities
- Scalable for large catalogs and traffic
Who It’s For: Developers or large businesses with access to technical resources.
Downside: Steep learning curve; hosting and maintenance are on you.
6. Shift4Shop (Formerly 3dcart)
Overview: A lesser-known but powerful ecommerce solution offering enterprise-level features for free (under certain conditions).
Why It’s a Shopify Alternative to Watch:
- No monthly fees if you use Shift4 payment processing
- Extensive built-in features
- Highly customizable
Who It’s For: Budget-conscious businesses that don’t want to sacrifice quality.
Downside: Limited customer support, and setup can be tricky for beginners.
7. Ecwid (Best for Multi-Platform Selling)
Overview: Ecwid integrates with your existing website, social media, or marketplaces to turn them into sales channels.
Why It’s a Great Shopify Alternative:
- Can be added to any website (WordPress, Wix, Joomla, etc.)
- Free plan available
- Strong multichannel integration
- Quick setup
Who It’s For: Sellers who want to add ecommerce capabilities to an existing website.
Downside: Limited design flexibility compared to Shopify or WooCommerce.
8. Sellfy (Best for Digital Creators)
Overview: Sellfy is a simple platform built for creators selling digital downloads, subscriptions, or print-on-demand products.
Why It’s a Strong Alternative:
- No tech skills required
- Great for digital goods
- Built-in marketing tools like upsells and email
- Supports physical products too
Who It’s For: Digital creators, artists, musicians, and small merch brands.
Downside: Not suitable for large or complex physical product catalogs.
How to Choose the Right Shopify Competitor
Choosing the best Shopify alternative depends on your specific business goals, budget, and technical skills. Here are a few questions to guide your decision:
- What are your priorities? (Cost, ease of use, customization?)
- Are you selling physical, digital, or service-based products?
- Do you plan to scale quickly?
- Do you already have a website?
- Do you need multichannel or social selling options?
Many of these ecommerce platforms like Shopify offer free trials or free plans—so test a few out before making your final decision.
Bonus: Low-Cost Ecommerce Marketing Ideas
No matter which platform you choose, success often comes down to smart marketing strategies. To help you hit the ground running, here are some low-cost e-commerce marketing ideas:
- Leverage UGC (User-Generated Content): Encourage customers to post photos with your products.
- Run Instagram Reels & TikTok Challenges: Organic reach is still strong.
- Collaborate with Micro-Influencers: Often cheaper and more engaged than celebrities.
- Email Retargeting: Use automated emails to recover abandoned carts.
- Launch a Referral Program: Word-of-mouth still works—just incentivize it!
And don’t forget to continuously improve e-commerce conversion rate by A/B testing your product pages, optimizing your CTAs, and simplifying the checkout process.
Conclusion
While Shopify remains a dominant force in e-commerce, it’s not the only game in town. Whether you’re after lower fees, more flexibility, or platform-specific strengths, there’s no shortage of powerful Shopify competitors to explore in 2025.
Each platform has its unique strengths—so pick the one that aligns with your goals and brand vision.
Need help choosing the right platform or want to scale your store faster?
DTLA Marketing specializes in e-commerce growth strategies, platform migration, and conversion optimization. Let’s grow your brand together.
