There’s no denying that Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms to date. As of 2023, 4.4 million websites rely on Shopify to build their business. While this platform works great for the right customer, it might not be the best pick for every budding entrepreneur.
Below, we’ll compare and contrast some of the top Shopify alternatives so that you can find the right tool for your needs. Let’s dive in!
What Are Some of The Drawbacks of Shopify?
Shopify is an excellent fit for many businesses, but there are some drawbacks to the platform. Here are a couple of reasons why you may consider utilizing an alternative to Shopify:
- Each plan comes at a monthly cost. When you just start your business, every dollar counts. Each Shopify plan comes with a monthly cost, with the lowest tier starting at $5 up to $2000 for enterprise plans.
- The platform can be limited in its marketing features. Shopify is a content management system so you still need to drive traffic to your independent site. Social media sellers may be better off with tools like Koji that can be shared and shopped inside any social media site.
- Shopify has limited customization. Shopify is super convenient since it provides templates and website frameworks for budding business owners. That being said, this convenience comes at a cost of limitations– if you like to fiddle with your website code, it’s not the right platform for you.
7 Shopify Alternatives To Consider
Not sold on Shopify? Here are seven alternatives that might make more sense for your business.
Koji
Koji is a modern ecommerce platform, designed to help you sell digital products directly to your customers on social media, or anywhere else on the internet. Our templates are completely free to use and operate (we only make money when you do, too), and integrate seamlessly with Meta and Google Pixel, and other marketing tools.
What Is A Koji?
A Koji is a type of interactive media that can help you sell your products, downloads, services or premium content. To create a Koji, simply select a template and customize before sharing the unique URL on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, WhatsApp, or anywhere else!
Getting started on Koji only takes a couple of minutes making it a great solution for budding business owners and experienced entrepreneurs alike. Best of all, each Koji template (called Kojis) acts as a storefront that can be viewed and shopped directly in social media. Your customers never have to leave their original browser to enjoy your products, making it easier to score sales.
Squarespace
Squarespace’s strong suit is its stunning user interface, providing businesses with gorgeous storefronts for physical products, services, or memberships. This platform is great for small businesses, though scaling capabilities can be limited.
WooCommerce
WordPress users will gravitate naturally to WooCommerce, the platform’s ecommerce solution. This fully customizable storefront integrates with many third-party platforms like Google Analytics, Mail Chimp, and PayPal to help you build your marketplace for physical goods from the ground up. That being said, support on this platform is sparse, so this is best suited for those with technical expertise.
Wix
Wix is a website builder that also provides ecommerce solutions. This suite provides attractive marketing features like a custom domain, an automated mailbox, and a drag-and-drop editor for quick creation. The free Wix plan is marked with the company’s branding and URL.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides plenty of customization and beautiful website themes, though these user interfaces tend to come at a premium price. This ecommerce platform is great for selling physical products with multi-channel selling, though some users have noted that website loading times can be inconsistent.
Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop, which was previously known as 3DCart, provides a plug-and-play storefront for those selling physical goods. Notably, this platform provides a full suite of marketing tools like SEO engines, email marketing, and inventory management software, so it’s a great all-in-one solution.
Ecwid
Ecwid is a flexible Shopify alternative that allows you to sell both physical and digital products. The platform is great for beginners with its easy-to-understand UI and built-in marketing features. Just note that selling on the free plan is limited to just 10 items.
Shopify Alternatives FAQ
Still unsure about Shopify? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you make an informed decision on your platform of choice.
Can I Use Shopify In My Link In Bio?
Yes! With the help of Koji’s free Shopify template, you can import your Shopify into any link in bio. The template is compatible with any link menu housing whether you’re using Linktree, Linkfire, or Koji’s link menu.
Which is better than Shopify?
If your main audience is on social media, you might want to use a service like Koji instead of Shopify. Koji’s storefronts can be shared and shopped within any social app, browser, or anywhere else on the internet, making them one of the most convenient platforms for budding sellers.
What is the main drawback of Shopify?
Shopify has limited customization options and requires a recurring subscription. As discussed in this guide, there are several alternatives to Shopify that might make a better fit for your business.
Hence, there are plenty of awesome e-commerce platforms built to suit your needs if Shopify isn’t fitting the bill. Have fun setting up your storefront!