Shopify stands as one of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market, powering 4.5 million businesses in more than 175 countries.
That said, popularity doesn’t always mean the best fit for all. Shopify Plus can be quite expensive. While standard plans for small merchants are available for as little as $39/month, Shopify Plus starts at $2,300, with the actual cost increasing if additional services are required. This steep increase poses a challenge for businesses that outgrow entry-level ecommerce solutions but can’t afford the significant jump in licensing fees.
Whether you’re already using Shopify or just beginning your research into ecommerce platforms, we’re here to help. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best Shopify Plus alternatives, weighing the pros and cons of each option.
Sounds good? Let’s dive in!
Why search for an alternative?
Even if you’ve already begun your Shopify dropshipping venture, there are several reasons for considering potential alternatives.
Source: Vsourz
Payments
One reason to consider an alternative to Shopify is the ability to choose your payment gateway without incurring additional fees. Shopify imposes transaction fees of up to 2% per sale if you opt not to use its exclusive payment gateway—Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe).
Additionally, opting out of Shopify Payments means missing out on features like the ability to transact in multiple currencies. For businesses selling higher-risk products, such as vaporizers, Shopify Payments isn’t an option, even if desired.
SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a crucial aspect of ecommerce marketing, and while Shopify handles basic SEO tasks well, you might need more control over your website. Shopify, for instance, doesn’t allow users to access and edit robot.txt files, which are essential for directing Google on how to index your site. As your site grows, the ability to manage how Google crawls and indexes your pages becomes increasingly important.
Catalog limitations
If you run a clothing store and aim to be inclusive with a wide range of sizes, colors, designs, and categories, your product catalog can quickly become complex. Shopify may struggle to keep up with such complexity, as it limits you to 100 SKUs per product and only three options per product. This limitation can be a significant drawback for businesses with extensive and varied inventories.
Valuable read: 16 Best Shopify Apps for Your Ecommerce Store in 2024
Top 5 Shopify Plus alternatives
Once you understand the features you need for your ecommerce store, we can begin assessing the alternatives.
Although this list doesn’t cover every ecommerce solution available, it highlights some of the most popular platforms on the market.
1. BigCommerce Enterprise
Established in 2009, BigCommerce is an adaptable, open SaaS ecommerce platform designed to help brands of any size create and expand their online stores. It’s particularly well-suited for large, high-volume businesses due to its powerful features and flexibility for customization and integration.
Source: Bigcommerce
Main features
Customization: Users can choose from various themes and edit HTML/CSS directly
Analytics: BigCommerce offers a comprehensive built-in analytics suite, providing insights into sales, customer data, and marketing
SEO: Robust SEO tools, such as customizable URLs, automated XML sitemap generation, and an optimized site structure
Payment processing: The platform supports over 55 payment gateways without additional transaction fees, featuring single-page checkout and stored payment methods
Marketing features: Tools for email marketing, social media integration, coupons/discount rules, and support for multi-channel selling
Integrations: The platform has a well-developed app store with various third-party integrations for enhanced functionality
Ecommerce features: BigCommerce provides advanced cart features, real-time shipping quotes, returns management, and multi-channel selling, including on Amazon and Facebook
Customer support: Enterprise users have access to dedicated account managers, 24/7 customer support, and expert technical support
Security features: The platform offers multiple layers of security, including DDoS protection, secure hosting, SSL, and PCI compliance
Price
BigCommerce pricing is tailored to the unique needs and scale of each enterprise, typically starting at $399 per month. For an exact quote, reach out to BigCommerce directly.
Pros
Highly scalable: Ideal for growing businesses due to its capacity to handle high traffic and large order volumes
Extensive built-in features: Numerous out-of-the-box features reduce the need for additional apps
Strong API: Facilitates custom integrations and improved functionality
No transaction fees: Supports over 55 payment gateways without additional charges
Multi-currency support: Enables transactions in multiple currencies
Robust SEO capabilities: Includes fully customizable URLs and other advanced SEO tools
24/7 customer support: Provides round-the-clock support with a high-resolution rate for issues
Cons
Custom pricing: The cost can be higher than other platforms, potentially making it too expensive for some businesses
Learning curve: Users may find the backend interface less intuitive compared to competitors, due to the extensive features
Limited free themes: There are only 5 free themes available
BigCommerce stands out as a comprehensive ecommerce solution, especially for enterprises looking for robust features and scalability. While it may present a higher cost and a learning curve, its extensive capabilities and strong support system make it a worthy contender.
2. Woocommerce
Introduced in 2011, WooCommerce is an open-source plugin that converts WordPress websites and blogs into robust ecommerce platforms. Its seamless integration with WordPress positions WooCommerce as a compelling alternative to Shopify, especially appealing to users well-versed in WordPress.
Source: Woocommerce
Main features
Customization: Being open-source and built on WordPress, nearly every aspect of the store can be tailored to specific needs.
Analytics: WooCommerce provides fundamental sales analytics and integration tools like Google Analytics.
Payment processing: Diverse array of payment gateways, ranging from global giants like PayPal and Stripe to localized payment solutions.
Marketing features: While WooCommerce includes basic marketing tools, its integration with WordPress opens doors to an extensive array of marketing plugins. These cover everything from automated email campaigns to seamless social media integrations.
Integrations: A vast repository of extensions and plugins, enhancing functionality. This includes integrations with CRM systems, advanced product listing capabilities, and more.
Ecommerce features: WooCommerce has fundamental ecommerce functionalities, such as plugins, cart features, and shipping quotes.
Price
The basic WooCommerce plugin is free, as it’s open-source. However, users should account for costs associated with domain hosting, SSL certificates, premium themes, and various extensions. Development costs may also arise, especially for heavy customizations. While WooCommerce doesn’t charge a monthly fee, there’s a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee for each purchase.
Pros
Scalability: With the right infrastructure and optimizations, WooCommerce can scale for large ecommerce operations
Ease of use: WooCommerce’s core functionalities are designed to be intuitive, particularly for users who are already acquainted with WordPress
Highly customizable: WooCommerce is suitable for a vast range of ecommerce needs due to its open-source nature and extensive customization options
Large library of extensions: A variety of extensions and plugins are available
Seamless integration with WordPress: This allows for easy content management and access to WordPress’s extensive resources
Active community: An extensive online community and abundant resources provide support and guidance
Cons
Developer expertise required: Heavy customizations and maintenance may require developer skills
Performance concerns: Numerous plugins or heavy traffic can impact performance, requiring optimization
Unpredictable costs: Needing premium extensions and other add-ons can lead to variable costs
WooCommerce stands out as a highly customizable and integrative ecommerce solution for those already using WordPress. While it offers robust features and a wide range of extensions, it may require developer expertise for advanced customization.
3. Magento
Magento, acquired by Adobe in 2018, stands out as a powerful ecommerce platform, particularly suited for medium to large businesses due to its scalability and robust feature set. While Magento Open Source offers flexibility for smaller operations, Adobe Commerce caters to enterprises with advanced needs, supported by Adobe’s ecosystem.
Source: Adobe Experience Cloud
Main features
Functionality: Magento offers a robust admin panel with extensive functionalities, which can be complex and often require a dedicated team of experienced developers to manage effectively.
Customization: Magento’s Open Source edition provides extensive customization options through full access to its codebase and a diverse marketplace of extensions, enabling businesses to tailor the platform to meet specific requirements.
Analytics: Includes comprehensive built-in analytics and reporting features. It seamlessly integrates with advanced analytics solutions like Adobe Analytics and Google Analytics to provide deeper insights into business performance.
SEO: Magento has robust SEO capabilities, including SEO-friendly URLs, metadata controls, and automated sitemaps, empowering businesses to optimize their online presence effectively.
Payment processing: Supports an array of payment gateways and solutions, facilitating seamless integration with major payment providers to offer diverse payment options to customers.
Marketing features: The platform offers sophisticated marketing tools such as customer segmentation, personalized promotions, loyalty programs, and robust email marketing capabilities to improve customer engagement and drive sales.
Integrations: Magento boasts a vast ecosystem of extensions and integrations, covering essential business functions such as CRMs, ERPs, and various marketing tools.
Security features: Adobe Commerce prioritizes security with features like the Secure Payment Bridge for PCI compliance.
Price
Magento Open Source is free to use, but it comes with additional costs for hosting and potential development. Adobe Commerce pricing is tailored to the specific size and needs of the business, usually starting at $1,988/month.
Pros
Highly customizable: Magento allows extensive customization, suitable for complex business needs
Robust feature set: Provides a comprehensive set of features, including advanced ecommerce tools
Large ecosystem: A wide array of extensions and integrations are available
Scalable: Can handle growth and high volumes of products and transactions
Cons
Resource-intensive: Requires dedicated hosting and can be complex to manage
Steep learning curve: The platform is challenging for those unfamiliar with ecommerce
High total cost of ownership: Includes significant costs for development, hosting, and maintenance
Ongoing maintenance: Requires regular updates and security management
The platform’s customization capabilities and extensive integration options make it a strong alternative for businesses seeking a flexible and scalable ecommerce solution, despite the higher costs and complexity associated with its implementation.
4. Shift4Shop
Since 1997, Shift4Shop’s been providing ecommerce software with a strong emphasis on SEO. This makes it a strategic choice for businesses that rely heavily on organic search traffic.
Source: Shift4Shop
Main features
SEO tools: A variety of SEO tools, including Google AMP for pr
oducts and 301 redirects, to increase search engine visibility
Built-in blogging: A blogging platform included with every plan to support content marketing efforts
Payment solutions: Supports over 100 online payment solutions, including international processors, providing flexibility for global transactions
Infrastructure: Advanced, secure, cloud-based network with a 100% uptime guarantee, ensuring high reliability and no single point of failure
Built-in apps: Includes numerous built-in apps such as address verification, custom-product emails, inventory stock buffer, and automated recurring orders
Unlimited staff members: Allows for unlimited staff members on the End-to-End ecommerce plan
Price
Shift4Shop’s End-to-End ecommerce plan is available for free when processing at least $500/month with Shift4 payment processing. This plan includes extensive features and upgrades server status to a highly secure and reliable cloud-based network. Additional hosting, development, and maintenance costs are included in this comprehensive plan, providing significant value.
Pros
SEO tools: Extensive SEO capabilities like Google AMP for products and 301 redirects
Affordable for small stores: Lower cost for very small stores compared to Shopify
Payment solutions: Over 100 payment solutions, including international processors
Infrastructure: Secure, reliable network with a 100% uptime guarantee
Built-in apps: Numerous free built-in apps
Cons
Learning curve: A steep learning curve can make it difficult to navigate and utilize tools effectively
Theme design: Free themes have similar designs and lack the modern appeal of themes from Shopify or BigCommerce
Shift4Shop excels as an affordable, feature-rich ecommerce platform, particularly beneficial for small businesses focused on SEO and organic search traffic. However, it takes time to learn the ropes, and the themes may lack a modern flair for some tastes.
5. Wix
Founded in 2006, Wix offers an easy-to-use platform for building websites, making it particularly suitable for ecommerce businesses. If you have limited experience and seek an extremely simple web builder, Wix is a great option.
Source: Wix
Main features
Analytics: Wix offers built-in analytics to track sales, traffic, and other key metrics, with options for integrating third-party tools like Google Analytics
SEO: The platform includes basic SEO tools such as editable meta descriptions, alt tags, and SEO patterns
Payment processing: Wix supports various payment gateways, including its own Wix Payments, along with PayPal and Stripe
Marketing features: Integrated tools, like Wix Ascend, facilitate email marketing, social media promotions, and other marketing activities
Ecommerce features: Wix provides essential ecommerce functionalities such as product listing, inventory management, cart functionality, and checkout processes
Customer support: Various support options, including a knowledge base, ticket system, and phone support
Security features: All Wix sites come with SSL certificates, and the platform adheres to multiple security protocols to ensure secure payment processes
Price
Wix provides a range of pricing options, from basic to premium website plans. The enterprise plan begins at $500 per month, with variations depending on factors such as storage, bandwidth, and included features.
Pros
User-friendly: Highly intuitive platform suitable for users without technical expertise
All-in-one solution: Bundles hosting, themes, and ecommerce capabilities together
Regular updates: Frequent feature updates and improvements
Design options: Good range of design options with customizable templates
Free domain: Each premium plan for ecommerce sites offers a free domain for one year
Cons
App store navigation: Searching through the app store can be challenging due to the variety of non-ecommerce options
Scalability issues: May lack the depth and advanced features required by larger enterprises
Customization limits: Some limitations in customization compared to platforms like Magento or Shopify
Wix stands out as a user-friendly platform, perfect for ecommerce businesses seeking simplicity and ease of use. That said, it has its limitations, particularly for larger enterprises requiring advanced features and scalability.
That’s a wrap
Choosing the right platform for your online store is crucial. While Shopify Plus is a popular choice, it might not be the perfect fit for everyone.
Alternatives like BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Magento, Shift4Shop, and Wix offer diverse features that cater to different needs and budgets. Assess your specific requirements to determine which enterprise ecommerce software will best support and grow your online business.
When partnering with Printful, you can integrate our fulfillment process with multiple ecommerce platforms in just a few clicks.
What are you waiting for? Start your enterprise businesses today!
Read next: 12 Best Free Shopify Themes
Explore the best alternatives to Shopify Plus for your online store. Discover features, pricing, pros, and cons to select the one ecommerce platform for growth.