The 7 best Shopify alternatives compared

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial to the success of your online store, especially when it comes to flexibility and the scalability of your business.

Shopify is one of the most well-known ecommerce platforms worldwide. Its user-friendliness and easy entry into the world of ecommerce have made it a popular choice in the industry.

However, there are many alternatives to Shopify on the market. Other providers also have their strengths, particularly when it comes to scaling or making custom changes.

In this article, you'll learn what to look for when choosing an ecommerce platform, the pros and cons of Shopify, and which providers offer strong alternatives to Shopify.

Shopify alternatives: What matters when choosing an ecommerce platform

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is not a decision to be taken lightly. Every business has unique requirements, and not every platform meets these equally. To objectively evaluate alternative platforms to Shopify, the following points are important:

User-friendliness

An ecommerce platform should be easy and intuitive to use for both beginners and experienced users. Managing products, orders, and customer data must be efficient to save time and resources.

Flexibility

Every online store is unique, and a platform must be flexible enough to accommodate individual customizations. This includes:

• Design Customization: Can the store be visually personalized?

• Feature Extensions: Can new features like plugins or custom solutions be easily integrated?

Scalability

A platform should support business growth, not restrict it. A good alternative must be able to handle increasing demands such as higher traffic, more complex product catalogs, or international markets.

Cost structure

Besides initial costs, long-term expenses also play a role:

• Transparency: Are the pricing structures clear and understandable?

• Scaling Costs: Do fees grow proportionally with revenue, or are there hidden costs like transaction fees?

Performance and reliability

A fast and stable online store is essential for customer satisfaction. Important criteria include loading speed, availability, and responsiveness during peak loads.

Features and integrations

A platform should offer both core ecommerce features and advanced functions for B2B or B2C business models, such as:

• Omnichannel capabilities

• Support for multiple payment methods

• Compatibility with tools like CRM or ERP systems

Data control and security

Data is a valuable asset, and control over it should always remain with you as the merchant. Additionally, the platform must meet the highest security standards, such as data protection compliance (e.g., GDPR) and certifications.

Community and support

An active ecosystem of developers, partners, and support staff can make a big difference when it comes to troubleshooting and ongoing development. A vibrant community provides added value through knowledge sharing and innovation.

Shopify overview

• Origin and concept: Shopify is a Canada-based cloud service (“Software as a Service”).

• Technology: Shopify’s offering includes hosting, and extensions can be obtained via its own “App Store.” Own hosting options or full data control are not provided.

• Target audience: According to the company, Shopify is used worldwide by various businesses, ranging from small to larger stores.

• Strengths:

  • User-Friendliness: Easy to use without technical knowledge.

  • Quick Start: Integrated hosting solution with pre-designed templates.

  • Multi-Channel Selling: Integration with social media and marketplaces.

  • Extensive App Store: Numerous extensions available.

Plans & pricing:

Shopify offers three pricing plans (prices billed monthly):

• Basic: €36 per month; suitable for new ecommerce businesses with basic needs.

• Shopify: €105 per month; offers additional features such as professional reports and expanded staff accounts.

• Advanced Shopify: €384 per month; includes advanced reporting features and lower transaction fees.

In addition to the monthly fees, additional costs may apply, such as:

• Transaction Fees: Using external payment providers incurs fees of 2% (Basic), 1% (Shopify), or 0.5% (Advanced) per transaction.

• Costs for Apps and Themes: Extensions and design templates may cause additional charges.

• Shopify offers a 25% discount on annual subscriptions for the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans.

Shopify Alternative #1 – Shopware

• Origin and concept: Shopware is an open-source ecommerce platform developed in Germany, known for its flexibility and scalability.

• Technology: It has a modular structure and can be customized in many areas. Thanks to its API-first approach, it is highly scalable. Shopware offers both self-hosted solutions and cloud options.

• Target audience: Primarily used by large and internationally active companies in Europe. Shopware supports multiple languages, various currencies, and country-specific tax rates.

• Strengths:

  • Flexibility: High adaptability due to its open-source architecture, API-first, and headless architecture.

  • Scalability: Suitable for companies of all sizes with growing demands.

  • B2B Features: Extensive functionalities for B2B business models.

  • Community Support: Active developer community and comprehensive documentation.

Plans & pricing:

Shopware offers different plans to meet various user needs:

• Community Edition: Free open-source version with basic features

• Rise: Starting at €600 per month

• Evolve: Starting at €2,400 per month

• Beyond: Starting at €6,500 per month

In addition to the monthly fees, additional costs may apply, such as:

• Hosting: Costs for servers and infrastructure apply with the self-hosted option.

• Extensions: Fees for plugins and themes from the Shopware Store.

Shopify alternative #2 – WooCommerce

• Origin and concept: WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that adds online store functionality.

• Technology: Self-hosted solution that can be extended via themes and plugins.

• Target audience: Mainly used by stores that already use WordPress or want to combine content and shop features.

• Strengths:

  • Flexibility: Customizable with numerous themes and plugins.

  • Cost: Basic use is free.

  • Community Support: Large developer community with extensive documentation.

Plans & Pricing:

Although WooCommerce itself is free as a plugin, the following additional costs may apply:

• Hosting: Depends on the provider; typically between €5 and €100 per month.

• Domain: Varies widely; approximately €5–20 per year.

• SSL certificate: Necessary for secure data transmission; costs vary.

• Premium themes: One-time costs of about €50.

• Plugins and extensions: Additional fees may apply depending on functionality.

• Development and maintenance: For customizations, programming costs of approximately €20 to €150 per hour may apply.

Shopify alternative #3 – Adobe Commerce

• Origin and concept: Adobe Commerce evolved from Magento and is now part of Adobe.

• Technology: According to the provider, it includes extensive features for both B2C and B2B. Offers both on-premise and cloud hosting options, giving companies flexibility in data control. Features a modular architecture with a comprehensive API and a large marketplace for extensions.

• Target audience: According to the manufacturer, the platform is used by both medium-sized and large enterprises.

• Strengths:

  • Adobe ecosystem: Access to many Adobe tools.

  • Scalability: Suitable for companies of all sizes with growing demands.

  • Omnichannel capability: Integration of various sales channels.

Plans & Pricing:

Adobe Commerce is generally available in two packages: Adobe Commerce Pro and additional Managed Services, which according to Adobe minimize risks and disruptions.

Prices are not fixed but are calculated based on factors including annual gross merchandise value (GMV) and average order value (AOV). A detailed quote requires a request.

Additional costs may include:

• Hosting: Depending on the chosen deployment option (on-premise or cloud).

• Implementation: Costs for shop development and customization.

• Extensions: Fees for additional modules and plugins.

• Support and maintenance: Ongoing costs for updates and technical support.

Shopify alternative #4 – Spryker

• Origin and concept: Spryker is a commerce solution developed in Germany.

• Technology: Spryker is based on a modular, headless, and API-first architecture. Offers flexible hosting options, including on-premise and cloud.

• Target audience: According to its own information, Spryker is used by companies with extensive customization needs, especially in the B2B sector.

• Strengths:

  • Modular structure: Enables individual customization.

  • Packages: Special packages for different requirements, e.g., for B2B and B2C.

  • Headless API-first: Allows separation of backend and frontend.

Plans & pricing:

Spryker offers flexible pricing like other providers. There are four packages: B2B Commerce, Enterprise Marketplace, Unified Commerce, and since recently, B2C Commerce.

Spryker does not disclose example package costs on its website.

Shopify alternative #5 – BigCommerce

• Origin and concept: BigCommerce is a US-based Software-as-a-Service platform with hosting provided by the vendor.

• Technology: As a SaaS platform, BigCommerce handles hosting. Own hosting options are not available. SEO and marketing features come preconfigured and can be used depending on the plan. Offers an open API and numerous integrations. Customizations are possible but limited within the platform’s boundaries.

• Target audience: The system offers interfaces to connect inventory management and CRM tools

• Strengths:

  • Multi-channel commerce: Built-in MCC support.

  • Advanced marketing features: For example, cart abandonment recovery.

  • International capabilities: Good support for globally active companies (currencies, shipping, payments).

Plans & pricing:

BigCommerce offers several pricing plans (monthly billing):

• Standard: $39/month; suitable for smaller businesses with basic needs. Up to $50,000 online revenue.

• Plus: $105/month; offers advanced marketing tools and customer segmentation. Up to $180,000 online revenue.

• Pro: $399/month; for businesses with higher sales volume and advanced features. Up to $400,000 online revenue.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing; tailored solutions for large companies with special requirements.

Shopify alternative #6 – Wix

• Origin and concept: Wix is a website builder solution provider complemented by ecommerce functions.

• Technology: The provider offers drag-and-drop features and design templates on its website. As a hosted platform, Wix takes care of hosting the created websites.

• Target audience: The offering is designed for individuals and companies who want to quickly create a website with a shop themselves.

• Strengths:

  • Easy to use: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface enables a quick start.

  • Design templates: Over 900 customizable templates available.

  • Integrated features: Hosting, domain, and SEO tools included.

Plans & pricing:

Wix offers several packages for online stores:

• Light: From €13.09/month; suitable for individuals and first steps in website building. No ecommerce functions.

• Core: From €26.18/month; suitable for small shops with basic features.

• Business: From €40.46/month; offers enhanced ecommerce features and better support.

• Business Elite: From €177.31/month; provides an extended developer platform.

Additional costs may include:

• Domain: Usually €14.95/year from the second year. More expensive for “.shop” or “.store” domains.

• Email inboxes: Wix links your domain to Google Workspace for €72 per year.

Shopify alternative #7 – Commercetools

• Origin and concept: Commercetools is a German company offering a cloud commerce platform.

• Technology: As a cloud-based platform, Commercetools is offered as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Own hosting options or choice of hosting provider are not available. Commercetools uses a microservices, API-first, and headless approach.

• Target audience: According to the company, it targets businesses looking for scalable and highly customizable commerce solutions.

• Strengths:

  • Real-time control: Very well suited for personalization and recommendations in online shops.

  • API: Users report impressive API speed.

  • Adaptability: Commercetools is highly customizable and can be individually configured.

Plans & pricing:

Commercetools does not disclose prices or packages on its website.

Conclusion: Finding the right Shopify alternative

Shopify is undoubtedly one of the leading ecommerce platforms, but depending on your business model, needs, and capacities, alternatives can also offer strong advantages. Shopware is a good choice for companies that value customization and advanced B2B functionalities. Especially businesses with complex models, such as multi-level sales channels or international markets, benefit from the open-source architecture and modular options.

Choosing an alternative to Shopify depends on your business model, how much customization you want, and how much time and money you are willing and able to invest in the shop system. Every platform has its strengths, it’s about selecting the one that best supports your goals.

Shopify alternative – Frequently asked questions & answers