Shopify is the default ecommerce platform for good reason: a great checkout, a huge app ecosystem and point-of-sale. But merchants look for alternatives when app costs add up, when they want more built-in features, when they prefer open source, or when their site is more content than catalogue.
Each alternative below wins for a specific type of store. We compared built-in features, fees, flexibility and the cost of the apps you would otherwise need.
The bottom line
BigCommerce is the best Shopify alternative for growing stores that want more built-in features. WooCommerce is the best for full control and ownership on WordPress. Squarespace and Wix suit design-led brands with smaller catalogues, Square Online suits in-person sellers, and Ecwid is the easiest way to add a store to an existing site.
Our top picks
- 1
Best overall Shopify alternativeBigCommerce8.3Editorial score 8.3 out of 10 - 2
Best for control and ownershipWooCommerce8.1Editorial score 8.1 out of 10 - 3
Best for design-led brandsSquarespace8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10 - 4
Best all-in-one for small storesWix8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10 - 5SOBest for in-person and online sellersSquare Online8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10
- 6
Best for adding a store to any siteEcwid8.1Editorial score 8.1 out of 10
Scores are editorial assessments based on research. Prices are indicative.
BigCommerce
ResearchedMore features built in — such as product options and B2B tools — so you need fewer paid apps.
BigCommerce includes many features natively — product options, B2B tools, multi-storefront — with no platform transaction fees, but revenue thresholds affect plan pricing.
Ideal for: Growing stores and B2B sellers.
Watch out for: Plans have annual sales thresholds that force upgrades.
Pros
- Rich native features
- No transaction fees
- B2B capabilities
Cons
- Sales thresholds force upgrades
- Smaller app ecosystem
WooCommerce
ResearchedFree, open-source ecommerce on WordPress with full control over code, hosting and data.
WooCommerce turns a WordPress site into a store. The plugin is free, with paid extensions for payments, shipping and subscriptions. You own your data and can customise anything.
Ideal for: Merchants with WordPress skills or a developer.
Watch out for: You manage hosting, updates and security; extensions add cost.
Pros
- Free and open source
- Complete control
- Huge extension ecosystem
Cons
- You manage hosting and updates
- Extension costs add up
Squarespace
ResearchedBeautiful templates and built-in commerce for smaller catalogues and subscriptions.
Squarespace offers design-led templates, ecommerce, scheduling, email campaigns and domains in a tightly integrated platform.
Ideal for: Creative brands where design matters most.
Watch out for: Fewer apps and advanced ecommerce features.
Pros
- Stunning templates
- Integrated tools
- Reliable hosting
Cons
- Less layout freedom
- Fewer integrations
Wix
ResearchedDrag-and-drop design with built-in ecommerce, bookings and marketing tools.
Wix lets you build a website by dragging elements anywhere on the page, with templates, AI site generation, ecommerce, bookings and a large app market.
Ideal for: Small businesses selling alongside services.
Watch out for: Less scalable for large catalogues.
Pros
- Very flexible editor
- Large app market
- Bookings and ecommerce
Cons
- Templates hard to switch after launch
- Can feel cluttered
Square Online
ResearchedFree online store synced with Square POS inventory and payments.
Square Online lets businesses already using Square POS launch an online store with synced inventory, pickup and local delivery. The free plan is fully functional with Square branding; paid plans add custom domains and features.
Ideal for: Restaurants and retailers using Square.
Watch out for: Payments must use Square.
Pros
- Free plan with full selling
- Inventory sync with POS
- Pickup and delivery
Cons
- Limited design control
- Fewer apps
Ecwid
ResearchedEmbed a store into an existing website and sell across channels from one catalogue.
Ecwid by Lightspeed lets you embed a store into an existing website — WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and more — or run an instant site. It syncs inventory across channels including social and marketplaces, with a limited free plan.
Ideal for: Businesses with an existing site.
Watch out for: Store design is constrained by embedding.
Pros
- Embeds anywhere
- Very easy
- No transaction fees
Cons
- Product limits on lower plans
- Fewer advanced features
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Score | From (indicative) | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BigCommerce | Best overall Shopify alternative | 8.3 | From around $29–39 / month | No |
| WooCommerce | Best for control and ownership | 8.1 | Free plugin; hosting and extensions extra | Yes |
| Squarespace | Best for design-led brands | 8.2 | From around $16–25 / month (billed annually) | No |
| Wix | Best all-in-one for small stores | 8.2 | Free plan with Wix branding; paid from around $17 / month | Yes |
| SOSquare Online | Best for in-person and online sellers | 8.2 | Free; paid from around $29–49 / month | Yes |
| Ecwid | Best for adding a store to any site | 8.1 | Free; paid from around $5–25 / month | Yes |
Feature matrix
| Feature | BigCommerce | WooCommerce | Squarespace | Wix | Square Online | Ecwid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (indicative) | ~ $29 / month | Free plugin + hosting | ~ $23 / month | ~ $17 / month | Free; paid ~ $29 | Free; paid ~ $14 |
| Hosted | Yes | No (self-hosted) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App / extension ecosystem | Large | Very large | Smaller | Large | Smaller | Moderate |
| B2B features | Strong | Via extensions | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| POS | Integrations | Integrations | Limited | Wix POS | Square POS | Integrations |
| Best for | Growing stores | Full control | Design-led | Small all-in-one | Square sellers | Embedding |
Based on vendor documentation and public plan pages; features change often, so confirm on the plan you intend to buy.
Why merchants leave Shopify
- Monthly app subscriptions add up
- Desire for open-source control and ownership
- Content-heavy sites that need better design flexibility
- Integration with existing POS or website
Before switching, total your Shopify costs: plan, apps, theme and payment fees. Then price the same feature set on the alternative, including any paid extensions or hosting.
Migrating your store
- Export products, customers and orders.
- Choose a theme and rebuild key pages.
- Import data and check variants, images and SEO fields.
- Set up payments, shipping and taxes.
- Create 301 redirects for product and collection URLs.
- Run test orders before switching your domain.
How we chose
- We started from every ecommerce platform we track, then filtered to products that fit this specific need using vendor documentation, public plan pages and trust/security pages.
- Each pick carries the same weighted score it has on its full review; the overall score is calculated from six criteria and never typed in by hand.
- We compared built-in features against the apps you would otherwise need on Shopify, plus fees, hosting and flexibility.
- Labels such as “best for” describe fit for a situation, so a lower-scoring tool can be the right choice. Products marked “Researched” were assessed from documentation and public information rather than hands-on testing.
- Prices are indicative and dated on each review. Confirm the current plan, limits and renewal price on the vendor's site before you buy.
Read our full scoring methodology →
Calculate total cost
Compare plan prices plus apps, themes, payment fees and hosting.
Check payment options
Some platforms require their own payment processor; others let you choose.
Plan for growth
Check sales thresholds, product limits and API limits.
Test checkout
Checkout conversion matters more than almost anything else. Run test orders on mobile.
See every option we rank in Ecommerce Platforms.
Buying checklist
Before you commit, confirm each of these on the exact plan you will buy:
- Payment options and fees
- Tax and shipping tools
- Inventory and variants
- App/plugin ecosystem
- Multichannel and POS
Avoid these mistakes: Comparing plan prices but not payment and transaction fees. Installing many apps that slow the store and add monthly costs. Not checking tax and shipping support for your markets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Shopify?
BigCommerce for growing stores, WooCommerce for full control, and Squarespace or Wix for smaller design-led stores.
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify?
The plugin is free, but hosting, extensions and maintenance add costs. It can be cheaper or more expensive depending on your needs.
Can I migrate from Shopify?
Yes. Most platforms import Shopify products and customers; design and apps need rebuilding.
Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
BigCommerce does not add its own transaction fees; payment processor fees apply.
Which alternative is best for small stores?
Wix, Squarespace or Ecwid, depending on whether you need an all-in-one site or to add a store to an existing site.
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