19 Best Shopify Alternatives to Try in 2025 – Free & Paid

Shopify is one of the most popular platforms for building online stores, powering over 4.8 million live websites globally  as of 2025. But it's not the only option out there. Whether you're just starting or want more control, flexibility, or better pricing, there are plenty of Shopify alternatives worth exploring in 2025.

If you're considering Shopify website development  but want to weigh your options, you're in the right place. In this blog, we’ll walk you through 19 free and paid platforms that can suit your needs, whether you’re launching a small business, scaling fast, or creating something fully custom. Some of these platforms are cheaper alternatives to Shopify, while others offer features Shopify doesn’t.

Let’s explore!

Why Look for Alternatives to Shopify?

Shopify is great, but it’s not perfect for everyone. You might want something:

• Less expensive

• Easier to customize

• With fewer transaction fees

• More suitable for your technical skills or business model

Some store owners also find Shopify’s reliance on third-party apps limiting, especially for things like SEO or inventory.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.

How We Chose These Platforms

We looked at:

• Pricing (free or affordable plans)

• Features like SEO, product tools, and payment options

• Ease of use for beginners and developers

• Customization options

• Support for branding for ecommerce and product advertising

These platforms are ideal for personal projects, small stores, dropshipping, and even enterprise development .

The 19 Best Shopify Alternatives for 2025

Looking for platforms that match or even outshine Shopify in features, price, or flexibility? This list includes a few best CMS for online store owners  who want more control, scalability, or budget-friendly options. Let’s explore the 19 best Shopify alternatives for 2025, both free and paid, that are worth your attention this year.

1. Wix eCommerce

Wix eCommerce is a user-friendly platform that makes it easy for beginners to launch an online store. Its drag-and-drop builder requires no coding skills, and it comes with professionally designed templates tailored for different industries. 

Wix includes essential eCommerce features like inventory management, abandoned cart recovery, and multichannel selling (like Facebook and Instagram shops). It also offers secure payment gateways and mobile optimization out of the box.

You can easily customize your store to match your brand, add product videos, and integrate marketing tools such as email campaigns and SEO settings.

• Why it’s great:

  • Drag-and-drop builder with full design freedom

  • 500+ customizable templates

  • Multichannel selling options

  • AI-powered design assistant (Wix ADI)

  • No coding required

• Free plan? Yes (but eCommerce features require a paid plan)

• Best for: Creatives, small businesses, and DIY entrepreneurs

2. Squarespace

Squarespace is known for its modern design and sleek aesthetic. While it started as a platform for bloggers and artists, it has evolved into a capable eCommerce solution. It’s ideal for businesses where visual presentation is key, like fashion, jewelry, or art. 

Squarespace provides built-in tools for inventory, coupons, product variants, and even subscriptions, making it a strong choice for branding for ecommerce  that demands style and substance.

It also supports blogging, analytics, and email marketing, making it a good all-in-one option for content-rich stores.

• Why it’s great:

  • Award-winning templates with mobile optimization

  • Easy product uploads and inventory tracking

  • Built-in blogging and email marketing tools

  • Supports digital and physical product sales

  • Automatic tax and shipping calculators

• Free plan? No (14-day free trial available)

• Best for: Designers, photographers, lifestyle brands

3. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a powerful platform designed for growth. It offers more built-in features than Shopify, including SEO tools, advanced product options, and multi-currency support. BigCommerce doesn’t charge additional transaction fees, which can make it more cost-effective as you scale.

It integrates easily with marketplaces like Amazon and eBay and supports B2B features like custom pricing and customer groups.

• Why it’s great:

  • No transaction fees on any plan

  • Unlimited product listings and bandwidth

  • Built-in tools for SEO, analytics, and marketing

  • Supports wholesale and B2B sales

  • Flexible APIs for headless commerce

• Free plan? No (15-day free trial available)

• Best for: Mid-to-large businesses, fast-growing online stores

4. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress that transforms any site into a fully functional online store. It's highly customizable and free to install. You can sell physical or digital products, offer subscriptions, and manage inventory with ease.

While WooCommerce itself is free, you’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain, and possibly premium plugins or themes depending on your needs. It’s best suited for users already familiar with WordPress or those working with developers.

• Why it’s great:

  • Complete control over store functionality

  • Huge ecosystem of free and paid extensions

  • Compatible with most WordPress themes

  • Strong SEO capabilities via WordPress

  • Supports all types of products and services

• Free plan? Yes (self-hosted with optional paid plugins)

• Best for: Bloggers, developers, and businesses wanting full control

5. Ecwid

Ecwid is a plug-and-play solution that lets you add an online store to any existing website, whether it's on WordPress, Wix, or even a social media page. It’s quick to install, lightweight, and designed for sellers who don’t want to rebuild their whole site.

With Ecwid, you can manage inventory, accept payments, and sync your store across multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and marketplaces like Amazon.

• Why it’s great:

  • Adds store functionality to any site

  • Supports multiple languages and currencies

  • Free tier allows up to 5 products

  • Sync across Facebook, Instagram, and more

  • Mobile app for managing orders on the go

• Free plan? Yes (paid plans unlock more features)

• Best for: Small businesses with existing websites, quick eCommerce setups

6. OpenCart

OpenCart is a free, open-source eCommerce platform aimed at developers or tech-savvy users. It offers a strong set of features right out of the box, including multi-store support, built-in SEO tools, and an easy-to-use admin interface.

The platform supports over 20 payment gateways and more than 8 shipping methods. Its open architecture allows extensive customization, but it may require technical know-how for installation and maintenance.

• Why it’s great:

  • 100% free to download and use

  • Active community and thousands of extensions

  • Built-in affiliate and rewards system

  • Multi-language and multi-currency support

  • Clean, user-friendly dashboard

• Free plan? Yes (self-hosted, hosting not included)

• Best for: Developers, tech teams, or businesses wanting full backend control

7. Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce, is a top-tier, open-source platform that caters to medium and large enterprises. It’s feature-rich and incredibly flexible, but that comes with a steeper learning curve. You can manage thousands of products, offer customer segmentation, create custom promotions, and support multiple stores under one admin panel.

Magento Open Source is free to download, but you’ll need a developer to set it up properly. Adobe Commerce (the paid version) adds AI-powered personalization, advanced analytics, and cloud hosting.

• Why it’s great:

  • Fully scalable with enterprise-grade features

  • Handles large product catalogs effortlessly

  • Offers built-in B2B functionality

  • Customizable checkout and APIs

  • Strong global community and support

• Free plan? Yes (Magento Open Source is free, Adobe Commerce is paid)

• Best for: Enterprises, large-scale eCommerce stores, and teams with developers

8. Weebly by Square

Weebly, owned by Square, offers a beginner-friendly way to build an online store, especially if you also operate a brick-and-mortar shop. Its integration with Square's payment system is seamless, making it ideal for small businesses already using Square POS.

The platform includes marketing tools, inventory tracking, and shipping calculators. While not as design-rich as others, it’s extremely easy to set up and manage.

• Why it’s great:

  • Seamless Square POS integration

  • Simple, intuitive interface

  • Free SSL, shipping, and inventory tools

  • Email marketing and coupon features

  • Good mobile optimization

• Free plan? Yes (limited features)

• Best for: Small stores, cafes, and local businesses expanding online

9. X-Cart

X-Cart is a flexible, developer-friendly eCommerce platform developed by Qualiteam. It’s designed for speed, scalability, and deep customization. With X-Cart, you can build a powerful online store tailored to your exact needs, thanks to its open-code structure and one-time license model.

This platform supports unlimited products, custom shipping options, SEO optimization, and multi-language capabilities. It’s especially appealing to businesses that want full control over their store without ongoing monthly fees. However, it does require some technical know-how or developer support, and customer service may not always be responsive—particularly when it comes to server-related issues.

• Why it’s great:

  • Unlimited customization and full developer access

  • One-time license with no recurring subscription fees

  • Advanced SEO tools and multi-currency support

  • Responsive checkout and mobile-ready themes

  • Supports both digital and physical products

• Free plan? No (One-time license purchase required)

• Best for: Developers, tech-savvy store owners, and businesses needing custom eCommerce setups

10. Sellfy

Sellfy is built for creators who sell digital products like eBooks, music, art, or subscriptions. You can launch a fully functioning store in under 10 minutes. It also supports print-on-demand, physical products, and pay-what-you-want pricing.

What sets Sellfy apart is how easy it is to use and how well it handles digital file security, delivery, and license control.

• Why it’s great:

  • Ideal for digital product creators

  • Fast setup with secure file hosting

  • Accepts donations and pay-what-you-want pricing

  • Includes email marketing tools

  • Integrates with YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch

• Free plan? Yes (limited to 10 products)

• Best for: Artists, YouTubers, educators, and digital entrepreneurs

11. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is another open-source platform that gives store owners full control. It’s packed with eCommerce features like bulk product management, customizable themes, multilingual support, and advanced shipping options.

PrestaShop has a marketplace with thousands of add-ons for everything from SEO to live chat. However, like Magento and OpenCart, it requires technical knowledge or a developer to unlock its full potential.

• Why it’s great:

  • No monthly subscription fees

  • Strong international selling tools

  • SEO and marketing modules

  • Active community and support forums

  • Suitable for complex product catalogs

• Free plan?: Yes (self-hosted)

• Best for: Global sellers and developers who want customization

12. Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart)

Shift4Shop offers a full-featured, no-cost eCommerce solution—if you use their payment processor (Shift4 Payments). It includes SEO tools, email marketing, abandoned cart recovery, and product review features out of the box.

This platform caters to both physical and digital product sellers and supports wholesale pricing, real-time shipping rates, and tax automation.

• Why it’s great:

  • Free forever with Shift4 Payments

  • Feature-rich with no upselling

  • Built-in blog and newsletter tools

  • 100+ payment gateways supported

  • Supports B2B functionality

• Free plan? Yes (US businesses only)

• Best for: U.S.-based businesses looking for an all-in-one free solution

13. ShopWired

ShopWired is a UK-based eCommerce platform that rivals Shopify in terms of features and support. It includes unlimited products, secure hosting, and mobile-optimized themes. It also supports B2B features like trade accounts and VAT pricing.

Its interface is clean and beginner-friendly, but there’s enough power under the hood for large-scale stores. UK merchants will especially benefit from localized support and integrations.

• Why it’s great:

  • Strong UK-based customer support

  • Built-in product filters, bundles, and subscriptions

  • Powerful B2B features

  • GDPR-compliant out of the box

  • Free migration from Shopify

• Free plan? No (free trial available)

• Best for: UK businesses and growing brands

14. Volusion

Volusion has been around for over 20 years and offers a balanced mix of ease and flexibility. Its drag-and-drop builder and intuitive dashboard make store setup simple. It includes standard features like inventory management, discount tools, and CRM.

However, it has limited blogging capabilities and charges bandwidth fees, so it may not suit content-heavy stores.

• Why it’s great:

  • Long-standing reputation in eCommerce

  • Clean interface and simple setup

  • Built-in SEO and marketing tools

  • Excellent customer and inventory tracking

  • Real-time analytics dashboard

• Free plan? No

• Best for: Retailers wanting structure and reliability

15. Webflow eCommerce

Webflow combines design freedom with powerful CMS and eCommerce capabilities. It’s best for designers or developers who want pixel-perfect control without relying on themes. It supports dynamic content, custom animations, and headless commerce.

With Webflow, you can create product pages that feel like mini-brand experiences. However, it’s not beginner-friendly and requires some web design experience.

• Why it’s great:

  • Total design freedom and animation control

  • Headless commerce support

  • Flexible CMS for content-rich product catalogs

  • SEO and performance-optimized out of the box

  • Clean, developer-friendly interface

• Free plan? No (basic free account available for design)

• Best for: Designers, agencies, and creative brands

16. Podia

Podia is an all-in-one platform for selling digital content like online courses, eBooks, webinars, and memberships. It includes built-in email marketing, landing pages, and video hosting.

You don’t need plugins or integrations; it’s all included. Podia simplifies the online business process for coaches, teachers, and creatives looking to monetize their knowledge.

• Why it’s great:

  • All-in-one for digital sales and marketing

  • Simple and intuitive dashboard

  • Webinar and course tools included

  • No transaction fees on paid plans

  • Supports memberships and drip content

• Free plan? Yes (limited features)

• Best for: Educators, coaches, and content creators

17. ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels isn’t a traditional eCommerce platform—it’s built for high-converting sales funnels. If you sell one product or a small collection and want to focus on upsells, lead generation, and automation, ClickFunnels is ideal.

It includes landing page templates, payment tools, and A/B testing options.

• Why it’s great:

  • Built-in funnel templates for rapid sales

  • Strong automation and upsell tools

  • Integrates with major CRMs and email tools

  • Webinar and subscription features

  • Advanced analytics for funnel optimization

• Free plan? No (14-day free trial available)

• Best for: Marketers, course creators, and digital entrepreneurs

18. Facebook Shops

Facebook Shops allows you to create a free storefront directly on Facebook and Instagram. It's a social-first shopping experience, designed to reduce the steps between browsing and buying.

You can manage your catalog through Facebook Business Manager, tag products in posts, and integrate with your existing website.

• Why it’s great:

  • Completely free

  • Huge built-in audience

  • Shoppable posts and stories

  • Messenger and WhatsApp customer support

  • Great for small product catalogs

• Free plan? Yes

• Best for: Social sellers and small product businesses

19. Tilda

Tilda is a flexible website builder with eCommerce features. It stands out for its storytelling approach to design, ideal for brands that want to mix beautiful content with product sales.

You can build long-scroll pages, add animations, and customize product layouts without code. Tilda also offers built-in analytics, SEO tools, and integrations with CRM systems.

• Why it’s great:

  • Visual storytelling meets selling

  • Drag-and-drop Zero Block editor

  • No coding required for animations

  • Supports multiple payment systems

  • Mobile-optimized designs

• Free plan? Yes (eCommerce features require a paid plan)

• Best for: Story-driven brands, artists, and boutiques

What to Look for in a Shopify Alternative

Not every tool is right for every store. Here’s how to pick the best Shopify alternatives for your needs:

Consider your skill level

Are you comfortable with tech? Go for WooCommerce or Magento. Want simple? Try Wix or Weebly.

Think about your growth

Do you plan to scale? BigCommerce or Shopwired are great long-term picks.

Look at pricing

Some free Shopify alternatives offer great value, especially if you're just starting. But don’t forget to consider transaction fees, plugins, and themes.

Check for features

Make sure you’re covered on:

• Inventory and orders

• SEO tools

• Mobile-friendly design

• Multichannel selling

• Marketing tools like email and automation

Also, explore how it supports content marketing strategies for ecommerce  and whether it allows custom branding.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to eCommerce platforms. Thankfully, there are plenty of strong alternatives to Shopify available in 2025. Whether you want something free, highly customizable, or just simpler to use, this list gives you options.

Some of the best Shopify alternatives shine in design. Others win in features, flexibility, or price. Take your time, try a few, and go with the one that supports your business goals.

If you’re ready to build your next online store with expert help, visit  Strugbits . We specialize in customized website development, custom integrations, and creative solutions that power online stores. Whether you need branding for ecommerce, enterprise development, or help with a few best CMS for online store options, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s build something amazing together.

FAQs

1. What are the best Shopify alternatives for beginners?

Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly are great for beginners because they offer easy drag-and-drop builders and require no coding skills.

2. Are there any free Shopify alternatives?

Yes, platforms like Ecwid, WooCommerce, and Facebook Shops offer free plans to get started with eCommerce without upfront costs.

3. Which Shopify alternative is best for large businesses?

BigCommerce and Magento (Adobe Commerce) are powerful options with advanced features built to support high-volume or enterprise development.

4. Can I sell digital products using Shopify alternatives?

Absolutely. Platforms like Sellfy, Podia, and Gumroad are designed specifically for selling digital downloads, courses, and memberships.

5. What’s the most affordable Shopify alternative?

Zyro and Shift4Shop offer some of the cheapest plans, with Shift4Shop being completely free for U.S. merchants using their payment system.

6. Are these alternatives good for branding for eCommerce?

Yes, tools like Webflow, Squarespace, and Tilda let you create visually strong sites that align with your brand and marketing vision.

7. Do any Shopify alternatives support blogging and content marketing strategies for eCommerce?

Yes. Squarespace, WordPress (with WooCommerce), and Webflow have built-in blogging features perfect for content-driven selling.

8. Which platform is best for fast product advertising and social selling?

Facebook Shops and Ecwid integrate well with social media, making them ideal for quick product promotion and advertising directly on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.