Whether you’re looking for ways to expand your reach in the online world or attempting to start a new eCommerce business from scratch, having an eCommerce platform is essential to achieving your goals.

An Overview of eCommerce Platforms

An eCommerce platform will catapult any burgeoning business to the next level. It’s essential to understand eCommerce platforms and how they operate.

What Is an eCommerce Platform?

ECommerce is buying and selling services and goods online. Anyone can engage in eCommerce, from freelancers to small, medium, or large businesses.

Common eCommerce activities include digital products, wholesale, retail, subscription, crowdfunding, services, etc.

ECommerce aims to facilitate marketing sales and website management for a business (eCommerce store).

Why Are eCommerce Platforms Important?

ECommerce platforms are integral for any online retail enterprise; they enable the front-end and back-end to work seamlessly and efficiently.

The right software benefits anyone, whether looking for a strong enterprise solution, starting a business from scratch, or expanding a brick-and-mortar location. In addition, the right software will increase your stability and profitability.

Features To Look for In eCommerce Platforms

Now that you know how necessary eCommerce platforms are for online success, here is a comprehensive list of features that you should search for when you make your selection.

1. Ownership Costs

First, figure out your eCommerce business needs, and then identify your budget. Afterwards, compare the relevant pricing plans and select the one that has the most business value for you.

Some eCommerce platforms don’t have monthly fees, but you’ll have to pay for a web hosting service. Other platforms charge more but allow access to the eCommerce website software and your web hosting.

2. Free Trial

Without a trial, it’s markedly more difficult to ascertain which eCommerce platform best suits your online store.

Thankfully, most eCommerce software platforms offer free trials. It’s wise to test the software before signing up for a pricing plan.

3. Installation and Usage

How involved in the setup and installation process? Does it take days or minutes to set up? Starting a business is very time consuming, so having access to essential tools that save you time is invaluable—and gives you the ability to focus on your business.

4. Customizability

Are you in need of a customized site? Does the platform have the capacity to do so? You should be able to customize just about anything on your eCommerce website.

Typical platforms have limits concerning their customization features. However, this is usually purposeful, as they want you to concentrate exclusively on selling products and services.

5. Integration and Plugins

Does the platform integrate seamlessly with other services and products? Extensions on a given eCommerce platform are essential because they allow for additional functionality. Also, they can add too complex features to be available in standard plugins.

Best eCommerce Platforms: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

We’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of the top eCommerce platforms. All these have met the criteria to be among the best platforms available on the market.

Shopify: Our Pick

Shopify is an exemplary model from which many eCommerce sites take their cues—they have more than a million stores built. This platform is the most critically acclaimed platform for small businesses setting up an online store.

Shopify takes it a step further and provides you with an assistant to guide you through the basics of setting up your website, setting up payments, adding products, and customizing your store.

Key Features of Shopify

• Payment processing: Features a built-in payment processor that functions with debit cards, major credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
• Flexibility: You have access to templates, a fantastic core system, and complete access to the code.
• Integration: Shopify integrated with thousands of sales, inventory, accounting, marketing, and other apps to expand its eCommerce capabilities.
• Customer support: You have access to 24/7 support via several channels.
• User-friendly: You can create a live Shopify store optimized for search in a couple of hours because the platform is very user-friendly.

Why Is Shopify a Great Solution?

Of every platform that we reviewed, we found that the most advanced inventory management features came from Shopify. You need Shopify’s intuitive core platform and venture into whatever course is most advantageous to you. You can sell directly on eBay, Walmart, Facebook, Pinterest, and more.

Customers can easily view their stock levels and orders with just a glance and create detailed product pages with custom metadata, pricing rules, images, and more. Shopify streamlines the shipping process, including printing labels and sending tracking information to customers.

Pros of Shopify

• Apps & Community: The Shopify App Store has countless add-ons for your store. Also, they have a vast community of experts and independent developers eager to help.
• Design variety: The quantity is extensive, and the quality is excellent—it’s all mobile-friendly.
• Scalability: Apart from being user-friendly, the platform is also powerful. It makes it easy to scale for big and small online stores alike.

Cons of Shopify

• Weak SEO: Regular pages and blog posts have a URL structure that’s not the best for SEO.
• Transaction fees: Shopify charges a transaction fee on top of the payment processor fee unless you pay via Shopify Payments.
• Multilingual: You must buy a third-party app to create and display translations.

Shopify vs. Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

All Shopify plans come with unlimited bandwidth and storage and let you post products limitlessly, meaning that your business grows and your Shopify scales beautifully along with it.

Additionally, Shopify offers apps for Android and iOS that enable you to manage your store from virtually anywhere.

When the Shopify platform is fresh out of the box, it’s not as feature-heavy as a platform such as BigCommerce regarding managing a complex inventory. However, new users won’t notice, and Shopify’s rich plugin selection allows people to improve the platform as their company grows.

Shopify Pricing

• Lite plan: $9/month (you’ll have access to an embeddable “Buy Button” and a POS app that you can use for in-person selling)
• Basic plan: $29/month (includes the basics in addition to SSL certificates, a high-quality hosted solution with automatic level 1 PCI-DSS compliance, limitless storage, and more)
• Shopify plan: $79/month (you have access to the basic plan and advanced features to use for scaling your business, such as international pricing and professional reports)
• Advanced plan: $299/month (you can access everything in the Shopify plan, automatically calculated shipping rates, and advanced reports)
• Enterprise plan: $2,000/month (this is great for large online stores; it includes calculated shipping based on geographical location, advanced reporting, over 6,000 API integrations, and more)

Can You Try Shopify for Free?

Customers can take advantage of the 14-day free trial that comes with every plan.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Shopify?

Shopify is a proficient website builder that offers monthly plans to accommodate any budget; this is an all-in-one platform that gives the user everything you need to launch an online store, even if you have zero design or coding experience.

BigCommerce: Runner-Up

BigCommerce is a platform with a focus on large companies that are already in the midst of selling products on a considerable scale. This platform is known for leading the world as an open SaaS eCommerce platform. BigCommerce is famous for its highly flexible APIs and low total cost of ownership.

If you want the customizability and flexibility of open source platforms but also like the hassle-free nature of SaaS, then BigCommerce is the platform for you.

Key Features of BigCommerce

• Complex inventory management: This platform allows for 600 variants to a single SKU. This level of variety is not necessary for everyone; however, products with a wide array of finishes, sizes, colors, etc., are very for customers to choose what suits them.
• No code necessary: With BigCommerce, simply point and click to optimize and design your site. No CSS or HTML knowledge is needed.
• Channel management: You can keep track of earnings and customers and customize the settings of all channels you use.
• Customer support: Customer support is accessible 24/7 on every plan; this includes chat, phone, and ticketed support.
• Payment integrations: BigCommerce is also integrated with payment processors, including Amazon, Paypal, and Stripe.

Why Is BigCommerce a Great Solution?

BigCommerce is a well-known name in the eCommerce space and is utilized by businesses in more than 120 countries worldwide. This all-in-one eCommerce platform provider gives you everything for your online store’s success.

Additionally, it’s just as great with a marketplace of apps for accounting, customer relationship management (CRM), marketing, shipping, and more.

Pros of BigCommerce

• Offers flexibility and scalability: You can grow your business easily with advanced features capable of supporting an enterprise such as Ben & Jerry’s, Kodak, and more.
• Multi-channel selling: If you are already in the middle of selling across social media or marketplaces, this platform makes these operations painless and smooth.
• Strong SEO performance: Since it has excellent content management features, this platform is ideal for organic SEO growth.

Cons of BigCommerce

• Not beginner-friendly: Difficult editing interface makes it not conducive for beginners.
• Harder to make design changes: Customizing and editing your site’s design is easy. However, it’s not as customizable as Squarespace and Wix.
• Not ideal for small businesses: The revenue-led billing could disadvantage stores with light margins.

BigCommerce vs. Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

BigCommerce is first in its class regarding features such as page loading speed, security, and uptime. Also, there are a few more design customization capabilities than Shopify.

Although Spotify charges 0.5% to 2% per transaction for utilizing third-party payment processors, BigCommerce allows users to select from more than 65 processors, including Stripe, Square, and PayPal.

BigCommerce Pricing

• Standard plan: $29.95/month (this plan is ideal for up to $50,000 online sales per year and features the BigCommerce mobile app, real-time shipping quotes, professional reporting tools, and more)
• Plus plan: $79.95/month (great for up to $180,000 online sales per year—standard plan features included segmentation, customer groups, and more)
• Pro plan: $299.95/month (good for up to $400,000 online sales per year and every Plus plan feature, custom product filtering, Google customer reviews, and more)
• Enterprise plan: $150/month (for each additional $200,000 in online sales, includes all Pro plan features, price lists, multi- storefront, and more.)

Can You Try BigCommerce for Free?

BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial with all of their plans. Customers also have access to unlimited support during this time.

Conclusion: Should You Choose BigCommerce?

We recommend BigCommerce to any business with a large inventory of products; management is a breeze despite how many variants, warehouses, channels, and SKUs you have.

Regarding the front end, your customers will have no problem finding everything they need. While many eCommerce platforms struggle at the scale, BigCommerce does very well with it.

Weebly: Budget Pick

Weebly is a simplistic eCommerce website builder owned by Square—a company specializing in financial services and payment processing.

Weebly is an excellent option for online stores once it does not require much effort to set up. This eCommerce platform is also user-friendly, requiring no expertise to operate.

Key Features of Weebly

• Sufficient basic plan: Weebly’s plans come with secure checkout and fully integrated shopping. Therefore, without paying anything, you’ll at least be able to build an online store and choose to upgrade at a later date.
• Integrates payment applications: Users will have a choice among a few different payment processors, such as Stripe, Square, and PayPal.
• Template selection: There are a variety of templates to choose from, and you can change your theme as you please just by pushing a button.
• Customer support: Their support team is very responsive; you can reach them via telephone, live chat, and email.
• Bonus features: Weebly has bonus features such as a free domain name, upgrade features, a free SEO report, and more—at no extra cost.

Why Is Weebly a Great Solution?

Weebly features an app center that allows you to add features to your website without coding. For instance, you can add an appointment scheduler or a live chat widget. Also, you can easily add blog posts to your website using the built-in blog feature.

If you want a simple drag-and-drop website builder with budget-friendly e-commerce features, Weebly is just for you.

Pros of Weebly

• Easy to create websites: This platform’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor is on par with Wix, allowing you to make an excellent online store in minutes.
• Fast loading speed: You’ll have little to no issues with the page loading, even with integrations.
• User-friendly: You don’t need technical expertise to operate Weebly—it’s user-friendly for both the customer and the user.

Cons of Weebly

• Lack of customization: You don’t get many customization options (font, layout, designs) to create the exact layout that you may have in mind.
• Transactional issues: Your customers may have problems with making payments or payments not getting accepted or processing slowly.
• Blogging functionally: Weebly seems to be a bit further than the standard blog.

Weebly Vs. Other Top Recommendations: How They Compare

Weebly is an excellent choice for those who want to create a website quickly and hassle-free without learning code—this is possible thanks to Weebly’s drag-and-drop interface.

While both Wix and Shopify have a drag-and-drop feature, Spotify has more customization options than its competitors.

Also, if you are someone who wants to use those domain names, Weebly is an excellent option because it offers a free domain with a Professional plan.

With Wix, you get a free domain name when you purchase an annual plan, but it only lasts for the first year. Lastly, Shopify doesn’t provide a free domain name at all.

Weebly Pricing

• Free plan: $0/month (features free SSL security, shopping Cart, inventory management, SEO, you can add a third party code, and more)
• Personal plan: $6/month (you have access to all free plan features, digital goods, and a shipping calculator, and you can connect a custom domain and more)
• Professional plan: $12/month (our access to all personal plan features, unlimited storage, password protection, advanced site stats, free domain, remove Square ads, and more)
• Performance plan: $26/month (includes all Professional plan features, priority support, advanced eCommerce insights, abandoned cart emails, item reviews, and more)

Can You Try Weebly for Free?

Not only can you try Weebly for free, but they also have a free forever plan. With the free plan, you get a free SSL certificate, capture leads, add third-party embed codes, a chat, email support, and an Instagram feed.

Conclusion: Should You Choose Weebly?

Weebly is a user-friendly website builder that allows users to create a website without coding knowledge; this is a great option for people who want a professional website or an online store. Additionally, it is one of the most affordable eCommerce platforms on the market.

The Best Free eCommerce Platforms

Here are the best free options if you have a business and want a platform that lets you start with basic design and functionality features.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free plugin that allows users to create an eCommerce store from a WordPress website. Many people consider WooCommerce user-friendly, both for the customer and the business owner.

With WooCommerce, managing an online store is easy, as you have all the tools you need to make operations run smoothly. In addition, there are crucial features like shipping integration, tax management, inventory management, secure payments, and more.

Why Is This a Great Option?

WooCommerce is an excellent option because you have everything you need at your disposal. There are memberships, subscriptions, product catalogs, and more that you can customize through WordPress. Additionally, there are extensions for email integration and printing shipping labels, all of which are pertinent features you’ll need.

Drawbacks to WooCommerce

WooCommerce didn’t quite make the cut because of how expensive the hosting is in conjunction with how many built-in features are available.

Also, it can be challenging to troubleshoot when you have a problem, and if you’re new to eCommerce, you need solid support on your side. You’ll also have to get multiple extensions for optimal functioning.

Magento

Magento is an eCommerce Platform that runs through Adobe and processes over $100 billion yearly in merchandise sales. With Magento, you can create your store no matter how big or small of a website you have. As a result, it’s an excellent platform for B2B online sales, mid-market stores, small businesses, and enterprises.

Why Is This a Great Option?

Magento is efficient and has tons of automation features, and allows you to access essential information to run your store properly.

The shipping solutions, order management, ability to manage inventory, and business intelligence make Magento a solid choice for your eCommerce store. There are also excellent personalization and customer segmentation features.

Drawbacks to Magento

Magento doesn’t offer themes like Wix, Shopify, and other popular eCommerce platforms. Instead, you download the software, and then you’ll have to rely on third-party applications for your designs.

Magento has a commerce license you must purchase when contacting a sales representative for more information.

Notable Mentions: Notable Mentions: Other eCommerce Platforms To Check Out

These eCommerce platforms are worth exploring if you’re looking for something different from what we have listed.

Zyro

Zyro is a sustainable and affordable eCommerce option. This SaaS is perfect for small businesses that need web hosting. There are numerous AI tools; you can add images, customize the backgrounds, and make logos. Even without previous developer experience, it’s easy to set up and use immediately.

Why Is Zyro a Great Option?

Zyro has free themes that eCommerce merchants can use to customize their websites. There’s also the drag-and-drop builder that works well on mobile phones in addition to the desktop.

If you’re working with a tight budget but need to get your store up and running, consider Zyro. It’s the perfect solution for selling niche products on a site.

Drawbacks to Zyro

Zyro has notable drawbacks that keep it from ranking higher, like the limited templates, lack of product offers, and because it slows your mobile device considerably. It can also slow your PC down as well. For these reasons, Zyro might not be the best choice when you need numerous extensions.

Zyro Pricing

• Basic plan: $2.90/month, or $34.80/year. It is amongst the most affordable starter plans available. (for small business merchants that aren’t trying to sell products online just yet, try Zyro and update later if you change your mind).
• Business plan: $4.90/month, or $46.80/year (this plan comes with basic plan features, upgrades, analytics integrations, and increased customer support.)
• Advanced plan: $15.90/month, or $190.80/year (the advanced package has all the basic and business plan features and is perfect for an online merchant with numerous products.)

Can You Try Zyro for Free?

You cannot try a free trial with Zyro, nor do they have a free forever plan. However, each plan offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try them without commitment.

Big Cartel 

Need another easy-to-use eCommerce platform for small businesses on a tight budget? Try Big Cartel, which doesn’t have the same allure as the fancier platforms, but it’s still a solid choice. It’s cost-effective, gets the job done, and can improve your customers’ buying experience.

Why Is Big Cartel a Great Option?

Not only is Big Cartel user-friendly, but you don’t have to follow many steps to configure the site or set up to get it up and running.

They have a free plan that functions well enough for entrepreneurs with only a few items to sell. There are no transaction fees, and the template collection is free and responsive.

Drawbacks to Big Cartel

Big Cartel isn’t suitable for an enterprise despite the positive attributes for smaller businesses. They only permit 500 products or less for their highest-paid plan.

Also, the themes are not highly customizable. They also don’t offer phone support or live chat; you can only sell your products through your site, Instagram, and Facebook.

Big Cartel Pricing

• Gold Plan: $0/month (you can only sell five products, there’s a limit regarding editing site code, you can’t track your inventory, and you can’t add Google Analytics)
• Platinum Plan: $9.99/month (you get to sell up to 50 products, you’re allowed to track inventory, edit the theme code, and add Google Analytics)
• Diamond Plan: $19.99/month (your product limit is 500 products, but there are no new features besides the limit increase)

Can You Try Big Cartel for Free?

There’s no need for a free trial with Big Cartel because they have a free forever plan that you can use, as long as you aren’t selling more than five items.

OpenCart 

Unlike many other options on this list, OpenCart is not an eCommerce site builder. Instead, it’s more of an open-source, free platform, allowing you to add functionalities as an eCommerce merchant to existing websites. It’s simple to use and doesn’t require much tech experience.

Why Is OpenCart a Great Option?

OpenCart is an excellent option because of the marketplace aspect. You can access over 13,000 themes and modules and integrate your site with various shipping providers and payment gateways. You also receive support from over 550,000 discussions from 100K+ members.

Drawbacks to OpenCart

You can install OpenCart for free, but those integrations and extensions can add up. Larger sites will feel the effects of a slower pace, which may diminish the buyer experience over time. Their free plan is restrictive, and this OpenCart might become more expensive because of self-hosting.

OpenCart Pricing

OpenCart has a cloud version with a 50 percent discount if you pay for one year upfront. You get better customer support, and you can host more than one store with all of these plans.

• Bronze: $27/month
• Silver: $53/month
• Gold: $160/month

*Prices may fluctuate, as the site initially lists them in British pounds.

Anticipate the following costs, though the download is free:

• Hosting plan: Usually costs $5/month, at a minimum, but high-quality hosts are more expensive ($10+)
• Domain name: Your store needs a domain name costing around $10/year.
• Extra features: Additional features like your store’s template/design or extensions/modules will cost around $100/year.
• Customer support: $99/month

Can You Try Opencart for Free?

Users receive a 14-day free trial, with unbridled access to themes, direct support, hosting, extensions, and more.

Squarespace 

Each business plan with Squarespace gives you everything you need to run a successful eCommerce website.

You’ll appreciate the layout if you work in a creative industry, such as being a writer, artist, photographer, videographer, etc. The templates featured by Squarespace are innovative, captivating, modern, and perfect for owners that occupy this niche.

Why Is Squarespace a Great Option?

You can quickly and effectively display and sell your work on Squarespace. Additionally, digital content and subscriptions are eligible for sale, and the features are highly impressive.

Product display, automatic inventory management, shipping calculator tools, product videos, and more are easy to access. Selling tools are simple to integrate, with popular add-ons like Apple Pay, Stripe, FedEx, and PayPal being preferred choices.

Drawbacks to Squarespace

Squarespace is a great platform, but unlike Wix and Shopify, there is no way for you to reach customer service representatives over the phone. The payment gateways also aren’t as extensive as you’ll find with other sites. Lastly, the eCommerce integrations are lacking with Squarespace.

Squarespace Pricing

• Personal plan: $14/month, billed annually (receive 30 minutes of video storage, SEO features, unlimited bandwidth, Squarespace extensions, and standard website metrics.
• Business plan: $23/month, billed annually (get all the features from the Personal plan, total customization with site code, Google Ads credits, advanced analytics tools, and a Google email)
• Basic Commerce plan: $27/month, billed annually (you’ll get all the features from the Business plan, social integrations, customer accounts, eCommerce analytics, product reviews, features, 0 percent transaction fees)
• Advanced Commerce plan: $49/month, billed annually (get all the features from the basic Commerce plan, 0 percent transaction fees, abandoned cart recovery, sell subscriptions, limited availability labels, advanced shipping, and more)

*You can only access eCommerce functions with the Business and Commerce plans.

Can You Try Squarespace for Free?

Each Squarespace plan qualifies for a free trial that lasts 14 days, 24/7 customer support, and a customized domain.

Wix 

Wix is amongst the most intuitive eCommerce site builders. You don’t need coding experience or technical knowledge to get started. They have a drag-and-drop builder to edit videos, images, text, and various forms of media in just a few minutes. The finished product is a high-quality website.

Why Is Wix a Great Option?

There are over 500 design themes, and you can easily customize your store with ease. Wix is an excellent platform for site visibility and has automatic features in place to optimize your online store for mobile devices and SEO.

The Wix platform provides users with all the web applications they can use for customization. There are more templates than Magento and Shopify, and you can edit images, logos, videos, and more.

Drawbacks to Wix

One aspect of having a site and ranking high on the SERPs is SEO. You want excellent site visibility, but unfortunately, Wix doesn’t help in that department.

The upselling capabilities are lackluster, and it doesn’t integrate well with other extensions or sites like Amazon. For these reasons, we had to keep Wix lower on the list.

Wix Pricing

• Business Basic plan: $27/month (you can accept payments online, get 50GB of storage, add customer accounts, remove ads, receive a custom domain, sell unlimited products, get five video hours, ad vouchers, and a free domain for a year)
• Business Unlimited plan: $32/month (get all the features from the Business Unlimited Plan, plus 100GB of storage, ten video hours, sell through various marketplaces, and get subscriptions)
• Business VIP plan: $59/month (get all Business Unlimited Plan features, unlimited video hours, unlimited storage, Smile.io)

Can You Try Wix for Free?

With Wix, you get a free trial for fourteen days, a custom domain link, and free hosting.

Bluehost + WooCommerce

Bluehost is the ideal solution for many small businesses. By combining WooCommerce and WordPress features into an already established hosting platform like Bluehost, you now have a complete shopping experience tied into one bundle. It’s one of the most versatile and trusted builder combinations available.

Why Is Bluehost + WooCommerce a Great Option?

Bluehost + WooCommerce is an excellent option because it’s easy enough to use that anyone can pick it up and start creating an online store. Owners have a seamless transition by providing users with everything they need in one location, including the functionalities they get from WooCommerce.

Drawbacks to Bluehost + WooCommerce

While Bluehost + WooCommerce is a one-stop shop, there are additional costs like checkout cart add-ons and other extensions.

Also, Bluehost storage is surprisingly low, especially with the Basic plan. The tools and backup features also aren’t promising. It also has the potential to slow your site down a bit.

Bluehost + WooCommerce Pricing

• Standard plan: $24.95/month (this plan includes unlimited products for your online store, Jetpack, WooCommerce, order creation, themes, traffic analysis, and more)
• Premium plan: $39.95/month (you get everything from the Standard plan, backup, site code, domain privacy, protection, and more)

Can You Try Bluehost + WooCommerce for Free?

Bluehost no longer offers a free trial, but there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if the customer is dissatisfied with the services.

Even More Options To Check Out

Here’s a brief overview of even more eCommerce platforms that you might want to check out:

3DCart 

3DCart is an advanced eCommerce platform with over 200 features, more than 100 payment processing choices, 50 themes, and an excellent blog feature. It also fully supports the various integrations you need to run a store successfully. You have the option of unlimited storage.

Additionally, there’s phone support and live chat for customers. Remember that there’s no drag-and-drop builder like you get with Wix, Shopify, and more. It’s harder to use if you have no development or coding services for proper customization.

Volusion

Volusion is another all-in-one solution for your eCommerce needs. Multiple custom domains and navigation styles, intriguing theme designs, a content editor, and other functions help create a website. Overall, it provides a pleasant shopping experience for customers.

However, you can’t blog with this platform, there’s no specific niche, and the storefront is somewhat confusing concerning the arrangements. Also, customer support is lacking.

Prestashop

Prestashop is innovative, efficient, and another open-source option. Everything you need is in one location to take your brand and business to the next level. Furthermore, you can download and access all of these features for free. The only costs you’ll incur are for the SSL certificate, hosting, and other factors you deem essential.

Business owners need developer skills to use Prestashop, as the interface is highly technical and requires a certain level of expertise. Additionally, customer support is expensive. You only get a few hours of support, but it costs $250/month and goes up from there.

Instamojo

Instamojo facilitates online stores for very small companies. They have a variety of stores that are ready to go right away. They all come with features and marketing tools crucial to smooth operations. There are shopping services, an integrated payment system, and more. Within five minutes, you can have a fully operational business.

The drawbacks to Instamojo are that they will charge you five percent of all your sales as part of their service fees. They only process customer payments in Indian Rupees, and the overall features have limits regarding receiving payments.

CoreCommerce

When you sign up with CoreCommerce, you’re signing up for extensive customizations and flexibility for your business. You’ll be able to manage products, sales, promotions, pull reports, and more.

The primary disadvantage of using CoreCommerce is that it’s challenging to set up and customize this software. If you don’t have previous experience with web development, you’ll struggle to get up and running.

Sellfy 

Sellfy is one of the better eCommerce platforms that allows you to create an online store with a unique theme that perfectly reflects your business. You can change the colors, layout, logo, and more to your liking. It’s easy to set up and use, and you have adequate customer support should you run into issues.

The downside is that there aren’t many integration options, so you will inevitably have to pay more to get the applications you want and need to run your business optimally. Also, the SEO capability is restrictive, and your site will run slower.

Other Products Relevant to eCommerce Platforms

The following platforms and resources are relevant to eCommerce platforms in terms of enhancing their functionality or being an essential factor you need for a better product.

• Best Managed WordPress Hosts: Many eCommerce stores run on a WordPress website. Knowing the best-managed WordPress hosts, you can select the best option with the most features to help you create an efficient website that you can transform into an eCommerce site should you choose to.
• Best Free Blogging Sites: Frequently, blogging is an excellent way to spread the word and connect with your customers. Here are the best free blogging sites to help you get started building an audience.
• Best Blogging Tools: The best blogging tools will help you with better SEO results, which can help your page rank higher. Check out these features to enhance your content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the responses to the most commonly asked questions regarding eCommerce platforms:

What are the 3 types of eCommerce?

Business-to-business (B2B), consumer-to-consumer (C2C), and business-to-consumer (B2C) are the three types of commerce.

B2B indicates wholesale transactions from one business to another, C2C occurs when one consumer sells to another, like on eBay (you can also sell on Etsy), and B2C is when a business sells directly to a consumer.

What is the best eCommerce Platform for startups?

The best eCommerce platform for startups would be Shopify with their basic plan, Weebly because it’s budget-friendly, Big Cartel because it doesn’t cost you anything, and it’s perfect for small businesses.

Conclusion

An eCommerce store can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. From platforms that won’t break the bank to costlier options, these are the best eCommerce platforms on the market.

Shopify and BigCommerce come in at 1 and 2 because of the features, support, and ease of use regarding setup and configuration. However, be mindful that you may need a little more experience with BigCommerce.

Aside from that, they both offer free trials, have reasonably priced plans to get started, and provide customization features.

Download one of the eCommerce platforms today to build your brand and expand your business.

The increasing availability of emergent technologies, remote work, and virtual transactions have provoked many brick-and-mortar businesses to shift to e-commerce platforms.

In fact, from 2020 to 2021, e-commerce sales in the United States increased by $218.53 billion.

With over 1.75 million merchants on its platform, Shopify remains one of the most popular e-commerce websites—despite several drawbacks.

If you are ready to dive into the world of e-commerce but are apprehensive about the many costs of using Shopify, this guide to Shopify alternatives is for you!

We’ve reviewed the best e-commerce platforms—from the all-around best, BigCommerce, to lesser-known alternatives like Sellfy—so you can get started today.

An Overview of Shopify

Shopify is a full-service e-commerce platform that allows users to create websites, enable sales, and develop communities around their products.

While Shopify boasts several strengths, its drawbacks discourage many business owners from investing in the platform.

What is Shopify?

As an all-in-one e-commerce platform, Shopify is a popular choice for many virtual vendors.

Like most e-commerce facilitators, Shopify allows users to create websites, market their products, and make sales—all in the same place.

The company aims to provide an easy-to-use e-commerce option for businesses of all types and sizes.

Where Does Shopify Excel?

Shopify offers a user-friendly dashboard and a vast selection of layouts and themes to enable easy website design.

Users can accept payments, track orders within the app, and sell across multiple channels.

Where Does Shopify Fall Short?

Shopify reviews reveal the platform’s several drawbacks.

The platform’s cost is relatively high, and users feel pushed to buy more costly plans.

Transaction fees are also exceptionally high.

Additionally, Shopify’s email marketing tools and customization options are limited.

Best Shopify Alternatives: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked and Reviewed]

Shopify is not your only option.

Your time is precious when you are an experienced business owner or an emergent entrepreneur.

We’ve assembled the best Shopify alternatives to guide you through the process of launching your e-commerce website.

1. BigCommerce: Our Pick

BigCommerce represents the best of what e-commerce platforms have to offer.

Our Pick

BigCommerce is a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider that allows businesses to sell and market products.

The product has consistently performed well across market analysis reports, and Garner has recognized BigCommerce as one of the market’s most reliable and trusted e-commerce solutions.

Visit BigCommerceRead BigCommerce Reviews

What is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider that allows businesses to sell and market products.

The product has consistently performed well across market analysis reports, and Garner has recognized BigCommerce as one of the market’s most reliable and trusted e-commerce solutions.

Key Features of BigCommerce

BigCommerce combines SaaS with Application Programming Interface (API) to allow users to exercise flexibility and agility in web design and function.

The platform allows for cloud-based app integration that you can use to customize your site and facilitate scalability.

BigCommerce does not charge fees or commissions, and the dashboard is relatively easy to use.

Best for: Ambitious Businessowners and Multi-Channel Sellers

For its flexibility, ease of use, and scalability, BigCommerce is best for new and established businesses seeking to grow revenue.

Additionally, BigCommerce easily enables multi-channel selling for those who use third-party websites.

You can also sell on Etsy through BigCommerce.

Shopify vs. BigCommerce: How They Compare

BigCommerce resolves many of the challenges of Shopify.

While Shopify includes hidden costs and high commission fees, BigCommerce uses revenue-led billing.

BigCommerce also has robust Search Engine Optimization (SEO support), unlike Shopify, which performs weakly on SEO.

In other words, a BigCommerce site is easier for customers to find.

BigCommerce offers more design options than Shopify, making the interface more user-friendly.

Why is BigCommerce a Great Alternative to Shopify?

BigCommerce is an excellent alternative to Shopify for those who want more flexible, scalable e-commerce solutions.

BigCommerce is also much easier to use than Shopify, with built-in payment and more intuitive design features.

Use BigCommerce if you intend to sell primarily online and wish to continue scaling your business and boosting your revenue.

Pros of BigCommerce

• With its built-in features and intuitive design system, BigCommerce allows users to create and manage websites seamlessly.
• Additionally, users can accommodate over 600 variations on products, and with no transaction fees, the platform is generally more affordable.

Cons of BigCommerce

• Though easy to use, BigCommerce offers advanced features that require some adjustment.
• Additionally, revenue-led billing can pose a challenge for small and new businesses.
• Lastly, BigCommerce does not have as strong a customer support network as Shopify.

BigCommerce Pricing

BigCommers offer several pricing plans depending on the size of your business. You receive a 10% discount for paying annually.

• Standard ($29.95/mo): Sell up to $50k annually
• Plus ($79.95/mo): Sell up to $180k annually and enjoy special credit card rates, stored cards, and customer groups.
• Pro ($299.95/mo): Sell up to $400k annually and enjoy faceted search and custom SSL
• Enterprise (varies)

2. WooCommerce: Runner-Up

WooCommerce allows you to design, build, and manage a functional online store to sell your products.

Runner Up

WooCommerce is a customizable, open-source, WordPress-based e-commerce facilitator.

As an open-source platform, WooCommerce is free to install and easy to use and customize. This e-commerce plugin operates on WordPress and can quickly convert your existing WordPress site into a store.

Visit WooCommerceRead WooCommerce reviews

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a customizable, open-source, WordPress-based e-commerce facilitator.

As an open-source platform, WooCommerce is free to install and easy to use and customize. This e-commerce plugin operates on WordPress and can quickly convert your existing WordPress site into a store. WooCommerce operates under one of the best hosting providers, BlueHost.

Key Features of WooCommerce

WooCommerce boasts many features to allow for customization and flexibility.

The plug-in platform uses the WordPress website builder (great for SEO) to enable website creation and allows for complete customization.

With WooCommerce, you can integrate blogs, reviews, sales tools, and marketing strategies.

Lastly, WooCommerce generates reports to view your sales, performance, and refunds over time.

Best For Large-Scale Stores and Customization

WooCommerce prioritizes customization—at a nominal cost to usability.

Therefore, you should use WooCommerce if you already have technical experience with website building—or if you are willing to put in the time to learn.

WooCommerce lends itself to scalability and allows you to sell across regions (with free shipping!).

Additionally, product review bloggers should use WooCommerce for its easy integration with personal and business blogs.

Shopify vs. WooCommerce: How They Compare?

While Shopify prioritizes ease of use, WooCommerce is all about customization. Therefore, Shopify will guide you through the process, while WooCommerce may require more work on the front end.

WooCommerce also has far more plug-in options than Shopify because it is an open-source platform: 55,000 votes versus Shopify’s 3,200.

Additionally, WooCommerce does not have transaction fees and emphasizes SEO.

Why is WooCommerce a Great Alternative to Shopify?

WooCommerce offers several features that Shopify does not.

First, the former is more affordable than the latter.

Additionally, WooCommerce is far more customizable and offers more plug-in options than Shopify.

WooCommerce does not share Shopify’s hidden costs, and the platform’s emphasis on SEO means customers will easily find your site.

Pros of WooCommerce

• WooCommerce is free to install and affordable to use.
• With 55,000 plug-ins, your options for customization and function are endless.
• WooCommerce also has excellent customer support thanks to its parent hosting site, BlueHost.

Cons of WooCommerce

• WooCommerce is not necessarily beginner-friendly since there are few built-in features and most sales and marketing tools require plug-ins.
• Websites may take longer to build and launch, and you must add sales and marketing features yourself.

WooCommerce Pricing

WooCommerce is free to install.

You will need a domain name (roughly $12–$13 a year) and a hosting service ($monthly month).

Plug-ins generally cost more—$25–$100 a year for advanced sites, and security ranges between $10 and $150 a year.

3. Easy Digital Downloads: Budget Pick

Easy Digital Downloads is an e-commerce plugin used by over 50,000 online sellers.

Find out why.

Also Great

Easy Digital Downloads is an e-commerce plug-in for digital products.

If you are interested in selling niche products (or already do), Easy Digital Downloads is the best in the market.

Users can also pair the plug-in with WordPress sites.

Visit Easy Digital DownloadsRead Easy Digital Downloads reviews

What are Easy Digital Downloads?

Easy Digital Downloads is an e-commerce plug-in for digital products.

If you are interested in selling niche products (or already do), Easy Digital Downloads is the best in the market.

Users can also pair the plug-in with WordPress sites.

Key Features of Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads boasts many desirable features for digital product sellers.

Pricing is affordable, and you can integrate payment portals like Stripe and Paypal for free.

You can also manage orders and use advanced refund features on the website.

The API platform allows you to access sales and product information quickly, and you can generate reports to analyze data.

Countless marketing tools—like email integration—will enable you to promote your product and reach customers quickly.

EDD integrates fully with WordPress and is developer-friendly.

Best For Digital Products on Any Budget

Easy Digital Downloads is mainly a digital product manager—so it works best for those who sell PDFs, E-Books, or documents.

For its affordable price, it offers many excellent features and supportive resources.

Shopify vs. Easy Digital Downloads: How They Compare

Shopify enables the sale of physical products but does not lend itself to digital product sales.

Easy Digital Downloads allow for control over all aspects of the deal, from branding to customer experience.

Unlike Shopify, EDD integrates easily with WordPress and is easy to use.

Because it prioritizes digital sales, it offers many select tools like software licensing and front-end submissions.

Why are Easy Digital Downloads a Great Alternative to Shopify?

Easy Digital Downloads is far cheaper than Shopify at $99.50 a year (for the first year).

Additionally, EDD optimizes digital product sales and includes many in-app tools that Shopify does not.

Setup is easy, and you can install EDD’s free app to manage your store from afar.

EDD has more support options than other platforms, including community forums and dedicated support teams.

Pros of Easy Digital Downloads

• Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent e-commerce solution for digital sellers. Its optimized tools make selling digital products more accessible than ever, and it lends itself well to scaling your business.
• Additionally, Easy Digital Downloads are cheaper than many other options on the market, making it great for those on a tight budget.
• You can easily set up recurrent subscriptions and memberships, and the website offers many resources to guide you as you navigate the process.
• Setup is easy, and EDD helps you find suppliers to get started quickly.
• Lastly, Easy Digital Downloads offers excellent and responsive customer service for all your needs.

Cons of Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads are mostly for digital products, and it doesn’t adapt to physical product sales.

Additionally, there aren’t as many customizable features as on other platforms.

Some users report bugs on the website and under-developed extensions that do not consistently adapt to mobile access or alternative devices.

Vendors do not receive notifications when users leave comments, preventing you from tracking customer satisfaction.

Easy Digital Downloads Pricing

Pricing plans start at $0 and go up to $82.50 monthly for big businesses.

You can opt for the Venture plan at $12.50 a month for additional features like tax calculations, Google Shopping, and 25GB of storage, or a Business plan at $29.17 for advanced features.

Notable Mentions: Other Alternatives to Shopify

If you are still looking for the perfect e-commerce website builder for your business, check out our notable mentions below.

MemberPress

MemberPress is a full-service membership plug-in for WordPress.

MemberPress is a full-service membership plug-in for WordPress.

It works best for small or medium-sized businesses that offer membership and eLearning options to their customers.

Visit MemberPressRead MemberPress reviews

It works best for small or medium-sized businesses that offer membership and eLearning options to their customers.

Over one million users claim MemberPress as the top membership provider for their businesses.

Overview

MemberPress is a cloud-based SaaS membership and eLearning plug-in for WordPress, which works primarily for users seeking to roll out membership packages and access courses.

MemberPress allows you to design a site from hundreds of templates and optimize with data security and email marketing.

It is easy to use and has responsive customer service options.

Additionally, you can restrict viewership and access resources to inform your course creation.

Why is MemberPress a Great Option?

MemberPress is an excellent solution for online educators, course providers, and content creators who want to offer their products virtually.

With an embedded course creator, it is easier to design products in-app than on other platforms.

It is easy to use and offers a one-stop, simple solution for membership sites.

Drawbacks to MemberPress

MemberPress works best for content creators and online education.

It does not offer tools to sell physical products.

Additionally, it has limited functionality, no SEO options, and few customization features.

The website does not integrate well with mobile access and does not offer multi-channel marketing.

PinnacleCart

PinnacleCart is an excellent alternative to Shopify.

It prioritizes sales and conversions and operates with the customer experience in mind.

PinnacleCart is an all-in-one e-commerce solution that offers many of the same services as Shopify—at a lower price ($29 a month).

With PinnacleCart, you can sell and manage products on a platform that prioritizes conversions and drives engagement and sales.

Visit PinnacleCartRead PinnacleCart reviews

Overview

PinnacleCart is an all-in-one e-commerce solution that offers many of the same services as Shopify—at a lower price ($29 a month).

With PinnacleCart, you can sell and manage products on a platform that prioritizes conversions and drives engagement and sales.

The platform is easy to use and accessible to most.

Why is PinnacleCart a Great Option?

PinnacleCart is an excellent option for established or large-scale sellers.

With cataloging tools, order and promotions management databases,  SEO optimization, and marketing tools, PinnacleCart offers solutions to many persistent problems for online sellers.

Stores are optimized for mobile access, and hundreds of design features allow you to customize your site entirely.

The company creates its templates and tools with conversion, making your website more likely to attract revenue.

Drawbacks to PinnacleCart?

PinnacleCart works best for larger businesses with more significant revenue and is less intuitive than Shopify.

PinnacleCart also doesn’t offer many flexible payment options.

Ultimately, PinnacleCart is an excellent option for those who want to drive their sales.

Wix

Wix is an all-in-one website builder that offers e-commerce solutions for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Wix is an all-in-one website builder that offers e-commerce solutions for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Wix is the most popular website builder for its flexibility and adaptivity to different needs and products.

Visit WixRead Wix reviews

Wix is the most popular website builder for its flexibility and adaptivity to different needs and products.

Overview

Wix is a website builder for small businesses and content creators.

With its easy-to-use builder, a large bank of templates and layouts, and extensive choice of plug-ins and apps,

Wix is best for beginners and those who want a flexible website.

Why is Wix a Great Option?

Wix is an excellent option for most businesses—particularly entrepreneurs and small-scale sellers.

Wix is easy to use and offers thousands of support options and resources to guide you through the process.

Wix is cheaper than Spotify and offers flexible payment options, high security, and several outstanding marketing features.

Wix offers more customization than Shopify—at a higher value for your money.

Drawbacks to Wix

Wix has fewer product and inventory features than Shopify, so it’s better for emergent business owners with less revenue.

Wix requires additional plug-ins to enable global shipping and does not offer as many e-commerce-specific apps as Shopify.

Wix is, therefore, better for beginners and new businesses.

Even More Options to Check Out

Still unsatisfied?

We have more options for you! Keep reading to learn more about additional alternatives to Shopify.

Sellfy

Like Easy Digital Downloads, Sellfy is an e-commerce platform for digital downloads.

Like Easy Digital Downloads, Sellfy is an e-commerce platform for digital downloads.

Sellfy offers most of the features that Shopify does—and unlike Shopify, the platform includes tools optimized for digital sales and email marketing.

Visit SellfyRead Sellfy reviews

Sellfy offers most of the features that Shopify does—and unlike Shopify, the platform includes tools optimized for digital sales and email marketing.

Starting at $19 a month, Sellfy is more affordable than Shopify and adapts better to the needs of digital product sellers.

There are no transaction fees, and you can sell subscriptions and packages on your site.

Sellfy is the best choice for those who want to sell and market digital products at an affordable cost.

Shift4Shop

Shift4Shop is a web-based e-commerce platform that allows you to build, launch, and manage an online store.

It is similar to Shopify but is all-inclusive and offers everything you need to set up your store for free.

Shift4Shop is a web-based e-commerce platform that allows you to build, launch, and manage an online store.

It is similar to Shopify but is all-inclusive and offers everything you need to set up your store for free.

Visit Shift4ShopRead Shift4Shop reviews

You can optimize your site for mobile access and fully customize your store with flexible design features and functional sales, inventory, and payment plug-ins.

You can integrate third-party apps and tools to enable email marketing, tax tracking, and more.

Shift4Shop is the most affordable platform, and you receive a free domain name with your account.

Additionally, the company has a strong customer support team, and you can access hundreds of free resources on its website.

Squarespace

Squarespace is the most popular website builder for content creators.

Squarespace is the most popular website builder for content creators.

The creators of SquareSpace originally intended it for artists, writers, photographers, and other digital content creators, but recent upgrades allow for e-commerce capabilities and marketing tools.

Visit SquarespaceRead Squarespace reviews

The creators of SquareSpace originally intended it for artists, writers, photographers, and other digital content creators, but recent upgrades allow for e-commerce capabilities and marketing tools.

Squarespace offers more design options than any other platform, high-quality apps, and website and sales features.

The website’s editor is easy to use and prioritizes design—so your website will be high-quality and ready to launch quickly.

Other Alternative Roundups (Similar to Shopify)

If you are still hesitant to start, consider reading another alternative roundup to understand your options.

From WooCommerce to Wix, we’ve reviewed the major website builders and e-commerce providers—and the best alternatives— for your convenience.

• WooCommerce Alternatives: If you are looking for the flexibility and scalability of WooCommerce without the drawbacks, consider exploring WooCommerce alternatives. Many lesser-known alternatives to the big-name e-commerce provider offer unique and affordable features.
• WordPress Alternatives: WordPress is one of the most popular website designers on the market. You may want the benefits of WordPress but wish to enable more robust e-commerce and marketing options or inventory management and tracking tools. Check out WordPress alternatives to find the perfect web creator for your business or personal blog.
• Wix Alternatives: Wix remains the most popular web builder on the market—but many are dissatisfied with the limited range of customization and management options. Read our detailed article on Wix Alternatives to learn more about your other options.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may still want to know more about Shopify and Shopify alternatives.

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions.

Wrapping Up

Use this guide to assess your options and select the best e-commerce platform for your business.

Remember that BigCommerce is adaptive to almost every online business—with WooCommerce at a close second.

Both offer similar features to Shopify at a higher value for your money.

BigCommerce is flexible and enables scalability, while WooCommerce is best for those who prioritize customization.

Once you have chosen your platform, you are ready to build your site and start attracting customers.

We wish you the best of luck!

They both have their pros and cons, but which one should you choose for your business?

In this article, we’ll compare WooCommerce and Shopify to help you decide which platform is right for you.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a Canadian e-commerce company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario that develops and hosts an online shop platform for businesses of all sizes.

Shopify offers four different plans: a 14-day free trial of the basic Shopify plan, the standard Shopify plan at $79/month, advanced Shopify at $299/month, and Shopify Plus for enterprise businesses at an undisclosed price.

However, there are Shopify discounts that you can claim to offset the cost of the platform.

As of June 2019, Shopify has over 1 million active users.

Lütke is the current CEO of Shopify.

Shopify is an eCommerce platform where users can create their own online shop to sell products such as clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, and more.

There are no limits to what you can sell on your Shopify store or Shopify app store.

Users can also customize their shop’s look and feel to match their brand.

Shopify Payments is a service that allows shop owners to accept credit card payments from their customers. shop owners can also use other third-party payment processors such as PayPal or Stripe.

What Is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce plugin for WordPress allows you to turn your WordPress site into an ecommerce store.

WooCommerce store data on your web server, so you will need to have a web hosting account and WooCommerce themes installed in order to use it.

Once WooCommerce is installed, you can choose from a variety of WooCommerce themes to customize the look of your store.

You can also add plugins to WooCommerce to add more features to your store such as product reviews, shipping options, and payment methods.

WooCommerce is a great way to create an online store because it is easy to use and there are no monthly fees.

You only pay for WooCommerce when you make a sale, so it is very affordable for small businesses.

Benefits Of Shopify

Shopify is a platform for businesses of all sizes to create an online store.

While some businesses may choose to build their own website from scratch, Shopify makes it easy to create a professional, looking website in minutes.

There are also many benefits of using Shopify, including the ability to use Shopify themes which can be customized to match your branding, the ease of use, and the support provided.

WordPress websites are also popular for businesses, but both Shopify and WordPresshave their own pros and cons.

One of the main benefits of Shopify is that it is extremely user-friendly and easy to set up.

Even if you have no prior experience with creating websites, you will be able to create a professional-looking Shopify store in a matter of minutes.

In addition, Shopify provides users with a wide range of features and tools to help them grow their business.

For example, Shopify offers built-in marketing tools and Shopify apps to help you promote your products, as well as powerful analytics tools to help you track your store’s performance.

Overall, Shopify is an excellent choice for businesses looking to set up an online store.

Benefits Of WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a plugin that provides ecommerce functionality to WordPress websites.

It is a popular choice for many online businesses as it is user-friendly, customisable and scalable.

WooCommerce plugins are available for both free and premium versions of the software, and there are also a number of WooCommerce-specific themes and extensions.

A WooCommerce site can be set up to sell physical or digital products, or both.

There are a number of payment gateway options available, and shipping can be configured to meet the needs of the business.

The software is constantly being updated with new features and security patches, making it a safe and reliable choice for online businesses.

Cons Of Shopify

Although Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms available, it’s not without its drawbacks.

One of the biggest disadvantages of using Shopify is that it can be expensive.

The basic Shopify plan starts at $29 per month, but if you want to add advanced features, such as abandoned cart recovery or real-time shipping quotes, you’ll need to sign up for a more expensive plan.

In addition, Shopify also charges transaction fees on all sales, which can add up quickly if you have a lot of orders.

Another downside to using Shopify is that it can be challenging to migrate to another platform if you decide you want to switch.

Because Shopify uses its own proprietary platform, it can be difficult and time-consuming to transfer your data and move your store to another ecommerce solution.

Finally, although Shopify offers a wide range of themes and plugins, it doesn’t have as many options as some of the other platforms on the market.

This can make it more difficult to find the perfect design for your store.

Despite these cons, Shopify is still a popular ecommerce platform for many businesses.

It’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding whether or not it’s the right solution for you.

Cons Of WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a popular ecommerce platform, but it has its downside.

One of the biggest cons is that it can be slow.

This is because WooCommerce is built on top of WordPress, which is not known for being the quickest CMS.

Another problem with WooCommerce is that it can be difficult to scale.

If you want to add more products or add more functionality to your store, it can be tricky to do so without breaking something.

Finally, WooCommerce can be quite expensive.

If you want to use all of the features, you’ll need to pay for premium plugins and themes.

While WooCommerce is a great platform, it’s not always the best choice for every business.

Consider your needs carefully before deciding if WooCommerce is right for you.

Tips To Get Started With Shopify

Shopify is a popular ecommerce platform that enables entrepreneurs to set up their own online stores.

If you’re thinking of starting a Shopify store, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Choose your niche

The first step is to decide what kind of products you want to sell.

To narrow things down, consider your interests and passions, as well as the needs of your target market.

2. Research your competition

Once you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to take a look at the competition.

See what other Shopify stores are doing well and see what areas you can improve upon.

3. Set up your store

The next step is to actually set up your Shopify store.

This involves choosing a template, adding your products, setting up payment methods, and more.

Fortunately, Shopify makes this process relatively easy with their user-friendly platform.

4. Market your store

Once your store is up and running, it’s time to start marketing it.

There are a number of ways to do this, including social media marketing, content marketing, and search engine optimization.

Choose the method (or methods) that best fit your business and start spreading the word about your new Shopify store!

Tips To Get Started With WooCommerce

Are you thinking about setting up an online store?

If so, you’ll need a platform that can handle all the complexities of ecommerce.

That’s where WooCommerce comes in.

WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin that turns your website into a fully functioning online store.

In this post, we’ll give you some tips to get started with WooCommerce.

First, you’ll need to install the plugin on your WordPress site.

Once you’ve done that, you can start adding products to your store.

To do this, go to the ‘Products’ section of your WordPress dashboard and click ‘Add New product’.

Here, you can enter all the relevant details about your product, such as the name, price, description, and images.

Next, you need to set up shipping and taxes for your store.

Again, this can be done from the ‘Products’ section of your dashboard.

Scroll down to the ‘Shipping’ and ‘Taxes’ sections and fill in the relevant information.

Finally, you need to choose a payment method for your store.

WooCommerce comes with several options out of the box, including PayPal and Stripe.

Alternatively, you can use a WordPress plugin like WooCommerce Payments to add more payment options.

That’s it! These are just a few tips to get started with WooCommerce.

Once you’ve got the hang of things, you can start customizing your store to suit your specific needs.

WooCommerce vs Shopify: Which Is A Better Choice?

Shopify and WooCommerce are two of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market.

They both offer a lot of features and options for businesses of all sizes.

However, they also have some key differences that make them better suited for different purposes.

For example, Shopify is a hosted platform, which means that businesses need to pay a monthly fee to use it. In contrast,

WooCommerce is a free plugin that can be used with any WordPress site.

As a result, it is generally more affordable for small businesses.

Another key difference is that Shopify offers a much wider range of themes and apps than WooCommerce.

This can be an advantage if you need a lot of customization options for your store.

However, it can also be confusing and overwhelming for businesses that just want a simple online presence.

Ultimately, the best platform for your business will depend on your specific needs and budget.

If you’re not sure which one is right for you, it’s worth taking the time to try out both before making a final decision.

Wrapping Up

So, which ecommerce platform should you choose for your business?

WooCommerce or Shopify?

The answer really depends on your needs and what you’re looking for in an ecommerce platform.

If you want a lot of flexibility and control over every aspect of your store, then WooCommerce is the better option.

But if you don’t want to deal with any hosting or technical issues, then Shopify is a good choice because all the hosting and security is taken care of for you.

In the end, it comes down to what’s important to you and your business.

Try out both platforms and see which one works best for you.

Both platforms let you sell products, but they’re very different.

SamCart is simple and great for individual products.

On the other hand, Shopify is more popular and great for full businesses.

Keep reading to help decide which tool is better for you.

SamCart vs Shopify: An Overview

When it comes to comparing SamCart and Shopify, it helps to start with an overview.

Then, you may get a good idea of which ecommerce platform to choose.

Consider the following aspects of each platform for your online store.

SamCart

SamCart has been around since 2004 and really got going in 2014.

It’s grown quickly, and it’s become an excellent tool to set up and run your online business.

You don’t need a lot to start using this tool.

Here’s what you need to know about SamCart.

What Is SamCart?

SamCart is a tool you can use to create a sales page for a product.

It started as a way to take payments directly within a sales funnel.

However, the company has expanded to work for a membership site or as a landing page.

You can use the tool to make your checkout page more interesting than the PayPal page, for example.

The tool also lets you upsell or do AB testing to help increase your revenue.

It’s an excellent option for people who don’t know how to code.

Plus, you can set up individual landing pages for each digital product you want to sell.

What Makes SamCart Stand Out?

SamCart features a ton of templates that you can choose from for your landing page.

It’s also responsive on mobile devices, so you can get more sales.

As more people browse on their phones, it will be even more vital to have a responsive design.

Another excellent benefit is that you can sell digital or physical products.

The tool also lets you customize the customer experience at checkout.

And if you want to offer discount codes, you can do so with SamCart.

SamCart will continue to work as your business grows.

You can add as many products as you want.

There are also localization features that let you set the language and currency.

Special Offers

SamCart offers a free seven-day trial to new users.

You can test out all of the features, so you can determine if one of the more expensive plans is for you.

If you pay for an annual plan, you can cancel for up to 30-days later and get your money back.

Another option is to request a demo from SamCart.

That way, you can take a look at how the software works without having to figure it out for yourself.

You’ll need to provide your name, email, and phone number to request a demo.

Pros of SamCart

• User-friendly
• Responsive design
• No cap on products
• Split-testing

SamCart’s user-friendliness makes it perfect for beginners.

Its responsive design is useful for capturing more customers on their phones.

Since there’s no cap on the number of products you can sell, you can grow your business.

The split-testing feature makes it easy to see which pages convert the best.

Cons of SamCart

• More expensive starting price
• Not a full site

SamCart’s lowest price is higher than that of Shopify, so you’ll need a bigger budget.

Also, you won’t get a full site, so you might want to pay for that from a separate service.

Technical Specifications

SamCart has a drag-and-drop builder to help you create checkout pages.

Another great SamCart feature is the digital wallet integration.

You can take payments from Apple Pay and Google Pay.

To help create consistent branding, SamCart lets you connect a domain.

That way, you can set up your entire online store or business on the same website.

With SamCart, you can also use smart pixel tracking to determine where sales come from.

It works with Google, Facebook, and other platforms.

Shopify

The Shopify founders launched it in 2004 as a full-service ecommerce platform.

It works for almost any business owner looking to sell something online.

Consider what the tool can do to decide if it’s the better choice for your company.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a platform that lets you set up an online store.

However, you can also create a website, whereas SamCart focuses on individual pages.

You can use templates to design your site, and you can do more than sell.

Shopify is perfect for running a whole business thanks to the different pages.

If you want to use content marketing, you can publish blog posts on your Shopify site.

As with SamCart, you don’t need any coding skills to design your website.

You can also browse the Shopify app store to find integrations to help grow your business.

What Makes Shopify Stand Out?

Shopify is amazing when it comes to selling your products.

You can sell online from your website or through social media to help reach more customers.

The marketing features also help you expand your reach.

Managing all of your orders is easy with the Shopify dashboard.

You won’t have to go between multiple tools to track website traffic and sales.

And if you’re willing to use Stripe for payments, you don’t have to pay for transaction fees.

Shopify also offers a cheaper Starter plan that lets you sell on social media if you don’t want to deal with a website.

Special Offers

Shopify has a free 14-day trial option, and you don’t have to give them your card.

Two weeks is plenty of time to design a site and upload products.

You might even make a sale or two to help pay for your first month.

If you pay for an annual plan, you’ll save 10%, whereas two-year plans come with a 20% discount.

You can pay for three years at once to save 25% on your total.

That means you could get Basic Shopify for around $22 per month.

Pros of Shopify

• Plans for all budgets
• Full website features
• Professional themes
• Good for beginners

Shopify offers plans from $5 to $2,000 per month to meet your needs.

You also get a full website in one to help manage your business.

The professional themes can help your website look good.

And the ease of use makes it a nice option for new business owners.

Cons of Shopify

• Can get expensive
• Hard to set up an abandoned cart feature

If you need more features, you may end up paying a lot for Shopify.

It can also be hard to track abandoned carts and get people to complete their purchases.

Technical Specifications

A lot of people use Shopify for an online store, but it also acts as a point of sale for in-person shops.

That point of sale helps you take payments and even train your employees.

The checkout page is secure and mobile-friendly to help you get more sales.

You can even customize the checkout button and place it anywhere on your site.

To reach even more people, you can set up sales channels on social media or various marketplaces.

Shopify also helps you with the branding of your business.

You can add a custom domain and choose from dozens of themes for your new store.

SamCart vs Shopify: Detailed Comparison

After you learn a bit about SamCart and Shopify, you should consider the details.

The two tools offer a few similarities at a basic level.

However, comparing the features in-depth might reveal whether one platform is better for you.

Here’s what you should know about the two platforms.

Templates and Web Design

One of the most important things to consider is the options for web design.

Both SamCart and Shopify offer a variety of templates to help you get your store up and running.

Here are some more details about the available design options.

SamCart Templates

SamCart offers over a dozen templates you can choose from.

The templates are ready to go, so all you have to do is add your product information.

Also, various marketers have tested the available templates.

That means the SamCart designs have proof that they work to increase conversions

You can add testimonials or guarantees to your template to help increase trust for potential buyers.

All of the SamCart templates are available for free with your regular subscription.

You can even choose a different template for a new digital product to help sell it specifically.

Shopify Templates

Shopify lets you choose from more than 70 templates.

Sadly, only 10 of those are available for free, so you might need to spend extra money.

Either way, you can choose a template and customize it with the drag-and-drop editor.

If you don’t like any of the available themes, Shopify can customize a new design for you.

That way, your online store can look unique.

A developer can access the Shopify code to further edit the overall design.

The design elements help you make your store match your branding.

Then, you’ll be able to show customers you’re professional and are worth buying from.

TAKEAWAY

When it comes to templates, Shopify wins easily.

Even though most cost money, you get a wider selection of templates for your store.

SamCart vs Shopify: Sales Funnels

If you want to create a sales funnel, you should consider which tool is better for that.

Then, you’ll be able to set up a funnel that helps get conversions.

Consider how the sales funnel features compare with SamCart and Shopify.

SamCart Sales Funnels

The original purpose of SamCart was to help build a successful funnel.

You can design a landing page for an individual product.

That way, people will be able to learn about the product and decide to buy it.

Now, you might need to integrate other tools to create a full sales funnel.

SamCart is fantastic for landing pages, but you’ll need to get people to that page.

If you want to build a smaller funnel, you can do so with SamCart.

You can set up upsells and downsells to encourage people to buy your other products.

However, you’ll still need to get people to the start of that funnel.

Shopify Sales Funnels

Since Shopify offers more features overall, it’s better for creating massive funnels.

You can use the email marketing features to contact interested customers.

Of course, you may use other platforms, such as for social media marketing.

However, you can review all of your marketing analytics from your Shopify dashboard.

That way, you’ll be able to see if your marketing campaign is successful.

The email marketing option makes it easy to set up complex sales funnels.

You don’t have to choose a third-party tool like you would if you chose SamCart for payment processing.

TAKEAWAY

When it comes to funnels, Shopify is the clear winner.

You can use email to collect and nurture leads, and you can view all of your data in one place.

SamCart vs Shopify: Ecommerce Features

Another thing to think about is the overall ecommerce features of each platform.

Knowing what’s available can help you choose a tool that will meet your needs as you scale.

Here’s how SamCart and Shopify compare.

SamCart Ecommerce Features

SamCart lets you sell physical or digital items, and you can sell subscriptions.

You’ll also get to do AB testing to compare two design options for a new product page.

That way, you can see which design can get more conversions.

Another awesome feature is that you can create an affiliate program.

Sometimes, your customers are your best salespeople.

You can have current customers promote your products with a special link to get more overall sales.

Payment processing is easy when you choose PayPal or Stripe.

If you want to offer customers more choices, you can implement both integrations.

You get to set a flat rate for shipping or a specific rate for different countries.

SamCart also has a subscription saver that alerts customers to update their card details when the card expires.

Shopify Ecommerce Features

Shopify lets you add a variety of products of different types.

Digital and physical products work with the platform.

Unfortunately, you’ll need to pay more to integrate a subscription system if you want to set up recurring billing.

One of the most unique features of Shopify is that you don’t just have to sell from your site.

It works well with social networks such as Facebook.

You can also connect your account to Amazon or eBay to reach more potential buyers.

Thanks to the app store, you can choose from more than 100 payment gateway options.

That allows you to take payments the way you want.

TAKEAWAY

Shopify offers more ecommerce features compared to SamCart.

You can accept payments in over 100 ways, and you can sell on social media or marketplaces.

SamCart vs Shopify: Pricing & Cost

Of course, many businesses need to consider how much software costs.

Luckily, SamCart and Shopify have a variety of prices to help you start or grow your business.

Consider the pricing plans that each tool offers.

SamCart Pricing Plans

SamCart starts at $49 per month for the Launch plan.

Meanwhile, the Grow plan will cost $99 a month, and the Scale plan costs $199 monthly.

You’ll save 20% if you pay for a year upfront. That lowers the monthly cost to:

• Launch: $39
• Grow: $79
• Scale: $159

If you want to test the software, you can access a free seven-day trial.

Then, you can determine if the tool is right for you before you pay.

Shopify Pricing Plans

Shopify offers more affordable plans starting at $29 per month for the Basic Shopify plan.

The regular plan costs $79 per month, and you’ll owe $299 monthly for Shopify Advanced.

Like with SamCart, you can save when you pay for Shopify annually.

You’ll get a 50% discount, so the monthly cost would be:

• Basic: $14.44
• Shopify: $39.44
• Advanced: $147.78

Shopify offers a free 14-day trial, and you don’t have to provide your credit card.

That gives you plenty of time to set up a website and test it out.

If the three main plans don’t work for you, consider Starter for $5 a month.

The plan lets you sell using social media.

On the end of the spectrum is Shopify Plus, which starts at $2,000 a month.

The plan is perfect for businesses that have a lot of volume and need the best of the best.

TAKEAWAY

Shopify might have the most expensive plan, but it also has the cheapest plan.

You don’t need a huge budget to use the Start or Basic plan to get your business off the ground.

SamCart vs Shopify: Stand Out Features

Another thing to think about is the features that stand out from each ecommerce platform.

Not every business needs the same features.

Be sure to consider your business and what you want to sell.

Then, you can determine which tool has the features that suit your company.

Stand Out Features of SamCart

SamCart offers a variety of stand-out features for new and growing businesses.

Of course, you’ll get access to more features with the more expensive plans.

However, even the cheaper plans offer a good set of features to start.

Then, you can upgrade as your business grows and you need more functions.

Here are some of the best parts of SamCart.

0% Processing Fee

One of the most significant features is that SamCart doesn’t charge processing fees.

Sure, the starting cost is higher than Shopify and other platforms.

However, the cost of payment processing can add up quickly.

As your business grows, you might save a lot of money by switching to SamCart.

You’ll just have to pay the monthly flat rate to use the tool.

That can help you plan for other business expenses more easily.

You also can get away with charging less to customers since you won’t lose a percentage of each sale.

A 3% fee might not sound like much, but a $10,000 month means you’d pay $300 in fees.

Unlimited Products

SamCart is also useful because you don’t have a limit on the number of products.

You can start by selling one or two items.

As your business grows, you’ll be able to add more products and pages without having to pay more.

Of course, you’ll also be able to choose a template for each page, and you can use the visual editor to customize the look.

That can be nice if you want to target each product to a slightly different person.

And once you set up the product page, you’ll just have to drive traffic to it.

SamCart makes it easy to help convert visitors into buyers.

Stand Out Features of Shopify

Shopify is another fantastic choice for selling online.

If you want to use the platform, consider a couple of the best features.

Then, you can decide if Shopify will meet your needs.

Point of Sale

If you want to run your business online and in-person, you need Shopify.

The point-of-sale system lets you take payments in your retail store.

You can also use it to manage your inventory and your staff.

If you have a large team, the three main plans let you add two to 15 staff accounts.

That way, your managers can also help with the logistics of your business.

Shopify makes it easy to expand your business without using third-party tools.

You don’t have to worry about keeping track of inventory in multiple places, such as if you sell out in a store.

The platform helps you with your inventory for your entire business.

Sales Channels

A lot of ecommerce platforms let you sell through your website or landing page.

However, Shopify also lets you sell using online marketing places and social media.

Those channels can help expand your reach and get more sales.

You don’t have to worry about getting traffic to your website.

Instead, you can use the reputations of Facebook, Instagram, eBay, and Amazon.

Shoppers can find your items on those platforms and purchase them.

Then, you can grow your overall online business.

Conclusion

Use SamCart if:

• You just need landing pages
• You don’t want to deal with payment processor fees
• You want to work with affiliates

Be sure to compare the available plans to choose the right one for you.

If you can’t decide, go for the free trial or demo to learn more.

Use Shopify if:

• You want an all-in-one solution
• You want to sell on social media
• You sell online and in person

Check out the Shopify plans, including their alternative solutions, such as the Starter plan.

Then, you can set up your online business easily.

It is not easy to stand out in a world where eCommerce is king, especially if you are working in a popular niche.

With the help of these apps, you can significantly improve your sales and establish better brand awareness.

What Are Shopify Apps?

For a first-time eCommerce website owner, the concept of apps might seem foreign.

However, their uses are more straightforward than you might think, as they are designed to improve the functionality of your website.

From a selling perspective, Shopify apps offer an assortment of tools to help you add customer-friendly features.

One of the most considerable advantages of these programs is they help in several ways, including:

• Selling products
• Offering customer rewards
• Managing store inventory
• Streamlining shipping
• Assisting with a store promotion

Best Shopify Apps: Our Top Picks

Before you start installing any and all Shopify apps, it is essential to know which ones are the best.

Let’s take a look at some of the top recommendations to help you with various areas of your site.

Best Apps for Online Marketing

Below, you will find the top apps we recommend for implementing better online marketing efforts.

Adding these features to your site can gather more traffic and spread brand awareness.

Seguno

Our Pick

Managing your email marketing has never been simpler with the help of Seguno.

It is a top-rated solution to help you effortlessly streamline your email marketing campaigns.

Basically, you will have access to an assortment of top-tier features, including automated product review requests and real-time Facebook syncing.

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Managing your email marketing has never been simpler with the help of Seguno.

It is a top-rated solution to help you effortlessly streamline your email marketing campaigns.

Basically, you will have access to an assortment of top-tier features, including automated product review requests and real-time Facebook syncing.

The primary objective of this app is to help you save time when it comes to creating social media campaigns.

Users will be able to insert images into marketing emails directly from Instagram and pull product ratings from Stamped, Judge, Yotpo, or Shopify.

A few other notable features this app offers include:

• Live countdowns to increase conversions
• Tagged automation for VIP customers
• Multi-channel email campaigns
• Canva designing options
• Triggered automation with purchases

SEO Optimizer: All-in-one SEO

Runner Up

SEO Optimizer is a fabulous tool to help you optimize your website to garner more traffic with one click.

It is specifically designed to be easy to implement while still offering top-tier automated benefits.

Instead of personally tailoring and managing your SEO strategies yourself, allow this app to do the work for you.

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SEO Optimizer is a fabulous tool to help you optimize your website to garner more traffic with one click.

It is specifically designed to be easy to implement while still offering top-tier automated benefits.

Instead of personally tailoring and managing your SEO strategies yourself, allow this app to do the work for you.

SEO Optimizer has been available since 2015, offering several benefits to eCommerce sites over the years.

You will have access to automated features, such as the platform’s ability to correct SEO issues on its own.

There’s also the option to automatically fix broken links while monitoring the success of your other site pages.

A few other notable features you will receive with SEO Optimizer include:

• URL keyword optimization tools
• Image compression engine
• Regular SEO health reports
• Meta tag relevance adjustments
• Optimized image ALT tags
• Automatically updated Google sitemaps

Klaviyo: Email Marketing & SMS

Also Great

Klaviyo is one of the few Shopify apps that offers a well-rounded approach to your store’s marketing and optimization.

With over 100 pre-designed integrations, you will find that it works effortlessly with your most valuable eCommerce assets.

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Klaviyo is one of the few Shopify apps that offers a well-rounded approach to your store’s marketing and optimization.

With over 100 pre-designed integrations, you will find that it works effortlessly with your most valuable eCommerce assets.

Adding this app to your site can drive more sales through targeted SMS and email messages, bringing customers back.

Currently, over 50,000 stores use this app to assist them with attracting and retaining customers.

With Klaviyo, you’ll have access to pre-built email marketing templates, forms, and a variety of automation to easily manage your contacts.

With the addition of targeting and personalization, you can achieve a more one-on-one approach with all of your customers.

There are plenty of automated features, but Klaviyo accommodates more hands-on approaches as well.

Some of the top-rated manual features it offers include:

• Buildable social advertising
• Editable dynamic forms
• Reviewable insights and guidance

SEO Manager

There are multiple avenues of your online marketing that SEO Manager is designed to help with.

Site owners will be able to rank higher, attract larger audiences, and also maximize the power of their SEO tool.

As a supercharged app, you will have a ton of fabulous features specifically designed to streamline your site’s performance.

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There are multiple avenues of your online marketing that SEO Manager is designed to help with.

Site owners will be able to rank higher, attract larger audiences, and also maximize the power of their SEO tool.

As a supercharged app, you will have a ton of fabulous features specifically designed to streamline your site’s performance.

By taking a multifaceted approach to your SEO strategy, you will be able to implement new changes to improve traffic.

You’ll have access to keyword suggestions, meta content tools, search analytics, and more for SEO purposes.

As a benefit, your site data will be JSON-LD structured, making it significantly easier for Google to understand your site data.

There are additional phenomenal features this app integrates when added to your account, including:

• Google page speed integration
• SEO issue suggestions
• Image ALT text scanning
• Title templating
• Description and title editing
• SEO issue scans
• 404 error logging and management
• Google mobile-friendly testing
• Local business structured data
• JSON-LD data support
• Real-time 404 repairing
• Google trends integration

Omnisend Email Marketing & SMS

Another helpful app to consider adding to your Shopify store is Omnisend Email Marketing & SMS.

It performs similarly to other email marketing apps but with a few considerable upgrades.

Users will be able to set up an account within minutes and begin driving their sales through automated features.

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Another helpful app to consider adding to your Shopify store is Omnisend Email Marketing & SMS.

It performs similarly to other email marketing apps but with a few considerable upgrades.

Users will be able to set up an account within minutes and begin driving their sales through automated features.

One of the more exciting features of this app is that it helps to combine SMS and MMS into one.

With this combination, you can target audiences both on desktop and mobile from anywhere in the world.

By also adding their automated email marketing strategies, there’s no doubt that your campaigns will be more successful.

Plus, with the ability to create pre-built workflows, your email lists will be managed while you’re sleeping.

Some of the most popular eCommerce workflows include:

• Reactivation emails
• Winback emails
• Customer reviews and feedback
• Cart and product abandonment

Another considerable benefit it has over others is its innovative features, allowing you to craft customized email campaigns.

Using the drag-and-drop editor, you can quickly create one-of-a-kind campaigns or choose from a collection of templates.

There are many extra features added with the templates, such as dynamic coupon codes.

Best Apps for Social Media Integration

The importance of social media cannot be understated, especially for an eCommerce business.

By connecting all of your marketing channels together, you can attractively present your products and services.

Let’s take a look at top-rated social media apps you can quickly add to your online store.

InstaFeed

There’s nothing more stunning than a beautifully curated Instagram feed, which is where InstaFeed proves its worth.

With this app, you’ll be able to enhance the discoverability of your Instagram while also allowing customers to shop using your feed.

It is a fabulous addition to keep your store fresh, with new products added regularly through your social media profile.

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There’s nothing more stunning than a beautifully curated Instagram feed, which is where InstaFeed proves its worth.

With this app, you’ll be able to enhance the discoverability of your Instagram while also allowing customers to shop using your feed.

It is a fabulous addition to keep your store fresh, with new products added regularly through your social media profile.

By using InstaFeed, you will create social proof, which helps build brand awareness and trust, increasing sales.

It also gives you the ability to customize the app’s look to your specifications, helping it blend in perfectly with your store.

Another considerable advantage is how it helps to streamline the process of listing new products for sale.

Using InstaFeed, you can show off your Instagram content within one minute without needing special coding skills.

With regular updates, you can give your customers something new and refreshing to look at daily.

A few of the key features you’ll get with InstaFeed include:

• Responsive layout
• Video and image support
• Displayed likes
• Instagram linking or popups
• Fully customizable layouts

Outfy – Automate Social Media

Once you’ve established your social media calendar, it’s time to start pushing out your posts.

With the use of Outfy, you can automate publishing to your socials, helping you engage your audience with less effort.

It’s one of our top picks for managing your outreach with plenty of automated tools you’ll love.

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Once you’ve established your social media calendar, it’s time to start pushing out your posts.

With the use of Outfy, you can automate publishing to your socials, helping you engage your audience with less effort.

It’s one of our top picks for managing your outreach with plenty of automated tools you’ll love.

With this app, you can create animated gifs, videos, and collages, as well as an assortment of other engaging materials.

You’ll then be able to share this content across all of your socials, driving customers to visit your product pages.

Fortunately, the app is compatible with all major platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, and more.

The central premise of Outfy is to help you create more effective and engaging promotional materials.

You can create content from scratch or use customized and themed templates to catch your audience’s attention.

Plus, with the implementation of their hashtag help, you can create more effective tags to capture a larger audience.

By far, the most impressive feature of Outfy is its automation. Instead of having to manually push out updates, you can opt to set up specific schedules.

The app will deliver content as you see fit once you’ve set up the Autopilot feature.

SocialBar – Social Media Icons

Having sharable content is a fantastic way to spread awareness of your brand through word of mouth.

The power of social media referrals is something that every shop owner should be taking advantage of.

SocialBar helps make sharing your content much more straightforward, even for first-time visitors to your site.

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Having sharable content is a fantastic way to spread awareness of your brand through word of mouth.

The power of social media referrals is something that every shop owner should be taking advantage of.

SocialBar helps make sharing your content much more straightforward, even for first-time visitors to your site.

With this app, you can choose from an assortment of social media icons with great eye-catching designs.

You can then opt to integrate the icons on your site, allowing users to share posts through their socials.

Alternatively, you can use the icons to direct your customers to your specific social media profiles.

This is the type of app that every shop owner can use to their advantage, as it doesn’t require any coding.

After implementation, you’ll begin to notice an increase in social media followers, improving your number of likes and follows.

As an added benefit, you’ll find that all of the customizable icons are mobile-responsive, making them perfect for handheld devices.

Best Apps for Sales Conversions

After attracting customers to your site, the next step is to begin leading them down your sales funnel.

Changing curious customers into sales can be challenging without the help of intuitively designed Shopify apps.

Let’s dive deeper into some of the best apps you can use for sales conversions.

Free Trust Badge

Free Trust Badge is a uniquely simple app that can bring a substantial number of benefits to your business.

By adding a badge to your payment processes, clients can be assured that their purchases are protected and secured.

With the help of these small, unique buttons, you can quickly establish trust, encouraging customers to make purchases.

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Free Trust Badge is a uniquely simple app that can bring a substantial number of benefits to your business.

By adding a badge to your payment processes, clients can be assured that their purchases are protected and secured.

With the help of these small, unique buttons, you can quickly establish trust, encouraging customers to make purchases.

Once you’ve downloaded Free Trust Badge, you can then browse through their collection of 700+ payment badges.

Site owners can choose custom locations for each badge, ensuring they are visible to their customers.

The final step is to sit back and watch your site build trust while your shoppers put their purchases through.

It’s important to note that although the basic features of this app are free, specific badge placements are only included with Premium accounts.

For example, placing badges on the homepage, footer, or cart page requires a Premium subscription.

PushOwl Web Push Notifications

Retargeting your customers is essential for any eCommerce store, especially as cart abandonment is a significant concern for online sales.

PushOwl is specifically designed to offer web push notifications that trigger customers to remember their shopping efforts.

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Retargeting your customers is essential for any eCommerce store, especially as cart abandonment is a significant concern for online sales.

PushOwl is specifically designed to offer web push notifications that trigger customers to remember their shopping efforts.

With this app, you can send automatic notifications for cart recovery and reminders about store sales.

One of the more impressive features of PushOwl is its smart marketing features.

You’ll be able to establish more effective retargeting strategies while also creating an optimized storefront for sales.

Whether you want to garner subscribers via email or directly on your homepage, there are a few diverse options to select.

If you’re looking for automated marketing strategies, this app is also ideal.

You’ll be able to set up automated reminders for cart abandonment, browse abandonment, items back in stock, shipping, and price reductions.

Drip: Email Marketing

Drip is a unique resource that bridges marketing efforts with encouraging higher sales.

Its design is similar to most email marketing platforms, with the added benefit of SMS notifications.

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Drip is a unique resource that bridges marketing efforts with encouraging higher sales.

Its design is similar to most email marketing platforms, with the added benefit of SMS notifications.

You’ll find a great selection of forms to help you grow your audience by using lead ads to drive higher sales.

Shop owners can also take advantage of SMS and email alerts using pre-built templates with many customizable features.

Designing the most effective email and text marketing campaigns has never been simpler than with their editor.

A third approach is to take advantage of the reporting the app provides, helping you see which campaigns drive the best results.

There are several considerable benefits Drip can bring to your online store, including:

• Email and SMS automation
• Forms for audience growth
• Segmentation for marketing campaigns
• Automated and updated reporting

Best Apps for Customer Service

Managing customer service for your online store can be challenging, especially with all of the other jobs on your to-do list.

Whether you are a large or small business, relying on Shopify apps to help with customer service can be ideal.

Below, you will find top-rated customer-centric services you can use for your site.

Gorgias – Live Chat & Helpdesk

Streamlining all of your customer service channels into one location is more straightforward with the help of Gorgias.

This app allows you to centralize all of your customer service requests, helping to reduce your response time by nearly half.

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Streamlining all of your customer service channels into one location is more straightforward with the help of Gorgias.

This app allows you to centralize all of your customer service requests, helping to reduce your response time by nearly half.

With Gorgias’ automated features, you can streamline up to 40% of your customer service tasks with recurring questions and requests.

Also, your customer service team will be able to manage phone, live chat, social, and email communications in one area.

Gorgias helps every customer service agent see an overview of message history across various channels in one window.

Whether you own one store or multiple stores, this app offers support across your entire network.

Apart from streamlining customer questions and requests, there are many functional elements of Gorgias as well.

Your customer service team can integrate additional apps to help with modifying subscriptions, loyalty points, and more.

Lastly, you will also have the benefit of adding live chat to your store.

In turn, this allows customers to ask questions at the point of purchase.

Zendesk

Zendesk is another popular app that store owners integrate on Shopify because of its user-friendly interface and features.

It is a fantastic solution for giving your customer service team the support they need to improve customers’ happiness.

With its integration, you can solve customer service tickets faster by accessing customer data in one spot.

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Zendesk is another popular app that store owners integrate on Shopify because of its user-friendly interface and features.

It is a fantastic solution for giving your customer service team the support they need to improve customers’ happiness.

With its integration, you can solve customer service tickets faster by accessing customer data in one spot.

As you can tell, this program is designed for companies that already have established customer service departments.

They don’t offer off-site assistance, such as dedicated teams to manage your customer service for you.

However, Zendesk’s extensive tool selection will prove quite useful for multiple areas of your business.

For example, your team can review order, shipping, and billing information directly from Shopify.

Also, your team can process cancellations and refunds within the same screen while also editing customer data if needed.

The main job of this app is to give your customer service team the information they need in a streamlined manner to solve customer queries.

Best Apps for Fulfillment

Managing order fulfillment is always more accessible with the help of intuitive Shopify apps.

Using these programs, you can ensure customers get their orders significantly faster while also managing your inventory.

Easyship – All in One Shipping

Easyship is a phenomenal resource to have all of your fulfillment needs in one convenient dashboard.

You’ll be able to generate custom paperwork and labels while also managing orders and creating shipments.

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Easyship is a phenomenal resource to have all of your fulfillment needs in one convenient dashboard.

You’ll be able to generate custom paperwork and labels while also managing orders and creating shipments.

Using this app, you can significantly reduce your shipping rates.

This is because you can review over 250 different shipping solutions.

With the pre-negotiated rates available on the app, it’s much simpler to offer accurate shipping for worldwide customers.

On the front-end, your customers will be able to choose the fastest and least expensive shipping rates and checkout.

For the back-end, you’ll have full automation to help streamline getting your orders ready to be sent out.

Some of the most repetitive shipping tasks, like package sizing and courier selection, can be automated.

You will also be able to sync orders directly to the app, making it more efficient to process higher-order numbers.

A few additional benefits of Easyship include:

• Store existing product dimensions
• Monitor shipments
• Automatically generated return labels
• Downloadable invoices and receipts

Shippo

Shippo is a great alternative to Easyship, especially if you are interested in automated workflows.

With this app, you can easily sync orders to quickly create shipping labels with the added benefit of bulk printing.

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Shippo is a great alternative to Easyship, especially if you are interested in automated workflows.

With this app, you can easily sync orders to quickly create shipping labels with the added benefit of bulk printing.

Moreover, you will have access to the best shipping rates with over 85 different couriers, including Shippo-specific companies.

Managing your shipping efforts is simple with the straightforward interface this app offers.

You’ll have all of the necessary tools to process and ship orders conveniently from home or your warehouse.

Users also benefit from significant discounts as high as up to 90% off specific carriers.

Shippo works to ensure every Shopify store has complete transparency when it comes to the shipping process.

You’ll be able to access auto-synced shipping and tracking info with real-time updated information.

There is also the option of crafting unique shipping labels to customize to enhance your brand’s image.

From start to finish, there is the possibility of automating your shipping process.

You’ll find that you can input data to be saved under specific profiles to make fulfilling orders faster.

All you have to do is select a profile for your package information to be filled out for you.

One of the more considerable benefits of Shippo is how they offer fantastic support.

As a first-time store owner, you can feel confident that you have an easy-access customer support team to help you through the process.

If any of your shipments experience issues, such as delays, Shippo works directly with couriers on your behalf.

A few other notable advantages of this platform include:

• Insurance for premium shipments
• Simplified international shipping
• Shopify order importing
• Pre-filled package information
• Option to send partially-fulfilled orders

Final Thoughts

Finding the best Shopify apps is relatively easy, especially as there are hundreds to choose from.

You can guarantee you can find apps to cover every aspect of your business, from marketing to shipping.

With the right apps, automation has never been simpler, helping you save a ton of time, effort, and money.

You probably know all about Shopify and how easy it is to create an online storefront for your unique products and services.

Still, you may be wondering how to utilize Shopify themes to create a seamless and interactive experience for the user.

Because there are so many to choose from, it helps to list the best ones.

Use this guide to help you quickly determine which theme to use by comparing prices, features, and usability.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a subscription-based commerce platform that allows you to start, grow, and manage your online business.

What Is Shopify Used For?

You can use Shopify to easily create online stores to sell your physical or digital products and services.

You can sell, ship, and process payments using the Shopify platform.

How Does Shopify Work?

You use Shopify as an all-in-one command center where you can build an online storefront and organize products, services, and other information by using themes.

When customers browse your website, they can add items to their shopping carts and pay for them using Shopify’s payment processing system.

You can keep customers informed by sending status updates on shipping and other information.

What are Shopify Themes?

A Shopify theme is a website template that organizes the information of your online store by different styles and layouts.

Each theme will give your store a new UX, how a customer interacts with and experiences your website.

How to Use Shopify Themes

First, you need to find a new theme by going to the Shopify Theme Store.

You can browse different themes, preview, and add themes to your store.

When you find one you like, you can customize it by going to your admin console.

Are Shopify Themes Worth It?

Yes, Shopify themes are worth the investment.

If you want your store to stand out from the competition, you need to find a theme that complements your brand and highlights your products.

Shopify Themes: Important Features to Consider

There are four main things to consider when looking for Shopify Themes, including performance, accessibility, price, and support.

Performance

Speed is an essential factor in keeping people on your site, and even though it may seem trivial, more than a few seconds of load time can be the difference in making a sale.

Thankfully, Shopify requires all themes to meet speed requirements before being sold on the marketplace.

If you choose to buy your theme through another third party, check to make sure they meet performance standards.

Accessibility

Accessible themes are essential for people with disabilities and ease in general.

Consider looking for themes with keyboard navigation, screen-reader compatibility, and other assistive technologies if these are crucial features.

Price

Whatever your price range, you can find a theme that fits your style while staying within budget.

You will find themes ranging from free up to hundreds of dollars in the theme store.

Support

Most themes come with dedicated support teams and FAQ Shopify sections that answer essential questions people have about how to set up the theme and all the great features that come with it.

Best Shopify Themes

Now, let’s dive into the best Shopify themes out there!

Wokiee

Our Pick

Wokiee is a design tool with everything you need to make a super-fast, responsive, and user-friendly website.

It has a ton of layouts and styles to choose from, so you can ensure you have a unique store different from others.

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If you’re looking for a theme that does it all and gives you the option to customize, Wokiee is that theme.

Overview

Wokiee is a design tool with everything you need to make a super-fast, responsive, and user-friendly website.

It has a ton of layouts and styles to choose from, so you can ensure you have a unique store different from others.

Best For

Wokiee is great for commerce, clothing, books, gadgets, anything you can think to sell.

Even if you only have one product, this theme will give you the tools to highlight all its features.

Notable Features

• Over 100 content blocks
• Fast configuration
• Hundreds of layouts
• Drop-shipping optimization

Pros

• You can fully customize your store with hundreds of skins and layouts, including blocks, headers, banners, product pages, and more.
• Easy mobile integration
• 24-hour customer support.

Cons

• Customer support only lasts for six months, and you will have to pay more to extend it.
• Wokiee also does not have location maps (essential for local businesses)
• No money-back guarantee.

Is Wokiee Hard to Use?

The Wokiee theme is easy to use and customize; it also comes with instructional videos to walk you through setting up your store.

Pricing & Plans

• A regular license is $89 and includes quality checks, future updates, and six months of support.
•  The extended license is $1750.

Our Take

Wokiee is an affordable theme that will work for most people.

We like that it has many options to customize your site, get creative, and make it unique.

It’s easy to use, and you can change the look and feel of your store any time you want.

Ella

Runner Up

Ella is an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop, feature-rich theme.

You can find over 20 skins and layouts to choose from and plenty of options for product pages.

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Are you wanting something affordable but also high-quality? Try Ella!

Overview:

Ella is an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop, feature-rich theme.

You can find over 20 skins and layouts to choose from and plenty of options for product pages.

Best For:

Ella is best for easy drag-and-drop themes and seamless mobile integration.

Notable Features:

• Lazy loading
• Great hover effects
• Customizability
• High-quality designs
• Flexible galleries

Pros:

• Many layouts, skins, and themes
• Upsell features
• Fast loading speed
• Great customer support

Cons:

• Customer support only lasts for six months, and then you have to pay more

Is Ella Hard to Use?

The Ella theme is straightforward and comes with support if you ever need help with something.

The simple drag-and-drop theme is perfect for people who don’t have much experience.

Pricing & Plans:

• Regular license: $89
• Extended license: $2800

Our Take:

Ella is a good theme for those wanting something affordable and easy to use while also high-quality.

The different layouts and skins make this great for most online stores.

It comes with excellent upsell features like bundling with a discount and before you leave popups, which help convert casual browsers into purchasing customers.

MolteStore

Give your store a modern makeover with this affordable Shopify theme.

The layout is responsive and completely customizable, even down to the font.

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Give your store a modern, clean look, whether on the computer, tablet, or phone.

Overview:

Give your store a modern makeover with this affordable Shopify theme. The layout is responsive and completely customizable, even down to the font.

Best For:

MolteStore is a good choice if you want a modern, minimal look with ease of use and affordability.

It’s excellent for all commerce businesses, whether you’re selling clothes or furniture.

Notable Features:

• Automatic price change
• Advanced navigation
• Unlimited Google fonts
• SEO optimized
• Instagram slider

Pros:

• 24/7 online support
• Responsive UX
• Customizable
• Integrated social media
• Compatible with most Shopify apps

Cons:

• Slightly buggy
• Customer service could be better

Is MolteStore Hard to Use?

Setting up the MolteStore theme is easy enough.

You may have to contact customer support if specific features do not load or change properly.

Pricing & Plans:

• Regular License: $56
• Extended License: $4200

Our Take:

The regular license price is very affordable, and it offers a clean design, responsive design perfect for all online stores.

There are a few issues with the UX being buggy and not loading correctly, but customer support can quickly fix them with a quick chat.

Avone

With over 1000 design options, Avone is one of the most customizable themes on the market.

It’s easy to set up, and the customer support is excellent and very responsive if you run into any roadblocks.

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Avone is a premium Shopify theme that features an excellent design and functionality.

Overview:

With over 1000 design options, Avone is one of the most customizable themes on the market.

It’s easy to set up, and the customer support is excellent and very responsive if you run into any roadblocks.

Best For:

Avone is great if you want to get the most options for customizing at an affordable price.

Because Avone offers so many styles and layouts, this theme will work for any online store.

Notable Features:

• SEO (search engine optimization)friendly
• Instagram shop and feed
• Sale countdown
• Quick add to cart
• Sticky header

Pros:

• Excellent customer support
• Thousands of customization options
• Fully responsive design
• Fast loading speeds
• 1-click installation

Cons:

• There is no “Add to cart” option on the wishlist page
• No choice for custom product building
• Only six months of support

Is Avone Hard to Use?

Avone is very easy to set up (1-click install) and customize to your liking.

The theme also comes with excellent support and is fast to fix any issues.

Pricing & Plans:

• Regular license: $79
• Extended license: $2250

Our Take:

Avone is so customizable it works for any online business, and you won’t have to worry about another company having the same design and layout as you.

The customer service is exceptional and is fast to fix any issues.

Roxxe

This theme gives you a responsive multi-purpose theme with many features and new updates.

With over 75 pre-made website templates, you have the power to create the website you want precisely.

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Roxxe is a multipurpose Shopify theme perfect for any niche.

Overview:

This theme gives you a responsive multi-purpose theme with many features and new updates.

With over 75 pre-made website templates, you have the power to create the website you want precisely.

Best For:

This theme is excellent for all online stores, and you can choose a design that fits your style.

Roxxe is an all-in-one Shopify template that fits most budgets.

Notable Features:

• Advanced media (3D models, video) on the product page
• Compare products
• Displays user activity to attract clients
• Floating buttons
• Facebook chat widget
• Quick view

Pros:

• Creative features to increase engagement and sales
• Many customizable skins and templates, including headers, footers, home pages, and product pages
• Responsive design for any screen resolution
• Supports any language
• Great technical support
• Affordable regular license

Cons:

• Minor bugs, but usually get resolved quickly
• It can be confusing to customize for beginners
• Only six months of customer support

Is Roxxe Hard to Use?

While Roxxe comes with easy installation, it can be slightly challenging to navigate all the features and integration within Shopify.

Thankfully, customer support will fix issues quickly, and there are tutorials to help.

Pricing & Plans:

• Regular license: $59
• Extended license: $10,000

Our Take:

Roxxe can easily apply to any ecommerce store and has plenty of options for style and layout.

It is also a very responsive Shopify theme.

There is a slight learning curve to figure out how to fully integrate the theme with Shopify and use all the features, but the customer support is excellent.

District

No code is required to use this drag and drop theme.

It’s simple to use by dragging blocks and sections wherever you want to create a customized website.

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Showcase your featured products with this clean, classic theme from Shopify.

Overview:

No code is required to use this drag and drop theme.

It’s simple to use by dragging blocks and sections wherever you want to create a customized website.

Best For:

This theme is great for stores that process a high volume of transactions and is designed specifically for drop shippers.

It’s also great for visual storytelling as the theme revolves around images.

Notable Features:

• Quick buy and sticky cart
• Promo banners and popups
• Color swatches and slideshows
• Product filtering and sorting
• Recommended products

Pros:

• Unlimited free trial (you only pay if you publish the theme on your site)
• Great customer support
• Assists in customer conversion
• Easy to use
• Customizable

Cons:

• Slight integration problems with other apps

Is District Hard to Use?

The District theme is straightforward to install and use, and if you have any issues, the customer support team will help you within a few hours.

Pricing & Plans:

The cost is $220 to publish the theme on your site, but they offer a free trial to make sure you like it before you buy.

Find it on the Shopify store.

Our Take:

District is very easy to use, with the possibility of running into minor problems when integrating other apps.

This theme is great for fashion, sports, and beauty stores and allows for beautiful product showcasing.

The District theme also has responsive customer support for any problems.

Porto

With over 20 niche modern layouts, you can customize your ecommerce store just how you want.

You have access to a complete content management system to change navigation, images, content, etc.

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Have all the tools you need to create a complete online store with this fast and intuitive theme.

Overview:

With over 20 niche modern layouts, you can customize your ecommerce store just how you want.

You have access to a complete content management system to change navigation, images, content, etc.

Best For:

Porto is great for those wanting an out-of-the-box theme experience.

Choose a layout and add your products.

Notable Features:

• Unlimited color options
• Easy install
• Unlimited header types
• Custom blocks
• Advanced filters

Pros:

• SEO friendly
• Responsive design
• Customizable
• Easy install and feature setup
• Very fast

Cons:

• Customer support is lacking
• Slight compatibility issues
• Features being removed during updates

Is Porto Hard to Use?

Porto is very easy to install and features a plug-and-play design.

However, there seem to be some compatibility issues that require a support ticket.

Pricing & Plans:

• Regular license: $99
• Extended license: $1999

Our Take:

If you need a theme that’s fast, easy to use, and has some customizable features, this is a great theme.

You may need to contact the support team for minor issues, but overall the theme seems to function as advertised.

Vendy

Vendy is one of the best themes for fashion and apparel.

If you’re looking for a theme dedicated to the fashion industry, with intuitive designs and excellent customer support, try out Vendy.

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Vendy is one of the best themes for fashion and apparel.

Overview:

If you’re looking for a theme dedicated to the fashion industry, with intuitive designs and excellent customer support, try out Vendy.

Best For:

Vendy is great for fashion and apparel stores that want a minimal and stylish appearance.

Notable Features:

• Cross functionality
• SEO friendly
• Mobile compatibility
• One-click import
• Supports all languages

Pros:

• Premium technical support
• Fast loading speeds
• Clean, responsive design
• Advanced mega menu
• Many blog options

Cons:

• Only six months of support, unless you pay for additional months

Is Vendy Hard to Use?

Vendy is straightforward to use, and it utilizes 1-click imports and installs.

Pricing & Plans:

• Regular license: $48
• Extended license: $10,000

Our Take:

Vendy is an excellent option for those running apparel or accessory niche store whether you drop ship or handmake your products.

It has many customizable features perfect for large inventory stores.

The customer support is also excellent; I only wish it lasted longer.

Mobilia

This stylish theme is perfect for showcasing your products.

If you want a modern and sophisticated theme with excellent functionality and ease of use, try out Mobilia.

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This stylish theme is perfect for showcasing your products.

Overview:

If you want a modern and sophisticated theme with excellent functionality and ease of use, try out Mobilia.

Best For:

This theme is ideal for stores with medium-sized catalogs.

Notable Features:

• Home page menu lists
• Custom promotion tiles
• Quick buy
• Related products section
• FAQ page

Pros:

• Customizable
• Technical support
• Easy to use
• Fast with free updates
• Works with the latest Shopify features

Cons:

• Extended customer support wait times

Is Mobilia Hard to Use?

Mobilia is very easy to use and customize.

If you have problems, their support team will fix them (even if you have to wait).

Pricing & Plans:

The total cost is $180 and comes with a free trial.

Find it on the Shopify store.

Our Take:

Mobilia is great if you are looking for something modern and straightforward.

It may not work the best if you have a large inventory; it’s better for small to medium-sized catalogs.

The wait times for customer support can be pretty long, but they always resolve any issues.

Responsive

Focus on a full-width product image with this Responsive theme.

Responsive is excellent for all commerce sites, including editorial content.

This theme works well in high-volume stores with extensive inventories, including physical stores.

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Focus on a full-width product image with this Responsive theme.

Overview:

Responsive is excellent for all commerce sites, including editorial content.

Best For:

This theme works well in high-volume stores with extensive inventories, including physical stores.

Notable Features:

• Longer form text sections
• Designed for in-person selling
• Quick buy
• Back in stock alerts
• Image galleries and slideshows

Pros:

• Customizable
• Fast and reliable
• Great for high-volume stores
• Enhanced search and product filtering
• Free updates

Cons:

• Customer support could be better at fixing issues
• Slow wait times for assistance

Is Responsive Hard to Use?

Overall, Responsive is easy to use and shouldn’t cause too many problems.

Pricing & Plans:

The total cost of this theme is $220 and includes a free trial.

Find it on the Shopify store.

Our Take:

Responsive is excellent for those with large catalogs who want a beautiful layout, fast load speeds, and plenty of features.

We found it relatively easy to use, except for parts disappearing after an update.

Overall, customer support could be better with less wait time.

Best Shopify Themes: Free

If you would rather build your store without any upfront costs, check out these best free Shopify themes!

1. Debut (best free Shopify theme)
2. Brooklyn
3. Minimal
4. Supply
5. Narrative

Best Shopify Themes: Premium

Try out these premium themes if you only want the best and don’t mind if it comes with a hefty price.

1. Blockshop (Best premium theme)
2. Fresh
3. Streamline
4. Impulse
5. Focal

How to Choose a Shopify Theme

Do you want to find the best theme for your store, but you’re unsure where to start?

Read through this brief guide on how to find the best Shopify themes.

Define Your Budget

Shopify themes come at many different prices ranging from free to hundreds of dollars.

It’s essential to set a budget and stick to it.

There are many great options at every cost, and you may want to stay at a lower price point just starting.

Determine Key Features

What features are essential to you? Make sure you get what you’re looking for before pulling the trigger.

Don’t settle for less if you know that you will need specific features to run your store, like SEO optimization or customer conversion elements.

Find Your Style

You want something that matches the style of your brand.

Are you a minimalist?

Does the theme have color palettes that fit your branding?

These are questions to consider.

Use Free Trials

The Shopify theme store has the option for you to try the theme for free before you buy.

You can customize your site with the theme to see if it’s the right fit and only pay for it when you publish it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions about finding the best Shopify theme.

Wrapping Up

Finding the perfect Shopify theme can feel like a chore; there are simply too many to weed through. Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work.

We have found the best Shopify themes (free and paid) for 2022, so you don’t have to.

Look over all the great features these themes have, decide which one will be best for your products and services, and purchase with confidence.

Shopify Plus is a package being offered as a reliable eCommerce platform that provides customers with the convenience and flexibility of online shopping instead of in-person shopping.

By providing advantages over physical stores, such as ease of paying for goods and a versatile selection of products,

Shopify Plus is a feature-heavy and personalized option for businesses.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is an online eCommerce platform that helps businesses run, operate, and stock an online store to sell products to the public.

Instead of opening a physical store, which makes it harder for global customers to access, online e-commerce stores provide ample flexibility and convenience for customers around the world.

Not only do eCommerce stores help with the flexibility of purchasing items online, but they can help reach a wider audience without having to re-work an advertising plan or marketing strategy.

Shopify takes advantage of the perks of an eCommerce platform – this online application uses a Point of Sale app that makes it easy to purchase and use Shopify to pay for goods in physical locations.

This subscription platform allows Shopify to manage, sell, and distribute products to global consumers.

Now that you know what Shopify is, you might be wondering – what is Shopify plus?

What Is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is an upgraded version of the basic Shopify.

This option costs $2,000 per month in exchange for an unlimited number of features.

By creating personalized and tailor-made choices that make it possible for businesses to adhere to their specific business model, Shopify Plus boasts a wide variety of benefits.

These include higher conversion rates, faster checkout speeds, AR video options, 3D media product pages, and multiple currencies and languages for B2B sales.

Shopify Plus Features

Understanding the plethora of Shopify Plus features can be helpful for businesses in determining if the initial Shopify payment is worth the long-term gain.

1. Merchant Success Program

Shopify Plus offers a merchant success program that allows business owners to increase the likelihood of potential business over time.

By collaborating with a Shopify partner in the same field, businesses can use a Merchant Success manager for seamless integration tools, manage new launches, implement data migration strategies, utilize 3PL integrations, and heed third-party recommendations.

2. Account Manager

Shopify and Shopify Plus use account manager options so business owners can remain in control of their accounts, strategies, and consumers.

Using this feature helps provide business owners with a comprehensive Shopify review, customer service analysis, and snapshot of their Shopify Plus customers.

3. Access To Liquid

Shopify Plus offers a liquid layout.

This theme editor makes it possible for companies to personalize their appearance and aesthetic for a unique look.

4. Access To Apps

Shopify Plus offers exclusive apps and channels that can only be used by Plus members, such as Wholesale channels, Launchpad Script Editor, Transporter app, and the Bulk Account Invite in the Shopify app store.  

5. Wholesale Option

Shopify Plus offers a Wholesale channel that helps businesses expand their business by creating a secure and password-protected add-on.

The wholesale store is based on the online presence, offering wholesale buyers similar services or products as you would for your online customers, but at reduced rates.

Plus, the wholesale option has a different aesthetic and layout, offering a varying storefront that makes it unique and personalized.

The wholesale store lets the customer see products that are not available at the same price on the regular Shopify online store.

By offering customized pricing, businesses can offer their customers flat prices for certain products, percentage discounts, volume-based pricing, and different pricing altogether.

How Much Does Shopify Plus Cost?

Shopify Plus, which is advanced Shopify, comes at $2,000 per month – but for this high price, customers can expect a whole host of features.

The Shopify Plus pricing is $2,000 per month or a variable fee for businesses that have higher volume and more customers.

However, with the offerings in store, the price comes down to a fair deal.

With typical eCommerce platforms, selling typically takes over a year, with benefits only coming between 12-18 months after the initial start.

However, with Shopify Plus, businesses can see the immediate benefits only 3-4 months after they start working with this eCommerce store.

Included in the Shopify Plus plan are the following:

• 18% higher conversion with the Shopify store
• 60% faster checkout
• 99.99% uptime
• Local shopping experiences
• Multiple currencies and languages for B2B sales
• Customized checkout options
• Advanced discounts
• Built-in AR and 3D media
• Manage numerous stores from one location
• Automating processes and campaigns
• Rapid integration with other tech tools
• Migrating customer data into one location
• Integrate with other apps

Shopify Plus Pricing Plans

The Shopify Plus plan begins at $2,000 for businesses that use standard setups.

However, more complex businesses, high-volume entities, and already-established companies may have a higher price per month.

The transaction fees come to 0.15% to cover the security needs for this enhanced Shopify plan.

Shopify Plus Vs Shopify

There are critical differences between Shopify Plus and Shopify.

Understanding the key aspects is essential to see what plan you should choose for your specific business.

Main Differences Between the Two

The main differences between Shopify Plus and Shopify are the prices, features, and customization possibilities.

The benefits of choosing Shopify Plus are the higher conversion rates, personalization, faster checkout, media pages, multiple languages, advanced discounts, lower shipping rates, and unlimited transactions.

However, the downsides are the higher price (coming in at a whopping $2,000 per month).

The main benefit of Shopify, also known as Basic Shopify, is the low price of just $29 per month, making it a smart choice for entrepreneurs and new businesses who are just starting out.

Basic Shopify costs just $29 per month, whereas Shopify Plus costs $2,000 per month.

However, the downsides include the lack of features compared to the Shopify Plus option and the 2% transaction fee.

Key Difference: Account Management

Shopify makes it easy to manage your Shopify account.

The basic version and Shopify Plus lets users visit the Settings page to manage their store type, status, and subscription plan.

Key Difference: Accounts

Shopify offers three types of accounts – store owners, organizations users, and staff.

Store owners can use the online Shopify help guides to find out how to manage their Shopify account, manage staff in this store, manage billing, enhance account security, pause their store, or freeze Shopify stores.

Key Difference: Integrations

Shopify uses multiple integrations that allow users to customize and personalize their customer experience.

Some of the most common integrations include Shopify Inbox, Shopify Email, Shopify Flow, Shopify Local Delivery, Facebook channel, Google channel, Point of Sale, Product Reviews, and Geolocation.

Shopify Plus offers integrations possible in just minutes to enhance the sustainability of this eCommerce platform.

ERP or CRM systems can be integrated with Shopify Plus to facilitate quicker eCommerce automation and speed up daily tasks.

Integrations make it possible for businesses to do the following:

• Creates personalized storefronts
• Connect your brand to a personalized ERP, CMS, IMS, or OMS
• Get unlimited test environments
• Use predictable Shopify API tools

Key Difference: Analytics

Shopify offers analytics to help users understand their store’s activity, sales, customer insight, store operational speed, and transactions.

The Basic Shopify option offers an analytics page, finance reports, product analytics, live view, acquisition reports, 5 of 7 inventory reports, 5 of 6 behavior reports, and 1 of 5 marketing reports.  

Shopify Plus offers all of the above (including ALL of the inventory, behavior, and marketing reports), order reports, sales reports, retail sales reports, profit reports, customers reports, and custom reports.

Is Shopify Plus Worth It?

Businesses need to know if paying for Shopify PLus per month is worth the upfront costs.

Will businesses get their initial cost back?

In short, yes.

However, knowing the pros and cons of this plan is essential to making an intelligent business decision moving forward.

When is the right time to migrate to Shopify Plus?

Some Shopify Plus experts believe that it makes sense to transition to Shopify Plus one business reaches between $1 and $2 million in its annual revenue.

Although the annual revenue is not the end-all-be-all decision-maker, it can still help guide businesses as to the right time to make the jump.

Pros of Shopify Plus

There are numerous benefits of choosing Shopify Plus over the Basic plan or other options for eCommerce platforms.

One of the main perks of Shopify Plus is enhanced customer support.

For those who have millions of dollars in revenue, customer support issues, site malfunctions, necessary customer queries, and other concerns that acquire top-notch help, the Plus account helps resolve any problems and questions in no time.

In addition, Shopify Plus offers checkout personalization and customization, making it easy for consumers to pay for their products and check out in no time.

By simplifying the entire process, it increases the likelihood of customers returning in the future.

Plus, Shopify Plus leaves enough room for growth.

Although small businesses may be content, Shopify Plus offers bigger-sized businesses with higher projections the chance to continue to grow over time.

Cons of Shopify Plus

There are only a few drawbacks of choosing Shopify pLus over the fee or lower-cost options on the market today.

One of the main “cons” of switching to Shopify Plus is the initial startup cost.

If you are a new business or entrepreneur that does not have $2k lying around, it can seem like an exorbitant amount of money to pay per month.

In addition, Shopify makes it more difficult to switch platforms if you are considering switching to another company.

Of course, this is done to influence businesses to stay with this eCommerce platform, but for those who like flexibility, this makes it a limited choice.

Lastly, Shopify Plus does not allow takeaway payments in certain countries.

Unlike other eCommerce platforms that are available worldwide, this platform is not compatible globally and can cause unforeseen fees and chargebacks.

Wrapping Up

Although there are some main drawbacks to using Shopify Plus, the overall upsides outweigh the negatives.

Despite the initial startup cost of switching to $2,000 per month, which can seem hefty for new business owners, the long-term projected benefits of this plan are smart for growing businesses.

Shopify Plus is an advanced eCommerce platform that helps businesses reap the benefits of online shopping vs. in-person shopping.

Although physical merchants are still a staple in society, taking advantage of digital and online stores is essential to keeping up with the times.

If you’re promoting products, especially if they are part of the highest-paying affiliate programs, you’ll want to promote them well.

That’s where marketing platforms come in.

Kartra and ClickFunnels are two of the most popular options today, but which one is better for your needs?

This comprehensive Kartra vs ClickFunnels breakdown will compare the features, pricing, and other essential factors to help you decide.

An Overview of the Platforms: The Basics

Before we dive too far into the granular details, let’s first cover the basics.

What is Kartra?

Kartra is an online all-in-one marketing platform that allows you to build high-converting landing pages, sales funnels, and membership sites.

It’s an excellent option for marketers looking to create high-quality, high-converting landing pages without having to code.

Kartra allows you to create mobile responsive landing pages, sales funnels, and membership sites in minutes.

What is ClickFunnels?

ClickFunnels is a software program that allows users to create sales funnels and landing pages.

Online marketer Russell Brunson created it, and it has become one of the most popular tools for online entrepreneurs.

ClickFunnelsis designed to simplify creating sales funnels, and it provides a wide range of templates and tools to help users get started.

ClickFunnels is also known for its excellent customer support, available 24/7.

In addition, ClickFunnels integrates with a wide range of third-party software programs, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to streamline their online business.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Similarities

Though Kartra and ClickFunnels are different platforms and offer various features to their clients, they also have similarities.

Here are some of those similarities.

1. Selection of Templates

When it comes to selecting templates, both Kartra and ClickFunnels offer a wide range of options.

Whether you’re looking for a simple funnel template for a landing page or a more complex one for an eCommerce site, you’re likely to find something that suits your needs with either platform.

In terms of templates, both platforms offer over 100 high-quality templates.

2. Funnel Sharing

Kartra and ClickFunnels are two of the most popular software platforms for building sales funnels.

Both platforms offer a wide range of features and tools to help businesses increase leads and sales.

One fundamental similarity between Kartra and ClickFunnels is that both platforms allow users to share funnels with other users.

Funnel sharing can be a valuable feature for businesses that want to collaborate with other businesses or individuals on online marketing campaigns.

This feature can also be helpful for consultants who wish to provide their clients with access to their sales funnels.

3. Membership Sites

As an online marketer knows, membership sites can be a great way to generate recurring revenue.

They allow you to create exclusive content that your members can access for a monthly fee.

But setting up a membership site can be a challenge.

There are a lot of details to take care of, from creating the content to managing the billing and payments. That’s where Kartra and ClickFunnels come in.

Both Kartra and ClickFunnels are tools that help you set up and manage membership sites.

They both offer features like content management, billing and payments, email marketing, and more.

4. Testing

Kartra and ClickFunnels are both powerful tools for online marketing, and they share some similarities when it comes to testing.

For example, both platforms offer A/B testing capabilities, which allow you to test different versions of your website or landing page to see what performs best.

You can also use both platforms to create dynamic, personalized content for your visitors based on their behavioral adaptive marketing.

In addition, both Kartra and ClickFunnels offer robust integrations with other online marketing platforms, making it easy to track results and optimize your marketing campaign.

5. Affiliates

Kartra and ClickFunnels are two of the most popular platforms in the affiliate marketing space.

Both platforms offer a wide range of features and tools to help affiliate marketers boost their online presence and earnings.

One of the most significant similarities between Kartra and ClickFunnels is that both platforms offer a generous affiliate program.

Affiliates on Kartra and ClickFunnels can earn up to 40% commission on all sales generated, making it a very lucrative opportunity.

[box_with_button title=”Want even more options?” link_url=”https://bloggingtips.com/clickfunnels-alternatives/” link_text=”View ClickFunnels Alternatives”]

There are more options, far beyond just Kartra and ClickFunnels.

We’ve ranked and reviewed the best ClickFunnels alternatives so that you have even more choices before you invest in this critical marketing platform.

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Kartra vs ClickFunnels Differences

These are some of the differences between Kartra and ClickFunnels.

1. Feature Variety

While both Kartra and ClickFunnels offer a variety of features, there are some key differences between the two platforms.

For example, Kartra offers more flexible page builder options, allowing Kartra and ClickFunnels users to create custom pages without using HTML or CSS.

The Kartra agency also provides a stronger focus on customer relationship management (CRM), with features such as lead scoring and automation.

However, ClickFunnels provides a broader range of integrations with third-party services, making it easier to connect your funnel with other tools in your marketing stack.

2. Video Hosting

Kartra offers unlimited video hosting for all users on their domain.

On the other hand, ClickFunnels doesn’t host videos but integrates with other platforms like Dropbox.

3. Marketing Tools

Kartra is more focused on email marketing, while ClickFunnels offers a more comprehensive suite of tools.

ClickFunnels also offers a more robust set of features for building landing pages and sales funnels.

4. Analytics

There are a few key ways in which Kartra and ClickFunnels differ in analytics.

For one, Kartra offers heat mapping and session recording as part of its standard feature set.

Heat mapping means that you can see how users interact with your web pages and identify any areas that may be causing confusion or frustration.

 ClickFunnels, on the other hand, does not offer these features.

Instead, it focuses on providing traditional web analytics, such as sales page views, unique visitors, and bounce rate.

Traditional web analytics can help you understand overall traffic patterns, but it doesn’t provide the same level of detailed insights that heat mapping and session recording can offer.

5. User Targeting

Kartra and ClickFunnels take two different approaches when it comes to user targeting.

Kartra places a strong emphasis on building user-profiles and then using those profiles to deliver targeted content.

By contrast, ClickFunnels takes a more general approach, providing users with a range of options and allowing them to choose the content they want to see.

Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages.

Kartra’s approach is more personalized and can lead to a higher degree of engagement.

However, it can also be less flexible and may not consistently deliver the most relevant content.

The click funnel approach is more flexible and can provide users with greater control.

However, it may not always be as effective in delivering targeted content.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Templates

Kartra offers different templates compared to ClickFunnels.

Let’s check out the difference.

Kartra Templates

Kartra templates are tools that allow users to quickly and easily create professional-looking marketing materials.

With Kartra, users have access to many templates for creating everything from email newsletters to landing pages.

The templates are fully customizable, meaning that users can easily change the look and feel of their marketing materials to match their brand.

Additionally, Kartra provides users with a wide range of features, such as drag-and-drop editing, that make it easy to create high-quality marketing materials.

ClickFunnels Templates

There are a lot of different ClickFunnels templates out there.

Which one you choose depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with your funnel.

If you’re trying to capture leads, you might want a simple template with a form and a thank you page.

You’ll need a more complex funnel with multiple pages, upsells, and down sells if you’re selling products.

And if you’re running a webinar funnel, you’ll need an even more complex funnel with registration pages, confirmation pages, and live streaming capability.

No matter your needs, there’s a ClickFunnels template that can help you achieve your goals.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Features

What is the difference in features between Kartra and ClickFunnels?

Let’s find out.

Kartra Features

Kartra includes features for managing website creation and hosting, email marketing, contact lists, membership sites, payment processing, and much more.

One of the unique features of Kartra is its ability to create “campaigns” that automate marketing tasks such as sending emails or running ads.

Automating marketing tasks can save users a significant amount of time and effort and help to ensure that their marketing efforts are always effective.

Another key feature of Kartra is its robust analytics platform, which provides users with detailed insights into their website traffic, conversion rates, and more.

ClickFunnels Features

ClickFunnels is a powerful digital marketing tool that helps businesses increase sales and conversions.

One of the most popular features of ClickFunnels is the ability to create landing pages.

Landing pages are designed to capture leads and direct them to a specific offer or product.

ClickFunnels makes it easy to create high-converting landing pages with its drag-and-drop page builder and pre-built templates.

In addition to landing pages, ClickFunnels also includes email automation, membership sites, shopping carts, and more.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Tools

You might be curious to know some of the tools offered by both Kartra and ClickFunnels.

Here are some of the tools offered by both platforms.

Kartra Tools

Kartra provides a wide range of powerful tools to help businesses with everything from email marketing and website building to sales and customer management.

Kartra also offers a wide range of features and integrations, making it an extremely versatile platform.

ClickFunnels Tools

ClickFunnels provides users with everything they need to design and launch their funnel, including templates, landing pages, order forms, etc.

ClickFunnels is easy to use and comes with various features that make it a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes.

One of the most valuable features is tracking conversions and monitoring results.

This information can be used to optimize the funnel and improve outcomes over time.

ClickFunnels also allows businesses to A/B test their funnel, an essential feature for any business looking to improve their conversion rates.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Integrations

When it comes to integration, ClickFunnels is more limited than Kartra.

However, one of the most significant features that ClickFunnels offers is the ability to integrate with other apps through Zapier.

Kartra Integrations

Kartra has a limited number of integrations available.

For example, you can connect your ClickFunnels account to your Google Analytics account and add the analytics code to your website.

There is also a Zapier integration for connecting ClickFunnels to other tools.

ClickFunnels Integrations

ClickFunnels has a large variety of integrations available, including integrations with Google Analytics, Facebook group, and MailChimp.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Customizability

You can customize both ClickFunnels and Kartra to fit your company’s needs.

The main difference is that ClickFunnels allows for more customization.

Kartra Customizability

Kartra provides users with a high degree of customization, allowing them to tailor the software to their specific needs.

The software can be personalized in several ways, including adding custom fields, setting workflow automation, and creating custom templates.

In addition, Kartra’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create custom pages and forms.

ClickFunnels Customizability

ClickFunnels is a powerful digital marketing tool that allows businesses to create a custom sales funnel.

This means that businesses can design a funnel tailored to their specific products and services.

As a result, businesses can maximize their conversion rate and decrease their customer acquisition costs.

In addition, ClickFunnels provides a wide range of customization options, making it easy to create a genuinely unique funnel.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Support

Here’s the difference in support between Kartra and ClickFunnels.

Kartra Support

Kartra’s support team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and help you get the most out of Kartra.

Kartra has a ticketing system, chat support, and email support.

They also constantly update their Knowledge Base with new articles and tutorials.

They call this section wiki, and you can try to find answers there if you’re stuck.

ClickFunnels Support

ClickFunnels support has a blog where you can get information.

In addition, the ClickFunnels support team is available on chat to answer your questions and help you troubleshoot any issues you may be having.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Pricing

Both Kartra and ClickFunnels offer different plans to their customers.

The difference in plans is in the features.

Higher plans offer better features.

Kartra Pricing

Kartra has four plans you can choose from.

The plans are starter, silver, gold, and platinum.

1. The Starter Plan

The Kartra Starter plan is an excellent option for those just getting started with Kartra.

For just $99 per month, you get access to all of Kartra’s features, including 15,000 emails, 2500 leads, 50GB bandwidth, and more.

Plus, you get to add one extra user.

 So if you’re looking for a comprehensive internet marketing platform that won’t break the bank, the Kartra Starter plan is excellent.

2. Silver Plan

The silver plan costs $199 per month.

With this, you get 12,500 leads, unlimited pages and Visitors, three custom domains, unlimited bandwidth, pages, team members, and videos.

A silver plan is an excellent option for businesses starting to experience growth and need a little more horsepower to keep up with their new leads.

3. Gold Plan

The Gold Plan costs $299 per month and includes unlimited leads, pages, visitors, and 25,000 leads.

You’ll also get unlimited videos, team members, Kartra helpdesk bandwidth, and products.

4. Platinum Plan

The platinum plan goes for $499 a month.

Businesses have access to unlimited pages, products, leads, and memberships with this plan.

You also get ten custom domains and up to 50,000 leads.

ClickFunnels Pricing

ClickFunnels has two plans these are the basic plan and the platinum plan.

They also offer a 14-day free trial.

1. Standard Plan

The Standard Plan costs $80.84 per month, and it includes all of the features that ClickFunnels offers.

With this plan, you can get 20 funnels, 20,000 monthly visits, 100 pages, one sub-user, three payment gateways, email support, and unlimited contacts.

So if you’re looking for a comprehensive marketing solution, the Standard Plan is a great option.

2. Platinum Plan

The Platinum Plan is the most expensive ClickFunnels pricing plan, but it also has the most features.

For $247.50 per month, you get unlimited funnels, unlimited pages, unlimited monthly visits, three sub-users, unlimited contacts, three custom domains, nine payment gateways, priority support, etc.

Kartra vs ClickFunnels Pros and Cons

Both Kartra and ClickFunnels are great platforms, but they both have advantages and disadvantages, just like any other platform.

Here are some of them.

Kartra Pros

1. No matter the plan you choose, you get all the features that Kartra offers.
2. Kartra offers video hosting on their platform.
3. There are a lot of functions provided on the membership portal system.
4. Kartra has split testing for email subject lines and bodies.
5. Kartra has ready-to-use marketing materials, including emails, copies, and designs.

Kartra Cons

1. Loading speed for pages can be slow.
2. Kartra’s web builder has fewer features compared to Clickfunnels.
3. Kartra doesn’t have a specific webinar feature.

ClickFunnels Pros

1. You can integrate clickfunnels with other tools like Mailchimp, Zapier, and Stripe.
2. Clickfunnels is beginner-friendly. So anyone can start using it with ease.
3. Clickfunnels is mobile optimized. So it will work well on mobile devices.
4. You can design pages without coding using the drag-and-drop sales funnel builder.
5. Clickfunnels has an easy-to-use interface.

ClickFunnels Cons

1. Not a lot of customer support is available. They only have email support, which can be slow.
2. You can’t host videos on ClickFunnels. You’ll have to use third parties to do that.
3. ClickFunnels is more expensive compared to other platforms.

Wrapping Up

Kartra and ClickFunnels are two of the most popular options for funnel building and automating your marketing.

Both have their pros and cons, but which one is the best for you?

Try out both platforms today to see which one works better for your specific needs.

With such a wide range of features available, it can be tough to decide which platform is right for you – but that’s where we come in.

And don’t forget, both platforms offer free trials, so you can try them before you buy.

Don’t want to manage leads yourself?

There is an easier way than learning the ropes yourself. Instead, check out the best lead generation companies that take the hard work off your plate, for a small fee.

As of 2021, about 1.7 million businesses use Shopify POS to power their websites and online marketplaces.

Keep reading for all you need to know about the updated Shopify fees, subscriptions, and pricing plans to help your business get your store up and running.

What Is Shopify?

As mentioned, Shopify is a publicly-traded eCommerce platform.

Over a million businesses use their services to run the online portions of their business.

Some even operate through Shopify as the only way of selling their courses, products, and services to keep up with their monthly revenue.

What Is Shopify Used For?

Shopify allows its users to create and manage websites for their businesses.

The service offers subscription plans at varying levels.

This flexibility enables website owners to develop their online shops as they see fit.

It also allows business owners to work with third-party shippers and third-party payment processing.  

Benefits of Using Shopify

There are several benefits to using Shopify beyond just allowing business owners to sell their products.

Many of these benefits include allowing owners to use the service to sell and also gain support like website building, tech support services, and merchant services.

Here are a few benefits to using Shopify to run your online marketplace for your business:

• Easy to use online store builder and pre-made Shopify theme choices.
• Ability to add functions and features specific to your site based on your needs
• Access to tech support around the clock
• Varying levels of subscription plans to fit your budget and needs
• Free 14-day trial
• Shopify App
• Dropship options
• Easy payment processing options are available, including credit card payments
• Easy to use third-party fulfillment services along with your site

Shopify Fees: Subscription Plans

Shopify requires a subscription plan for businesses looking to use it to power their online sales.

With each plan comes a host of fees, which are important to understand before costs get out of control.

There are three levels of subscriptions to choose from, including the basic plan, the standard plan, and the advanced plan.

Every plan comes with a 14-day free trial.

No credit card is required, and there is no processing fee for any Shopify pricing.

Here are the features included with all three levels of subscription plans:

• Online store with an e-commerce website and blog
• Unlimited product listings
• 24/7 support
• Various sales channels so you can sell on the site and on social media
• Discount code capabilities
• Free SSL Certificate
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Manual order creation
• Gift card options
• Customer segmentation
• Unlimited contacts
• Marketing automation services like sending automated emails
• You can choose your domain name

1. Shopify Fee for the Basic Plan

The Shopify Basic plan is the lowest-priced plan for website owners.

This plan is $29 per month.

This option is best for new e-commerce businesses that occasionally sell products in person.

The basic Shopify plan allows for two staff accounts and up to four inventory locations.

There is a shipping discount of up to 77% for these accounts and free shipping labels.

However, there is no option for USPS Priority Mail cubic pricing.

You will not receive reports, third-party calculated shipping rates, or e-commerce automation.

Shopify Basic plan comes with fraud analysis.

The online credit card rate is 2.9% + 30 cents.

The in-person debit card and credit card fee is 2.7% + 0 cents.

If you aren’t using Shopify pay, the Shopify transaction fee is 2.0%.

2. Shopify Fees for the Standard Plan

The Standard Shopify plan offers many of the same features as the Basic plan, along with a few more.

It is $79 per month and is ideal for those looking to grow their business by selling online and in-store.

The standard plan allows for five staff accounts and up to five inventory locations.

The shipping discount on this plan is up to 88%.

You receive standard reporting and USPS Priority Mail cubic pricing but do not receive third-party calculated shipping rates or e-commerce automation.

Fraud analysis is included in the standard Shopify plan.

The online credit card rate is 2.6% plus 30 cents.

The transaction fee for not using Shopify pay is 1.0%.

In-person credit and debit card rates are 2.5% plus 0 cents.

3. Shopify Fees for the Advanced Plan

The Advanced Shopify plan is perfect for scaling businesses that require advanced reporting, which is the most premium and inclusive subscription plan Shopify offers.

It is $299 per month and includes all of the features listed above, plus 15 staff accounts and up to 8 inventory locations.

You will also receive advanced reporting, e-commerce automation, and a full suite of international commerce capabilities with this plan.

The online credit card rate is 2.4% plus 30 cents.

The rates for in-person debit card and credit card payments are 2.4%+ 0 cents.

The transaction fee is 0.5% if you don’t use Shopify pay.

In addition to these three main Shopify pricing plans, there are two other options with their pros and cons you may want to check out depending on your needs.

These options are the Shopify Lite plan and the Shopify Plus plan.

Shopify Fees: Transactions

As with many online marketplaces, transaction fees do occur in some instances for your Shopify store.

Keep reading for more information on what these fees are and how to avoid them.

What Are Shopify Transaction Fees?

Shopify transaction fees vary from plan to plan, but they apply if you do not use a Shopify payment.

These fees pay for the cost and maintenance of integrating third-party payment providers with Shopify.

Transaction fees do not apply for point of sale orders or manual payment methods.

These methods include cash on delivery, bank deposits, checks, test orders, and draft orders marked paid or pending.

Do Shopify Transaction Fees Include Gst?

Depending on your shop’s location, GST may or may not be included in your fees.

Here are a few places where you may be charged GST.

• India: You will be charged GST on your Shopify fees. This charge is reflected on your monthly Shopify bill. To be exempted from this, you must provide your GST identification number.
• Singapore: You will be charged GST on your Shopify fees which will be reflected on your monthly bill. There is no exemption from this at this time.
• Australia: Shopify subscriptions and shipping labels incur a GST of 10%. There are ways to get around this by registering for Australian GST, so follow the necessary steps to get this done if you want to avoid this fee.
• New Zealand: You will get a 15% charge on your Shopify bill for GST, but if you register for New Zealand GST and add your IRD number, you can get around this charge.
• Certain States and Municipalities in the US and Canada: some states and municipalities have bylaws that require GST to be charged. If you are not in one of these specific locations, you will not be charged this tax.

How to Avoid Shopify Transaction Fees

The best way to avoid transaction fees is to use Shopify payments.

If you find that you will incur a GST fee based on your location, you can try to follow the steps Shopify lays out to be sure you are registered under the right umbrella to avoid that tax.

What Are Conversion Rate Shopify Conversion Fees?

Currency conversion rates apply when you accept currency from another country other than your own.

The currency conversion rate is a market rate that Shopify must use but does not set.

It can fluctuate, so be in tune with what it is.

The currency conversion fee is 1.5% in the United States and 2% in all other countries.

These fees appear on your payout details.

Other Shopify Fees to Note

There are a few other fees to look for when using an online commerce service.

However, Shopify has minimal fees for website owners.

Startup and Cancellation Shopify Fees

Shopify does not have any startup fees.

Additionally, there is no cancellation fee for canceling or changing your subscription.

What Are Shopify Bandwidth Fees?

There is no bandwidth fee with Shopify.

It is free and included with your subscription.

What Are Shopify Shipping Fees?

You can choose from many options provided by Shopify in terms of shipping rates.

These include flat rates.

Is Shopify Worth Paying For?

Ultimately, Shopify is worth it.

The capabilities of the site and the company’s credibility are enough to instill confidence in the service for all levels of business owners.

There are also ways to save a little money using the service if you need to save up for the monthly fee or cut costs as much as possible.

How to Save Money on Shopify?

Shopify is pretty affordable as it is.

However, there are a couple of ways to shave off a few dollars from your Shopify payment when using the service.

Trying Shopify Out for Free

Every plan comes with a 14-day free trial.

These trials do not require a credit card, and it allows you to try out every feature at no cost to you.

Of course, you can cancel at any time, but we feel you will not want to after trying it out.

Does Shopify Offer Any Discounted Plans?

Yes, there are a few discounts available.

For example, annual plans receive a 10% discount, and biannual plans receive a 20% discount.

You can also upgrade or downgrade your subscription without charge.

Wrapping Up

Shopify is a popular choice for many business owners, large and small, which is the perfect service for those operating online stores.

Their helpful customer service and flexible subscription plans, including Shopify Lite or Shopify Plus, are one of the best ways to run an online marketplace for any level of business owner.

Try it out today!

Woocommerce vs Shopify dominated the market and established their names in providing solutions for different businesses.

Entrepreneurs who want to build a powerful and effective eCommerce store have the dilemma of which one to go for.

While both platforms have proven to help business owners become successful, each one comes with unique strengths and features.

Shopify features an interface that is easy-to-use and reliable.

It is a hosted eCommerce platform that offers various plans covering security, hosting, domain, templates, and customer support.

All these come at a premium and deliver a platform that lets you set up your own store and sell products online.

Meanwhile, WooCommerce features a top-of-the-line content management system (CMS).

This open-source eCommerce platform lets you customize every detail of your store.

Unlike Shopify, this allows you to install it for free, and it is built on WordPress.

Finding the right platform is essential to make sure your business gets represented, built, and run well.

Let’s take a better and closer look into these two giant eCommerce platforms to see the best fit for you and your business.

Direct Comparison

Breaking It Down

Before choosing, it is always good to explore your options.

Since you will be building your business using the platform of your choice, it is important to know how it works, what it has to offer, and how it fits your enterprise.

Compatibility is key. Not only does it make your experience easier, but it also helps you maximize and grow your business to its full potential.

So let’s proceed and see how these two platforms compare in terms of their features.

Ease of Use

Before you can build anything, you have to know what you’re building from.

eCommerce builders often encounter roadblocks in creating their stores because of the platform’s difficulty.

Finding one that you can use with the least learning curve will make use of the crucial time you have for building.

Shopify

Shopify comes with an easy-to-use editor that involves powerful eCommerce tools working together.

It is a fully-hosted platform that eliminates the need for software installation, management, or updates.

It features a drag-and-drop function and a lot of available tools you can use.

It gets translated into a clean, simple, and straightforward interface that is very easy to use.

With this platform, setting up a live site in five minutes is possible.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is definitely an excellent avenue for customizations.

It has a guided setup wizard to help you learn the ropes on how to build your site.

Since this is not a hosted platform, you will need to install the software, keep backups, and manage updates.

You can personalize your site with several plugins and other features, but it does not have the drag and drop feature in its builder.

Winner: Shopify

Payment Options

In this age of technology, we are now utilizing different payment gateways to trade.

If you want to set up your store, you have to make sure that you can cater to varied payment options online.

Building an eCommerce website requires a platform that you can trust and rely on.

Let’s get to know how the payment system works for these platforms.

Shopify

Shopify Payments is a tool that caters to different types of payment options, including third-party payment gateways.

Though this is a convenient asset for a store, Shopify has a 2% fee charged on top of third-party payment gateway transaction fees.

Some people find this steep and heavy in terms of fees, but they found a way to fix this.

They made an option available to have this lowered into a 0.5% fee by getting their Advanced Shopify Plan for $299. 

WooCommerce

Since WooCommerce is not a self-hosted platform, they do not add a fee on top of the charges made by your bank or gateway for every third-party gateway transaction.

They do support all common payment services with the help of add-ons.

This covers even the not-so-popular or regional payment avenues.

All they have to do is set up an add-on and make support available for it.

Winner: Tie

Design and Themes

Your website is your business’ reflection. As they say, design is everything when it comes to websites in the eCommerce world.

Choosing the right theme and design will portray your brand’s credibility and image, of course, while not sacrificing its functionality and ease of use.

If you plan to build your website so people can trust your credibility, getting the right platform to make it possible is crucial.

Since these two platforms have unique differences in this aspect, let’s get to know which one has more in it for you.

Shopify

We can all agree that Shopify’s aesthetics for its themes are remarkably appealing.

They cater to different statutes and provide a unique look with each template.

As of today, they have 54 templates, including the ten that come for free, with each available in several variations.

These designs are created in-house, which means they hire professional web designers to do it.

Since all their templates give out a premium feel, not considering the 10, the rest come at a cost.

That is the price you have to pay to get a well-designed template for your store.

Though pre-made themes are available in Shopify, personalization is still encouraged for store owners.

As for tweaking and customizing these, they have an easy-to-use theme editor to make changes or prepare for your upcoming sections.

WooCommerce

There are no limits to design and customization when it comes to WooCommerce.

They make sure you have every option to create the website interface and design that you desire.

They have set a few best practices and standard recommendations for themes in the market.

As long as these align with those practices and recommendations, you can use them on your site.

As it is built on WordPress, you can choose any WordPress theme that you want and integrate it into the platform.

If you want to shorten the hours you spend designing, you can always check out their online theme store called Storefront.

Developers can sell diverse themes for different niches and purposes and make them available for your use.

Some themes come with price tags, but you can always go for the free ones.

Winner: WooCommerce

Sales Tools and Features

Similar to traditional marketing, there are several ways to reach out to customers and improve your business.

As you are to invest online, you have to cater to people across the globe through an eCommerce platform.

Knowing that these two platforms have made available a wide selection of tools in their extensions directory, let’s find out which of the two stands out.

Shopify

When it comes to add-ons and integrations, Shopify features a software called OptinMonster.

They deliver email support for your growing list and takes care of your cart abandonment issues.

They have an App Store and an API that lets you purchase third-party add-ons for your store.

You will either find free apps made by third-party services or paid add-ons available at a premium for monthly subscriptions.

To be specific with what you are in for, you can be sure that you can get unlimited storage to sell unlimited products.

Let you cater to manual order creations, integrate Oberlo, create discount codes, and make Facebook selling and blog modules available for you.

You can also do CSV uploads, bookings and create different variations for your products in a breeze.

It also gives you access to Shopify Abandoned Cart Recovery feature, a fully-featured mobile app, and multi-language settings.

With Shopify, you can print orders, have gift cards, get advanced reports, know your site statistics, get individual product reviews, create customer profiles, and receive product reports.

You can generate unlimited traffic to your site and sell digital or physical products.

It gives you a site structure that is SEO-friendly and is good for mobile commerce optimization.

What makes this deal sweet is that it offers social media integration which widens the scope and outreach of your business.

WooCommerce

As we have mentioned earlier, WooCommerce is designed on top of WordPress.

It means you get access to over 55,000 plugins that you can utilize for SEO campaigns, marketing, payment gateways, and more.

As apps drive WooCommerce to enable customization and personalization for the website, it is easier for developers to have their apps available on the platform.

That means you get to choose among the many brilliant plugins and add-ons to maximize your store and market presence.

Apart from that, you also get to sell unlimited products falling into different categories.

It can be in the form of digital or physical products.

In terms of its site structure, you can count on this to be mobile-friendly.

As you customize your site with extensions and plugins, you can generate huge traffic and still have control over your data.

Winner: Shopify

Security

Every store owner needs to invest a lot to build a successful business in the eCommerce market.

You will be creating, giving access, and storing data that has your business’ best interest.

That is why security should never be compromised.

Both platforms offer security features to keep your store and data safe, but which among WooCommerce vs Shopify stands out in this area?

Shopify

The deal with getting into Shopify is not having to worry about securing your website and data.

That means you get a built-in SSL certificate upon signing up.

On websites, an SSL certificate will show as a small padlock image right next to your URL.

Secure Sockets Layer, also known as SSL, protects your information and website from hackers, hijackers, or criminals.

It also adds plus points to your store since it gives customers peace of mind when providing personal and payment information.

In terms of the PCI-DSS compliance, also referred to as the Payment Card Data Security Standard, Shopify has you set.

It is a requirement given to all website owners before they can set up credit card payment processing.

That means you can already start processing credit card payments once you set up your Shopify store.

WooCommerce

As WooCommerce rests on WordPress, you are expected to secure your website on your own.

While other hosting platforms come with a free or built-in SSL certificate, signing up in WooCommerce means you have to get it on your own while ensuring that you have secured your servers.

This also applies to PCI-DSS compliance.

You will have to get and process it on your own to make sure you become eligible to handle credit card transactions on your site.

In other words, setting up plugins, two-factor authentication, and additional protection features will be in your own hands.

But as long as you give time to set them up one by one, you will have the peace of mind you deserve.

Winner: Shopify

Final Recount

• Shopify: ⅘
• WooCommerce: ⅖

Pros and Cons 

WooCommerce vs Shopify: Final Verdict

After a closer look at both platforms and their features, we can say that each one has a unique point that makes it stand out among others.

To sum it up, though, Shopify wins the title for being the best eCommerce platform for aspiring entrepreneurs and enthusiasts.

As WooCommerce opens doors to customization and budget-friendly tools, we can say that Shopify won for having the utmost priority of every eCommerce site: security.There is nothing more fulfilling than having the peace of mind that your data and investment are safe as you build and grow your business online.