As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, it’s become much easier now to run an online store. In fact, with some tech-savviness and a bit of learning, you could almost run it entirely yourself.
Managing your own e-commerce store gives you a lot of flexibility and control over your brand. Even if you’re just starting small and selling some homemade items, the power is completely in your hands.
And these e-commerce platforms are only getting more powerful.
The Rise Of Smarter, Convenient E-commerce Tools
Back in the day, business owners would usually enlist the help of developers and designers to get an online store up and running. However, that may not always be the most feasible or affordable option. Enter smart e-commerce platforms and now it can be done by one person with Internet access.
As AI becomes more integrated into these platforms, it’s giving them a whole different edge. With AI-powered product descriptions and recommended pricing, business owners are giving their online stores the best chance to succeed.
Top Alternatives To Shopify
If you’re in the online retail space, chances are you have come across Shopify. It’s one of the biggest names in e-commerce and usually the go-to for building an online store without needing coding knowledge. While it’s full of features and user-friendly with loads of customisable templates, it’s not the only option out there.
So whether you’re looking at more budget-friendly platforms or something a bit simpler, here are a few Shopify alternatives worth looking at.
1. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an open-source plugin that can convert any WordPress website into an operational online store. So if you already use WordPress, it can make sense to use it. You also get full control over your store’s design and to use the features that you want.
While the plugin is free, users need to pay for hosting, security and any additional add-ons. And if you’re not quite familiar with WordPress, it can be a bit of a learning curve.
2. Squarespace
For the creatives like artists and photographers or those with visually-appealing brands, Squarespace is a popular option. It has a variety of beautifully-designed templates on offer with extra features like e-mail marketing, digital downloads and inventory management.
While it is super easy to set up, it doesn’t quite have the flexibility that other platforms offer. The Business plan is £20/month while the Advanced Commerce is around £30/month.
3. BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a great platform if you plan on scaling your business quickly. From multi-currency support and customisable shipping options to advanced SEO and insights, it’s a strong competitor. It’s an incredibly powerful platform especially when selling across multiple platforms like Facebook, Google and Instagram.
However, it’s not as beginner-friendly as some of the other platforms and may take some time to get used to. Plans start at £25/month but can go up to £70/month or more for advanced features.
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4. Wix
Wix is one of the most user-friendly platforms for beginners and its e-commerce features are rather impressive too. In addition to drag-and-drop builders, users can access thousands of designed templates, integrated SEO and optimise their stores for mobile use. Depending on which plan you choose, you can also include abandoned cart recovery and sell on multiple channels.
It’s perfect for simple and aesthetic online stores although not quite as scalable as its competitors. The Basic plan starts at £13/month and can go up to £25/month.
5. Adobe Commerce
Adobe Commerce is an extremely powerful platform for businesses who require customisable features. It’s ideal for big online stores or selling in multiple countries and users get total control over everything. There is a free version, called Magento Open Source, but it does require some level of technical skill to get it up and running.
While it gives you the freedom to build just about anything, it may be a bit excessive for beginners or smaller businesses who don’t need all the bells and whistles. The full version is also quite costly and you can expect to pay thousands of pounds.
6. Ecwid
If you have an existing website and just want to add an online shop to it, Ecwid is the perfect solution. It’s compatible with other platforms like WordPress and Wix but also has a stand-alone store builder if you need it. The platform also makes selling across Facebook, Instagram, Amazon and TikTok a breeze.
It may not be as customisable as some of the others but it’s affordable. It’s free for up to five products and the paid plans start at around £15/month.
7. OpenCart
OpenCart is a simple, free way to run your own online store. It comes with all the basic features that you need like tracking orders, selling products and managing customers. It’s open-source so while the software is free, users still need to pay for web hosting and any other additional features.
A lot of the setup needs to be done yourself but without any monthly subscription fees, it’s a solid option for those who are on a budget.
