Quick answer
The main Shopify alternatives are BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace and WooCommerce for a full online store, and Big Cartel, Square Online and Ecwid for a smaller or cheaper one. On a $100 card sale most of them charge the same or nearly the same fees as Shopify's $3.20, so the choice comes down to the monthly plan and the limits that come with it. Squarespace Basic adds a 2% transaction fee and Square Online's free plan charges 3.3% + 30¢ online, so those two cost more per sale.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in the list or the fee example. See where Nation fits.
How we compared
Shopify and every alternative were checked against the same four questions, for a US seller of physical products.
- Fees on each sale Card processing and any platform transaction fee on one order, read from each platform's own pricing or fee page.
- Fixed monthly cost What the entry plan that can take payments costs in a month with no sales.
- Caps and limits Product caps, sales caps and fees you cannot switch off, which change the real cost as you grow.
- How much you run yourself Whether hosting, updates and payments are included or something you arrange and pay for separately.
Shopify competitors and sites like Shopify at a glance
Each platform is shown at the entry plan that can take online payments. Every alternative here is an own store: buyers come from you, not from a marketplace. The source and check date for every number are listed under each platform and at the end of the page.
What each platform keeps from a $100 sale
Fees are easier to compare on one order than as percentages. Example: one $100 order, paid by card online, with free shipping and no sales tax. On Shopify Basic with Shopify Payments that order pays card processing of 2.9% + 30¢, and there is no transaction fee with Shopify Payments.
- BigCommerce $3.19 plus $39/month Card 2.89% + $0.30 $3.19
- Shopify baseline $3.20 plus $39 a month Card 2.9% + 30¢ $3.20
- Wix $3.20 plus $29 a month (billed yearly, paid in full upfront) Card 2.9% + $0.30 $3.20
- WooCommerce $3.20 no plan fee, plus hosting WooCommerce 0% $0, WooPayments 2.9% + $0.30 $3.20
- Big Cartel $3.20 free for 5 products, or $15 a month Big Cartel 0% $0, Stripe 2.9% + $0.30 $3.20
- Ecwid by Lightspeed $3.20 plus $5 a month Ecwid fee 0% $0, Lightspeed Payments 2.9% + $0.30 $3.20
- Square Online $3.60 free plan Card 3.3% + 30¢ $3.60
- Squarespace $5.20 plus $25 a month Transaction 2% $2, Card 2.9% + $0.30 $3.20
Assumes a $100 order, a standard US card paid online through each platform's own payment service (Stripe for Big Cartel), free shipping, no tax, no apps or extensions and no currency conversion. Wix is shown at its yearly price: Prices on the plans page are for yearly subscriptions paid upfront; other billing periods exist. WooCommerce has no plan fee, but you pay for hosting, which WooCommerce estimates at $25 – $350/month for most stores.
Each Shopify alternative in detail
Shopify comes first as the baseline, followed by seven apps and sites like Shopify. Every platform gets the same five lines: price, fees per sale, what it is strong at, who it is best for and its main limit.
The baseline. Shopify includes secure commerce hosting with every plan, and Basic charges no transaction fee with Shopify Payments.
- Price
- Basic plan $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly.
- Fees per sale
- Card processing of 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic with Shopify Payments. Another payment provider adds 2%.
- Strong at
- Add-ons and channels: Basic integrates with 1000s of apps and lets you sell on social and marketplaces.
- Best for
- Sellers who want a full store and sell enough each month to cover the plan.
- Limit
- The plan fee is due every month, including months with no sales, and an outside payment provider adds 2% on each sale.
The closest match to Shopify in shape and price: a store builder at $39/month on Core, the same as Shopify Basic, with a card rate of 2.89% + $0.30 against Shopify's 2.9% + 30¢.
- Price
- Core plan $39/month, or $29 per month, billed annually. Trial: 15-day free trial; no free plan listed.
- Fees per sale
- Card processing of 2.89% + $0.30 on Core with BigCommerce Payments. Orders paid through embedded providers, such as BigCommerce Payments, Stripe or PayPal Braintree, carry a $0 fee from BigCommerce. On Core, any other payment provider adds 2.0% of eligible order GMV.
- Strong at
- Card rates that fall on higher plans, to 2.59% + $0.30 on Growth.
- Best for
- Sellers who want a full store and compare it directly with Shopify.
- Limit
- Core covers up to $30K in annual sales. Above that, you are notified and automatically upgraded to the next plan, Growth at $105/mo ($79 annual).
A general website builder with a store built in. Selling starts on Core, the cheapest plan that lists accepting payments.
- Price
- Core plan $29 a month (billed yearly, paid in full upfront). Business is $39 a month (billed yearly). The first upgrade to a paid plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Fees per sale
- Wix Payments charges 2.9% of the transaction amount + 0.30 USD for a standard card and 3.7% of the transaction amount + 0.30 USD for American Express.
- Strong at
- A full website with a store inside it, so the shop sits next to the rest of your pages.
- Best for
- Sellers who want one site for the business, its content and a shop.
- Limit
- Prices on the plans page are for yearly subscriptions paid upfront; other billing periods exist. International cards add 1.5% of the transaction amount on top of the standard processing fee.
A website builder that also sells, with the shop inside the site.
- Price
- Basic plan $25 a month, or $19 a month billed annually. There is no free plan; every site starts with a free trial.
- Fees per sale
- A 2% transaction fee on Basic plus card processing of 2.9% + $0.30.
- Strong at
- A lower plan price than Shopify: Basic is $19 a month billed annually, against $29 a month for Shopify Basic billed yearly.
- Best for
- Brands, artists and service businesses that want one site for story, portfolio and shop.
- Limit
- The cheapest plan adds a 2% fee on every online sale.
Free, open-source store software that is powered by WordPress and runs on a site you host. There is no plan fee, but you pay for hosting and any paid extensions.
- Price
- Free, with no monthly subscription. WooCommerce estimates hosting at $25 – $350/month for most stores, and paid extensions cost $29 – $299/year per extension.
- Fees per sale
- WooCommerce takes a 0% revenue share. WooPayments charges 2.90% + $0.30 for a US card. International cards: +1.50% on top.
- Strong at
- Control: WooCommerce says you fully own your site, code, and data. Product limit in the core plugin: Unlimited products, orders, and APIs.
- Best for
- Sellers who already run a WordPress site or are comfortable maintaining one.
- Limit
- You choose and pay for hosting yourself, so the real monthly cost depends on your host and the extensions you add.
A simple store builder for a small catalog, with no listing fees and a 0% transaction fee.
- Price
- A free Gold plan for 5 products. Platinum is $15 a month for up to 50 products.
- Fees per sale
- Big Cartel takes 0%. You pay the payment processor, for example 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe).
- Strong at
- Low fixed cost for a small catalog.
- Best for
- Sellers with a few products who want a free or low-cost store.
- Limit
- Product caps by plan: 5 products on the free plan and up to 50 products on Platinum.
Square's online store builder. The same Square plan sets the rates for online orders and for card payments in person.
- Price
- There is no monthly fee on Square Free. Square Plus is $49 a month per location.
- Fees per sale
- Online card processing of 3.3% + 30¢ on Square Free, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus. In person it is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
- Strong at
- Online and in-person sales on one Square plan, with unlimited items.
- Best for
- Sellers who already sell in person and want a free online store next to it.
- Limit
- The free plan's online card rate of 3.3% + 30¢ is higher than Shopify's 2.9% + 30¢.
The lowest paid plan in this list: Starter at $5 a month, made for a small catalog.
- Price
- Starter $5 a month, or $5 a month, paid annually. Venture is $35 a month and Business $65 a month, billed monthly.
- Fees per sale
- Ecwid takes $0 per sale (0%). Lightspeed Payments charges 2.9% + 0.30 USD for a card sale.
- Strong at
- A low monthly price. Ecwid also lists adding an Ecwid store to an existing website built on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or any other platform.
- Best for
- Sellers with a handful of products who want the cheapest paid plan.
- Limit
- Starter's product cap: Up to 10 products. Digital downloads need Venture or higher.
Which one fits you
You want the closest thing to Shopify at the same price.
BigCommerce
The same entry price of $39/month and a card rate of 2.89% + $0.30 against Shopify's 2.9% + 30¢. Watch the yearly sales cap on Core.
You want a free Shopify alternative and sell only a few products.
Big Cartel
A free Gold plan for 5 products, and $3.20 in fees on a $100 sale, the same as Shopify Basic.
You sell at markets, pop-ups or a shop and want an online store too.
Square Online
There is no monthly fee on Square Free. Online cards cost 3.3% + 30¢, and in person it is 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free.
You already run your own website and can handle hosting.
WooCommerce
No plan fee and a 0% revenue share, with hosting estimated at $25 – $350/month for most stores.
Your site is mostly content, a portfolio or services, with a shop on the side.
Wix or Squarespace
Website builders first: Wix Core at $29 a month (billed yearly, paid in full upfront) has the same card rate as Shopify, and Squarespace Basic at $25 a month adds a 2% fee.
You have a small catalog and want the lowest paid plan.
Ecwid Starter
$5 a month with $3.20 in fees on a $100 sale. Starter's product cap: Up to 10 products.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared on fees here.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and will not be added to the list or the fee example until signup is public and pricing is published.
Describe what you makeDisclosure and method
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. Nation is not ranked here and will not be added to the comparison until signup is public and pricing is published.
The list covers Shopify and seven alternatives that a US seller can use to run an own online store for physical products. No platform paid to be included, and none of the links are affiliate links.
Every fee and plan price was read on the platform's own pricing, fee or help pages, the oldest on 2 Oct 2026. Each platform's section names its source, and the full list is below.
Questions about Shopify alternatives
What are the best Shopify alternatives?
The best Shopify alternatives depend on what you need. BigCommerce is the closest match at the same entry price. Wix and Squarespace suit a site that does more than sell. WooCommerce has no plan fee if you run your own hosting. Big Cartel, Square Online and Ecwid suit small catalogs on a free or low-cost plan.
Are there free Shopify alternatives?
Free Shopify alternatives exist, each with limits. Big Cartel has a free Gold plan for 5 products. Square Online has no monthly fee on Square Free but charges 3.3% + 30¢ online. WooCommerce has a $0 platform fee, though you pay for hosting. On Wix, to accept payments from shoppers you’ll have to opt for a paid subscription. Card processing is still charged on every sale.
Which Shopify competitor has the lowest fees?
Among Shopify competitors on their entry plans, BigCommerce Core has the lowest fee per sale, but only just. On a $100 card sale it comes to $3.19, while Shopify Basic, Wix, WooCommerce, Big Cartel and Ecwid come to $3.20. Square Online's free plan comes to $3.60 and Squarespace Basic to $5.20. The bigger difference is the monthly plan.
Which platform is most similar to Shopify?
The platform most similar to Shopify is BigCommerce, a store builder at the same entry price: $39/month for Core against $39 a month for Shopify Basic. Its card rate is 2.89% + $0.30 against Shopify's 2.9% + 30¢. The main difference at entry level is that BigCommerce Core covers up to $30K in annual sales, then moves the store to Growth.
What are companies like Shopify for selling in person?
Companies like Shopify that also handle in-person sales include Square. Square Online has no monthly fee on Square Free. Online cards cost 3.3% + 30¢, and cards in person cost 2.6% + 15¢ on Square Free. WooCommerce also takes in-person payments through WooPayments at 2.70% + $0.10, plus $5.00 per active card reader per month for an external reader.
Is Nation a Shopify alternative?
Nation is not a Shopify alternative you can compare today. It is an AI store builder, pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, and its pricing is not announced yet. Because no shopper marketplace has been announced, it would sit with the own-store builders on this page. Nation will be added to this comparison once signup is public and pricing is published.