There are a lot of Shopify alternatives out there today. If you’re looking to open up your own online store, you may be wondering which ones are worth your time and money. Here’s what you need to know.
Easy Digital Downloads
The WordPress eCommerce platform Easy Digital Downloads is a good solution for selling digital products. It is an extension for the WordPress blogging system. While it may not be as popular as WooCommerce, it has plenty of features to make it a useful eCommerce tool.
The Easy Digital Downloads plugin works with both PayPal and Amazon, and it can be configured to accept other payment gateways. However, there are fees to integrate other payment gateways.
Unlike Shopify, Easy Digital Downloads does not have a pre-configured theme. However, there is a marketplace for third-party extensions that work with the plugin. You can find extensions that will help you with other aspects of your store, like sending an automated email to customers when they purchase.
Easy Digital Downloads is compatible with a wide variety of themes. A theme is a critical part of your eCommerce site’s look and functionality.
Easy Digital Downloads has a simple, minimalist design, but it’s also lightweight. There is a free version of the plugin, and it has support for Amazon Pay and Stripe. If you want to test out the plugin, you can set up a sandbox account.
You can sell virtual and physical products with Easy Digital Downloads. Customers can buy downloadable items with all major credit cards. This is helpful for minimizing taxes. Also, it can be used to manage payments for online courses.
Although the plugin has a simple set up, it’s easy to customize the store’s checkout process. For example, you can choose to let customers save their cart before checkout, and offer a discount code before they leave your website.
Another benefit is the ability to set up an affiliate program. Easy Digital Downloads makes it easy to set up different versions of the same download, and it has an auto- invoicing feature for managing payments.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce has a solid ecommerce product. It has a robust set of features and has a huge app market. However, it’s not the best for all businesses. There are alternatives to BigCommerce that offer a number of benefits, including more features, cheaper prices, and better customer support.
If you’re a large merchant, you may want to consider BigCommerce. With an expansive app marketplace, you can find more than a thousand apps that you can use to create a comprehensive shopping experience. The company also offers advanced functionality, like multi-currency and a custom item selection.
However, it’s not easy to get started with BigCommerce. Many users have complained about the learning curve. Also, you won’t be able to reach customer service in countries that don’t have a partnership with BigCommerce.
Shopify is an online shop builder with an integrated payment processor. In addition, it has a wide range of free and paid themes. You can also integrate your Shopify store with more than 100 payment gateways.
Among the plethora of options, one that has caught my attention is Shift4Shop. This platform offers a free plan for US residents, and an End-to-End ecommerce plan for $229/month. Although the price tag may seem intimidating, the benefits of being a part of this platform can be worth it.
Another option is Squarespace. While it doesn’t offer the same suite of features as BigCommerce, it does offer a free trial and a lot of products to choose from.
Wix is another popular option for building an ecommerce site. Unlike BigCommerce, Wix is easier to learn and navigate, and its website builder is designed for beginners.
Regardless of which ecommerce solution you choose, you’ll have to make sure that it has a responsive mobile application. Additionally, you’ll need to keep an eye out for taxes, processing fees, and shipping rates.
Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop is a popular all-in-one ecommerce platform. It’s free to use, and provides a lot of features. There are hundreds of themes, as well as a good selection of apps.
There are other options out there, but Shift4Shop seems to offer the most value for the money. However, there are some drawbacks to this platform. For instance, its interface is not the easiest to navigate.
There are also issues with the workflow. While you can add new products, you must first select a product to edit before you can add a new one. You may want to combine an inventory editor with a price editor.
The main theme editor allows you to change colors and typography. The dashboard navigation menu offers sub-headings, and the main page includes a description.
As far as functionality, Shopify offers an order management system, multiple payment methods, and an integrated content management system. But its custom template markup language isn’t the most straightforward. And the platform doesn’t provide an option to print bulk invoices.
Lastly, the platform offers a number of tools that aren’t found on other ecommerce platforms, such as the ability to accept gift cards. In addition, there are numerous apps that you can choose from, ranging from blogging to product tools.
Shopify does offer a 14-day free trial, which is useful. However, there aren’t as many features to test out as there are with other ecommerce platforms.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether Shopify or Shift4Shop is the best choice for your business. Both platforms have advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the right solution for your online business is crucial. Just remember to research your options before making a final decision.
Volusion
If you’re looking for an ecommerce solution for your small business, there are several options to consider. Shopify is a popular choice. It’s an all-in-one ecommerce package that makes it easy to set up an online store and manage your inventory. However, it’s not for everyone. Some businesses require more nuanced requirements that Shopify isn’t able to meet. You might want to look at a platform such as BigCommerce instead.
Another option is Square Online. Square was originally a payment processor for your retail business, but has since reinvented itself as an ecommerce platform that helps you create an online store. The free version allows you to build a basic website that can be used for ecommerce. On the other hand, the company’s higher-priced plans include more features and functionality.
For instance, you can use Checkout Pages to display your product offerings. Or you can add a shopping cart to your site. With Square, you’ll pay processing fees on each transaction, but you won’t have to shell out for add-ons such as SSL certificates.
Lastly, you should consider Volusion. This Texan based company is one of the oldest E-Commerce platform providers, and offers a number of features. They even have a mobile app to help you run your store on the go. Their list of notable features includes a one page checkout, one of the cheapest shipping rates, and a robust analytics suite.
One of the coolest features is their One Click Mobile Checkout (OMC), which keeps customers on your site throughout the shopping process. In addition, they have a decent selection of ecommerce templates and other useful tidbits. Unlike some other ecommerce solutions, you don’t need to be an IT expert to operate your store.
Wix
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the market. It offers easy-to-use features that make it easy for beginners to build and maintain an online store. However, it has some disadvantages. If you are looking for an eCommerce solution for your business, you may want to check out some other options.
One of the most attractive features of Wix is the drag and drop website editor. You can choose from hundreds of pre-designed templates, or customize your own website design using the drag and drop interface.
Wix also provides a number of applications to help you set up your online store. For example, you can use the product videos function to showcase your products. Another great feature is the automatic sales tax.
Wix offers a variety of plans to suit all budgets. The Basic eCommerce plan starts at $17 per month. This includes everything you need to get started with your online store, including a free domain name.
On the other hand, Wix’s Business plan costs $23 a month. This plan is a good fit for smaller stores that aren’t ready for eCommerce yet. A Business plan can also provide a small store with the multilingual setup and product filters you need.
In addition to the eCommerce plan, Wix offers three other plans. Each of these plans allows you to sell your products online, and includes secure online payments and unlimited bandwidth.
Wix has a lot of free features, but there are also some paid add-ons. Some features include secure payment processing, label printing, recurring payments, automated sales tax, and product videos.
Wix’s price structure is similar to that of other eCommerce platforms. Wix offers a range of plans, ranging from $27 to $59. While the pricing is relatively affordable, you will also need to pay for your web hosting and other add-ons.
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