Shopify Alternatives: Which platform truly fits your business?
- marieutsch
- Oct 27
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Shopify is one of the best-known platforms for building online stores. More than 2 million merchants around the world use it, and there’s no denying that Shopify is a powerful solution for large shops with extensive product catalogs.
But what if your business is smaller, leaner, and more personal? What if you’re not planning to build a full-fledged shop with hundreds of products — but instead want to offer just a few items, services, or bookings?
That’s when the question arises: Are there alternatives to Shopify that might suit me better?
The answer is yes. In this article, I’ll introduce you to the three platforms I’ve had the best experience with as a web designer: WooCommerce, WIX, and Squarespace.
Table of Contents
This article was created in collaboration with WIX. I use the tool myself in many client projects and am sharing my honest opinion and experience from my everyday work as a web designer.
Why you might want a Shopify Alternative
Shopify is a fantastic tool — but not for everyone. Many freelancers and small business owners feel overwhelmed by its vast range of features. The platform is heavily optimized for e-commerce, which is great — but it also means that you’ll often need additional apps for even basic customizations (for example, pop-ups or email marketing integrations). Those extra apps can quickly drive up your monthly costs.
And if you’re only selling one or two products or bookings, that level of complexity is often unnecessary. If you’d rather focus on your content and clients instead of managing your tech stack, it’s worth exploring alternatives.
WooCommerce – The WordPress extension for shops
WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress that turns a website into a fully functional online store. It’s extremely flexible, expandable, and offers a huge variety of features.
Pros of WooCommerce:
Seamless integration with existing WordPress websites
Huge community and plugin library
Maximum freedom in customization
Cons:
Maintenance, updates, and security are your responsibility
Requires technical knowledge or external help
WooCommerce is best suited for self-employed professionals who already use WordPress and want to add a shop to their existing website. In most cases, it’s wise to bring in a designer or developer to save time, effort, and frustration.
WIX – The All-in-One solution with simple sales options
WIX started out as a website builder but now also includes e-commerce capabilities. The big difference compared to Shopify? With WIX, the website is the core focus — not the shop.
That makes WIX especially interesting for:
Coaches, consultants, and creative service providers who offer workshops or sessions
Small businesses with one or two products or bookings
Pros of WIX:
Extremely user-friendly with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor
Hosting, updates, and security run automatically in the background
Great design flexibility and easy branding customization
Built-in booking system for appointments and workshops
Limitations:
Not ideal for large shops with many products or variants
The booking system can reach its limits when managing multiple programs, time slots, or team members
For small, smart businesses, WIX is often the much better choice than Shopify. And if your shop grows — especially with physical products — you can always consider switching to Shopify later!
Squarespace – The design-oriented alternative
Squarespace works similarly to WIX as a website builder but places even stronger emphasis on design and aesthetics. You can even add custom CSS and code, which is only partially possible with WIX.
Strengths:
High-quality, modern templates
Freedom to adjust designs (though that’s also possible in Shopify)
Intuitive drag-and-drop editor (though, in my opinion, less smooth than WIX’s)
Website and shop combined in one system
Limitations:
Less flexible than WooCommerce or Shopify
Not suitable for complex store structures
Squarespace is a great option for small businesses that value a visually striking online presence.
Comparison: Shopify vs. Alternatives
To give you a better overview, here are the key differences at a glance:
Conclusion: Which Shopify Alternative is right for you?
There’s no single “perfect” solution — the key is figuring out what you really need.
If you already have a WordPress site and don’t mind dealing with the tech side, WooCommerce is a good option.
If you want an easy, all-in-one solution that works even without prior experience, WIX is your best choice. You can read more about my own WIX experiences here.
If you want a visually impressive website with shop functionality and the ability to add custom code, Squarespace might be ideal for you.
If your goal is to build a classic, large-scale online store, then you can’t go wrong with Shopify. The platform is intuitive and makes it easy to launch your first sale within minutes.
But if you’re unsure which platform fits you best, let’s figure it out together. In a free discovery call, we’ll look at your goals and decide which system supports you best. And if that turns out to be WIX, I’ll be happy to help you bring your website to life.
Pinky promise. 💛
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