Shopify Alternatives: Strong Options Compared
WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace and Square Online compared on price, fees and fit. The strongest Shopify alternatives, checked against vendor pricing
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-06T22:46:50+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-06T22:46:50+00:00
Shopify Alternatives: Strong Options Compared
Shopify is the default choice for many online stores. It is not the only good one. WooCommerce gives you full control for free. BigCommerce matches Shopify feature for feature. Wix and Squarespace suit small, design-led stores. Square Online lets you start for free. This guide compares the strongest Shopify alternatives on price, transaction fees and fit, using figures checked against vendor pricing pages in 2026.
Shopify alternatives compared
| Platform | Starting price | Transaction fees | Hosting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | From $29 a month, billed annually | 0% with Shopify Payments; up to 2% with other gateways | Fully hosted | Growing stores, largest app ecosystem |
| WooCommerce | Free plugin; hosting extra | None from WooCommerce | Self-hosted on WordPress | Full control, content-led stores |
| BigCommerce | From $39 a month | 0% on embedded gateways; up to 2% with open providers on Core | Fully hosted | Larger catalogs and B2B |
| Wix | From $29 a month, billed annually | No platform fee beyond payment processing | Fully hosted | Design-first small stores |
| Squarespace | From $19 a month, billed annually | 2% on Basic; 0% on Core and above | Fully hosted | Design-led brands and creatives |
| Square Online | Free plan; Plus from $20 a month | Card processing fees only | Fully hosted | Sellers who also trade in person |
Prices were checked against vendor pricing pages in September and October 2026. They change, so confirm the live figure before you buy.
WooCommerce: the free, full-control Shopify alternative
WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress. It turns a WordPress site into a store. There is no monthly platform fee. You pay for hosting, which typically runs from about $5 to $50 a month for a small store. Extensions add cost. WooCommerce charges no platform transaction fees. Your payment processor still charges its own card fees. You own your code and your data. That makes WooCommerce the best pick for content-heavy stores and SEO-driven sites. It also suits anyone with developer access. The trade-off is work. You handle updates, security and backups yourself, or you pay a managed host to do it.
BigCommerce: the closest like-for-like Shopify alternative
BigCommerce is the closest direct rival to Shopify. It is fully hosted. Core starts at $39 a month. Growth and Scale plans rise to $399 a month. BigCommerce charges no transaction fees when you use its embedded payment providers. Orders through open payment providers can carry up to 2% on Core. The platform includes more built-in features than Shopify. Native B2B tools and multi-storefront support come as standard. That suits brands with large catalogs or wholesale buyers. Shopify has the larger app ecosystem. BigCommerce has the stronger out-of-the-box feature set. Pick BigCommerce if you want fewer paid apps.
Wix: the easiest Shopify alternative for small stores
Wix is a website builder with commerce attached. Its Core plan starts at $29 a month on annual billing. Wix adds no platform transaction fee beyond payment processing. The drag-and-drop editor lets you place anything anywhere. That freedom suits owners who want design control without code. Wix suits small catalogs and service sellers best. Its inventory tools and multi-currency support are thinner than Shopify or BigCommerce. Pick Wix if design freedom matters more than deep ecommerce features.
Squarespace: the design-led Shopify alternative
Squarespace is the cheapest hosted start in this group. Basic costs $19 a month on annual billing. Core costs $27 a month and removes the Squarespace transaction fee. Advanced costs $36 a month. Basic adds a 2% transaction fee on store sales. Squarespace templates are widely rated the best-looking out of the box. That makes it the natural pick for designers, photographers and small creative brands. Its ecommerce depth is shallower than Shopify. Large catalogs and complex shipping rules fit Shopify or BigCommerce better.
Square Online: the free-start Shopify alternative
Square Online has a genuinely free plan. You can start selling without a monthly subscription. Plus costs about $20 a month on annual billing. Square charges no platform fee. Card processing fees still apply. Square Online suits businesses that also sell in person. Its point-of-sale tools and online store share one inventory. That is a real advantage for market stalls, cafes and small retailers. It is a weaker pick for a pure online store with a large catalog.
How to choose between the Shopify alternatives
- Work out your real monthly cost. Add the subscription, transaction fees and the apps you will need.
- Check transaction fees, not just the subscription. A 2% fee on $10,000 of monthly sales is $200 a month.
- Decide how much control you want. WooCommerce gives you everything and asks you to run it. Hosted platforms do the running for you.
- Count your products. Small catalogs fit Wix and Squarespace. Large catalogs fit BigCommerce or Shopify.
- Test the editor before you commit. Every platform here offers a free trial or a free plan.
Bottom line
Most stores should shortlist two Shopify alternatives. WooCommerce wins on control and long-term cost if you run WordPress. BigCommerce wins as a hosted like-for-like replacement with no transaction fees on embedded gateways. Wix and Squarespace win for small, design-led stores. Square Online wins for sellers who also trade in person. Shopify stays the safe default for growing stores that want the biggest app ecosystem. This is a research-based assessment. We did not test these platforms hands-on. Confirm current prices on each vendor pricing page before you commit.