Shopify Competitors; Who Are Shopify’s Main Competitors for 2024?

Navigating the E-Commerce Landscape: Shopify Competitors in 2024

Interested to know who the competitors for Shopify are?
In the ever-evolving realm of e-commerce, Shopify has emerged as a juggernaut, empowering businesses to establish and grow their online presence. However, as the digital landscape shifts, it’s crucial to explore the competitive landscape and identify Shopify’s biggest competitors in 2024 and beyond.

Who are The Top Shopify Competitors?

As one of the leading e-commerce SaaS platforms currently available, Shopify offers various solutions to businesses of all sizes. Although it’s hard to reach the very top, it’s even harder to stay there. The world of e-commerce is fierce, and there are many Shopify Competitors who will gladly take first place. For Shopify, their biggest competitors at a glance are Bigcommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Ecwid, and Squareup. Each of them has something slightly different to offer, but are they a rival to the Shopify platform?

1. BigCommerce:

Best for: powering scalability

BigCommerce has positioned itself as a robust alternative to Shopify, especially for businesses aiming for scalability. One of its standout features is its ability to handle large product catalogues seamlessly. With a focus on performance and flexibility, BigCommerce offers advanced SEO tools, multi-channel selling capabilities, and a wide array of customisable templates. While it might have a steeper learning curve compared to Shopify, it provides extensive support and documentation for users.

Many Shopify Developers say BigCommerce can be considered as one of the most feasible Shopify Competitors. Still, this platform can be seen to lag behind Shopify in terms of functionality and flexibility. Some merchants will not find a solution that will fit their needs here, no matter how much they search for it.

Overall the pricing is comparable to Shopify but the functionality is lagging.

2. Wix:

Best for: user-friendly design and flexibility

Wix is renowned for its user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, making it an attractive option for those without extensive technical expertise. While initially recognised for its website-building capabilities, Wix has expanded its functionality to include e-commerce. Wix’s versatility allows users to create visually stunning online stores with ease. However, it may not be as feature-rich as Shopify for larger enterprises with complex needs.

If merchants are looking for a small scale DIY approach to selling online, then this is it. However it is advised to look at alternative platforms if users want to expand and grow over time.

3. WooCommerce with WordPress:

Best for: empowering WordPress users

WooCommerce, a WordPress plugin, is a powerful choice for businesses already invested in the WordPress ecosystem. Its integration seamlessly transforms a WordPress site into a fully functional e-commerce store. WooCommerce boasts an extensive library of plugins and themes, providing flexibility and customisation. However, reliance on WordPress can lead to additional maintenance efforts, and it might not be as straightforward for those unfamiliar with the platform.

WooCommerce is still widely used as an integrated solution on various WordPress websites, but many websites that use it are at a much higher risk when it comes to security attacks. Another known issue is website speed, which is considerably lower when compared to others, and it creates issues with scaling as well.

WooCommerce is generally used by bloggers and tiny retailers. In terms of functionality – it’s ok. But it will never even come within a million miles of Shopify which has spent the last decade hiring the most talented e-commerce devs.

4. Squarespace:

Best for: aesthetics and simplicity

Squarespace is known for its elegant and visually appealing website designs. While Squarespace is not solely an e-commerce platform, it offers a comprehensive suite of tools for online businesses. Its templates are second to none in terms of aesthetics, making it an ideal choice for businesses where visual appeal is paramount. However, it may lack some of the advanced e-commerce features provided by Shopify.

Squarespace is best suited for those who plan to have small stores and are not interested in scaling, as scaling is one of their biggest issues—the platform just doesn’t support it. The options and functionality are somewhat limited, which eliminates it from the competitor list for anyone interested in growing their business or who wants to look to the future. It’s for people who want a small store they can manage themselves. It also offers very little more for developers and designers.

5. Ecwid:

Best for: integrating with existing websites

Ecwid takes a unique approach by offering a solution that integrates seamlessly with existing websites, including social media platforms. This allows businesses to add e-commerce functionality without changing their entire web infrastructure. Ecwid is user-friendly and offers a free plan, making it an attractive option for small businesses. However, it may lack some of the in-depth customisation options available on other platforms.

6. Squareup:

Best for: seamless integration for brick-and-mortar stores

Squareup, known for its point-of-sale solutions, extends its services to e-commerce seamlessly. For businesses with physical stores, Squareup provides a unified platform for both online and in-person sales. The ease of use and transparent pricing make it an appealing option for small businesses. However, it may lack some advanced features required by larger enterprises.

Other Key Players to Shopify

Magento: Magento used to be one of Shopifys main competitors. Magento is an open-source platform with robust features, making it suitable for larger businesses. However, its complexity may be overwhelming for beginners.

Magento was launched back in 2008 and has been a successful e-commerce solution for many years. Many merchants used it, and it has fairly good support for a business of any size. What they lack, however, is trust because of the major security issues they suffered back in 2016 which has propelled many merchants to move away from them and find a safer alternative.

Magento was purchased in 2018 by Adobe which many people will see as the final nail in the coffin. Adobe make some decent software. But they know absolutely nothing about e-commerce.

Weebly: Owned by Square, Weebly offers a straightforward website-building experience with e-commerce capabilities. It’s a good fit for small businesses, but it might lack the advanced features sought by larger enterprises.

Sellfy: Focused on digital products, Sellfy provides a simple platform for creators to sell their digital goods. It’s an excellent choice for artists, writers, and musicians.

Big Cartel: Geared towards independent artists and makers, Big Cartel offers a straightforward platform for selling unique and handmade products. It may lack some features necessary for larger online stores.

Looking Beyond 2024 at Shopifys Competitors

In the competitive landscape of e-commerce, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, catering to different business needs and preferences. As you evaluate Shopify’s biggest competitors for 2024 and beyond, consider your business requirements, technical expertise, and growth aspirations. Whether you prioritise scalability, user-friendliness, or a specific feature set, the right choice will depend on your unique circumstances.

Who will be Competitors for Shopify in the Future?

This is a tough question that even Shopify developers don’t have the answer to. Right now the main competitor will be BigCommerce. A more viable alternative would be that a newer player comes along and capitalises on a new branch of e-commerce that Shopify misses.

Currently, there is no better e-commerce solution alternative than Shopify (or Shopify Plus for enterprise merchants), because what is available simply can’t match them. The competition are failing to lack their delivery, functionality or flexibility while some are lacking innovation and security. It will take 5-10 years for someone else to catch up or a significant shift in e-commerce that Shopify somehow miss.

Contact Us Today – Liquify Web Design

For more information on Shopify and how it can help you grow your store, feel free to contact our expert Shopify Developers who will gladly help you out.