Best Shopify Alternatives (2026)
Tolodora Editorial Team
Tolodora's editorial team — we research, compile and regularly update these software guides from public sources and product documentation.
Shopify is the default ecommerce platform for good reason — it's polished, reliable, and easy to start. But "default" doesn't mean "best for everyone." Maybe you're tired of transaction fees, want full control of your store, or just need something more design-led for a small catalog.
We compared the leading Shopify alternatives on what actually matters when you're selling: ease of setup, scalability, fees, and how much control you really get. Here's the honest breakdown.
How we rated them
Four scores per tool — pricing, functionality, ease of use and support — based on building real stores, not sales pages.
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| # | Tool | Best for | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BigCommerce | Growing and B2B stores that want power built-in and hate per-sale fees. | 4.2/5 |
| 2 | WooCommerce | WordPress users and tinkerers who want to own and customize everything. | 3.8/5 |
| 3 | Squarespace | Creators and small catalogs that want a beautiful store with minimal setup. | 4.1/5 |
BigCommerce
- Pricing
- 8.0/10
- Functionality
- 9.0/10
- Ease of use
- 8.2/10
- Support
- 8.0/10
What I like
No transaction fees on any plan, and the built-in features go deep — especially for B2B. You grow into it instead of bolting on a dozen paid apps.
Best for
Growing and B2B stores that want power built-in and hate per-sale fees.
BigCommerce is the closest like-for-like Shopify alternative, with a big difference: no transaction fees, ever. It ships with more advanced features out of the box (especially for B2B and larger catalogs), which means fewer paid apps to stitch together. The trade-off is a slightly steeper learning curve, but for stores that plan to scale, it's a compelling swap. For your business, it's one of the stronger options on this shortlist.
WooCommerce
- Pricing
- 8.8/10
- Functionality
- 8.8/10
- Ease of use
- 6.4/10
- Support
- 6.2/10
What I like
Total control. It's open-source, runs on WordPress, and your store is truly yours — no platform gatekeeping what you can build or sell.
Best for
WordPress users and tinkerers who want to own and customize everything.
WooCommerce turns WordPress into a fully-featured store, and because it's open-source, you own the whole thing. The flexibility is enormous and the core plugin is free. The catch: you're responsible for hosting, security, and updates, so it's more hands-on than a hosted platform. For developers and control-lovers, that's a price worth paying. For your business, it's one of the stronger options on this shortlist.
Squarespace
- Pricing
- 8.2/10
- Functionality
- 7.4/10
- Ease of use
- 9.3/10
- Support
- 7.8/10
What I like
The templates are gorgeous and everything just looks good by default. For a small, design-led store you can be live in an afternoon.
Best for
Creators and small catalogs that want a beautiful store with minimal setup.
Squarespace is design-first commerce: stunning templates, an intuitive editor, and a store that looks premium without a designer. It's not built for huge catalogs or complex ecommerce logic, but for creators, boutiques, and service businesses selling a focused range of products, it's the fastest path to a store you'll be proud of. For your business, it's one of the stronger options on this shortlist.
The verdict
Want Shopify-style ease without the transaction fees (and strong B2B features)? BigCommerce. Want total control and own your store outright? WooCommerce. Want a beautiful store for a small catalog with minimal fuss? Squarespace. Pick based on how much control — and how much maintenance — you actually want.
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