Best Shopify Alternatives for Small Businesses on a Budget

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world. It's user-friendly, packed with features, and supported by a vast ecosystem of apps and developers. However, it’s not the only option—and certainly not always the best one for small businesses on a tight budget.

Whether you're just starting your online store or you're looking for a more affordable and flexible solution, this guide will walk you through the top Shopify alternatives worth exploring in 2025. Also, if you’re planning to customize or migrate your store, you can hire expert Shopify developers who can assist you in making a seamless transition from Shopify to the platform that fits your needs.

Why Look for Shopify Alternatives?

Before diving into the list, it’s important to understand why businesses consider alternatives to Shopify:

• Monthly subscription costs (including apps) can quickly add up.
  
  

• Limited flexibility unless you pay for higher-tier plans.
  
  

• Transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
  
  

• Lack of full access to source code for customizations.
  
  

Now, let’s explore the best Shopify alternatives available for small businesses on a budget.

• Best for: WordPress users looking for deep customization
  
  

• Pricing: Free plugin (requires hosting)
  
  

WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin that turns any site into a fully functional eCommerce store. It offers unmatched flexibility, making it a favorite among developers.

Pros:

• Free to use
  
  

• Highly customizable
  
  

• Large plugin library
  
  

Ideal if you’re already on WordPress or want more control. You can even hire expert Shopify developers with WooCommerce experience to help with store migration or customization.

BigCommerce

• Best for: Businesses ready to scale
  
  

• Pricing: Starts at $29.95/month
  
  

BigCommerce provides an all-in-one solution similar to Shopify but with more built-in features and lower transaction fees.

Pros:

• Built-in SEO tools
  
  

• No transaction fees
  
  

• Multichannel selling
  
  

If you're looking for a Shopify-like experience but with more value built in, BigCommerce is a solid choice.

Magento (Adobe Commerce)

• Best for: Medium to large businesses with dev resources
  
  

• Pricing: Free (Open Source) or Enterprise (Paid)
  
  

Magento offers enterprise-level power and flexibility. It requires more technical expertise but can handle complex eCommerce operations.

Pros:

• Highly scalable
  
  

• Large extension marketplace
  
  

• Strong community

PrestaShop

• Best for: Open-source enthusiasts
  
  

• Pricing: Free (with paid add-ons)
  
  

PrestaShop is a cost-effective Shopify alternative that offers good customization options for small and medium businesses.

Pros:

• Open-source
  
  

• Flexible design and features
  
  

• Global community
  
  

It's ideal for those comfortable with some coding or who plan to hire expert Shopify developers for setup and maintenance.

Dukaan

• Best for: Indian small businesses
  
  

• Pricing: Affordable annual plans
  
  

Dukaan is an India-based platform focused on helping small businesses launch online stores quickly, especially for local markets.

Pros:

• Local language support
  
  

• Simple UI
  
  

• Great for beginners
  
  

If you’re targeting Indian customers and want to launch fast, Dukaan is a strong contender.

Shift4Shop

• Best for: US-based sellers
  
  

• Pricing: Free with Shift4 payment processing
  
  

Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) offers a wide range of built-in tools, and you can use it for free if you use Shift4 for payments.

Pros:

• No monthly fees (with Shift4)
  
  

• SEO-friendly
  
  

• Supports digital and physical goods
  
  

Ideal for budget-conscious US businesses.

Volusion

• Best for: Analytics-focused businesses
  
  

• Pricing: Starts at $35/month
  
  

Volusion offers strong inventory and analytics tools, but may lack some design flexibility compared to other platforms.

Pros:

• Great analytics
  
  

• Simple store builder
  
  

• Customer relationship tools
  
  

OpenCart

• Best for: Tech-savvy small businesses
  
  

• Pricing: Free (self-hosted)
  
  

OpenCart is another open-source alternative with solid functionality and a robust extension marketplace.

Pros:

• No monthly fees
  
  

• Supports multiple languages and currencies
  
  

• Easy product management
  
  

You may want to hire expert Shopify developers with OpenCart experience to help customize your store.

Squarespace

• Best for: Creatives and designers
  
  

• Pricing: Starts at $27/month
  
  

Squarespace is known for stunning design templates and ease of use. It’s great for simple online stores with a strong visual focus.

Pros:

• Beautiful themes
  
  

• Drag-and-drop builder
  
  

• Mobile-optimized
  
  

X-Cart

• Best for: Developers and enterprise-level customization
  
  

• Pricing: Starts free, paid premium options available
  
  

X-Cart is a flexible, self-hosted platform offering performance and deep customization for developers.

Square Online Store

• Best for: Brick-and-mortar stores
  
  

• Pricing: Free with Square processing
  
  

Square’s online store builder integrates seamlessly with its POS system, making it great for physical stores going online.

Pros:

• Free to start
  
  

• POS integration
  
  

• Mobile-friendly

12. Big Cartel

• Best for: Artists and creators
  
  

• Pricing: Free up to 5 products
  
  

Big Cartel is designed for independent artists and small batch sellers. Simple, clean, and easy to use.

13. Weebly

• Best for: Beginners and simple stores
  
  

• Pricing: Starts at $13/month
  
  

Weebly, powered by Square, offers an intuitive interface for building simple eCommerce websites.

Pros:

• Easy setup
  
  

• Built-in SEO tools
  
  

• Budget-friendly

14. PinnacleCart

• Best for: Marketing-driven eCommerce
  
  

• Pricing: Starts at $79.95/month
  
  

PinnacleCart is focused on SEO, marketing features, and user experience. A bit pricier, but packed with advanced features.

15. Ecwid

• Best for: Adding a store to an existing site
  
  

• Pricing: Free plan available
  
  

Ecwid lets you embed an online store into an existing website. It’s great for bloggers or businesses that already have a site.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Shopify alternative depends on your business needs, technical skills, and budget. Whether you want full customization or a ready-to-use platform, there’s a solution that fits your goals.

Also, if you’re looking to migrate from Shopify or build on any of these platforms, you can easily hire expert Shopify developers or look for Shopify developers for hire who are also skilled in WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart, or other systems.