Best Shopify Alternatives for Small Business 2026

Shopify is the leading e-commerce platform, but it's not always the best fit for small businesses. With transaction fees, limited customization, and expensive apps, many entrepreneurs are seeking better alternatives. This guide explores the top Shopify alternatives for small businesses in 2026, comparing features, pricing, and ease of use.

Why Consider Shopify Alternatives?

While Shopify is powerful, it has several drawbacks for small businesses:

• Transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (unless using Shopify Payments)
• Expensive apps: Essential features often require paid apps ($10-50/month each)
• Limited customization: Template modifications require coding knowledge
• Vendor lock-in: Difficult to migrate your store to another platform
• Monthly costs: $39+ per month adds up for small businesses

Free & Open Source Alternatives

1. WooCommerce - Best for WordPress Users

WooCommerce powers over 5 million online stores and is completely free. Built as a WordPress plugin, it offers unlimited customization and no transaction fees.

2. PrestaShop - Feature-Rich Open Source

PrestaShop offers enterprise-level features for free, including multi-store management, advanced reporting, and international selling capabilities.

Best Hosted E-commerce Platforms

BigCommerce - No Transaction Fees

BigCommerce's biggest advantage over Shopify is zero transaction fees and more built-in features. You get advanced SEO, multi-channel selling, and abandoned cart recovery without additional apps.

Square Online - Best Free Option

Square Online offers a completely free e-commerce plan with no monthly fees. Perfect for businesses already using Square for in-person payments or those just starting out.

Website Builders with E-commerce

Wix E-commerce - Easiest to Use

Wix combines drag-and-drop website building with e-commerce functionality. While not as powerful as dedicated e-commerce platforms, it's perfect for small stores that need a complete website.

Squarespace Commerce - Best Design Quality

Squarespace templates are renowned for their beauty. If visual appeal is crucial for your brand, Squarespace offers the most stunning e-commerce templates available.

Specialized Solutions

For Digital Products

Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy, and Podia specialize in selling digital downloads, courses, and memberships with built-in payment processing and delivery.

For Print-on-Demand

Etsy, Teespring, and Redbubble handle production and shipping for custom products, perfect for artists and designers.

For Dropshipping

WooCommerce with dropshipping plugins offers the most flexibility, while BigCommerce has built-in dropshipping features.

Key Features to Consider

Migration Guide: Moving Away from Shopify

1. Export your data: Products, customers, orders, and content from Shopify admin
2. Choose your new platform: Consider your budget, technical skills, and growth plans
3. Set up your new store: Import data and customize design
4. Test everything: Payment processing, shipping, taxes, and user flow
5. Set up redirects: Maintain SEO by redirecting old URLs to new ones
6. Update marketing materials: Email signatures, social media, advertising
7. Monitor performance: Track conversion rates and fix any issues

Recommendations by Business Type

Total Cost of Ownership Comparison

Here's what you might pay annually for different solutions (based on $50,000 annual revenue):