Best Shopify Alternatives 2026
Shopify's transaction fees and monthly costs can eat deep into your margins. The good news: WooCommerce is 100% free and open source with no transaction fees and no monthly platform charge. We compare all the top Shopify alternatives so you can find the right ecommerce platform for your store.
💡 Free Pick: WooCommerce is a completely free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress — no monthly platform fee, no transaction fees, unlimited products, and full control over your store.
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Why People Leave Shopify
The Dealbreaker: Transaction Fees on Top of Everything Else
Shopify charges transaction fees of 0.5–2% on every sale unless you use Shopify Payments — and those fees stack on top of your payment processor's own cut. Combined with plan costs starting at $39/month (Basic), $105/month (Shopify), and $399/month (Advanced), the total cost of ownership grows fast. WooCommerce, by contrast, is free to install, charges no transaction fees, and only requires WordPress hosting from around $5/month. For any store doing meaningful volume, the savings quickly add up to thousands of dollars per year.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | WooCommerce | BigCommerce | Wix eCommerce | Squarespace Commerce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (+ hosting) | From $39/mo | Free plan / From $17/mo | From $23/mo |
| Transaction Fees | ✅ None | ✅ None | ✅ None | ✅ None |
| Hosting | Self-hosted | Hosted | Hosted | Hosted |
| Key Strength | Full control + free | No limits on staff | Easiest drag-and-drop | Beautiful templates |
Individual Reviews
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress. It runs on your own hosting, charges no monthly platform fees, and has no transaction fees built in. With thousands of extensions and a massive developer community, it is the world's most widely used ecommerce platform. WebReveal detects which ecommerce platform any website is running — from Shopify and WooCommerce to BigCommerce and beyond, free and in seconds.
Pros
- 100% free — unlimited products
- No platform fee or transaction fees
- Full control over code and data
Cons
- Requires WordPress hosting
- More technical to set up than Shopify
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a hosted SaaS ecommerce platform with powerful built-in features and no transaction fees on any plan. It targets mid-market and enterprise stores that want the flexibility of a headless architecture without building from scratch.
Pros
- No transaction fees on any plan
- Multi-channel selling built in
- Strong SEO tools & unlimited staff
Cons
- Monthly cost from $39/mo
- Sales thresholds force plan upgrades
Wix eCommerce
Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder with an integrated ecommerce module. Its free plan lets you build a store, though ecommerce features require a paid Business plan. With 900+ templates and a simple editor, it is ideal for beginners.
Pros
- Very easy to use, 900+ templates
- Free plan available
- Good for small stores and creatives
Cons
- Limited scalability for large catalogs
- Free plan shows Wix branding/ads
Squarespace Commerce
Squarespace is a premium all-in-one website builder with ecommerce baked into every plan. It is particularly popular with creative businesses, photographers, and boutique brands who prioritise design quality alongside online selling.
Pros
- Beautiful, award-winning templates
- All-in-one: hosting, CMS, and commerce
- Good for content + commerce combined
Cons
- No free ecommerce plan
- Limited third-party integrations
Ecwid
Ecwid is an embeddable ecommerce widget that plugs into any existing website — whether it is built on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or even a plain HTML site. Its free plan supports up to 10 products, making it a unique Shopify alternative for businesses that already have a website.
Pros
- Free plan for up to 10 products
- Works on any existing website
- Multi-channel selling across social & marketplaces
Cons
- Very limited free tier (10 products)
- Transaction fees on some payment gateways
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a completely free alternative to Shopify?
WooCommerce is free to install (you pay for hosting from ~$5/mo and a domain). There are no transaction fees and no monthly platform fee, making it the most cost-effective Shopify alternative for small and growing stores.
Why do people switch from Shopify?
Transaction fees (0.5–2%) and monthly costs ($39–$399/mo) are the primary drivers. WooCommerce and Ecwid offer free tiers, while BigCommerce charges no transaction fees whatsoever, making them attractive alternatives for cost-conscious store owners.
Is WooCommerce better than Shopify?
WooCommerce is better for cost and customisation; Shopify is better for ease of use and built-in hosting. WooCommerce requires managing your own WordPress hosting, but gives you full control over your store with no ongoing platform fees.
Can you migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?
Yes, via plugins like Cart2Cart or LitExtension that transfer products, orders, and customers. The migration process can be completed in a few hours for most store sizes, and both tools offer free trials.
What is the best Shopify alternative for large stores?
BigCommerce has no transaction fees and powerful native features for enterprise stores. It supports unlimited staff accounts and includes multi-channel selling across Amazon, eBay, and social platforms on all plans without extra apps.
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