Shopify is a go-to for small business owners looking to sell retail. It takes up about 29% of the e-commerce market share in the U.S. While the platform has its benefits, service-based business owners should look into Shopify competitors to better serve their clients.
Which ones?
We compiled the top Shopify competitors for service-based business owners looking to sell products to clients.
What are the top Shopify competitors?
Product sales are a natural addition to any service-based business. You give your clients the tools they need to succeed while growing your revenue. Whether you’re an esthetician selling facial oil or a fitness trainer offering resistance bands, you need a platform that can serve all sides of your business. While Shopify is the leader in e-commerce, it may not be the best choice to serve your clients.
Here are the top Shopify competitors for service-based business owners.
#1 PocketSuite
PocketSuite is an all-one app for anyone with clients. You can set up an e-commerce store right on your PocketSuite booking site. And you can sell products to clients without booking an appointment.
Other Shopify competitors require you to sign up for payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, which can get confusing and time-consuming if you’re not tech-savvy. On PocketSuite, you can accept and process payments just as you would for your appointments. And we provide tracking numbers and pickup codes for secure package fulfillment.
Also, there’s no need for programming or HTML skills. PocketSuite creates a user-friendly online store that can be set up in minutes, i.e., you don’t have to redirect clients to a separate website or app.
With PocketSuite, you have everything you need to book clients and sell products straight from your phone.
Even better, PocketSuite has built-in ways to communicate with your clientele with a local business number over SMS text. If you want to send out promotions or tell your loyal client base about new offerings, PocketSuite has built-in tools to do that over text. SMS text has a 99% open rate over email newsletters which often have an open rate under 10%, so this feature can be a huge win for online retailers.
#2 WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an e-commerce platform that integrates with WordPress websites. It’s one of the largest Shopify competitors.
It’s a popular alternative if you want to avoid Shopify’s monthly fee. But, while the platform is free to add to your site, just remember you still have to pay for the cost of hosting a WordPress site, additional themes, etc.
Woocommerce is better if you already have a WordPress website to book clients. Unlike PocketSuite’s ordering platform, you need a whole new website separate from your booking page.
And you need to be more tech-savvy than you would with Shopify or PocketSuite.
#3 Ecwid
Ecwid is an e-commerce plugin that you add to an existing website (like WordPress, Wix, and Weebly) or social media page to sell products.
Ecwid is a good alternative if you want a low-cost e-commerce option and to avoid Shopify’s 2% transaction fees. But, on the cheaper plans, you will have product limits and may miss some essential e-commerce features, like being able to create custom orders for your clients.
And with their free plan, remember to factor in the cost of buying a domain name, web hosting, and the other third-party apps you’ll need.
Ecwid plans range from $0-99 per month.
#4 Wix Stores
Wix is a website builder, hosting service, and online store in one (if you have at least a premium business plan for $27 per month). Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with Wix ads and won’t be able to accept payments online.
Wix is one of the most beginner-friendly Shopify competitors, with lots of free templates and a drag-and-drop builder to help you customize your page. Unfortunately, Wix’s appointment scheduling feature, Wix bookings, can’t be integrated with Wix Stores. So, clients won’t have the option checkout with appointments and products at the same time.
If you’re considering Wix as a service-based business owner, you may need additional tools to run all aspects of your business.
#5 BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a leader in online storefronts with robust SEO features. However, the platform doesn’t have built-in appointment scheduling or client support that service-based business owners need. You can add booking apps to your BigCommerce site for an extra fee.
BigCommerce does have a standard entry-level plan, though reviews suggest that the platform is better for larger businesses or enterprises with international sales. Solo entrepreneurs may find themselves paying for a lot of extra features, not relevant to their business or their client’s needs.
BigCommerce plans range from $39 – $399 per month.
#6 Squarespace
Squarespace allows users to sell online products with a combined website builder and hosting platform. Its customizable storefronts draw in a lot of creative professionals.
Squarespace e-commerce features are only available on their business plan at $23 per month. And the platform collects a transaction fee for every sale you make.
#7 Sellfy
Sellfy specializes in print-on-demand products like mugs and t-shirts. Their platform targets digital artists, photographers, and online creators who sell virtual items.
Sellfy plans range from $29 – $150 per month. You’ll have to choose on the more expensive tiers to avoid sales limits, remove Sellfy branding and upsell products.
Is Shopify still the best e-commerce platform?
Shopify is an e-commerce giant. But Shopify competitors, like PocketSuite, offer features tailored to a service-based business owners at a lower cost.
At Pocketsuite, you can book appointments, sell or upsell products and accept payments in one app. We’re the ultimate tool to manage all aspects of your business.
