SHOPIFY REVIEW 2024: THE TOTAL PACKAGE FOR YOUR GROWING BUSINESS

Who Is Shopify Best For?

With multiple plans available, Shopify works for everyone from the budding entrepreneur to the established business. It is especially great for beginners because no coding is required; the easy drag-and-drop builder requires no technical expertise. Multiple ready-made templates and themes are available that you can use to give your business consistency and your site a little character.

In addition to its website builder, Shopify makes it easy to start an online store. With tools like payment processing, personalized reporting and a full marketing suite, Shopify serves as an all-inclusive solution for any sized e-commerce business.

Who Should Consider an Alternative to Shopify?

If you want to take your time reviewing a service, Shopify is not for you. There is just a 3-day trial, requiring you to act quickly. Busy start-ups and businesses may find that timeline entirely too short to really get a feel for the service and what it can offer.

Once your free trial ends, however, it costs almost nothing for your first month. The $1 subscription cost for the first month gives you more time to test the product for a minimal investment. Just be prepared to pay relatively high subscription costs after the promotional period expires as Shopify is among the more expensive e-commerce providers.

Additionally, Shopify may not work for professional developers who want to use their own coding on their sites. Instead, it supplies its own pre-made templates and themes that are designed to work specifically with the site, making it less flexible for pros who want to create their own design.

How Does Shopify Stack Up to Its Competitors?

There are many online web builders and payment processors, but few incorporate both services. This is a look at how Shopify compares against similar companies like Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy.

Shopify vs. Wix

Founded in 2006, Wix is one of the most well-known website builders with over 200 million users today. Our Wix review finds it to be the best website builder overall thanks to its ability to serve both professionals and beginners without trouble. Wix maintains an open-source website that is developer-friendly for those who want to apply their coding ability. However, beginners need not fear because Wix offers over 900 website templates that are ready-made and easily integrated.

In addition to web hosting, Wix helps you build and maintain your site. Like Shopify, Wix features a simple drag-and-drop website builder with AI for greater support. There are hundreds of pre-made website templates, helping you to build websites geared toward e-commerce, blogging, portfolio sites and more. Additional features are included, like custom forms and social media integration, plus you can also enjoy the marketing tools that come with all plans. There is a user-friendly interface appropriate for all skill levels, and a custom domain is available for use.

Wix offers a 14-day money-back guarantee, while Shopify allows you to test the service for free without a credit card. Wix does offer a free plan; however, it includes Wix branding on the site, which may not work for all users. Paid plans start at $17 monthly for the Light plan and increase to $159 a month for the Business Elite plan. The main difference between plans is the number of collaborators and storage needed.

Compared to Shopify, Wix is significantly more affordable, making it the better option for those on a budget. Still, Shopify is likely the better choice for those who want a simple, straightforward experience that launches their e-commerce site quickly. Professionals, on the other hand, may prefer Wix for its open-source design that embraces user customization.

Shopify vs. Squarespace

There are many similarities between Squarespace and Shopify. Both providers offer simple website building with the ability to add an online store. Squarespace is easy to use for beginners, and there is no open-source coding like Wix. Ready-made templates are available to help you get started, and a free domain is included with all plans.

You can sell content and memberships, while invoices can be sent for free. As you upgrade, you can also sell products and services, add a checkout and enjoy advanced shipping and discounting. Two users come with the base plan, which is more than Shopify, and you get unlimited users when you choose the Business plan or higher. If you need help choosing a plan or creating your store, customer service is available 24/7 with your choice of email or chat.

Like Shopify, Squarespace does not offer a free plan, but it does have a free trial lasting 14 days. There are five plans available: Personal, Business, Commerce Basic, Commerce Advanced and Enterprise. Plans are billed either monthly or annually, although prices are lower when you pay the annual fee upfront. Pricing starts at $16 per month for the Personal plan (when paid annually), making it more affordable than Shopify. Even if you choose the Commerce Advanced plan, pricing is just $52 per month (when paid annually)—making Squarespace a great option for users who don’t want to spend a lot on e-commerce for their business.

Shopify vs. GoDaddy

GoDaddy has been around since the 1990s, making it one of the older and more popular e-commerce website builders. Today, GoDaddy has over 21 million users and serves as an excellent choice for beginners. GoDaddy is one of the cheapest website builders available. Further, the interface is extremely user-friendly, and the service integrates some features not seen with Shopify.

Like Shopify, it offers free templates with available marketing tools to boost your sales. It features a drag-and-drop builder with AI, making the website design process easy. Plus, there is the option for appointment scheduling with inventory management. There are also POS systems for payment processing and a Tap To Pay function when you use the mobile app. GoDaddy also offers support for Managed WooCommerce stores and allows product catalogs to be shared with sites like Amazon and Etsy. However, Shopify gives greater allowances, like improved inventory management and multiple fulfillment locations.

GoDaddy has several plans available, including an optional Website Design Service for $499.99. Plans are more affordable than Shopify with pricing beginning at $10.99 per month for the Basic Plan. For more features, you can upgrade to the Premium plan for appointment booking and payment processing for $14.99 monthly, or you can choose the Commerce plan for all the bells and whistles. GoDaddy requires that you pay for a year upfront, and prices are higher upon renewal.