Ecwid vs Shopify: Which is Better for Your Ecommerce Business?

Looking for the best ecommerce platforms for your online store? Ecwid and Shopify are two strong options, both offering user-friendly setup and powerful sales features. While Shopify is often considered the best overall ecommerce platform with its advanced tools and customization, Ecwid stands out with its affordable pricing and easy-to-use interface.

So, which one should you choose? 

In this article, we will compare Ecwid and Shopify based on pricing, features, and more to help you make the right decision for your business.

What is Ecwid?

Ecwid is an easy-to-use, flexible ecommerce platform that allows you to sell online across multiple channels, including your website, social media, and marketplaces. With Ecwid, you can add an online store to any existing website, or use its hosted store solution to set up a new one. It’s designed for small and growing businesses looking for an affordable, simple, and quick solution for their ecommerce needs.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform that allows businesses of all sizes to create, manage, and scale their online stores. It provides a comprehensive solution for setting up and running an online store, from building the website to handling inventory, payments, and marketing. Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and scalability, making it a popular choice for both new and established businesses.

Quick Comparison: Ecwid vs Shopify

To help you compare Ecwid vs Shopify, here’s a side-by-side table that highlights the key differences between the two platforms.

Feature	Ecwid	Shopify
Ease of Use	Simple setup with minimal technical skills required	Slightly more complex but offers a powerful interface
Pricing	Free plan available; paid plans start at $25/month	Starts at $39/month, with more expensive plans for added features
Customization	Limited customization options	Highly customizable with extensive themes and app marketplace
Multi-Channel Selling	Sells on websites, social media, and marketplaces	Built-in multi-channel selling across websites, social media, and marketplaces
Support	24/7 support with email and live chat	24/7 customer support with multiple channels available
Scalability	Ideal for small to medium businesses	Best for businesses looking to scale and require advanced features
Reviews	Ecwid reviews : (4/5)	Shopify reviews: (5/5)

Ecwid vs Shopify Pricing Plans 

As you can see, Ecwid has a lower starting price compared to Shopify. However, Shopify’s pricing plans offer more features and better value for money.

Let’s take a closer look at the pricing plans next.

Ecwid offers a freemium plan that allows you to set up a basic online store for free. For advanced features, Ecwid’s paid plans, Venture, Business, and Unlimited, start at $25 and go up to $77 per month.

Shopify offers three built-in pricing plans: Basic, Grow, Advanced and Shopify plus, ranging from $39 to $2000 per month. Additionally, Shopify charges transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.

Ecwid vs Shopify: Pros and Cons to Consider

Pros and Cons of Ecwid

Pros

• Affordable with a free plan for small businesses.
• Multi-channel integration for selling on social media, marketplaces, and websites.
• Easy to set up with no technical skills required.
• Scalable for small to medium-sized businesses.
• 24/7 customer support for all plans.
  

Cons

• Limited customization compared to Shopify.
• Fewer advanced features for large-scale businesses.
• It may not offer as many integrations as Shopify.
• Less flexible in terms of design and functionality.
• The free plan has limited features, requiring an upgrade for full e-commerce functionality.
  

Pros and Cons of Shopify

Pros

• Scalable with advanced tools and integrations for business growth.
• Highly customizable themes and extensive app marketplace.
• Comprehensive features for marketing, SEO, and reporting.
• Excellent customer support with 24/7 availability.
• Seamless integration with payment gateways and shipping carriers.
  

Cons

• Starts at $39/month, which might be expensive for small businesses.
• The platform has a learning curve, especially for beginners.
• Additional transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments.
• Can be overwhelming due to its vast features and complexity.
• Limited flexibility in certain areas of design without third-party apps.
  

Ecwid vs Shopify – Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between Ecwid and Shopify depends on your business needs and goals.

Choose Ecwid if: You’re a small business or entrepreneur just starting out, or if you already have a website and need a simple way to add ecommerce capabilities without breaking the bank.

Choose Shopify if: You’re looking for a feature-rich, scalable ecommerce platform that can support your growing business. Shopify is ideal for businesses that require advanced tools, customization, and the ability to scale with their needs.

Ecwid vs Shopify Reddit– How Responds to It

On platforms like Reddit, you’ll find varying opinions on Ecwid vs Shopify. Users generally recommend Ecwid for small businesses due to its affordability and ease of integration. 

Shopify, on the other hand, is often favored by businesses looking for robust features and scalability, though some Redditors express concerns about its higher cost and complexity.

Discussion 1: Should we Transition from ecwid to shopify?

Should we Transition from ecwid to shopify?
byu/Lamumba1337 inecommerce

Discussion 2: Shopify vs Ecwid?

Shopify vs Ecwid?
byu/KentuckyFriedContent inecommerce

Discussion 3: Shopify vs Ecwid? Which is the best platform to use for dropshiping?

Shopify vs Ecwid? Which is the best platform to use for dropshiping?
byu/Alive_Ad_5072 indropshipping

Discussion 4: Are there anyone using Ecwid?

Are there anyone using Ecwid?
byu/lynrita indropshipping

Discussion 5: Ecwid vs Shopify Plus?

Ecwid vs Shopify Plus?
byu/sobercuriousdude inecommerce

Ecwid vs Shopify: Conclusion

After comparing both platforms, Shopify stands out as the best choice for online stores with its powerful sales tools, extensive app store, and payment options. It’s ideal for larger stores or those looking to scale.

However, Ecwid offers a beginner-friendly interface and affordable pricing, making it a great option for smaller stores with fewer products.

Still unsure? Consider alternatives to Ecwid vs Shopify by exploring comparisons between other top e-commerce platforms:

• Wix vs Shopify
  
• WooCommerce vs Shopify
  
• Shopify vs Shopify Plus

FAQs 

1. Which is better: Ecwid or Shopify?
Ecwid is ideal for small businesses looking for an affordable, easy solution. Shopify is better for businesses needing advanced features and scalability.

2. Is Shopify worth it?
Yes, Shopify is worth it for businesses aiming to scale and need robust features, though it’s more expensive than alternatives.

3. Is Ecwid free?
Yes, Ecwid offers a free plan with basic features for small businesses or those just starting out.

4. Can Shopify be used by small businesses?
Yes, Shopify is suitable for small businesses, but it’s more costly compared to other platforms like Ecwid.

5. Does Ecwid support multi-channel selling?
Yes, Ecwid allows you to sell across websites, social media, and marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.