When it comes to e-commerce business, Shopify is the name almost everyone comes with. But, Shopify comes with a cost too.
It has its drawbacks like high overhead costs, which affect many business decisions for new or businesses that are growing.
However, some alternatives could be a game-changer for e-commerce businesses. In this blog, you will understand the aspects Shopify lacks, what are the other alternatives you can consider, you will see comparisons based on user experience and integrations, some free alternatives you can start with, and some frequently asked questions.
TL;DR- Top Shopify Alternatives in India
In case you want to jump right in, here’s the list of Shopify alternatives you should consider:
- QPe
- Dukaan
- Storehippo
- Builderfly
- Instamojo
Why Do You Need a Shopify Alternative?
The need to consider Shopify alternatives arises when businesses plan to scale. Developing businesses requires platform solutions that are cost-effective, user-friendly, customizable, can adapt to the local market, and have comprehensive features.
Since Shopify lacks them, businesses automatically decide to go for alternative plans based on their needs.
Key Features to Look for in a Shopify Alternative
Here are the top 5 key features to
1. Cost-effectiveness:
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Transparent-pricing:
Many alternatives offer lower monthly fees without hidden fees. Some of them don’t charge transaction fees. This becomes obvious for businesses to opt for alternatives when they have to operate on a tight budget.
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Free plans or trials:
Some businesses try their platforms for free for a limited time before paying them monthly charges.
2. Customization and Flexibility
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Freedom of Customization:
Growing businesses cannot be restricted to custom templates and layouts. As business grows it is important to create a unique brand identity. For which businesses work on their visual brand.
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Custom Features:
Likewise, platforms that support plugins and extensions are preferable to achieve advanced features and capabilities.
3. Built-in Features
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Comprehensive Tools:
Alternatives that offer robust built-in features such as SEO tools, marketing automation, analytics, and multi-channel selling capabilities are more useful in the long run. This reduces dependence on third-party apps and optimizes operations.
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Advanced E-commerce Features:
Make sure your platform includes advanced features like inventory management, product variants, and Customer relationship management (CRM) tools.
4. Local Market Adaptation:
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Support Local Payment Gateways:
Opt for a platform that supports local payment gateways like Paytm, Razorpay, or UPI to facilitate transactions in the Indian market.
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Logistics and Shipping Solutions:
This is a must-have if you want to operate order management efficiently, The platform should offer integrated shipping solutions tailored to local logistics providers.
5. Scalability:
Growth Potential:
You should pick a platform that handles increased traffic and transactions as your store expands without compromising performance.
Multi-Store Management:
If you want to expand internationally, ensure the alternative supports multi-store functionality with ease of management across different regions and currencies.
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Top Shopify Alternatives in India
Here are the top 5 Shopify alternatives available in India:
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Qpe:
Overview: QPe is a scalable e-commerce platform for online entrepreneurs who are or want to enter the online market. It offers a user-friendly interface with robust features tailored to local needs.
Monthly cost: The monthly cost is as low as 1475 per month.
Ease of use: You can effortlessly launch your online store without technical knowledge.
Scalability: It supports growth features like integrated inventory management, multi-channel selling, and customizability that empower small or large-scale businesses, making it flexible as your business expands.
2. Dukaan:
Overview: Dukaan is an easy-to-use platform that can set up an online store in minutes
using a mobile app or desktop.
Monthly cost: You can get started with Dukaan for free but there are incremental costs if you want to make use of advanced features.
Ease of use: It is extremely easy to use allowing anyone to launch their online store.
Scalability: Dukaan provides essential marketing and sales tools to help businesses grow their online presence effectively.
3. StoreHippo:
Overview: StoreHippo is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that supports multiple business models.
Monthly cost: Plans start at 10,000 per month for a 6-month commitment.
Ease of use: It offers a plug-and-play solution that eases the setup process for businesses.
Scalability: It is highly scalable due to its capability and support of multi-vendor, multi-language, and multi-currency.
4. Builderfly:
Overview: Builderfly allows businesses to create branded online stores and offers mobile app development as part of its services.
Monthly cost: There is no monthly option. You have to buy for 15000 for a year to get started.
Ease of use: You will get an Intuitive dashboard for managing products and orders easily.
Scalability: Builderfly offers various sales & marketing tools for branding.
5. Instamojo:
Overview: It majorly caters to small and medium-sized businesses that want to sell products online.
Monthly cost: You don’t have to pay monthly charges however, you have to pay 5% + ₹3 transaction fee.
Ease of cost: Instamojo has a simple setup process with integrated payment gateways that make it accessible for beginners.
Scalability: It has some growth features like cart recovery and marketing tools.
6. Fynd:
Overview: Fynd is a complete e-commerce platform that allows businesses to sell across multiple channels.
Monthly cost: The monthly cost starts from 11,111 per month plus GST.
Ease of cost: It is designed for all user experience levels.
Scalability: It features growing channel capabilities like omnichannel capabilities and advanced analytics.
7. Blinkstore
Overview: Blinkstore was created to simplify online store setup for individuals and independent creators.
Monthly cost: You can get started for free.
Ease of cost: Designed for quick setup and management.
Scalability: Blinkstre provides some growth features like inventory management and shipping.
8. Big Cartel
Overview: Big Cartel targets a cloud-based platform that caters to small businesses and artists offering an easy way to sell products online.
Monthly cost: If you want to test your product, you can get started for free.
Ease of cost: user-friendly, customizable themes, and is suitable for non-technical users.
Scalability: Even though it is for small businesses, it offers paid plans that allow for more products and features as businesses grow.
The Best Alternatives to Shopify with free plans
Here are the top 3 free Shopify alternatives to get started:
1. Instamojo:
Overview: It majorly caters to small and medium-sized businesses that want to sell products online.
Monthly cost: You don’t have to pay monthly charges however, you have to pay 5% + ₹3 transaction fee.
Ease of cost: Instamojo has a simple setup process with integrated payment gateways making it accessible for beginners.
Scalability: It has some growth features like cart recovery and marketing tools.
2. Bikayi:
Overview: Bikayi enables users to create an online store with essential inventory and order management features.
Monthly cost: You can get started for free with a free trial later, It will be ₹9999 per year.
Ease of use: It is designed for first-time entrepreneurs.
Scalability: Once you opt for paid you will get more advanced features, including dedicated business coaching.
3. Shoppy:
Overview: Shoopy is an E-commerce platform for retail stores that offers a seamless shopping experience for in-store businesses.
Monthly cost: Shoppy is not free however, you can start for as low as 208 INR per month.
Ease of use: User-friendly and offers a simplified way of setting up an online store.
Scalability: The platforms support scalability. You can add up to 1,00,000 products at the business plan which is 1083 INR per month or they have their enterprise plan too for your custom needs.
Comparison of platforms based on user experience and integrations
| Feature/Platform | Qpe | Dukaan | StoreHippo | Builderfly | Instamojo |
| User Experience | Streamlined interface with easy navigation. | Extremely user-friendly interface. | Flexible design options with a mobile-first approach. | Easy-to-use dashboard with drag-and-drop features. | Simple setup with intuitive navigation |
| Integrations | Integration capabilities with local payment gateways and apps. | Supports multiple payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe). | 120+ pre-integrated services including payment gateways and logistics partners. | Offers integration with popular payment gateways and shipping solutions | Integrates with various payment options and logistics partners. |
How to Choose the Best Shopify Alternative in India
When it comes to choosing the best Shopify alternative platform it depends on several factors. These factors align according to your business, the resources you have needs that you have prioritized, and the goals that you want to achieve. However, here are six factors you should consider when choosing an alternative:
1. Assess Your Budget:
Look for the platforms whose pricing structure is transparent with no hidden fee. Some platforms offer a free trial period to let you test first. Consider both monthly and transactional fees.
2. Evaluate Ease of Use:
If you or your team have limited technical skills, choosing an intuitive platform can be helpful. You can consider platforms that can quickly set up your store.
3. Customization Options:
If your business branding is very specific. Your brand kit is super-detailed and will use each ounce of it to build initial traction, you should opt for a platform that supports customization on both themes and layouts.
4. Scalability:
A platform that supports advanced features like multi-currency, multi-vendor capabilities, additional product listings, and can handle increased traffic should be highly considered if you are a growing business or plan to expand further.
5. Integrations:
Make sure the alternative supports local payment integrations and third-party integrations like marketing analytics, and logistics solutions.
6. Support and Resources:
Consider the level of customer support offered by the platform. When you encounter some issues, getting an immediate response from responsive support is crucial. Get access to comprehensive documentation and tutorials can help you navigate the platform more effectively.
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Explore platforms such as QPe. Dukaan, Instamojo, Builderfly, and StoreHippo so that you can find the eCommerce solution that meets your needs and aligns with your priorities.
Conclusion
Think carefully about the resources, needs, and goals you have before choosing the platform. After all, it is less about the platforms you choose and more about the perks you will get from each of them.
If those perks will help you reach your business goals as per the things you have, there is no point in choosing that platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
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Are Shopify Like Websites Reliable for Large E-Commerce Operations?
Yes, they are reliable. Many of them handle huge amounts of traffic and manage large inventories which is important for growing businesses. However, it is important to choose a platform with proven performance and security measures to support extensive operations effectively.
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Which Shopify Alternatives Provide Indian Payment Gateway Integration?
All the alternatives we mentioned support the Indian payment gateway. However, it depends on the platforms to platforms which payment gateways are allowed to integrate.
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How Secure Are Shopify Alternatives for Online Stores?
Shopify alternatives generally prioritize security. Any of them implement security measures such as SSL certificates, and PCI DSS compliance, and follow other secure payment protocols. However, businesses need to assess each platform’s specific security practices and choose one that meets their business requirements for safeguarding sensitive information.
