Shopify Cheap Alternatives For Pakistanis and Indian

Starting an online store can be an exciting venture in Pakistan, but the cost can be too much, especially for new businesses. Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, but its pricing (starting at $29 per month) may not fit everyone's budget. Fortunately, there are several affordable and even free alternatives to Shopify that can still help you build a robust online store. Let’s explore some of these options, their features, pricing, and where you can get started.

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1. WooCommerce

• Website: WooCommerce
• Pricing: Free plugin (Hosting costs around $5–$15/month)

WooCommerce is a powerful, free eCommerce plugin for WordPress. It’s ideal if you’re already familiar with WordPress and want to turn your site into a fully functioning online store. With WooCommerce, you get access to a range of free and paid plugins that let you customize your store’s functionality.

Key Features:

• Full control over design and customization
• Extensive library of plugins and themes
• Integration with various payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Great for SEO as it’s built on WordPress

Cons:

• Hosting and add-ons may increase the cost
• Steeper learning curve compared to Shopify

2. Big Cartel

• Website: Big Cartel
• Pricing: Free for up to 5 products; paid plans start at $9.99/month

Big Cartel is tailored for small businesses, especially creatives like artists and designers who want a simple, visually appealing storefront. With Big Cartel’s free plan, you can sell up to 5 products, which is ideal for those testing the waters. The paid plans allow you to sell more products and offer additional customization options.

Key Features:

• Simple setup and intuitive interface
• Ability to manage orders and inventory
• Customization options, especially for paid plans

Pros:

• Free plan for small catalogs
• Simple and user-friendly

Cons:

• Limited features compared to Shopify
• Not ideal for large or complex stores

3. Square Online

• Website: Square Online
• Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $12/month

Square Online is an eCommerce solution from Square, known for its point-of-sale (POS) systems. Square Online offers a free plan with essential features and charges only a transaction fee, making it an ideal option for new sellers. It’s perfect if you already use Square for your in-person business and want to expand online.

Key Features:

• Integrates seamlessly with Square POS
• Free online store with unlimited products
• Ability to accept payments in-person and online

Pros:

• Free to start with competitive pricing
• Great for brick-and-mortar stores expanding online

Cons:

• Limited customization on the free plan
• Features can be basic for larger online stores

4. Ecwid

• Website: Ecwid
• Pricing: Free for up to 10 products; paid plans start at $15/month

Ecwid (short for "eCommerce Widget") is a flexible platform that allows you to add an online store to any website, social media platform, or mobile app. Its free plan supports up to 10 products, making it a great option for smaller sellers. Ecwid also integrates with popular site builders like WordPress, Wix, and Weebly.

Key Features:

• Free plan with up to 10 products
• Integrations with social media and various website builders
• Automatic tax calculations and mobile-responsive design

Pros:

• Affordable and flexible for small stores
• Easy to add to an existing website

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Free plan has product restrictions

5. PrestaShop

• Website: PrestaShop
• Pricing: Free, but hosting and extensions may cost extra (around $5–$10/month for hosting)

PrestaShop is an open-source eCommerce platform, meaning you can download it for free and have full control over customization. It’s more suitable for those comfortable with a bit of technical know-how, as it requires you to set up hosting and manage site maintenance. However, it’s highly flexible and can be tailored to fit a wide variety of business needs.

Key Features:

• No monthly fees; open-source and customizable
• Large selection of themes and add-ons
• Supports multiple languages and currencies

Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Affordable with full control over hosting and plugins

Cons:

• Requires some technical skills
• Add-ons can be expensive

6. Weebly (by Square)

• Website: Weebly
• Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $10/month

Weebly, which is also part of the Square family, offers an easy drag-and-drop builder that makes it simple to set up an online store. It’s an excellent choice for small businesses that want a simple, affordable solution to create and manage an online store. Weebly’s free plan is great for basic setups, while the paid plans offer more features.

Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop builder, great for beginners
• Customizable themes and SEO tools
• Supports in-store and online sales with Square POS integration

Pros:

• Easy to use for beginners
• Seamless integration with Square POS

Cons:

• Limited customization on the free plan
• Lacks some eCommerce features for scaling

7. Wix eCommerce

• Website: Wix eCommerce
• Pricing: Plans start at $27/month (Look for discounts as Wix often runs promotions)

Wix is known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, and its eCommerce plans are suitable for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Wix offers a comprehensive set of eCommerce tools, including inventory management, order tracking, and an App Market with additional tools. While its pricing is similar to Shopify’s starting point, Wix frequently offers discounts, making it a more affordable option for some.

Key Features:

• User-friendly website builder
• Customizable eCommerce tools
• Wide range of templates and apps

Pros:

• Highly customizable with no coding required
• Integrated SEO and marketing tools

Cons:

• Less flexible than open-source platforms
• Some eCommerce features require paid apps

8. Sellfy

• Website: Sellfy
• Pricing: Starts at $19/month

Sellfy is a simple eCommerce platform built with creators in mind. It allows you to sell digital products, physical goods, subscriptions, and print-on-demand items, making it ideal for artists, designers, and anyone wanting to sell digital products without needing an extensive setup. Sellfy offers tools for marketing, upselling, and discount codes to help you grow your business.

Key Features:

• Supports digital, physical, and subscription-based products
• Built-in marketing tools
• Easy integration with websites or social media

Pros:

• Perfect for creators selling digital products
• Simple and user-friendly

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Not ideal for complex inventories

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9. Volusion

• Website: Volusion
• Pricing: Plans start at $29/month (free trial available)

Volusion is an all-in-one eCommerce platform designed to help small to medium businesses manage their entire store. It offers strong analytics and inventory management tools, making it a good choice for businesses focused on tracking sales data. Volusion also includes basic marketing tools, such as SEO management and a mobile app for store management on the go.

Key Features:

• In-depth analytics and reporting tools
• Inventory management
• Built-in SEO and marketing tools

Pros:

• Excellent for businesses wanting strong analytics
• User-friendly interface with mobile app access

Cons:

• No free plan, only a trial
• Limited customization options

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10. 3dcart (Now Shift4Shop)

• Website: Shift4Shop
• Pricing: Free for U.S. users using Shift4 payment processing; paid plans start at $29/month

Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) offers a feature-rich eCommerce solution with no monthly fees for U.S.-based merchants who use Shift4 as their payment processor. This platform has powerful tools, including SEO features, unlimited products, and advanced inventory management. It’s a great choice if you need a robust system without the monthly fee, provided you’re based in the U.S.

Key Features:

• No monthly fee for U.S. sellers using Shift4
• Advanced inventory and order management tools
• Built-in blog for content marketing

Pros:

• Powerful features with no monthly fees (U.S. users)
• Great for established stores needing robust features

Cons:

• Limited to U.S. users for free plan
• Customization may require more tech skills

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11. Gumroad

• Website: Gumroad
• Pricing: Free to start; charges 10% on transactions for free plan, 3.5% for paid plan

Gumroad is a straightforward platform for creators, ideal for those who sell digital products like eBooks, courses, or design assets. With no monthly fees on the free plan, Gumroad is an excellent option for creatives just getting started. It has minimal setup requirements and focuses on ease of use, making it perfect for those selling small catalogs.

Key Features:

• Built for selling digital products
• Email marketing tools
• Simple, clean interface

Pros:

• No monthly fee to get started
• Ideal for digital products and memberships

Cons:

• Transaction fees on free plan are relatively high
• Limited customization and branding options

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12. OpenCart

• Website: OpenCart
• Pricing: Free (Hosting required, around $5–$10/month)

OpenCart is a free, open-source eCommerce platform that offers flexibility and customization for tech-savvy users. It requires you to host the store yourself, which gives you control but also requires more setup. With a large library of extensions, OpenCart can be adapted to fit various business needs, from simple shops to complex stores with custom functionality.

Key Features:

• Open-source and free to use
• Extensive plugin marketplace
• Multiple store management within one platform

Pros:

• Customizable and feature-rich for advanced users
• No monthly fees, just hosting costs

Cons:

• Requires technical know-how for setup
• Paid plugins and hosting may increase overall costs

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Final Thoughts

Choosing the right eCommerce platform for your business comes down to factors like your budget, technical comfort level, and business size. Each platform has strengths and limitations, but all offer cost-effective alternatives to Shopify for those starting or expanding their online sales without a hefty budget. Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or just testing the waters of online retail, there’s a platform on this list to suit your needs.

Happy selling!

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These platforms provide a range of affordable options to get your online store up and running without breaking the bank. Check out their websites to see which is the best fit for your needs, and start building your online presence today!