Now that you understand Shopify and its features, we will give you some compelling reasons why people search for websites like Shopify.

1. Selection of Payment Gateway

One reason for considering Shopify competitors is the freedom to select your preferred payment gateway without incurring additional charges. While Shopify offers its proprietary payment gateway, Shopify Payments, powered by Stripe, external payment gateways can result in transaction fees of up to 2% per sale.

Moreover, opting for external payment gateways might mean sacrificing access to certain features, like the ability to process transactions in multiple currencies. Additionally, it may not be viable if you wish to use Shopify Payments but deal in higher-risk products, such as vaporizers.

2. Want to Control Their Website SEO

Marketing features, including search engine optimization (SEO), play a significant role in an eCommerce solution. While Shopify effectively handles fundamental SEO tasks, you might seek greater control over your website, particularly if organic search is a crucial aspect of your strategy.

One limitation is that Shopify does not grant users access to and editing capabilities of robot.txt files. These files are essential as they instruct Google on how to index your site, ensuring that only specific web pages appear in the search engine results.

Although this may not be an immediate concern, as your website expands, you may eventually desire more influence over how Google crawls and indexes your site. As such, having the ability to modify robot.txt files becomes increasingly important.

3. Your Product Catalog is Large

As your product catalog grows, it is likely to become more intricate. However, with Shopify’s limitations of a maximum of 100 SKUs per product and only three options per product, you might find it challenging to accommodate the increasing complexity.

For instance: You own a clothing store that you want to make inclusive, so you make efforts to add:

• An array of size options, spanning from extra small to 6XL 
• Multiple color choices available for each item 
• A diverse selection of designs, including tank tops and long sleeves 
• Variety of options catering to men, women, children, and babies

This is where your product cap will limit your efforts. Searching for the best Shopify alternatives might allow you to expand your product catalog. 

4. Some Options/Limitations Might Frustrate You

There might be other aspects causing frustration, leading you to explore alternative eCommerce platforms. It could be as simple as disliking the Shopify Help Center’s design or facing customer support issues.

You might have heard about someone else’s negative experience and fear a similar situation could occur. Whatever the reason, rest assured you have many other options.

What is Better Than Shopify – Points to Consider

Regardless of the challenges you encounter with Shopify, ensuring that your next platform effectively addresses those issues without introducing new ones is essential.

Though each online business is unique, there are certain features that you may wish to consider during your evaluation process.

1. Multiple Payment Options

Each customer has their preferred payment method. While some may opt for Visa to accumulate reward points, others might prefer PayPal for its convenience of not manually entering card details. 

As you assess new platforms, ensure they offer a diverse selection of payment processing providers. For instance, BigCommerce supports over 55 payment gateways, giving you flexibility in catering to various customer preferences.

Additionally, as your business grows, you may be eligible for more favorable rates, ultimately reducing costs.

Similarly, Shopify offers free transactions if you use their gateway or else it charges a fee for any other gateway integrated.

Learn about Shopify payment processing fee for a better understanding.

Even if you are currently focused on domestic sales, it’s prudent not to limit your potential for international expansion.

Look for platforms that provide payment gateways that handle transactions and settlements in multiple currencies. This foresight can prove invaluable as your business expands globally.

2. Customization

Your business is distinct and reflects your unique identity; you wish to convey that individuality to your customers.

Moreover, how you manage your business differs from how others manage theirs. It makes customization a vital aspect of web design.

When choosing an eCommerce platform, ensure that it allows for easy customization to suit your specific business model and cater to your unique customers.

If you possess coding skills and desire to create distinctive functionalities, prioritize platforms that accommodate your coding preferences.

On the other hand, if website design is not your area of expertise, consider the ease of use. How much time and effort will it take for you to implement changes?

For example, when building an “about us” page, can you effortlessly incorporate elements other than text? Can you conveniently rearrange pictures and videos?

For those who don’t wish to invest excessive time in website development, a drag-and-drop website builder can be an ideal solution, offering all the necessary functionality for making changes without requiring additional coding expertise.

3. Supports Catalog Growth

We’ve previously discussed a scenario where a large catalog might be challenging, but what if your catalog is currently small? In such cases, Shopify could be a suitable fit for your needs.

However, it’s essential not to let your current situation dictate your future requirements.

As a business owner, it’s crucial to anticipate growth and consider the various technologies you may need to implement as you expand.

Reflect on whether your chosen eCommerce platform can seamlessly integrate with those technologies and support your evolving business needs.

Being forward-thinking and planning for future developments will ensure your chosen platform remains viable and scalable as your business grows.