Shopify alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Shopify: apps and plan upgrades push monthly costs up, and extra fees when using third-party payment gateways. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Shopify, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. BigCommerce currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	WooCommerce	Open source	Yes	Web, Self-hosted, iOS +1	5 of 5	62.6
2	Medusa	Open source	Yes	Web, Self-hosted	4 of 4	55.3

1. WooCommerceTop pick
Best for: WordPress users and developers who want a fully controllable store with no platform fee
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Shopify
Free, open-source store on WordPress that you host and fully control.
Pros
Free and open source with no platform fee
Huge extension ecosystem and WordPress content tools
Full control over code, hosting and data
Cons
You handle hosting, updates and security
Useful extensions often cost extra each year
Performance depends heavily on hosting quality
Visit WooCommerce Compare with Shopify Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is WooCommerce a good Shopify alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
License
GPL-2.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
Yes, for WordPress
Checked Oct 25, 2026woocommerce.com(opens source in a new tab)
Typical hosting cost
$25–$350/month for most stores
Checked Oct 25, 2026woocommerce.com(opens source in a new tab)
Extensions
$29–$299/year each
Checked Oct 25, 2026woocommerce.com(opens source in a new tab)
Money-back guarantee
30 days
Checked Oct 25, 2026woocommerce.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Medusa
Best for: JavaScript teams building custom commerce, B2B or marketplace backends
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Shopify
Open-source headless commerce for teams that want to own their stack.
Pros
Fully customisable TypeScript modules
Free to self-host; cloud charges no GMV fee
Admin dashboard and Next.js starter included
Cons
Needs developers for storefront and integrations
Younger ecosystem than established platforms
No theme marketplace for quick launches
Visit Medusa Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Medusa a good Shopify alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Cloud Develop plan
From $29/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026medusajs.com(opens source in a new tab)
Cloud Launch plan
From $99/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026medusajs.com(opens source in a new tab)
GMV fees
None
Checked Oct 25, 2026medusajs.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026medusajs.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Shopify alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Shopify alternative for most people

BigCommerce

More built-in features and no extra fee for using your own payment gateway.

Best Shopify alternative for a free option

WooCommerce

Free, open-source store on WordPress that you host and fully control.

Best Shopify alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Wix

Simpler all-in-one site builder for businesses where the store is a side feature.

Best Shopify alternative for open source

Medusa

Open-source headless commerce for teams that want to own their stack.

Best Shopify alternative for self-hosting

WooCommerce

Free, open-source store on WordPress that you host and fully control.

Best Shopify alternative for iPhone and Android

Ecwid

Add a store to an existing website or social page without moving platforms.

Best Shopify alternative for working in the browser

Squarespace

Design-led site and store in one subscription for smaller catalogues.

Shopify alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Shopify?

BigCommerce ranks first right now. More built-in features and no extra fee for using your own payment gateway. WooCommerce and Medusa follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Shopify?

Yes. WooCommerce (open source), Medusa (open source) and Wix (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Shopify?

Yes: WooCommerce and Medusa. WooCommerce and Medusa can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Shopify?

The complaints we hear most: apps and plan upgrades push monthly costs up; extra fees when using third-party payment gateways; deep checkout customisation reserved for higher plans.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Shopify, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.