The 5 best Shopify alternatives
Short answer
The best Shopify alternatives are Lemon Squeezy, Gumroad, Kajabi. Lemon Squeezy is our top pick — it scores 9/10 and is best for Indie hackers and developers selling SaaS or software. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and which features matter most.
Why look for a Shopify alternative?
Shopify scores 9/10 in our review and works well for many teams — but it is not the right fit for everyone. The most common reasons readers look elsewhere:
- ✗Monthly subscription required — no free plan
- ✗Transaction fees apply if not using Shopify Payments
- ✗App costs can add up significantly on top of the base plan
- ✗Customization requires Liquid (Shopify's template language) for deep changes
Shopify alternatives, ranked
Lemon Squeezy
Top pickSell software and digital products, minus the complexity
Lemon Squeezy is a merchant of record platform for digital products and SaaS. That means they handle international taxes, VAT, and compliance — you just get paid. Perfect for software developers, indie hackers, and digital product creators who want global sales without tax headaches.
Strengths
- ✓Merchant of record — they handle all international tax/VAT
- ✓No monthly fee — pay per transaction
- ✓Built-in subscriptions, discounts, upsells
Best for
- →Indie hackers and developers selling SaaS or software
- →Digital product creators wanting global sales without tax work
- →Creators selling PDF, templates, or downloadable files
Gumroad
The simplest way to sell digital products
Gumroad is the original digital product marketplace. Simple setup, no monthly fees, and a built-in audience discovery layer. Best for creators who want to start selling immediately with minimal friction.
Strengths
- ✓Easiest setup of any digital product platform
- ✓No monthly fee
- ✓Built-in discovery via Gumroad marketplace
Best for
- →First-time sellers wanting zero friction
- →Occasional product launches
Kajabi
Everything you need to run your creator business
Kajabi is the all-in-one platform for creators who sell knowledge: courses, coaching, podcasts, communities, and memberships. It replaces multiple tools with one subscription — website, email marketing, payments, checkout, and analytics all included. Expensive but eliminates integration complexity.
Strengths
- ✓Truly all-in-one — replaces 5+ tools
- ✓Excellent course and coaching product builder
- ✓Strong email marketing and automation included
Best for
- →Course creators doing $5k+ MRR who want simplicity
- →Coaches running programs and group cohorts
- →Anyone paying for 3+ separate tools already
WooCommerce
Free e-commerce for WordPress — power and flexibility combined
WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that powers approximately 25% of all online stores globally. It turns any WordPress site into a fully functional shop with product listings, cart, checkout, and order management. WooCommerce itself is free — costs come from web hosting, premium extensions (subscriptions, memberships, bookings), and payment processing. With the right extensions, WooCommerce can match Shopify on features while offering far more customization freedom.
Strengths
- ✓Free core plugin — pay only for hosting and the extensions you need
- ✓Infinite extensibility via 1,000+ WooCommerce extensions
- ✓Full data ownership — your store, your database, your rules
Best for
- →Agencies building e-commerce sites for clients who already use WordPress
- →Creators wanting maximum control and lowest platform fees at the cost of maintenance
Etsy
Marketplace for handmade, vintage, and creative products
Etsy is a global marketplace connecting buyers with independent sellers of handmade goods, vintage items, craft supplies, and digital downloads. For creators, Etsy provides built-in buyer traffic — millions of people search Etsy specifically looking for unique, independent products. You don't need to build an audience or drive your own traffic to make sales. The tradeoff is transaction fees on each sale, listing fees per item, and platform risk if Etsy changes its algorithm or policies.
Strengths
- ✓Built-in buyer traffic — no need to build your own audience to start selling
- ✓Trusted brand — buyers are comfortable purchasing from unknown sellers on Etsy
- ✓Digital downloads fully supported — no shipping or inventory needed
Best for
- →Makers, artists, and crafters who want marketplace traffic without marketing
- →Creators testing digital product ideas with built-in buyer discovery
Shopify vs. the alternatives
| Tool | Score | Starting price | Free plan | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify(current) | 9/10 | — | No | 8.5/10 |
| Lemon Squeezy | 9/10 | — | Yes | 9/10 |
| Gumroad | 7.5/10 | — | Yes | 9.5/10 |
| Kajabi | 8.5/10 | $89/mo | No | 8/10 |
| WooCommerce | 8.2/10 | — | Yes | 6.5/10 |
| Etsy | 7.8/10 | — | Yes | 8.5/10 |
Shopify alternatives — FAQ
What is the best Shopify alternative?
Lemon Squeezy is our top-rated Shopify alternative, scoring 9/10. It is best for Indie hackers and developers selling SaaS or software.
Is there a free Shopify alternative?
Yes — Lemon Squeezy, Gumroad, WooCommerce, Etsy offer a free plan you can use to evaluate the tool before paying.