Shopify alternatives: 5 builders worth a look in 2026

Shopify is excellent at ecommerce, but it is a lot of platform (and a lot of paid apps) if you only sell a few things. These builders cover a business site plus a simpler shop.

The short answer

If you sell a small range of products or services and care about the website as much as the shop, Squarespace (Core, $17/mo, no store fee) or Wix (Core, $29/mo) are the closest like-for-like swaps.

On a tight budget, WordPress.com and Hostinger cost less per month. If you would rather describe your site and have it built, We.Inc takes payments through your own Stripe with no extra fee; free for 3 template sites, AI from $20/mo.

Stay on Shopify if you run a large catalogue, sell in person, or rely on its app store for inventory and shipping.

Side by side

	Free plan	Cheapest plan that sells	Extra platform fees
Shopify (for reference)	No; 3-day trial, then $1/mo for 3 months	Basic $19/mo ($25 billed monthly)	2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), 0.6% (Advanced) extra if you skip Shopify Payments
We.Inc	Yes: 3 template sites, we.inc address, no AI	$20/mo Starter (250 AI credits)	None; your own Stripe
Wix	Yes, with Wix ads and a wixsite.com address	Core $29/mo	No Wix fee
Squarespace	No, 14-day free trial only	Basic $12/mo (2% fee) or Core $17/mo	2% store fee on Basic, 0% on Core and up
WordPress.com	Yes, on a wordpress.com address	Commerce $45/mo	No extra fee on Commerce
Hostinger Website Builder	No, paid plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee	Premium $2.49/mo intro on a 48-month term, renews at $10.99/mo (prices checked October 2026)	No Hostinger fee

Prices checked September 2026, in US dollars per month on annual billing unless noted. Vendors change prices often, so confirm on their pricing page before you buy.

Pros and cons

We.Inc

Best for: People who want to describe a site or web app in plain English and have AI build it

Price: Free plan: up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, no AI. AI building from $20/mo (Starter, 250 credits). Pro $49/mo, Max $99/mo.

Pros: Describe what you want in chat and AI builds a full, editable site or app; Edit by clicking on the page, by asking in chat, or in a real code editor; Export the React and TypeScript code to GitHub, so you are never locked in; Unlimited sites on paid plans, custom domains from Starter

Cons: The free plan is templates only; AI building needs a paid plan; Newer platform with a smaller app marketplace than the big names; Store features are simpler than a dedicated ecommerce platform

Wix

Best for: Businesses that want a flexible site with a small store and bookings

Price: Light $17, Core $29, Business $39, Business Elite $159 per month

Pros: Free plan to build and test; Store, bookings and events apps; No Wix transaction fee; Drag-and-drop freedom

Cons: Selling needs Core ($29/mo) or higher; Fewer ecommerce tools than Shopify; No code export; Template locked after launch

Squarespace

Best for: Design-led brands with a modest catalogue

Price: Basic $12, Core $17, Advanced $25 per month billed annually ($19, $27, $36 month to month) (prices checked September 2026)

Pros: Beautiful product pages; No store fee from Core; Digital products and memberships; Nothing to maintain

Cons: 2% fee on Basic; No free plan; Fewer store apps than Shopify; No code export

WordPress.com (with WooCommerce)

Best for: Content-heavy stores that want plugins and ownership

Price: Personal $4, Premium $8, Business $25, Commerce $45 per month (monthly billing $9 to $70)

Pros: WooCommerce plugin ecosystem; Strong blogging; Move your site anywhere; Free plan to start

Cons: Selling needs the $45/mo Commerce plan; More to learn; Plugin costs add up; More setup than Shopify

Hostinger Website Builder

Best for: Very small shops on a tight first-year budget

Price: Premium $2.49 and Unlimited $3.49 per month intro on 48-month terms; renew at $10.99 and $16.99

Pros: Lowest first-term price here; AI tools to draft a site; Hosting and email bundled; Online store features available

Cons: Intro prices need a long upfront term; Renewals cost several times more; Simpler design options; Limited apps

Start from a template

Sources

Shopify: Pricing (US) (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
Wix: Plans (wix.com/plans) (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
Squarespace: Pricing (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
WordPress.com: Pricing (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
Hostinger: Website Builder plans (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
We.Inc: Pricing (Checked Sept 25, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest Shopify alternative?

In the first term, Hostinger Website Builder (from $2.49/mo on a 48-month prepaid term, renewing at $10.99/mo). For a free way to publish a site, We.Inc lets you publish up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, though selling and AI need a paid plan.

Is Shopify more expensive than Wix?

Shopify Basic is $19/mo on annual billing versus $29/mo for Wix Core. Shopify can cost more in practice because of paid apps and fees for non-Shopify payment providers.

Does We.Inc charge transaction fees?

No. You connect your own Stripe account and pay only Stripe's normal processing fees.

Can I move my products off Shopify?

Yes. Shopify exports products as a CSV file, which Wix, Squarespace and WooCommerce can import. Page designs need to be rebuilt.

When should I stay on Shopify?

If you have hundreds of products, sell in person with point of sale, need complex shipping or rely on specific Shopify apps, it remains the stronger choice.

Does We.Inc's free plan include AI?

No. Free covers up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address. AI building starts on Starter at $20/mo with 250 credits.

Build your own site

Related guides

Choosing a store platform

How we research, test and update this page: our editorial policy. We.Inc is our own product.