Shopify’s main competitors are other ways for merchants to sell online: WooCommerce (open-source, on WordPress), Commerce.com (formerly BigCommerce), Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento), and website builders such as Wix and Squarespace. Shopify’s own 10-K describes the market as highly fragmented and lists rivals by type: ecommerce software vendors, content management systems, payment processors, point-of-sale providers and marketplaces. Shopify handled $378.4 billion of gross merchandise volume (GMV) in 2025, up 29%.
Shopify competes not only with store builders but with payment processors, point-of-sale providers, shipping label providers, lenders and marketplaces. Merchants can assemble those pieces from separate vendors instead of buying Shopify's platform.
02
What Shopify says decides the race
Its 10-K lists ease of use, integration of many sales channels, an app ecosystem, pace of innovation, ability to use AI, scale, security and price as the principal competitive factors.
03
Open-source versus hosted
WooCommerce and Adobe Commerce run on open-source code with large extension ecosystems, which gives merchants control but leaves them more of the technical work. Shopify and BigCommerce host the store for the merchant.
Merchant solutions, mostly payment processing fees, were 76% of Shopify's 2025 revenue. A rival platform competes with Shopify Payments as much as with its subscriptions.
What changed in 2025-26
BigCommerce became Commerce.com
On 31 July 2025 BigCommerce Holdings changed its name to Commerce.com, Inc. and its ticker to CMRC. It now runs three products: BigCommerce, the Feedonomics product-data platform and the Makeswift site builder.
Squarespace went private
Permira completed its acquisition of Squarespace on 17 October 2024, so the website builder no longer publishes public financial statements.
The AI shopping channel
On 24 March 2026 Shopify said millions of merchants could sell to ChatGPT users through Agentic Storefronts, which also reach Microsoft Copilot, AI Mode in Google Search and the Gemini app. Rivals such as Commerce.com say they are investing in AI-enabled and agentic commerce too.
Shopify keeps growing faster
Revenue rose 32% to $3,742 million in the third quarter of 2026 and GMV reached $119.1 billion. For 2025, revenue was $11,556 million, up 30%.
Shopify competitors at a glance
WooCommerce
ModelOpen-source plugin for WordPress
Sourced detailNo monthly platform fees, according to WooCommerce
Sourced detailBuilt on an open-source ecosystem with thousands of extensions (Adobe 10-K)
Wix
ModelWebsite and app builder with ecommerce
Sourced detailNames Shopify and BigCommerce as ecommerce competitors in its 2025 annual report
Squarespace
ModelWebsite builder with ecommerce
Sourced detailTaken private by Permira in October 2024
What it means for you
Pick a platform by who does the technical work: hosted (Shopify, BigCommerce) or self-managed (WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce).
Compare total cost, including payment processing, not just the monthly plan.
Check how each platform reaches AI shopping channels such as ChatGPT and Gemini; this is where discovery is moving.
If you sell B2B or need deep customisation, test Adobe Commerce and BigCommerce against Shopify Plus.
If your store is an add-on to a content site, a website builder such as Wix or Squarespace may be enough.
The Business Engineer lens
Shopify’s competition is shifting from store builders to channels: the question is who connects merchants to buyers inside AI assistants. The Business Engineer view: Shopify’s scale in GMV and payments lets it sit between merchants and every new surface, which rivals with smaller networks find hard to match.
WooCommerce, Commerce.com (BigCommerce), Adobe Commerce (Magento), Wix and Squarespace, plus marketplaces, payment processors and point-of-sale providers that cover parts of what Shopify offers.
Is BigCommerce still a Shopify competitor?
Yes. Its parent renamed itself Commerce.com, Inc. in July 2025, and BigCommerce remains its ecommerce platform alongside Feedonomics and Makeswift.
What is the difference between Shopify and WooCommerce?
Shopify hosts the store for the merchant; WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin, so the merchant handles hosting and more of the technical work, without monthly platform fees.
How big is Shopify compared with its rivals?
Shopify facilitated $378.4 billion of GMV in 2025 and $119.1 billion in the third quarter of 2026 alone.
The complete explainer, cleaned up and reformatted for mobile.
Shopify has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the fastest-growing eCommerce platforms online. The Shopify eCommerce solution is perhaps best suited to users who desire an easy, flexible and affordable starter solution for their online store. Its platform facilitated $378.4 billion of gross merchandise volume in 2025, up 29%, according to its 10-K. However, the continued success of any company in the dynamic digital market is never guaranteed.
WooCommerce
DescriptionA free and open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress, allowing users to build online stores. WooCommerce competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsWooCommerce enables users to add e-commerce functionality to their WordPress websites, including online stores and product management.
Competitive OverlapBoth offer e-commerce solutions, but WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin for self-hosted websites.
DifferentiationWooCommerce’s integration with WordPress and open-source nature.
BigCommerce
DescriptionA e-commerce platform that provides a range of tools for online store creation and management. BigCommerce competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsBigCommerce offers e-commerce features, including customizable storefronts, payment processing, and inventorymanagement.
Competitive OverlapBoth provide e-commerce platforms, but BigCommerce focuses on scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes.
DifferentiationBigCommerce’s focus on scalability and enterprise-level features.
Magento
DescriptionAn open-source e-commerce platform that offers customizable solutions for online store development. Magento competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsMagento provides an open-source platform for building customized online stores with features like product catalog management and shopping cart functionality.
Competitive OverlapBoth offer e-commerce platforms, but Magento is known for its high customization capabilities and self-hosted solutions.
DifferentiationMagento’s flexibility and customization options for complex online stores.
Squarespace
DescriptionA website builder platform that includes e-commerce features, allowing users to create online stores. Squarespace competes with Shopify in the website and online store creation market.
Key InsightsSquarespace offers website building and e-commerce tools, making it possible for users to create online stores with templates and drag-and-drop functionality.
Competitive OverlapBoth provide website and e-commerce solutions, but Squarespace is a website builder with integrated e-commerce features.
DifferentiationSquarespace’s focus on simplicity and aesthetics in website design.
Volusion
DescriptionAn e-commerce platform that provides tools for online store creation, product management, and marketing. Volusion competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsVolusion offers e-commerce solutions with features like customizable storefronts, payment processing, and SEO tools.
Competitive OverlapBoth offer e-commerce platforms, but Volusion emphasizes its all-in-one approach to e-commerce.
DifferentiationVolusion’s all-in-one e-commerce platform and built-in marketing tools.
Wix
DescriptionA website builder platform that includes e-commerce capabilities, allowing users to create online stores. Wix competes with Shopify in the website and online store creation market.
Key InsightsWix offers website building and e-commerce features with a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface.
Competitive OverlapBoth provide website and e-commerce solutions, but Wix is primarily a website builder with integrated e-commerce features.
DifferentiationWix’s user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder and design flexibility.
3dcart
DescriptionAn e-commerce platform that offers a range of features for online store development and management. 3dcart competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key Insights3dcart provides e-commerce solutions with features like customizable storefronts, payment processing, and SEO tools.
Competitive OverlapBoth offer e-commerce platforms, but 3dcart focuses on customizable features and support for various industries.
Differentiation3dcart’s customization options and industry-specific solutions.
OpenCart
DescriptionAn open-source e-commerce platform that allows users to create online stores with customizable features and themes. OpenCart competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsOpenCart offers an open-source platform for building online stores with features like product management and payment processing.
Competitive OverlapBoth provide e-commerce platforms, but OpenCart is open-source and suitable for users seeking customization.
DifferentiationOpenCart’s open-source nature and customizable options.
PrestaShop
DescriptionAn open-source e-commerce platform that offers tools for online store creation, customization, and management. PrestaShop competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsPrestaShop provides an open-source platform for building and customizing online stores with features like product catalog management.
Competitive OverlapBoth offer e-commerce platforms, but PrestaShop is open-source and allows for high customization.
DifferentiationPrestaShop’s open-source flexibility and extensive module marketplace.
Shopware
DescriptionAn open-source e-commerce platform known for its scalability and flexibility in creating online stores. Shopware competes with Shopify in the e-commerce platform market.
Key InsightsShopware offers an open-source platform for building and scaling online stores with features like content management and storefront customization.
Competitive OverlapBoth provide e-commerce platforms, but Shopware is open-source and emphasizes scalability and flexibility.
DifferentiationShopware’s focus on scalability, flexibility, and support for complex e-commerce projects.
WooCommerce
The platform is a best-seller primarily because it is based on the similarly popular WordPress content management system. Users who run WordPress can easily install the WooCommerce plugin for free. Happily, there are no transaction fees either.
A key difference between Shopify and WooCommerce is that the latter requires the user to be responsible for site hosting, PCI compliance, and security. This makes it more suited to those who are prepared to hire developers to build or maintain their store.
Squarespace
Squarespace is quite similar to Shopify in the sense that both offer a hosted solution that is accessible to all โ regardless of technical skill level.
Indeed, the Squarespace interface โ as explored in the interface layer wars reshaping consumer tech โ is sleek and minimalist and features drag-and-drop sections to get the look that users desire.
Originally, Squarespace entered the market as a website builder for creatives and other small business owners. Many of these individuals have stuck with the company while it has added increased functionality to its content management system.
The company also employs an aggressive marketing strategy, partnering with influencers and Squarespace advocates to offer promotional discounts on its plans.
Volusion
Founded in 1999, Volusion has enjoyed a long and successful presence in eCommerce as a leading solution for small and medium businesses.
Volusion cannot compete with Shopify for the number of installations, nor does it have as large a community. However, it is a robust hosted solution backed by regular maintenance and a widely-lauded customer support team. The company also guarantees that the check-out system is secure and safe.
The Volusion platform can also compete with Shopify on customization, offering a range of eye-catching themes to attract and convert customers.
BigCommerce
At the larger end of the market, BigCommerce is a significant Shopify competitor. It is a complete solution that is more feature-rich than the Shopify offering โ especially where B2B eCommerce is concerned.
BigCommerce helps users build their store and get their products listed on popular networks such as Amazon, eBay, and Facebook. The company has also released a WordPress plugin, allowing merchants to sell their products with a focus on content. Importantly, this gives BigCommerce access to the highly popular WordPress CMS.
While it has not yet attained the popularity of Shopify or Shopify Plus, BigCommerce has grown rapidly in recent years and has attracted a significant amount of funding.
Magento 2
Magento was the popular choice in eCommerce platforms before Shopify and BigCommerce even existed.
It is a cloud-based, open-source platform with an impressive list of capabilities. Magento is fully integrated with Adobe Experience Cloud, enabling simpler content creation and analytics management.
The company also caters to the needs of B2B eCommerce, incorporating features such as large order requisition lists, company account access sharing, quote requesting, and quick ordering.
A key strength of Magento 2 is that it is underpinned by a loyal and devoted following of developers. This makes it ideal for businesses who have unique or unusual content-driven commerce needs.
Key takeaways
Although Shopify enjoys significant market share, it is nonetheless part of a dynamic industry full of worthy and emerging competitors.
Leveraging the immense popularity of WordPress, WooCommerce is the preferred interface of choice for store owners who want a reasonable level of control.
BigCommerce is also a more feature-rich offering than Shopify that leverages the power of B2B commerce. In recent years it has been funded to grow rapidly.
Key Highlights of Shopify’s Competitors
WooCommerce:
More popular than Shopify, based on WordPress.
Plugin for WordPress with no transaction fees.
Requires users to handle hosting, compliance, and security.
Squarespace:
Offers a hosted solution like Shopify.
Sleek interface with drag-and-drop features.
Originally aimed at creatives and small business owners.
Uses influencer partnerships for promotional discounts.
Volusion:
Established since 1999, focused on small and medium businesses.
Robust hosted solution with strong customer support.
Competes with Shopify on customization and themes.
Highlights secure checkout system.
BigCommerce:
Feature-rich competitor, especially in B2B eCommerce.
Helps list products on Amazon, eBay, and Facebook.
Offers WordPress plugin for content-focused sales.
Grows rapidly and attracts funding.
Magento 2:
Formerly popular before Shopify and BigCommerce.
Cloud-based, open-source platform with extensive capabilities.
Integrated with Adobe Experience Cloud for content and analytics.
Strong developer following, suitable for unique needs.
Gennaro Cuofano is a CRO and tech executive who has worked in AI since late 2015, starting with bringing NLP, natural-language generation, voice and chatbot products to the marketing industry. His background is in law and finance: he holds a Master's degree in Law and an International MBA with an emphasis on corporate finance (LUISS Business School and the University of San Diego, 2012), and worked as a financial analyst at a real-estate investment firm in San Diego and as an assistant controller. His work focuses on business model strategy, business engineering and, more broadly, structural analysis: how companies make money, read from their own filings. He created FourWeekMBA and leads research there and at The Business Engineer, his newsletter on AI and business strategy, with over 95,000 subscribers and more than 1,000 published analyses. His writing has also appeared on Entrepreneur (for example, How to Digitize a Family Business in Europe) and HackerNoon. Find him on LinkedIn and Substack. See how we source.
