As the e-commerce market in India continues to grow, more and more entrepreneurs are looking for ways to establish an online presence for their businesses. One popular platform for creating an online store is Shopify. Shopify is a well-known and widely used platform, but it may not be the best fit for every business. Factors such as pricing, customization options, and local payment methods can play a crucial role in choosing the right platform for an Indian business. In this blog, we’ll discuss the best Shopify alternatives in India.
Many businesses are looking to go online in India at present, and due to a lack of knowledge about options, they choose Shopify. Although the catch is that Shopify has not been created to suit the Indian market or Indian sellers for that matter- everything from pricing to plans, seller support, and even the underlying tech is more suitable for US-based businesses.
This obviously proves to be a problem for Indian sellers. But, now there are several eCommerce platforms available that have been developed keeping in mind Indian entrepreneurs. These alternatives offer a range of features and pricing options, making it possible for businesses of all sizes to find a solution that fits their needs. In this article, we will explore some of the top Shopify alternatives in India and compare their features and pricing over the Shopify platform.
Why Should You Try Shopify Alternatives?
Even though it is a legacy platform, and immensely popular, Shopify still cannot be the perfect eCommerce platform for all businesses. In fact, Shopify falls short of many basic needs when it comes to Indian entrepreneurs. There are several reasons why a business in India may want to consider trying a Shopify alternative:
- Cost: Shopify’s pricing plans may not be suitable for businesses on a tight budget. Alternatives like WooCommerce and BigCommerce offer lower monthly fees and the ability to use your own hosting, which can save a significant amount of money in the long run.
- Customization: Some alternatives offer more advanced customization options and the ability to add custom functionality through plugins and extensions. This gives businesses more control over the design and functionality of their online store.
- Local Payment Options: Shopify does not offer all Indian payment gateways like UPI and net banking. Alternatives like Instamojo offer Indian payment gateways, which can be a crucial factor for businesses looking to sell products to a local market.
- Scalability: Some alternatives are more scalable and can better handle a large number of products and high traffic volume. This makes them a better option for businesses that anticipate significant growth in the future.
- Control: Some alternatives are open-source, which means they can be customized according to the business’s specific needs and you have full control of the platform.
How to Choose the Best Shopify Alternative?
Choosing the best Shopify alternative for your business can be a complex process, but there are several key factors to consider when making your decision:
- Ease of Use.
- Value for Money.
- Seller Support.
- Features and Benefits.
- User reviews.
- Local Payment Options
- Third-Party Integration.
Ultimately, the best Shopify alternative for your business will depend on your unique needs, budget, and goals. By carefully considering each of these factors, you’ll be able to make an informed decision and choose the platform that best suits your business.
Tip: Try out a few options yourself before choosing one alternative.
6 Best Shopify Alternatives in India
Dukaan
InstaMojo
Shoopy
Shoppiko
BuilderFly
Ohoshop
Dukaan
| Website | Mydukaan.io |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 |
| Free Trial | 7 Days |
| Best suited for | Small business owners in India |
| Customer Support | Available in chat, email, and phone |
Dukaan is an easy-to-use & convenient eCommerce platform, built keeping in mind the needs of small business owners in India. It enables sellers to create an online storefront in less than 1 minute!
Dukaan is the best Shopify alternative in India, with powerful eCommerce capabilities, easy to use, and scalable. Selling online with Dukaan is as easy as creating a WhatsApp group. Sellers can simply download the app on their phones and manage their stores on the go!
It offers sellers a wide range of marketing features and tools to manage their online stores, and with the benefits of zero commissions on sales and complete control over their stores, sellers can start and manage their online business in the easiest way possible.
Pricing Plan
| Plans | Quarterly Price | Yearly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | ₹533/month, billed quarterly ₹1,599 | ₹375/month, billed yearly ₹4,499 |
| Gold | ₹1,066/month, billed quarterly ₹3,199 | ₹750/month, billed yearly ₹8,999 |
| Platinum | ₹3,333/month, billed quarterly ₹9,999 | ₹2,500/month, billed yearly ₹29,999 |
InstaMojo
| Website | www.instamojo.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 |
| Free Trial | Not Available, but a Free Version is available |
| Best suited for | Indian independent businesses, MSMEs & startups |
| Customer Support | Available in Forum and Knowledge Base |
Instamojo provides an easy way to get your eCommerce business off the ground and run an online store. You can have access to an eCommerce website with payment, shipping, marketing functionalities and more for free.
It is better suited for Indian independent businesses, MSMEs, startups, and D2C (Direct to customer) brands, Instamojo is an easy-to-use Shopify alternative in India that provides sellers with integrated easy payments, shipping, etc. A 14-day money-back guarantee is also available.
Instamojo enables sellers to create powerful stores with eCommerce features like marketing tools to grow their businesses.
Pricing Plan
| Plans | Yearly Price |
|---|---|
| Lite | ₹0 |
| Starter | ₹3,999 per year |
| Growth | ₹9,999 per year |
| Do It For Me | Custom Plans |
Shoopy
| Website | www.shoopy.in |
|---|---|
| Rating | 3.4/5 |
| Free Trial | Not Available, but a Free Version is available |
| Best Suited for | Small Business, Startups, Medium Business, SMBs, SMEs |
| Customer Support | Available by Phone and Email |
Shoopy is an online store provider that provides sellers with a free customized app. Shoopy is designed with advanced technology to meet the needs of both small and large businesses. Whether you need an online store for Groceries, Restaurants, beauty items, or hardware items, you can create a fully tailored solution for your business. One unique feature of Shoopy is that with it, sellers can send invoices directly to their customers through SMS or WhatsApp. It also provides invoicing, barcode inventory management, accounting, and many more capabilities.
All of the features necessary for running an online business are available. It also provides delivery and pickup services.
Pricing Plan
| Plans | Yearly Price |
|---|---|
| Free Plan | ₹0 |
| Basic Plan | ₹1,799 per year |
| Professional Plan | ₹3,999 per year |
| Business Plan | ₹13,999 per year |
Shoppiko
| Website | Shoppiko.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 |
| Free Trial | 14 Days |
| Best Suited for | Small businesses & startups in India |
| Customer Support | Available in chat, email, and phone |
Shoppiko is one of the top Shopify alternatives in India. Utilizing Shoppiko, you can quickly and easily build an impressive eCommerce platform with a few simple clicks. This online store builder has custom designs, responsive pages, an integrated blogging platform, and many other features to create an online store. With this service, you have complete control over the appearance and user experience.
It enables sellers to grow their business internationally. Sellers have full control over their business and also get marketing and conversion tools to drive traffic and convert more visitors to their stores.
Pricing Plan
| Plans | Monthly Price | Yearly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Premium eCommerce Solution | Rs 2,499/month | Rs 1,999/ Month |
| Premium With Mobile Apps | Rs 5,999/ Month | Rs 4,999/ Month |
BuilderFly
| Website | www.builderfly.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
| Free Trial | 7 Days |
| Best Suited for | Small and medium-sized businesses |
| Customer Support | Available in chat and email |
Builderfly is a comprehensive e-commerce system that enables users to build, manage, and publish their business through its online store builder and mobile app builder features. Builderfly is one of the top Shopify alternatives that allows entrepreneurs to sell their products under their own brand name.
Sellers can also manage all store operations through a central dashboard and use features like WhatsApp sharing, SMS marketing and live selling to improve their sales.
Pricing Plan
| Plans | Yearly Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | ₹15,000 per year |
| Growth | ₹27,500 per year |
| Enterprise | ₹40,000 per year |
| Lifetime | ₹1,25,000 per year |
Ohoshop
| Website | www.ohoshop.in |
|---|---|
| Rating | 3.0/5 |
| Free Trial | 14 Days |
| Best Suited for | Local Retailers, Wholesalers, B2C and B2B businesses |
| Customer Support | Available in chat, phone, and email |
Ohoshop is an eCommerce website and mobile app builder for online storefronts. Ohoshop is an eCommerce platform that can help your business reach more customers on mobile devices. Ohoshop is created specifically for mobile use and offers users access to Android and iOS applications for their stores. It provides custom app & website development and is one of the top alternatives for Shopify in India.
It enables sellers to integrate catalogue, marketing, and content management in one place, and also SEO, SSL, and Facebook, for seamless management of their online stores.
Pricing Plan
| Plans | Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Starter | ₹1,990 per month |
| Professional | ₹2,990 per month |
| Advance | ₹5,990 per month |
Final Words
Being one of the early players in the market, Shopify garnered a lot of brand recognition and is now a common household name, but it has fallen short of some of the very basic features and benefits needed by Indian entrepreneurs. Some of the top issues that sellers in India face with Shopify are high setup costs, difficult coding & designing requirements, and overall incompatibility for small businesses. Even if you’ve already chosen Shopify, don’t be inflexible with your choice, explore these top alternatives, and choose the one that fits your needs best. Instead of going with a legacy platform just for the brand identity, try out other options for yourself and see which one can help your business grow the most!
Ultimately, the key is to find the right balance between features, cost, and the needs of your business, to establish a successful online store.
FAQs
What are some of the top Shopify alternatives in India?
Some of the top Shopify alternatives in India include Dukaan, Shoopy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Shoppiko, OpenCart, Builderfly, Ohoshop, and Instamojo.
What are the benefits of using a Shopify alternative?
The benefits of using a Shopify alternative can include lower costs, more advanced customization options, support for Indian payment gateways, scalability, control, and the ability to integrate with other tools and apps.
Will I be able to customize my online store with a Shopify alternative?
The level of customization offered by a Shopify alternative can vary depending on the platform you choose.
Do Shopify alternatives offer Indian payment gateways?
Not all Shopify alternatives offer Indian payment gateways like UPI, net banking, and cash on delivery. Alternatives like Paytm and Instamojo offer Indian payment gateways, which can be a crucial factor for businesses looking to sell products to a local market.
What is the biggest problem with Shopify?
One of the biggest problems with Shopify is its pricing structure.
