In this article, let’s explore some of the best Magento alternatives that can help take your online business to the next level.
Don’t have time to read an entire article? Take a look at our quick recommendation.
Launch, scale and manage your online business with just $14.99 on Dukaan. Annual plans start at $149.99 only.
Magento is projected as a very potential platform. However, data shows that only 8% of eCommerce sites are built on Magento.
Magento’s selling point is that it is highly customizable. However, for the customization to be done right, you need technical expertise. For those from a non-IT background, Magento may seem like a maze.
Plus, to have a fully functional online store on Magento, you will have to shell out a fortune for a domain, hosting, security, paid themes, and so much more!
Contents
Why are People Looking for Magento Alternatives?
If you are on this article, we are sure you already know all the disadvantages of Magento as a platform. However, here are some common reasons why people are looking for alternatives to Magento.
1. It is very difficult to use
Magento is not one of the best platforms when it comes to ease of use. It is an open software that runs on the PHP program.
Even seasoned developers find it hard to find their way around Magento. That said, it is surely not suitable for sellers with no technical knowledge.
2. It is very expensive!
It comes with a lot of costs associated with the domain name, web hosting, security, eCommerce features, add-ons, etc… You will also have to pay a developer if you do not have the relevant expertise.
3. It is tricky to use and crashes easily
Remember what we said just a second ago? Magento is very hard to get around with even for experienced developers.
That said, users find the platform very tricky or finicky. It keeps crashing constantly and the loading speed increases with a lot of customization.
10 Magento Alternatives to try in 2023
Without further ado, here are the best Magento alternatives in 2023.
1. Dukaan
Best for creating your online store quickly and easily.
Pricing starts at $14.99 per month. (7-days free trial)
Magento may weigh down on small businesses and start-ups with their costs. Dukaan, on the other hand, supports and lifts these businesses up.
Be it their all-inclusive subscriptions that are also easy on the pocket or the ease to set up an online store with zero coding skills, Dukaan surely tops the list, and with good reason.
How does Dukaan compare with Magento?
| Features | Dukaan | Magento |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable for | B2C AND D2C businesses of all sizes and across all niches. | Not suited for small businesses. Only scaling mid-level and large businesses. |
| Ease of use | Does not require any technical skills to use. Extremely user-friendly. | Atleast intermediate-level coding skills needed to handle the platform's working. |
| User interface | No learning curve. Intuitive to use. | Steep learning curve required. |
| Customer support | Responsive customer and tech support available 24/7. Can be contacted via phone, e-mail and chat. | Full spectrum of customer support available only on the most expensive subscription package. No tech support for anyone without an enterprise plan. |
| SSL security | SSL certificate is included in all subscription plans. | Does not provide a free SSL certificate. |
| Ease of integrations | Choose from a wide range of in-built integrations and tools. | Some integrations require high level coding expertise. |
| Pricing | Plans are all-inclusive. | Multiple extra charges in addition base plans. |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Feature available. | Missing feature. |
| Pricing | Plans are all-inclusive. Base plan starts from $9.99/month. | Costly compared to other platforms; many essential features hidden behind paywalls. Base charges differ according to customizations. |
Features
Dukaan is a very feature-rich platform. It comes with all the necessary eCommerce features required to run, manage and scale your business of every size.
Its intuitive dashboard allows you to easily handle orders, manage inventory, track shipping and analyze analytics; all from one page. Its also houses advanced eCommerce features like RTO optimizer, abandoned cart recovery, flexible payments, wishlist feature, multiple warehouse management etc.
Design
Dukaan has a handful of themes that are easy to activate and customize according to your business needs. All of their in-house themes are free to use and are optimized for mobile viewing.
Their library is filled with a range of editable banner images, social media posts, WhatsApp story templates, etc. which can be used to promote your store across multiple platforms.
Ease of use
One of the biggest pros of Dukaan is its ease of use. The entire process of setting up your online store is possible in under a minute.
Adding or deleting products and managing your inventory is so easy through Dukaan’s computerized inventory management. Moreover, there is no learning curve attached with the platform, meaning you can straightaway get to selling after creating your store.
You can also choose from a variety of business tools and plugins and that can help with running your business more efficiently.
Pricing
Here is a detailed breakdown of Dukaan’s pricing plans:
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | $14.99 | $149.99 |
| Agency | $49.99 | $499.99 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
The Dukaan enterprise plan helps you scale your business with advanced features and more controls.
2. WooCommerce
Best for existing WordPress websites.
Free plugin for WordPress, hosting not included.
WooCommerce is a free plugin on WordPress that can be downloaded to convert your WordPress website into an eCommerce website.
Since your web store will be on the WordPress platform, you will have access to a huge range of themes, plugins, extensions, and add-ons. However, most of them need to be purchased or subscribed to.
Features
When it comes to eCommerce functionalities, WooCommerce is full of them. You can integrate multiple payment gateways, shipping options, etc. into your online store.
With WordPress, you also get blogging integration, which will help with the SEO and marketing process.
Design
WordPress library is known to have over 30,000 themes, more or less. This number includes both free and paid templates.
While integrating WooCommerce with the current theme, people face many design issues that need technical expertise to navigate through.
Ease of use
WordPress in itself is an easy-to-use platform. It has been the go-to platform for bloggers and website builders for quite some time now.
However, when it comes to running an online business on the platform, requires a lot of technical knowledge. If not, you will have to hire someone for site maintenance and updates.
Pricing
WooCommerce may be a free plugin, however, there is a wide range of costs involved in using it. The breakdown looks something like this:
| Low Pricing Range: | High Pricing Range: | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | $6.95/month | $12.95/month |
| Domain Name | $15/year | $25/year |
| Theme | Free WooCommerce theme | $35-129 professional theme |
| Plugins | Free | $100-150/year |
| Security | $10/year | $150-450/year |
| Dev Fees | Free | $1,000-6,000 |
Why choose WooCommerce over Magento?
1. User-friendly.
2. Vast extensions and plugins.
3. Responsive and quick customer service.
Further reading
- Searching for better WooCommerce alternatives ? Our detailed guide enlists great options.
3. Shopify
Best for feature-rich eCommerce experience.
Pricing starts at $9 per month +commission.
When we look for eCommerce platforms, Shopify has dominated the list for quite some time now. It is a trusted platform for millions of sellers across the globe.
Shopify is a great alternative to Magento simply because it is a well-established brand name in the market. It has a range of eCommerce features that none of its competitors seem to have.
Features
Since Shopify is a platform dedicated to eCommerce and online businesses, its eCommerce features are pretty much the best in the market.
Shopify’s star feature is its abandoned cart recovery, apart from which it also offers multiple payment options, multiple shipping options, inventory management, and much more.
Design
Though Shopify does not have a large library of templates or themes, the ones that are available on the platform are very eCommerce friendly. Finding a theme best suited for your business type is easy on Shopify.
Customizing the theme according to your business needs is possible, but there is a learning curve involved.
Ease of use
Shopify does have a steep learning curve which may not be beneficial for beginners and start-up businesses. Once you get a hang of the platform, you can handle your business efficiently on it.
Pricing
Here is a detailed breakdown of paid plans on Shopify:
| Plan | Monthly | Transaction Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Starter | $5 | - |
| Shopify Lite | $9 | 2.7% per in-person transaction |
| Basic Shopify | $29 | 2.9% + 30 cents per online transaction; 2.7% per in-person transaction |
| Standard Shopify | $79 | 2.6% + 30 cents per online transaction; 2.5% per in-person transaction |
| Advanced Shopify | $299 | 2.4% + 30 cents per online transaction; 2.4% per in-person transaction |
| Shopify Plus | Starting at $2000 | 0.15% per transaction (for third-party payment processors only) |
Why choose Shopify over Magento?
1. Easy drag-and-drop website builder.
2. Vast library of mobile-responsive themes.
3. Better app market.
Further reading
- Take a look at our detailed comparison of Magento vs Shopify for a better understanding of which is right for you.
- Check out our review of the best Shopify alternatives and compare.
4. Wix
Best for well-customized online storefront
Pricing starts from $14 per month
Wix is a website builder better known for its drag-and-drop feature to easily build a website. eCommerce feature can be added to the website with a plugin.
With Wix, you can create an online store that is highly aesthetic and professional-looking.
Features
Wix may not yet be one of the legacy eCommerce platforms, however, its eCommerce features are still at par with most of the legacy names.
On Wix, you can create online stores that are mobile responsive and run an eCommerce business that has a global reach. You also have access to the blog feature, which allows you to add credibility to your store.
Design
Wix is a platform rich with well-designed templates, design elements, stock images, and everything else you need to build a personalized and aesthetic online store.
It also offers unlimited customization using APIs, which helps you to connect a few custom tools to your Wix website.
Ease of use
Wix is the best alternative to Magento for its ease of use. It is ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) that helps you set up the online store of your dreams just by answering a few simple questions.
If you want to edit the web store design suggested by ADI, you can do so very easily.
Pricing
For an AI-based website builder, Wix’s pricing plans are quite budget-friendly. Their paid plans are as follows:
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Combo | $23/month | $16/month |
| Unlimited | $29/month | $22/month |
| Pro | $34/month | $27/month |
| VIP | $49/month | $45/month |
| Business Basic | $34/month | $27/month |
| Business Unlimited | $38/month | $32/month |
| Business VIP | $64/month | $59/month |
Why choose Wix over Magento?
1. Beginner-friendly.
2. Don’t need prior design experience.
3. ADI feature for website building.
Further reading
- Not sure if Wix is right for you? Check out the other Wix alternatives available to compare.
5. Squarespace
Best for aesthetically pleasing online store
Pricing starts from $12 per month
Squarespace is also a drag-and-drop type website builder that has a range of customizable themes and templates. You can make your online store look unique and aesthetic on this platform.
Features
When you go for one of their paid plans, Squarespace offers access to a range of eCommerce features, like a free domain for a year, unlimited listings, unlimited storage, etc.
The platform also has a tight security feature and commendable SEO features.
Design
If you are into the aesthetic appeal of your online store, then Squarespace is surely the best alternative to Magento. Even better, customizing your store on Squarespace is so much easier than using Magento.
You can pick from their large library of pre-designed templates and themes for your online store.
Ease of use
From the customization point of view, Squarespace is quite easy to use. You can pick the theme that suits your business the most and then personalize the look and feel according to your branding needs.
It also offers hosting, so there is no hassle of dealing with third-party hosting providers.
Pricing
Squarespace does offer somewhat competitive paid pricing plans, which are as follows:
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Plan | $23 | $16 |
| Business Plan | $33 | $23 |
| Ecommerce Basic Plan | $36 | $27 |
| Ecommerce Advanced Plan | $65 | $49 |
Why choose Squarespace over Magento?
1. Live support and in-person training available.
2. Also supports startups and mid-level businesses.
3. Ease to use of customization features.
Further reading
- On the lookout for better Squarespace alternatives? Our detailed guide to the best Squarespace alternatives explores top options.
6. BigCommerce
Best for businesses that are growing quickly.
Pricing starts from $29.95 per month.
BigCommerce, as the name suggests, is all about making it big in terms of online business. It is the best alternative to Magento for businesses that are growing and scaling constantly.
Features
When we say that you can go big with this platform, we mean it. Their eCommerce features equip medium to large businesses in running their business more efficiently.
Some of these power-packed features include abandoned cart recovery, order management, inventory management, SEO, etc.
Design
BigCommerce is more focused on the eCommerce side of things rather than looks and aesthetics.
Their pre-designed themes are limited and most of the stores on the platform end up looking similar to each other.
Ease of use
BigCommerce is quite simple and straightforward. However, people have faced some issues with the platform not being able to adapt as the business scales.
At such points, someone with a technical background is required to maintain the site and handle the updates.
Pricing
BigCommerce may look like it is more on the costlier end, however, when compared to Magento, there are not as many extra costs and hidden charges involved!
| Plan | Monthly (when billed monthly) | Monthly (when billed yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $29.95 | $29.95 |
| Plus | $79.95 | $71.95 |
| Pro | $299.95 | $269.96 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Why choose BigCommerce over Magento?
1. Easy setup
2. No tech experience required.
3. 24/7 customer support available.
Further reading
- Not satisfied with BigCommerce’s offerings? Check out our in-depth analysis of other BigCommerce alternatives available.
7. Volusion
Best for medium to large-scale businesses
Pricing starts from $29 per month
Volusion is another platform, similar to BigCommerce, which offers you a lot of powerful eCommerce features that world great for medium to large businesses.
Unlike Magento, Volusion is a self-hosted platform and you do not have to worry about third-party hosting providers.
Features
Volusion can easily be referred to as an all-in-one eCommerce platform. It comes with domain, hosting, multi-channel selling, and a lot more eCommerce features.
It allows users to connect with the stores directly over a call and it allows for unlimited listings without any transaction fees or extra charges.
Design
Volusion comes with an eCommerce site builder you can use to create a professional-looking online store quickly.
Though the pre-designed templates are on the limited side, the themes are well-designed, clean, and completely responsive.
Ease of use
Building your web store on Volusion is very simple, especially when you use their WYSIWYG or what-you-see-is-what-you-get style website builder.
You can also hire Volusion’s in-house design experts to put together a highly customized and aesthetic eCommerce website.
Pricing
Volusion is surely not the most budget-friendly platform, but, it is the best option for large businesses that can afford these pricing plans.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $35.00 | $31.50 |
| Professional | $79.00 | $71.10 |
| Business | $299.00 | $269.10 |
| Prime | Based on GMV | Based on GMV |
Why choose Volusion over Magento?
1. Simple setup process.
2. Theme design service available.
3. More powerful security features.
8. Big Cartel
Best for selling individual artworks
Free plan for up to 5 products
Big Cartel is an eCommerce platform much like Etsy, or Amazon Handmade, as the platform is dedicated to artists and handcrafted products.
It is also one of the few platforms that offer a forever free plan, where you can sell up to 5 products. When you have to sell more products, you can always go for one of their fairly priced subscription plans.
Features
Big Cartel’s sales and eCommerce features are pretty simple and basic. It is a platform best suited for small-scale individual sellers who do not need a lot of features.
It offers 3 payment options and you can add one image to each of your products. For any more of the eCommerce features, you will have to use apps and extensions.
Design
From a design perspective, Big Cartel is very basic and lacks customization options. You can choose from the limited themes that the platform offers, but when it comes to customization, you will need coding skills.
However, once you have customized it, it is easy to switch between themes as the site will rearrange itself to fit the new theme.
Ease of use
As mentioned above, the platform is very simple, basic, and straightforward. There is no fluff of any sort when you choose this platform. You can create your store quickly, add your handmade products, and start selling.
Pricing
Here is a detailed breakdown of Big Cartel’s pricing plans:
| Plan | Monthly | You can list |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Free | 5 Products |
| Platinum | $9.99 | 50 Products |
| Diamond | $19.99 | 500 Products |
Why choose Big Cartel over Magento?
1. Appeals to the creative niche.
2. Intuitive to use
3. Quick store setup.
Further reading
- Does Big Cartel leave you wanting more? Take a look at better Big Cartel alternatives worth trying out.
9. PrestaShop
Best for complete creative control over your web store
Free software and add-ons start from $150 per month
PrestaShop is open-source software that is free to download. It offers complete creative control over your website or online store.
We should also mention that you need to have some technical expertise to find your way around the customization part.
Features
PrestaShop offers a range of helpful features, like email marketing, 4 payment options, free shipping options, etc.
The platform also guides you through the process of starting your online store, unlike Magento, where you have to figure out everything on your own.
Design
PrestaShop is open-source software that allows you to customize your online store and add as many features to it as you need.
It is necessary that you have basic knowledge of coding to handle the source code of the platform.
Ease of use
It is pretty simple to install the software and set up a basic web store on the platform. However, you also need to customize the store and add plugins that extend the functionality of the store.
This is possible only if you have the required technical skills or hire someone who has the right skill set to help you out.
Pricing
PrestaShop, like many other open source software, comes with a lot of additional costs like:
| Features | Pricing (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Domain | Up to $20 per year |
| Hosting | $3 to $100 per month |
| SSL Certificate | $100 to $500 per year |
| Themes and Modules | $50 to $1000 |
| Developer charges | $50 to $80 per hour |
Why choose PrestaShop over Magento?
1. Intuitive and easy to use.
2. Setup guide available.
3. No design skills are needed.
10. Salesforce
Best for taking your business globally
Pricing starts from $25 per month
Formerly known as Demandware, Salesforce is a completely cloud-based eCommerce platform.
You can easily integrate your eCommerce store with Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and other useful software.
Features
The eCommerce feature on Salesforce is powered by the Salesforce commerce cloud extension. This allows you to sell across multiple channels, including web stores, social media sites, mobile sites, etc.
The platform provides powerful analytics and data reports about customer behavior in your store, which can be used to increase sales.
Design
Salesforce is a really powerful platform dedicated to eCommerce and hence the design side of the platform is pretty limited.
Without the technical know-how and coding skills, you cannot find your way around the platform. Even after your store is all set up, it is better to hire a dedicated tech person to maintain your site and handle technical issues.
Ease of use
Salesforce is a great choice from a convenience point of view. When used right, it has the potential to explode your sales.
Handling your business, your orders, your customers, and so much more is easy on the platform.
Pricing
Here is a basic breakdown of pricing to use the Salesforce platform:
| Plan | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Essential | $25 |
| Professional | $75 |
| Enterprise | $150 |
| Unlimited | $300 |
Why choose Salesforce over Magento?
1. AI-based shopping personalization feature available.
2. 24/7 customer support.
3. Advanced catalog and merchandizing management.
Magento Alternatives for Your Business Needs
- Dukaan: Best for creating your online store quickly and easily.
- WooCommerce: Best for existing WordPress websites.
- Shopify: Best for feature-rich eCommerce experience.
- Wix: Best for well-customized online storefront.
- Squarespace: Best for aesthetically pleasing online store.
- BigCommerce: Best for businesses that are growing quickly.
- Volusion: Best for medium to large-scale businesses.
- Big Cartel: Best for selling individual artworks.
- PrestaShop: Best for complete creative control over your web store.
- Salesforce: Best for taking your business globally.
Conclusion
Those are some of the best alternatives to Magento, where you can set up your online store much more easily and efficiently.
Customization is surely an important factor when considering an eCommerce platform. However, when it comes to running your business without any hitches, a lot of other factors play a stronger role.
For example, the ease of setting up an online store without the need for technical expertise or coding skills. Ability to manage your entire business on a single platform. Find helpful tools and plugins that come in handy in running your business.
Dukaan offers all of the above and a lot more. It is one of the best platforms for new entrepreneurs, small business owners, and sellers that have serious goals for their online business.
Watch this video to learn all about starting your online store on Dukaan:
FAQ’s
1. What are competitors to Magento?Some of the major competitors of Magento are Dukaan, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace.
2. What are the pros and cons of Magento?
Magento is an open-source eCommerce platform that allows for complete customization. This is a huge pro for Magento.
However, Magento is very hard to use and very expensive. It needs technical expertise to handle your business on the platform.
3. Why is Magento so expensive?
Magento software is free to download and open to customization. However, there are a range of other costs involved like domain, hosting, SSL certificate, etc.
If you do not have any coding skills, you will also have to hire a developer to customize your website and maintain it too.
4. Is Magento good for small business?
It may be a great option for small businesses, provided you have the technical expertise it takes. Else, using this platform could mean dealing with a range of costs that may go well beyond your budget!
5. Is Magento hard to learn?
Magento uses the PHP system, and it is said to be one of the toughest to learn for a developer.
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