Shopify vs Ecwid Comparison for Ecommerce Owners

Overview

The keyword shopify vs ecwid appears to be a common query when choosing an ecommerce platform. This article compares Shopify and Ecwid across positioning, core features, pricing, integrations, scaling, and common tradeoffs. Key decision criteria include: technical setup and design control, multi-channel selling, transaction and platform fees, inventory and product limits, POS and shipping integrations, and long-term scalability.

Quick summary: Shopify is a full hosted ecommerce platform designed for merchants who want a unified store, advanced checkout, app ecosystem, and scalable growth options. Ecwid (now part of Lightspeed) is a lightweight ecommerce widget and hosted store builder that excels at embedding a store into an existing website or selling across social channels with a lower entry cost. Choose Shopify for DTC brands, multi-location retail with POS, or complex storefront needs.

Choose Ecwid for minimal setup, adding ecommerce to an existing site, or keeping monthly costs very low while selling a limited catalog.

Shopify vs Ecwid at a Glance

This section provides a high-level comparison before we review each product in detail. Shopify is a comprehensive, standalone platform with a deep app marketplace and built-in checkout. Ecwid is a flexible embeddable store that adds ecommerce to sites, social profiles, and marketplaces without a full site migration.

Both handle payments and marketplaces, but they target different use cases and budgets.

Shopify

Overview and Positioning

Shopify is a hosted, all-in-one ecommerce platform built for merchants of all sizes, from startups to enterprise (Shopify Plus). Shopify provides a full storefront system, hosted checkout, built-in analytics, shipping and fulfillment features, native POS hardware and software, and a large app store for extensibility. It is positioned toward merchants who want a single platform to run ecommerce, manage inventory across channels, and scale operations without managing infrastructure.

Key Features and Strengths

• Hosted storefront and checkout with configurable themes and a robust theme editor.
• Large app ecosystem (payment gateways, subscriptions, B2B tools, reviews, email marketing).
• Integrated payments via Shopify Payments (reduces third-party transaction fees in supported countries).
• Built-in POS system with hardware and offline modes for in-person sales.
• Shipping label discounts, carrier-calculated shipping (on higher plans), and multi-origin fulfillment.
• Strong analytics and reporting, plus APIs and headless commerce options for custom builds.
• Multi-currency, international selling tools, and Shopify Markets for localized storefronts.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Monthly cost can rise quickly once you add apps, premium themes, and higher plans.
• Transaction fees apply if you do not use Shopify Payments in supported regions.
• App dependence: merchants often rely on paid apps for features not included in core plans.
• Customization beyond themes may require Liquid templating knowledge or developer help.
• Pricing and feature names can change; regional differences exist in payments and fees.

Pricing and Value

• Shopify Starter: $5 per month - basic links and checkout for social selling, no full storefront.
• Basic Shopify: $39 per month - online store, blog, up to 2 staff accounts, reporting, shipping discounts.
• Shopify: $105 per month - more staff accounts, better reports, professional reports, more features.
• Advanced: $399 per month - lower credit card rates, advanced report builder, third-party calculated shipping.
• Shopify Plus: custom pricing (enterprise level, typically starting in the low thousands per month).
• Transaction fees: Online card processing roughly 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic, if using Shopify Payments; rates vary by country and plan), with lower rates on higher plans. Additional fees (0.5-2%) apply when using external payment gateways.

Value: For merchants who need a full-featured store, integrated POS, and room to scale, Shopify offers strong value despite add-ons. Budget-conscious sellers should plan for app and theme costs beyond base plan fees.

Best For

• Direct-to-consumer brands launching full storefronts.
• Retailers needing integrated POS across physical locations.
• Businesses planning international expansion or complex fulfillment.
• Merchants who want a scalable platform with a large app ecosystem.

Ecwid

Overview and Positioning

Ecwid (now part of Lightspeed) is an embeddable ecommerce solution that lets you add a store to an existing website, social profile, or marketplace with minimal setup. Ecwid provides a hosted control panel and an embeddable widget (storefront) that can live on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or any HTML site. Ecwid also offers a simple hosted instant site for sellers without an existing website.

It is positioned toward small businesses and creators who want fast multi-channel selling without rebuilding their site.

Key Features and Strengths

• Free tier available for tiny catalogs and testing (basic features).
• Embeddable widget that preserves your existing site design and SEO.
• Easy multi-channel sales: Facebook, Instagram, Google, marketplaces, and messaging.
• Simple control panel for products, inventory, tax, shipping, and discounts.
• Built-in digital goods and service-selling capabilities (appointments, downloads) on paid plans.
• No platform transaction fees; you only pay payment processor fees.
• Quick setup: start selling within minutes on an existing site.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Design and theme customization are limited compared with Shopify storefronts; true storefront control is constrained by the host site.
• Feature depth and advanced commerce tools are less comprehensive than Shopify (for example, advanced B2B, large-scale automation, and enterprise-grade reporting).
• Product limits apply by plan (free plan limited to 10 products; higher tiers raise product caps).
• POS and physical retail features are more basic and often rely on third-party integrations like Square.
• Scaling large catalogs or customization-heavy storefronts may be more painful than a dedicated platform.

Pricing and Value

• Free plan: $0 per month - limited to 10 products, basic features, Ecwid branding.
• Venture: $15 per month - up to 100 products, sell on social channels, basic shipping and tax rules.
• Business: $35 per month - up to 2,500 products, automated tax calculations, gift cards, real-time carrier rates (region dependent).
• Unlimited: $99 per month - unlimited products, priority support, advanced features for larger catalogs.
• No platform transaction fees; payment processor fees (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) still apply.

Value: For small catalogs and sellers who want the lowest friction integration into an existing site or social channels, Ecwid provides a strong value, especially on the Business and Unlimited plans. For merchants who need deep customization and enterprise features, Ecwid may be limiting.

How to Choose

• Catalog size and complexity: If you have a small catalog (under 100 SKUs) and want to keep an existing website, Ecwid can get you selling quickly and cheaply. If you expect hundreds to thousands of SKUs, complex variants, or advanced inventory rules, Shopify scales more naturally.
• Need for a standalone storefront and brand control: If you want a dedicated, highly-customizable storefront with a hosted checkout under your domain, choose Shopify. If embedding a store into an existing site is the priority, choose Ecwid.
• Point-of-sale and omnichannel retail: Choose Shopify if you plan brick-and-mortar sales with integrated hardware or need unified inventory across online and offline. Choose Ecwid for basic POS and social selling but plan on third-party integrations for retail hardware.
• Budget vs. growth: For minimal upfront cost and predictable low monthly fees, Ecwid is appealing. For mid-term growth, Shopify’s features and app ecosystem often offset higher monthly and app costs by enabling higher revenue and automation.
• Technical resources and time: If you can manage or hire developers, Shopify supports deeper customization and headless setups. If you want fast setup without code, Ecwid is simpler.

Checklist:

1. Do you need a full hosted storefront and checkout or an embeddable store? (Shopify vs Ecwid)
2. How many products and variants will you manage now and in 12 months?
3. Will you sell in-person with POS hardware? (Shopify preferred)
4. Are you okay with app costs for extended features, or need out-of-the-box simplicity?
5. Do you need advanced international tools, shipping, and complex reports? (Shopify preferred)

Quick Comparison

Feature | Shopify | Ecwid | — | — | | Pricing (entry full store) | $39 / month (Basic Shopify) | | Free plan | No full-store free plan (Starter $5 for links) | | Best for | DTC brands, scaling retailers, integrated POS | | Transaction fees | 2.9% + $0.30 typical with Shopify Payments; extra fees for external gateways | | Product limits | Practically unlimited (depends on plan/scale) | | App ecosystem | Large app store, many paid apps | | POS and retail | Full-featured native POS with hardware |

Side-By-Side Feature Table

Feature | Shopify (high-level) | Ecwid (high-level) | — | — | | Hosted checkout and checkout customization | Native, secure, supports Shopify Payments, multi-currency, custom checkout via Plus | | Themes and design control | Extensive theme store and theme editor; Liquid templating for advanced customization | | Apps and integrations | Large third-party ecosystem, many niche merchants apps | | Shipping and fulfillment | Built-in shipping labels and discounts; carrier-calculated rates on higher plans | | B2B and wholesale features | Apps and Shopify Plus features available | | SEO and content | Strong blogging and SEO controls | | Internationalization | Shopify Markets, multi-currency, localized storefronts | | Support | 24/7 support, community, Shopify experts |

Pricing Breakdowns and Example Monthly Costs

Example scenarios to illustrate real-world monthly costs. All numbers approximate and reflect pricing as of mid-2024; actual charges vary by billing cycle, country, payment processor fees, and app/add-on choices.

Scenario A: Small maker selling on a blog, 30 products, social selling

• Ecwid Business: $35 / month - includes up to ~2,500 products, social channels, automated tax tools. Payment processor fees apply (Stripe/PayPal).
• Shopify Basic: $39 / month - full storefront. If you use Shopify Payments, similar card fees; add a paid theme (~$0-180 one-time) and one essential app ($10-20/mo) for email marketing.

Scenario B: Local retailer with a physical store and 500 SKUs

• Shopify Basic or Shopify plan plus POS hardware: $39 - $105 / month plus POS hardware (reader $49, terminal or registers $269+), apps for inventory or staff management as needed.
• Ecwid Unlimited: $99 / month - unlimited products, but POS relies on integrations like Square; hardware and integration fees add up.

Scenario C: Growing DTC brand with international expansion

• Shopify (Shopify or Advanced) $105 - $399 / month plus apps for subscriptions, international payments, and shipping; possible Shopify Plus for enterprise.
• Ecwid: possible but increasingly limited as advanced internationalization and enterprise integrations require custom work or third-party tools.

These scenarios show that Ecwid gives lower starting costs for embedded stores, while Shopify provides a platform more purpose-built for retail and growth, with higher odds of needing paid apps.

FAQ

Which Platform is Cheaper to Start With?

Ecwid is generally cheaper to start with because of its free plan and lower-tier paid plans (Venture $15/mo, Business $35/mo). Shopify provides better long-term scaling features but has higher base costs for a full storefront (Basic Shopify $39/mo) and often additional app or theme expenses.

Can I Use My Own Domain with Both Platforms?

Yes. Shopify provides full domain management and hosted storefront under your custom domain. Ecwid allows embedding into any existing site using your domain, or you can use Ecwid’s Instant Site and connect a custom domain.

Do Either Platforms Charge Transaction Fees on Top of Payment Processors?

Shopify charges additional transaction fees if you use third-party payment gateways instead of Shopify Payments; these fees vary by plan (commonly 0.5% to 2%). Ecwid does not charge platform transaction fees, but payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal will charge their standard processing fees.

Which is Better for Selling on Social Channels and Marketplaces?

Both support social and marketplace selling (Facebook, Instagram, Google, marketplaces), but Ecwid is designed to add multichannel selling quickly to an existing website and is easy to set up for social links. Shopify has deeper integrations and more advanced channel management tools, which benefits larger sellers.

Can I Migrate From Ecwid to Shopify Later?

Yes. You can migrate data (products, customers, orders) from Ecwid to Shopify using built-in export tools, third-party migration apps, or CSV exports. Plan for some work on theme setup and reconfiguring integrations when moving between platforms.

Which Platform is Better for in-Person Point-Of-Sale?

Shopify. Shopify has a native POS system with branded hardware, integrated payments, and inventory syncing across online and in-person sales. Ecwid supports POS via integrations like Square and simple checkout flows, but lacks the deep native retail hardware and advanced POS features Shopify provides.

Further Reading

• Launch Shopify Store Guide for Entrepreneurs
• Sell Online Stuff with Shopify Woocommerce Amazon
• How to Launch an Ecommerce Site - Complete Guide
• How to Launch a Ecommerce Business Step-By-Step