For a lot of people, Shopify feels like the only place to start when you’re thinking about selling anything online. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard, “Just use Shopify, everybody does.” That’s not always good advice, though. Not every business, not every product fits inside Shopify’s rules and prices. If you ask me, there are some hidden headaches you probably won’t realize at first. I ran my own store for years, and I wish someone had pulled me aside and explained these things before I signed up for all those monthly fees I didn’t expect.

The Real Cost of Shopify: It Isn’t Really $29 a Month

So, Shopify sounds cheap at first, doesn’t it? That $29 starter plan looks pretty nice. What they don’t tell you (at least, not until you’ve already signed up) is that almost none of the features you actually need are included in that base price. The app store is a jungle with more than 12,000 different add-ons, and most of them will jack up your monthly cost.

Most Shopify stores need six to eight apps to operate. Here’s how that adds up:

• The average app is about $66 per month
• Most legit businesses pay somewhere between $400 and $500 per month (just for apps)
• Even those trying to keep their store as lean as possible end up at $200+ a month in fees

And all you wanted was a basic store that works. That’s without even getting fancy.

Payment Fees and Where Shopify Loses You Even More Money

If you’re in one of 22 “approved” countries, you’re allowed to use Shopify Payments. If not, prepare for an extra 1-2% fee on every single transaction just for the privilege of selling. What hits you is that if your revenue reaches six or seven figures a year, that’s thousands of dollars leaving your business for no real reason at all.

Shopify’s priorities are clear—they care more about payment processing than their actual subscriptions, since 73.5 percent of their revenue comes from those fees.

Shopify’s Control Problems: When They Can Shut You Down

This is the part that rattles me the most. I’ve watched people lose their income, literally overnight, because Shopify shut down their store without warning. Maybe your supplier raises prices so you have to raise yours—and Shopify calls it “price gouging” even if it’s legit. Or maybe you sell something they don’t like: supplements, adult products, you name it. Worst of all, if a competitor files a phony copyright complaint, you can be shut down before you even get to prove your side.

If Shopify kills your store, your SEO is destroyed and your passive income is gone, instantly. There’s not much you can do about it except pay expensive lawyers and hope for the best.

When Does Shopify Still Make Sense?

I don’t want to sound like I’m only picking on Shopify. If what you want is quick, no-brainer setup, and you aren’t fussed about costs or control, then sure, Shopify will get you moving fast. But if you want to save money, want more flexibility, or want all your store’s data in your own hands, Shopify is probably the worst platform you could choose.

WooCommerce: Complete Freedom and Control

So, this is where WooCommerce enters the picture. This is a plugin for WordPress—which already powers about 40 percent of all websites online. WooCommerce lets you sell whatever you want (no matter how weird or niche your idea is). There’s nobody waiting to yank your store just because you break a rule you didn’t know about.

Some of the big WooCommerce wins:

• You own your site and your data (nobody can “erase” your business)
• No silly limits about what you can sell
• Pricing is a lot more transparent
• SEO is a dream compared to Shopify

If you want to dive deeper into which e-commerce platforms offer serious flexibility, this Shopify alternatives guide from BigCommerce goes pretty deep on the pros and cons.

WooCommerce Pricing & Why It’s Cheaper Over Time

WooCommerce itself is completely free—and you’d be surprised how many plugins and features cost a one-time fee (or are even free). Even premium plugin renewals tend to be cheaper year over year than what Shopify’s app charges add up to. My own kids run a small store for less than three bucks a month.

PlatformMonthly CostFeaturesShopify + Apps$200-$500Very basicWooCommerce$2.69+Flexible

WooCommerce and the SEO Advantage

WordPress is still the gold standard for blogging and search traffic. Shopify’s built-in blog builder is clumsy, and their URLs are a mess to clean up for SEO. If you want organic search traffic, WooCommerce gives you full control, from your blog to your category pages.

WooCommerce’s Weak Spots

Of course, it’s not all rosy. You have to handle your own hosting and security. Sometimes plugins break or don’t play nice together. You probably need at least a little bit of technical savvy, or you’ll have to pay a developer. And WooCommerce sites need to be optimized, or they can get slow.

Shift4Shop: Free, Feature-Packed, and Way Under the Radar

Almost nobody talks about Shift4Shop, but it’s probably the best kept secret for US-based sellers doing more than $1,000 a month. It used to be called 3D Cart. If you use their payment gateway and sell more than a grand a month, you pay no monthly subscription.

Here’s what you get, out of the box:

• Unlimited products and staff accounts
• Built-in blog and SEO tools
• Loyalty programs and affiliate setup
• Gift registries and daily deals
• Free email marketing
• No transaction fees with their processor

All those features would cost you a bundle in the Shopify ecosystem. Here, they’re included.

Where Shift4Shop Can Get Tricky

There are catches. It’s only free if you’re in the US and hit $1,000 in monthly sales on their gateway. The app store is way smaller than Shopify’s, the look and feel of the admin area is maybe a little behind the times, and if you get stuck, there aren’t as many developers or tutorials out there. But the built-in stuff is pretty great for the price.

BigCommerce: Serious Features for Scalable Stores

Now, if you’re running a bigger business with lots of products or you need the sort of advanced discounting and catalog rules that Shopify loves to charge extra for, BigCommerce is worth a look. They pack in:

• Advanced discounts, tiered pricing, and loyalty out of the box
• No limits on product variants (great for apparel or custom products)
• No extra transaction fees, so use whatever payment gateway you want
• Central “hub” for Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest listings (with auto-sync)

Even better, you won’t get nickeled and dimed the way Shopify users do, and all those serious features are built in. For details, check this list of top Shopify alternatives for scaling brands.

Drawbacks of BigCommerce

It’s not perfect, of course. The interface is a bit clunky compared to Shopify. The app marketplace is smaller. They charge their fees based on revenue, not profit—so if you’re operating on thin margins, like drop shippers often do, that can sting. But if you have a big catalog, you need B2B features, or you want real-time inventory syncing everywhere, BigCommerce wins.

Wix, Squarespace, and All the Hobby Platforms

If you want to build a passive income stream with a niche website and only need to sell a couple of items, Wix and Squarespace are friendly enough. They feel easy, and the drag-and-drop tools are nice. But they’re website builders first, e-commerce platforms second. There just aren’t enough integrations or advanced options for someone who wants to scale. Squarespace, for example, won’t even support serious email marketing tools like Klaviyo.

For folks running a side hustle or a tiny niche store, fine. But step outside that, and you’ll outgrow them almost overnight.

Magento, OpenCart, and All the Heavy-Duty Platforms

A quick note on the old-timers. Magento is great for giant 8-figure brands who have dev teams on payroll, but it’s just way too complicated for regular people. Same goes for OpenCart and PrestaShop—maybe if you like tinkering, but support and community are both thin.

Choosing the Right E-Commerce Platform for Women (and Anyone) Building Passive Income

So here’s what I wish someone had explained to me: Shopify is popular because it’s slick and fast, but you pay (a lot) for the convenience, and you’re stuck playing by their rules. WooCommerce is for people who want control and freedom, especially if you care about building a niche website and owning your outcomes. Shift4Shop is crazy affordable if you live in the US and don’t mind their payment gateway. BigCommerce is for anyone building a bigger, more complex store with lots of advanced features.

Wix and Squarespace are for small hobby shops—not for building a serious business or a real passive income stream.

Whatever you pick, make sure it really works for how you want to run your business. Consider your budget, what you want to sell, and how much control you really want.

More Resources and Next Steps

If you’re at the starting line or looking to level up, take a look at this free 6 Day Ecommerce Course for step-by-step ideas. For a bigger picture (and maybe some inspiration), you can also check this roundup of the best Shopify alternatives—it’ll help you compare your options side by side.

Start small. Build out your niche website. Aim for real passive income. Pick the right e-commerce platform, and the rest gets a whole lot easier.