Webcart vs Shopify
Looking for a Shopify alternative? See how Webcart compares on pricing, features, and ease of use.
Webcart | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Bill | Never | $29/mo |
| Payment Processing | Stripe fees (pass-through) | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Platform Cut | 1.5% (auto-deducted) | 0-2% extra* |
| Cost if £0 sales | £0 | $29 |
| Products | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AI Store Builder | ✓ Built-in | ✗ Requires apps |
| Custom Domain | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Theme Customization | Visual Editor | Liquid Templates |
| Mobile App | Coming Soon | ✓ |
| Support | 24/7 Support | |
| Setup Time | ~5 minutes | ~1 hour |
*Shopify charges 0% extra if using Shopify Payments, 2% extra if using external payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe directly.
💰 Pricing Comparison
The biggest difference: Shopify charges $29/month whether you sell anything or not. With Webcart, zero sales means zero cost. You only pay 1.5% when you actually make money.
This matters especially for seasonal businesses (Christmas shops, summer events), side projects, or anyone testing a new product. Why pay $348/year in Shopify fees during months you're not selling?
When you do sell: At £5K/month revenue, Webcart costs £75 vs Shopify's ~$29 + payment fees. At higher volumes, our rate drops to 1% then 0.5%.
Bottom line: Webcart aligns with your success. We only make money when you do.
🤖 AI Features
Webcart has AI built into its core. Generate product descriptions, create product images, and optimize SEO with a single click. Shopify requires third-party apps (usually paid) for similar functionality.
Bottom line: Webcart's native AI saves hours of work and eliminates the need for expensive copywriters or image creation services.
🎨 Ease of Use
Both platforms are user-friendly, but Webcart's modern interface and AI assistance make it faster to get started. Shopify has more features but comes with a steeper learning curve. Webcart's theme editor is visual and intuitive, while Shopify requires learning their Liquid templating language for advanced customization.
Bottom line: Webcart is simpler for beginners. Shopify offers more flexibility for developers.
🏆 When to Choose Each
Choose Webcart if you...
- ✓ Want zero upfront costs
- ✓ Need AI-powered store generation
- ✓ Prefer simplicity over complexity
- ✓ Want to launch in minutes, not hours
- ✓ Prefer pay-as-you-grow pricing
Choose Shopify if you...
- ✓ Need 24/7 phone support
- ✓ Want a mobile app for management
- ✓ Need advanced third-party integrations
- ✓ Have a large existing product catalog
- ✓ Require POS for physical retail
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