Ecwid vs. Shopify
Choosing the Best E-commerce Platform for Your Business
When it comes to launching or scaling your online store, choosing the right platform is a crucial decision. Ecwid and Shopify are two leading contenders, each offering unique strengths. In this blog, we’ll compare Ecwid and Shopify from a UK perspective, helping you decide which one suits your needs best—and how a website developer can enhance your success on either platform.
Platform Overview
What is Ecwid?
Ecwid is a lightweight, flexible e-commerce solution designed to be embedded into existing websites. It’s ideal for small businesses, start-ups, and sellers who want to keep costs low while still accessing robust selling tools.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a fully hosted, all-in-one e-commerce platform. It’s feature-rich and scalable, making it a strong choice for businesses focused on rapid growth and comprehensive online retail.
Feature Comparison
1. Ease of Use
- Ecwid: Simple and user-friendly, especially if you already have a website.
- Shopify: Also easy to use, but requires setting up a new store from scratch.
2. Design & Customisation
- Ecwid: Works seamlessly with your existing site’s branding. A developer can enhance its visual presentation and match it perfectly to your brand.
- Shopify: Offers a range of themes, but advanced design often requires developer support or premium themes.
3. Payment Gateways & Fees
- Ecwid: Supports multiple UK-friendly gateways with no transaction fees on top of payment provider charges.
- Shopify: Charges transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
4. Multichannel Selling
- Ecwid: Excellent for integrating with your current website, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and in-person POS.
- Shopify: Also strong in multichannel, with additional built-in features for marketplaces and POS.
5. Pricing
- Ecwid: Has a free plan with core features and affordable paid tiers.
- Shopify: Monthly fees are higher, but include hosting and more advanced e-commerce tools.
How a Developer Can Help You Maximise Each Platform
For Ecwid:
- Custom integration with your existing site
- Branded design and enhanced user experience
- Optimised product listings and SEO
Explore our Ecwid development services.
For Shopify:
- Fully custom Shopify theme development
- Advanced app integrations and automation
- Checkout optimisation and performance enhancements
See our work in action via our portfolio.
Conclusion
Both Ecwid and Shopify are excellent platforms—it really depends on your business goals, budget, and technical needs. Ecwid is perfect for those who want to sell quickly and affordably from an existing site, while Shopify is great for building a robust, standalone online store.
Whichever you choose, partnering with a professional developer ensures you get the most out of your platform.
Need help deciding or building your store? Contact us today to speak with a UK-based web development expert.