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Platform comparison

Shopify vs Ecwid: which platform fits your store?

Shopify and Ecwid side by side — hosting, costs, customisation, apps, B2B, international selling and maintenance — and how to decide between them.

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Our verdict

Ecwid adds a store to a website you already have; Shopify is a complete store to build the business on. Start with Ecwid if selling is a side channel, and move to Shopify when the shop becomes the main event.

At a glance

Shopify vs Ecwid compared

A practical, high-level comparison based on the projects we deliver. Every business is different — use it as a starting point.

Shopify and Ecwid compared by criterion
CriterionShopifyEcwid
HostingFully hosted SaaSFully hosted SaaS, embedded in any website
Best forD2C brands that want speed to marketAdding a shop to an existing website
Cost modelMonthly subscription plus apps; extra transaction fees unless you use Shopify PaymentsMonthly plans tiered by catalogue size and features
CustomisationLiquid themes, apps, Shopify FunctionsDesign settings, CSS, apps and APIs
Apps & extensionsOne of the largest app stores and partner networksEcwid App Market; modest
B2BNative B2B on Shopify PlusLimited
International sellingShopify Markets for currencies, languages and domainsMultilingual storefront; multi-currency via apps
Maintenance effortLowLow

How to decide

When to choose Shopify, and when to choose Ecwid

Both platforms can run a successful store. The right choice depends on your catalogue, your team, your budget and where you plan to sell.

Shopify

Shopify is a fully hosted commerce platform: hosting, security, checkout and updates are handled for you. Features are added through themes and one of the largest app stores in e-commerce.

Choose Shopify if

  • You want to launch quickly and keep maintenance low
  • You sell direct to consumers and expect to scale
  • You want a large app ecosystem and a proven checkout
  • You would rather pay a subscription than run servers

Keep in mind

  • App subscriptions add up as the store grows
  • Checkout and core logic change only through Shopify's extension points, and the deepest options need Shopify Plus
Shopify development

Ecwid

Ecwid by Lightspeed is a hosted store that you embed into an existing website — WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or a custom site. Social channels and marketplaces are managed from the same dashboard.

Choose Ecwid if

  • You already have a website and only need to add a store
  • You want to sell on social channels and marketplaces from one place
  • You have a small catalogue and a small budget
  • You don't want to rebuild your site

Keep in mind

  • Less control over design and checkout than a full platform
  • Not built for large catalogues or complex operations

Switching

Moving from Shopify to Ecwid — or the other way

Already on one of these platforms and considering the other? We migrate stores between Shopify and Ecwid in either direction, without losing data, revenue or search rankings.

  • Products, variants, customers and order history transferred
  • Every old URL mapped to its new address with 301 redirects
  • Integrations reconnected and tested before launch
  • A rehearsed go-live, so sales continue uninterrupted
E-commerce migration service

FAQ

Shopify vs Ecwid FAQ

Can't find your answer? Talk to our team.

Ecwid adds a store to a website you already have; Shopify is a complete store to build the business on. Start with Ecwid if selling is a side channel, and move to Shopify when the shop becomes the main event.

It depends on what you count. Shopify: Monthly subscription plus apps; extra transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. Ecwid: Monthly plans tiered by catalogue size and features. Compare the total cost over two or three years — platform fees, apps or extensions, hosting, development and maintenance — rather than the monthly price alone.

Maintenance effort on Shopify: Low. On Ecwid: Low. Hosted platforms take care of servers, security patches and updates for you; self-hosted platforms leave that work to you or your agency.

Yes, in either direction. We move products, customers, order history and content, map every old URL to its new address with 301 redirects, and rehearse the go-live so that sales and search rankings carry over.

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