15 Best Magento alternatives for building your online store

If you’re building an online store and AI eCommerce personalization is a priority, you’ve likely considered Magento. But the reality is that Magento isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re a smaller merchant or a seasoned developer, you may find that the platform’s complexity and costs outweigh its benefits. The good news is that plenty of Magento alternatives offer similar features without the same headaches. This article will help you identify the best options for your online store based on your specific needs and budget.

One excellent alternative is Instant’s Shopify product page builder, which simplifies creating custom product pages and can help you quickly achieve your personalization goals. 

Table of Contents

• 15 Best Magento alternatives for building your online store

• Why look for a Magento alternative?

• Choosing the Magento alternative to build your online store

• eCommerce business trends to help you decide on a Magento alternative

• Optimize your Shopify store for conversions without breaking the bank with Instant's Shopify product page build

15 Best Magento alternatives for building your online store

1. Instant: Elevate your Shopify store

Instant is a user-friendly tool that transforms how you build your Shopify store. It allows eCommerce teams and agencies to create fully customizable and advanced pages without any coding knowledge. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, users can quickly design and publish high-converting:

• Landing pages

• Blog posts

• Product pages

• Sections

Taking control of your store's success

This maintains complete control over their store's design. Instant also offers seamless integration with Figma and other eCommerce tools, making it a versatile choice for enhancing online store performance and increasing conversions. Try Instant's Shopify product page builder today!

2. Shopify: Simplified selling for small businesses

Shopify is a SaaS platform known for its robust market presence in the eCommerce space. It offers an all-in-one solution by:

• Acting as a payment gateway

• Shipping and fulfillment provider

• Email marketing service

All while handling PCI compliance and ensuring security. This makes it ideal for small businesses and hobbyists. However, pushing customers to use only Shopify features can create challenges, especially for those wanting customization. Opting out of Shopify Payments incurs fees. Mid-market and enterprise businesses may also find limitations due to their lack of multi-storefront functionality.

3. Salesforce commerce cloud: Power and complexity

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, formerly Demandware, is a scalable SaaS option that allows businesses to manage sales through digital and physical channels. It’s beneficial for large global companies with complex software needs. Salesforce’s approach means many products remain separate, with different architectures, complicating customization. It's also pricey, with fees typically between 1% and 3% of a company’s GMV, making it inaccessible for smaller brands.

4. Commercetools: For the tech-savvy

Commercetools is a headless eCommerce platform using MACH architecture, which is ideal for enterprises wanting custom experiences. Its API-only framework allows developers to create integration infrastructure and customizations. While this offers great flexibility, it can lead to technical debt, complicating new feature integration. Commercetools is best for companies with strong development teams.

5. WooCommerce: Open-source flexibility

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that transforms websites into online stores. It offers SEO features, various payment processing options, and multichannel capabilities. It requires development expertise to manage and scale, as users must handle security patches and customization fixes.

6. Wix: Simple and stylish

Wix is known for its user-friendly interface, making it a popular choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses. While not primarily an eCommerce platform, it offers straightforward features and design capabilities. Wix supports essential omnichannel selling, drop shipping, and abandoned cart recovery, but it’s not ideal for established businesses needing scalable features.

7. PrestaShop: Customization with challenges

PrestaShop is a free, open-source platform offering paid options for add-ons and plugins. It supports:

• Multi-storefront

• Multi-inventory

• Multi-language

• Multi-currency

• Enabling scalability 

Users must handle patches, security, and hosting, requiring a development team. Technical support is also primarily in French and Spanish.

8. Volusion: For the experienced

Volusion, one of the first SaaS eCommerce platforms, is now used by small or medium-sized brands. It offers a selection of payment gateways and access to over 1,000 apps through Zapier. It’s not user-friendly and lacks native blogging functionality. Users must integrate tools like WordPress for blog content. The platform also has a history of security issues and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020.

9. Squarespace: Aesthetic excellence

Squarespace is a popular website builder known for its stunning templates, which are particularly suited for creative industries. It also integrates with online selling tools like:

• PayPal

• USPS

• FedEx

• Apple Pay

• Stripe

While the Personal plan doesn’t include eCommerce capabilities, upgrading to the Basic Commerce or Advanced Commerce plans enables full eCommerce functionality.

10. BigCommerce: Versatility meets scalability

BigCommerce offers unmatched eCommerce performance, supporting both individual sales and B2B wholesales. It provides tools for SEO, conversions, inventory management, and 24/7 customer support. 

11. Shift4Shop: Advanced features for the experienced

Shift4Shop is an older eCommerce platform established in 1997. It’s not intuitive, requiring coding and development knowledge, but it offers access to over 200 features, 50 free themes, and 100+ payment providers. Users can integrate with third-party platforms like:

• Stripe

• PayPal

• Amazon

• MailChimp

• QuickBooks

12. OpenCart: Transform your site

OpenCart is an open-source tool that adds eCommerce capabilities to existing websites. It offers a massive selection of themes and modules and integrates with numerous payment and shipping providers. While free to download and install, users must pay for extensions or customized support.

13. BigCartel: For artists and designers

Enormous Cartel is perfect for artists or designers selling their work online. It offers a simple interface focused on showcasing designs. 

14. Sellfy: Digital products and print-on-demand

Sellfy caters to print-on-demand and digital products, offering tools to maximize sales. It’s user-friendly, making it easy for new entrepreneurs to set up an eCommerce site.

15. Ecwid: Seamless integration

Ecwid allows you to build an eCommerce platform on your existing website. It’s ideal for blogs or smaller companies entering eCommerce. While it lacks advanced tools, it’s perfect for branching into new revenue streams.

Why look for a Magento alternative?

1. Customer support: Not entirely on call

When issues arise with Magento, don't expect a quick rescue from customer support. Its community of developers is robust, but official help can be elusive. This often leaves you scouring forums and documentation to fix things yourself. For businesses that need reliable support, this is a real downside.

2. Rewards programs: An uphill battle

Magento might not be your best friend if you're considering running a rewards program. While its pricing rules work well enough for discounts, rewards systems require custom coding or extensions. Other platforms like Shopify easily handle this aspect, making them a more straightforward choice.

3. Developer talent: Hard to find

Magento isn't simple to learn or navigate, and its developer pool is limited. Compare that to PHP frameworks like WordPress, which have a much larger number of skilled developers. Training someone to become proficient in Magento can take six months to a year, increasing your time and cost investment.

4. Pricing: A hefty bill

Even if you opt for Magento Open Source, you’ll still face considerable expenses for hosting and extensions. Adobe Commerce fees range from $22,000 to $125,000 per year, with the cloud option costing up to $190,000. Then, there’s the need for at least one senior developer to maintain it all. This makes Magento a costly choice for many businesses.

A no-code solution for building custom Shopify pages

Instant is a user-friendly tool that transforms how you build your Shopify store. It allows eCommerce teams and agencies to create fully customizable and advanced pages without any coding knowledge. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, users can quickly design and publish high-converting:

• Landing pages

• Blog posts

• Product pages

• Sections

Taking control of your store's success

This maintains complete control over their store's design. Instant also offers seamless integration with Figma and other eCommerce tools, making it a versatile choice for enhancing online store performance and increasing conversions. Try Instant's Shopify product page builder today!

Choosing the Magento alternative to build your online store

Before switching from Magento, take a moment to understand what your business indeed requires. Think about the size of your product catalog, who you're selling to, and whether you're active on multiple channels. Your next platform should match these needs to avoid losing functionality or hurting the customer experience.

The real cost: It’s not just about the price

Switching platforms involves more than just the cost of the software. Consider migration expenses, development fees, and ongoing subscription costs. Some options seem cheaper initially but may require costly add-ons. Calculating the total cost of ownership will keep you from making any financial missteps.

Handle your data with care

Migrating data, especially with an extensive database, can be a headache. You don’t want to lose product listings, customer data, or order history. A well-thought-out migration plan and perhaps professional help will keep everything intact and ensure a smooth transition.

Will your customizations & integrations work?

Magento is known for its customization capabilities, which means you might rely on specific extensions or integrations. Make sure your new platform can support them. While Shopify is user-friendly, it might not offer the same level of customization that WooCommerce or BigCommerce can.

Protecting your SEO

A bad migration can hurt your search rankings, leading to lost traffic and sales. Choose a platform that supports essential SEO features like:

• Customizable URLs

• Meta tags

• Redirects

Some even offer built-in SEO tools to help you maintain visibility during and after the transition.

Minimize downtime for a smooth transition

Switching platforms is a critical move, and any downtime could mean lost revenue and frustrated customers. A structured migration plan, clear communication with your audience, and thorough testing can keep disruptions to a minimum.

Think beyond today: Scalability matters

Your next eCommerce platform should grow with your business. If you plan to:

• Increase product listings

• Expect more traffic

• Expand internationally

 Pick a solution to handle future growth without constant upgrades or expensive add-ons.

Find the right fit

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to Magento alternatives. If you want ease of use, Shopify might be your best bet. For more:

• Flexibility and control

• WooCommerce

• BigCommerce

Could be better options. Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with your business goals.

eCommerce business trends to help you decide on a Magento alternative

eCommerce is entering a new era of growth and innovation, with global retail eCommerce sales surpassing $4.1 trillion in 2024 and projected to exceed $6.4 trillion by 2029. As technology advances and consumer expectations evolve, retailers must be ready to adapt.

1. AI helps solve customer pain points

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms are household names. Over the past few years, AI has flipped the eCommerce industry on its head, allowing brands to automate every corner of their businesses. From streamlining customer service with chatbots to personalizing product recommendations to optimizing the supply chain, there’s no limit to how AI can impact your business.  

2. Chat marketing humanizes the digital experience

While chatbot conversations may have once felt robotic and stiff, recent developments in generative AI have significantly improved how online shoppers interact with these tools. AI-powered assistants can respond instantly to inquiries, guide product searches, and facilitate seamless transactions, mimicking human conversation with efficiency and empathy. Chatbots streamline customer service and foster customer relationships and affinity for eCommerce brands by offering real-time assistance and personalized recommendations. As they evolve, chatbots will become integral in delivering personalized marketing messages, nurturing leads, and driving conversions. 

3. Mobile shopping is still on the move

Many of us go day-to-day with a smartphone within arm’s reach, which means shopping is also done on mobile. The share of mobile commerce in all eCommerce has been on the rise and is expected to reach 62% in 2027. In response, online businesses need to ensure their eCommerce sites are responsive on mobile and provide a seamless experience across all devices. This means optimizing content for smaller screens, enabling one-click ordering, and offering other conveniences that support on-the-go shopping.

4. Closing the sale with flexible payment options

There’s perhaps no experience as vital to the customer journey as checkout. Even the slightest hiccup during the process can turn a sale into a lost customer for life. For many customers, the best checkout experiences are the ones that offer flexible payment options. 13% of customers will abandon their carts if they don’t see enough payment methods available. Focus on providing various payment options like credit cards, digital wallet payments like Google Pay or Apple Wallet, or one-click checkout options like Bolt or Fastlane by PayPal. You can offer financing options like buy now, pay later (BNPL), allowing you to connect your brick-and-mortar stores with your online store. 

Optimize your Shopify store for conversions without breaking the bank with Instant's Shopify product page build

Instant is a game-changer for Shopify users. It’s a user-friendly product page builder that ditches the need for coding. You can craft advanced, fully customizable pages with ease. Just drag and drop and design high-converting:

• Landing pages

• Blog posts

• Sections

It’s all about making your store look and perform its best. Instant seamlessly integrates with Figma and other eCommerce tools, boosting your store’s performance and conversions. Give Instant's Shopify product page builder a try and watch your store come to life.