Company Name: Shopify
Website URL: Shopify.com
Core Pricing: Basic starting at $39/mth, Shopify plan at $105/mth, Advanced at $399/mth plus additional fees for various plugins, themes, and transaction costs
Founders: Tobias Lütke, Scott Lake, and Daniel Weinand
Community Size: Over 1.7 million businesses worldwide
Overall Rating: 1.4/5 based on TrustPilot Reviews
Transaction Fees: Vary based on plan and selected payment gateways
Shopify has helped many launch successful online stores, but its rising fees and extra charges have been one of the latest wide spread complaints. In saying this, it is one of the most popular platforms out there for creating “e-commerce” stores, and has been widely utilized for dropshipping style stores and services.
Recently, they have had a lot of customer feedback that hasn’t been so favourable on platforms like Trust Pilot.
If you are looking to build an e-commerce store and you have a starting budget of several $1,000 (with ongoing costs of $39-$299/mth minimum), then it can absolutely be a consideration for your business.
If you are simply looking to build a business online, there are viable alternatives that you should consider, or that you could utilize in parallel to your store. Wealthy Affiliate being one example, which offers an affordable and straightforward solution helping you create a business in absolutely any niche.
Below is a comparison to highlight the key differences.
Shopify Overview:
- Pricing: Ranges from $39 to $399 per month, plus extra costs for apps, themes, and transactions.
- Features: A robust e-commerce platform with hosting, security, and inventory tools— but fees can add up.
- Support & Community: Offers 24/7 support, though feedback on responsiveness is mixed (with a 1.4-star TrustPilot rating)
Wealthy Affiliate Overview:
- Pricing: Free Starter membership, with premium plans at $49/mo (or $497/year) and Premium Plus+ at $99/mo (or $588/year).
- Features: Provides step-by-step training in affiliate marketing/SEO/Youtube/AI/Social Media, plus essential website tools — all in one place.
- Support & Community: Known for top-notch support and an active, trustworthy community (with a 4.9-star TrustPilot rating).
The clear winner is Wealthy Affiliate if you are looking to create a successful business online, and have access to all the resources that you need to make this happen.
Its cost structure is more transparent, the training is comprehensive, and the community is highly supportive—making it a great choice over Shopify.
Below is a chart comparing the two:
While Shopify may work for larger e-commerce operations, Wealthy Affiliate offers a better, more cost-effective solution that is particularly friendly for newcomers and small businesses.
Create your free Wealthy Affiliate Starter account to get rolling with an online business, or to help you scale your existing online business. No credit card required.
I enjoyed this blog the different reviews and how clear the content is and to the point. I like the price comparisons for starting an online business especial in the affiliate area and the different platforms vs WA. Wealthy affiliate is great choice if someone wants to break into starting an online business. I joined a few years ago but did not continue because I had not much understanding of how it works, fast forward 2 years later, I came back because I want to make a change and build a future for my self and my family. Nothing to worry about there is plenty of training material to help get anyone willing to put the work to achieve success.
This is an interesting discussion on Shopify’s rising costs and the growing concerns about its value for e-commerce entrepreneurs. While Shopify remains one of the most powerful platforms for online stores, the additional fees for apps, transaction costs, and premium themes can quickly add up—making it less appealing for small businesses or beginners on a tight budget.
I appreciate the comparison to Wealthy Affiliate as an alternative, especially for those focusing on affiliate marketing rather than product sales. However, for those committed to e-commerce, do you think Shopify’s convenience, integrations, and scalability still outweigh its cost concerns? Also, are there any emerging e-commerce platforms that offer similar features at a more competitive price? Would love to hear insights from those who have tried different platforms!
Kyle, I’m thrilled to read your Shopify review about the cost. I had a dropshipping business with them briefly, but I was spending more than making with all the fees. You pay for your store service, separate domain cost, and pay for each app you need to run your successful store. The dropshipping apps can be expensive and you need them, before you know you have Shopify bill over 300 a month if paying by monthly. Their rating has dropped a lot because of the cost.
Shopify has been a go-to platform for many e-commerce entrepreneurs, but the rising fees and mixed customer feedback make it worth reconsidering. While it offers a robust system for online stores, transaction costs and additional expenses can add up quickly. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly and scalable alternative, Wealthy Affiliate provides a great option with transparent pricing, in-depth training, and a supportive community. It’s definitely worth exploring for those wanting to build a profitable online business without high upfront costs. ????