What Shopware alternatives are there?
- Is it worth looking for Shopware 6 alternatives?
- Shopify
- WordPress
- WooCommerce
- OXID
- JTL
- Magento (Adobe Commerce)
- OpenCart
- Prestashop
- FAQ
When you get into e-commerce, you are always faced with a choice. It is important to choose the right store system that will help you digitize your business excellently, and there are a variety of powerful e-commerce platforms to run your business efficiently. One of the best is Shopware. If Shopware does not suit you, you can choose another solution. In the list of Shopware alternatives, there are definitely Shopify, OXID eSales, WooCommerce, WordPress, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Magento, JTL. In this article, we explain what these store systems offer and how they differ.
Is it worth looking for Shopware 6 alternatives?
Thanks to the strong development of innovative solutions, stores can now be run digitally. Shopware has a leading position because this store system ensures good scalability. Nevertheless, there are various reasons why people opt for a different e-commerce platform.Shopware presents itself as a leading out-of-the-box store system. The powerful store system combines flexibility and adaptability, security and performance. This makes it one of the best solutions for both beginners and global business players. A large number of plugins are available for maintenance, which can be easily downloaded. There are various ERP systems for Shopware, which can be easily connected if required, but Shopware can be costly for smaller companies due to license, hosting, agency services and app usage. This is why people are looking for alternatives to Shopware. Representatives of small and medium-sized companies tend to opt for Shopify. Someone tries Magento or WooCommerce. Everyone looks for their own advantages and therefore tries other solutions until they finally decide on Shopware. If this is already the case, you can get advice from our Shopware 6 agency or get help with other questions.
Shopify
As a cloud-based e-commerce platform, Shopify enables online merchants to create and manage stores by having Shopify take over hosting completely. Thanks to the professional IT structure, retailers do not need their own servers. Let's take a look at the advantages this store system offers:
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Fast setup with no hassle. You don't have to worry about operation or server maintenance. Maintenance and updates are also the responsibility of Shopify. No programming knowledge is required.
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High IT security and availability. Shopify stores perform consistently.
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A wide variety of themes. There are many free and paid templates that you can install for your store. Good customizability. There are several options for editing the code of the web store. Thanks to numerous API interfaces, complex IT setups (PIM, ERP) can be easily integrated into existing infrastructure.
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Majority of APPs. In the Shopify store, you can find extensions for the required functions that are responsible for product reviews, legal security, shipping, inventory management and much more. -Flexible pricing plans. You can test Shopify for free for 3 days and then choose the plan that suits you. -Connection to leading marketplaces. You can sell your own products through marketplaces and media channels. All orders can be viewed via the Shopify backend.
In addition to a number of advantages, there are of course disadvantages:
- The structure of an electronic marketplace is very limited in its functions and does not offer stable performance
- Limited product variants. You cannot create many product variants
- Limited B2B functionalities. Shopify cannot satisfy complex requirements of B2B customers.
- The link structures are fixed, which is unacceptable for SEO experts.
- Limited customization options in the checkout.
- Not all apps comply with data protection standards.
- Large expenses. Free themes are limited, paid themes are very expensive.
- High transaction fees for customers who do not use Shopify Payments.
- This is why merchants are switching to this store system and are becoming more and more interested in Shopware 6 vs Shopify.
WordPress
This is one of the most popular platforms for website creation and one of the most widespread CMS on the market. WordPress is absolutely free. Before deciding on it, you should weigh up all the pros and cons. The advantages of WordPress include:
- User-friendliness and easy handling. There are many free and paid plugins and themes.
- WordPress provides many SEO tools and plugins.
- Thanks to flexibility and scalability, WordPress is suitable for both personal blogs and corporate websites, can grow along with the business.
- There is active community and several resources to help with questions and problems.
The main disadvantages are:
- You should take care of security and all backups yourself. You should back up your data, because WordPress often suffers from hacker attacks.
- WordPress is seen as a magnet for spam and often suffers from spam attacks.
- To extend the functionality, you should install plugins that have to be updated manually.
- If many plugins, applications or third-party software are installed, hosting will be impaired. The website slows down and the user experience deteriorates.
- The design of websites is severely restricted.
- As the core software is constantly being improved and updated, the website may be restricted or no longer function at all after some updates.
- There is no official support.
WooCommerce
This is another alternative to Shopware 6, which is used by smaller and medium-sized webshops. This store system is feature-rich and powerful. You can easily manage your store with it. It provides a variety of functions and is characterized by other advantages:
- WooCommerce is flexibly customizable, as there are numerous extensions and plugins.
- Low costs. There are no transaction fees.
- There is a large number of layouts and themes for individual design.
- This is open source software. Anyone can contribute to its development and it is easy to set up.
- SEO-friendly functions
Among the disadvantages are:
- The design options are limited.
- You should take care of maintenance and updates yourself.
- It is difficult to manage if you are not familiar with technical concepts (security, caching, hosting).
OXID
Another alternative to Shopware is OXID eSales. The platform is suitable for particularly demanding e-commerce projects. It has various useful functions, can be used in different sectors and is recommended for B2B and B2C customers. Let's take a look at why customers choose this store system:
- Possibility of internationalization through support of 40 languages and several currencies.
- A large number of extensions and plugins. You can easily expand your own online store with new, required functions.
- Clear checkout thanks to different payment methods.
- Thanks to the open source code, OXID is easy to develop further.
- Large active community and events for problem solving, German support.
There are aspects that are against the use of the store system:
- Expensive interfaces for connection to third-party systems.
- Major expenditure on technical work.
- Only German-speaking support.
- There are hardly any resources where you can find explanations of the problems.
- Due to the complexity of the store system, there is no way around it without professional help in setting it up or customizing it.
JTL
JTL is a good solution for beginners and professionals. It supports retailers in all respects. In contrast to other store systems, JTL maps more functions of the merchandise management system JTL-WaWi. Data is maintained in the merchandise management system. All information and functionalities are then transferred to the store. The strong points of JTL include
- It is easy to understand and can be configured quickly and easily. The platform has all the necessary e-commerce functions.
- Seamless integration with JTL-WaWi enables data and inventory management, order processing, shipping and returns.
- Maximum flexibility is achieved with JTL-WaWi Cloud. You don't have to be tied to any system or device and can work with JTL from anywhere.
- Getting started with JTL is free of charge. You can grow inexpensively with this e-commerce platform.
- Simple setup without programming knowledge.
- There is a free version of JTL-Shop for retailers with a small product range.
- Responsiver Onlineshop.
In addition to this multitude of positive properties, there are also negative ones that must be taken into account:
- Apps are usually expensive.
- There are a limited number of apps and plugins.
- The costs for updates and support depend on the plan selected.
- The support is not sufficient. You don't always get the answers you need in forums.
- You need 2 servers: one for WaWi, the other for the store.
- JTL WaWi runs best on Windows. MAC users must use a JTL Cloud solution or install Windows on the MAC computer.
Magento (Adobe Commerce)
This e-commerce platform is another Shopware alternative. It is flexible and easily scalable, offering all the necessary functions for B2B and B2C. With Magento, you can create unique, personalized results. The websites can be created with drag & drop. You benefit from the following advantages of Magento:
- Thanks to secure and powerful functions, a short time-to-market is guaranteed.
- There are modular, pre-configured services that can be quickly integrated and configured;
- Secure and scalable mobile apps are offered to extend functionality and can be connected to various third-party solutions;
- Customizable, integrable app builder tools are offered to reduce total cost of ownership.
You can also mention the negative sides of Magento:
- The store system is not so user-friendly. You have to be familiar with the coding
- The costs for setup and operation are too high. The license fees are sometimes unrealistic for small companies.
- Personal support is only provided in the paid Adobe Commerce Edition.
- New users need time and help to get to know the structure and functions.
- Great effort for extensions and updates.
- This is why online retailers are increasingly opting for Shopware Magento Migration.
OpenCart
This is an open-source e-commerce platform and a perfect option for small businesses. OpenCart can be used free of charge. The store system offers free design options in terms of functions and design and is easy to use. If required, additional modules can be implemented in the online store. Here are all the pros and cons of using this software.
Advantages:
- The furnishings are simple. You can choose from a variety of add-ons and functions to customize the store system to your own needs
- New functions are constantly being added and the security fixes are updated
- Free design and function options.
Nachteile:
- OpenCart can be too slow due to the large number of functions
- You have to be familiar with code and web design to customize the store system
- Support options are limited.
Prestashop
This is another Shopware 6 alternative that is characterized by its flexibility. As an open source platform, it offers the possibility of customization according to individual requirements. It can always be improved and updated. Thanks to its modular structure, the store system can be expanded with different functions. The advantages of PrestaShop include
- You can try out the software for free. There is also a free version
- It is easy to customize. You can integrate different payment methods and shipping providers
- It is available in 60 languages.
Like any other e-commerce platform, PrestaShop has its disadvantages:
- Not a standard modern topic.
- Too many additional modules slow down the store system.
FAQ
Who is Shopware suitable for?
The software is suitable for all company sizes, regardless of which product types are offered.
What online store systems are available?
There are rental store systems, complete e-commerce solutions, open source store systems and WordPress e-commerce plugins.
Why is Shopware so expensive?
Shopware offers extensive advanced features and is easy to customize, but requires professional help with setup and maintenance.
