8 Best Shopify Alternatives for 2026 (Simple Picks, and the Best for LATAM)

Shopify is the default way to start an online store, but it is not the right fit for everyone. Between the rising total cost, the app bloat, and the fact that its built-in payments do not work in most of the world, plenty of founders are looking for something simpler. This is a short, honest list of the best Shopify alternatives for 2026, sorted by who each one is actually for.

If you are in Latin America, skip to number one. There is a specific reason Shopify hurts in the region, and a specific fix.

Why Look for a Shopify Alternative?

Four reasons come up again and again.

• The real cost is not $29. The advertised plan is cheap, but a working store often climbs to a few thousand dollars in the first year once you add paid apps and a premium theme.
• App bloat. Core features like subscriptions or proper checkout control often live in paid third-party apps, so the stack grows and so does the bill.
• Template and checkout limits. You are boxed into Shopify's structure, with limited control over how your store and checkout actually work.
• Payments do not work everywhere. This is the big one for Latin America, and it deserves its own line below.

The Shopify Problem Nobody Mentions in Latin America

Shopify Payments, the built-in processor, is available in exactly one Latin American country: Mexico. Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador are all left out.

So if you sell from most of the region, you are forced onto a third-party gateway, Shopify adds its own surcharge on top, and you still have to solve the hardest part on your own: getting that money into your local bank account. None of the big "Shopify alternatives" guides mention this. It is the whole reason the first pick on this list exists.

1. Creala: Best for LATAM Founders Who Want Simple

Creala is a simple platform to sell online, digital products, subscriptions, checkouts, and payment links, built for Latin America. You can be live in minutes, with no code.

Here is why it wins for the region. Creala gives you global, Stripe-grade checkout, so you accept cards from customers anywhere in the world, and the money lands in your local Latin American bank account. No US company to open, no Shopify Payments gap, no stitching gateways together. The payments problem that the rest of this list ignores is the one Creala is built to solve.

Best for: founders, creators, and small businesses in Latin America who want to start selling fast and actually get paid in their local bank, without the payments headache.

Honest limitation: Creala is built for simple, fast selling, not for massive enterprise catalogs or heavy custom B2B. If that is you, look at BigCommerce or Adobe Commerce below.

2. WooCommerce: Best for Full Ownership

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that turns any WordPress site into a store. You own the code and the data, you pick your own payment gateway, and there are no platform transaction fees.

Best for: people who already run WordPress and want total control.

Trade-off: you handle hosting, security, and updates yourself, so it is more work than a hosted platform.

3. BigCommerce: Best for Scaling and B2B

BigCommerce is a hosted platform with a lot of features built in and, notably, zero platform transaction fees on every plan. It handles large catalogs and B2B workflows well.

Best for: growing brands and B2B sellers who need depth without bolting on a dozen apps.

Trade-off: more powerful means a steeper learning curve, and the same global-payments limits apply in much of Latin America.

4. Squarespace: Best for Design-First Brands

Squarespace is known for beautiful templates that look polished with almost no effort. Commerce is built in, so a small catalog with strong visuals can launch quickly.

Best for: creative brands, portfolios, and stores where design carries the sale.

Trade-off: fewer advanced ecommerce features than dedicated platforms.

5. Wix: Best for Fast, AI-Assisted Launches

Wix is a drag-and-drop builder with AI tools that can scaffold a site fast. It is friendly to beginners and gets a simple store online quickly.

Best for: first-time sellers who want speed and a visual editor.

Trade-off: you can outgrow it as your catalog and needs get more complex.

6. Square Online: Best for Physical Retail Going Online

Square Online connects to the Square point-of-sale system, so inventory stays in sync between your store and your counter. It has a free tier to start.

Best for: cafes, shops, and retailers adding online sales to an in-person business.

Trade-off: best when you are already in the Square ecosystem.

7. Big Cartel: Best for Artists and Small Catalogs

Big Cartel is built for artists and makers, with a free plan for a handful of products and a simple, no-frills setup.

Best for: independent artists selling a small number of items.

Trade-off: it is intentionally limited, so it does not scale to a large operation.

8. Ecwid: Best for Adding a Store to an Existing Site

Ecwid lets you drop a store into a website you already have, on almost any platform, with a free tier to start.

Best for: people with an existing site who just want to add a buy button.

Trade-off: it is an add-on, not a full storefront platform.

Quick Comparison

The column that matters most in Latin America is the last one, and out of the box, only one platform here is built for it.

How to Choose

Match the tool to your situation, not to the longest feature list.

• Selling from Latin America and want it simple? Creala.
• Already on WordPress and want control? WooCommerce.
• Scaling fast or selling B2B? BigCommerce.
• Design is the product? Squarespace.
• Just want to launch something fast? Wix.

FAQ

What is the best Shopify alternative?

It depends on what you sell and where you are. For most Latin American founders who want a simple store and to actually get paid in their local bank, Creala is the best fit. For full code ownership, WooCommerce. For scaling and B2B, BigCommerce.

What is a cheaper alternative to Shopify?

WooCommerce, Square Online, Big Cartel, and Ecwid all have free or low-cost entry points. Just remember that "cheap" should include transaction fees and payment costs, not only the monthly plan.

What is the best Shopify alternative for Latin America?

Creala. Shopify Payments only works in Mexico across the region, so most LATAM sellers cannot use it and still struggle to get paid locally. Creala gives you global checkout and pays out to your local bank.

Can I move my store off Shopify easily?

Yes. Most platforms support importing your products and customers, and many offer migration help. The bigger work is usually rebuilding your theme and reconnecting payments.

Selling from Latin America and tired of fighting Shopify's payment limits? Start a simple store that pays out to your local bank with Creala.