The Top 7 Shopify Competitors for the Hairstylist

Shopify is a go-to for small-business owners looking to sell retail, taking up about 29% of the e-commerce market share in the US. While the platform has its benefits, independent hairstylists and barbers should research Shopify competitors that may better serve their clients. Who are the top Shopify competitors?  

Product sales are a natural—and necessary—addition to any cosmetology business. You give your clients the tools they need to succeed while growing your revenue. Whether you’re a hairstylist selling conditioners or a barber offering clays and hair pomade, you need a platform that can serve all sides of your business. Though Shopify may currently be the leader in e-commerce, it may not be the best platform for serving your clients. We compiled the top seven Shopify competitors for service-based, salon suite business owners looking to sell products to clients. 

#1 PocketSuite 

PocketSuite is an all-in-one app for any service provider with clients. You can set up an e-commerce store right on your PocketSuite booking site and sell products to clients without booking an appointment.  

Other Shopify competitors require you to sign up for payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, which can get confusing and time consuming if you’re not tech savvy. On PocketSuite, you can accept and process payments just as you would for your appointments—plus, you’ll receive tracking numbers and pickup codes for secure package fulfillment.  

There’s also no need for programming or HTML skills. PocketSuite creates a user-friendly online store that can be set up in minutes, so you don’t have to redirect clients to a separate website or app.  

PocketSuite is effortlessly mobile-friendly, meaning you have everything you need to book clients and sell products straight from your phone. Even better, it has built-in ways to communicate with your clientele using a local business number over SMS text. If you want to send out promotions or tell your loyal client base about new offerings, PocketSuite has automated tools to do that over text. SMS text has a 99% open rate over email newsletters, which often have an open rate under 10 percent, so this feature can be a huge win for online retailers. 

#2 WooCommerce  

WooCommerce is an e-commerce platform that integrates with WordPress websites and is one of the largest Shopify competitors. 

It’s a popular alternative if you want to avoid Shopify’s monthly fee. But, while the platform is free to add to your site, just remember you still have to pay for the cost of hosting a WordPress site, additional themes, and more.  

WooCommerce is better if you already have a WordPress website to book clients. But unlike PocketSuite’s ordering platform, you’ll need a whole new website dedicated to retail sales that’s separate from your booking page. You’ll also need to be more tech savvy than you would with Shopify or PocketSuite. 

#3 Ecwid 

Ecwid is an e-commerce plugin business owners add to existing websites like WordPress, Wix, and Weebly, or to social media pages in order to sell products.  

Ecwid is a good alternative if you want a low-cost e-commerce option and to avoid Shopify’s 2% transaction fees. But with cheaper plans come product limits, meaning you may miss some essential e-commerce features like being able to create custom orders for your clients. Ecwid’s plans range from $0-99 per month. 

Despite Ecwid’s free plan, remember to factor in the costs of buying a domain name, web hosting, and the other third-party apps you’ll need for a successful e-commerce site.

#4 Wix Stores 

Wix is a website builder, hosting service, and online store in one (if you have at least a premium business plan for $27 per month). If you opt for a free plan, you’ll have to deal with Wix ads and won’t be able to accept payments online. 

Wix is one of the most beginner-friendly Shopify competitors, with lots of free templates and a drag-and-drop builder to help you customize your page. Unfortunately, Wix’s appointment scheduling feature, Wix bookings, can’t be integrated with Wix Stores. That means clients won’t have the option check out with appointments and products at the same time. If you’re considering Wix as a service-based business owner, you may need additional tools to run all aspects of your business.  

#5 BigCommerce  

BigCommerce is a leader in online storefronts with robust SEO features. However, the platform doesn’t have built-in appointment scheduling or client support that service-based business owners need, though you can add booking apps to your BigCommerce site—for an extra fee. 

BigCommerce does have a standard entry-level plan, though reviews suggest that the platform is better for larger businesses or enterprises with international sales, at higher tiers in its range of $39-399 per month. Solo entrepreneurs may find themselves paying for a lot of extra features that are not relevant to their business or their client’s needs. 

#6 Squarespace 

Squarespace allows users to sell online products with a combined website builder and hosting platform. Its customizable storefronts draw in a lot of creative professionals. 

That being said, Squarespace e-commerce features are only available by using its business plan for $23 per month. Additionally, the platform collects a transaction fee for every sale you make. 

#7 Sellfy  

Sellfy specializes in print-on-demand products like mugs and t-shirts, targeting digital artists, photographers, and online creators who sell virtual items.  

Sellfy plans range from $29 – $150 per month, and to avoid sales limits, upselling products, and to remove Sellfy branding, you’ll have to opt for the more expensive tiers. 

Is Shopify still the best e-commerce platform? 

Shopify is an e-commerce giant. But Shopify competitors, like PocketSuite, offer features tailored to the independent hairstylist and barber at a lower cost. 

At Pocketsuite, you can book appointments, sell or upsell products, and accept payments all in one app. We’re the ultimate tool to manage all aspects of your business. 

 

AHP has partnered with PocketSuite to bring you a customized, easy-to-use phone app that lets you focus on what matters most—your clients. 

Businesses on PocketSuite see an average increase of 30% in earnings, and you can get set up in 15 minutes by choosing from curated pre-loaded settings, or you can customize the app for your salon. 

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