Platform comparison · 2026 edition

Compare the top ecommerce platforms side by side

Picking the right platform is hard. We broke down how Your Next Store stacks up against Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and Ecwid on the things that actually matter: speed, fees, AI, and how much you can change without a developer.

Try Your Next Store freeJump to comparison
01 · The 30-second view

How the platforms stack up

CriteriaYour Next StoreShopifyWix StoresWooCommerceSquarespaceEcwid
How fast you can launchTime from signup to taking your first order
How fast your store loadsPage speed on mobile, where most shoppers buy
What the AI can do for youFrom writing copy to building entire pages
How much you can customizeChanging design, checkout, and logic
Apps and maintenanceHow many paid add-ons you need to keep running
What you actually payPlan fees, app fees, transaction fees, theme costs
Who it's best forThe type of merchant each platform serves best
Advantage
Comparable
Limited
02 · Why switch to Your Next Store

Four things merchants tell us made the difference

Fast by default

Pages load about twice as fast as the average Shopify or Wix store on mobile. Faster pages mean better Google rankings and more shoppers who stay to buy.

AI that builds, not just writes

Describe what you want and the AI ships it live. Landing pages, collections, email flows. The same AI sells your products inside ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.

Zero platform fees

0% transaction fees on every plan. No penalty for the payment processor you use. No $200+/mo of apps to cover features that should be built in. Payments go straight to your Stripe account at standard rates.

Your store, your code

Every Your Next Store site is real code you own. Customize anything, bring your own developer, and if you ever leave, you take your site with you. No lock-in.

03 · Head-to-head

Compare against a specific platform

Pick the platform you're on (or considering) for the full breakdown on fees, speed, AI, and how migration works.

Switching from Shopify

Your Next Store vs Shopify

For merchants tired of Shopify's fee stacking, app bloat, and 2-4 week theme builds.

See the comparison →
Switching from Wix

Your Next Store vs Wix

For stores outgrowing Wix's slow mobile pages, limited SEO, and template restrictions.

See the comparison →
Switching from WooCommerce

Your Next Store vs WooCommerce

For WordPress users tired of plugin chaos, security patches, and managed hosting bills.

See the comparison →
04 · Who's it for

Which platform fits your store?

An honest take on where each platform shines.

Your Next Store

The AI-first pick

Best if: You want AI to build and run your store, pay 0% platform fees, and own your code.

Shopify

The safe default

Best if: You want a mature brand, in-person retail (POS), and are fine with fee stacking and theme limits.

Wix

The website builder

Best if: You want a full website (blog, booking, store) and ecommerce is a secondary feature.

WooCommerce

The WordPress option

Best if: You already live in WordPress and have a developer to keep plugins, hosting, and security updated.

Squarespace

The design-first site

Best if: You care about a polished template look and your catalog is small (under 50 products).

Ecwid

The 'add to any site' tool

Best if: You want to bolt ecommerce onto an existing site or a social-first store.

05 · FAQ

Common questions

Still weighing your options? Email us and we'll help you pick what fits.

Which platform is cheapest overall?

WooCommerce looks free at first, but hosting, plugins, themes, and developer time add up fast. Wix and Squarespace look cheap at the plan level but charge app fees on top. Shopify's sticker price is low but fees stack up (card rates, gateway penalty, apps, themes). Your Next Store is usually the cheapest once you add everything up for a growing store - a flat plan, 0% transaction fees, and no app store tax.

Which is easiest for a non-technical founder?

Your Next Store, honestly. You describe your store in plain English and the AI builds it. No theme editor to wrangle, no apps to install. Shopify and Wix are also beginner-friendly, but you still spend a few hours on a theme and app setup. Squarespace is easy if your catalog is small. WooCommerce is the hardest for non-technical users.

Can I migrate from Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce?

Yes. Our AI migrator pulls in your products, customers, orders, and discount codes from Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce, then rebuilds your storefront to match your branding. Most moves take one to five days and we handle the domain switch with no downtime. See the platform-specific compare pages above for details.

Which platform is best for SEO and Google rankings?

Speed is the single biggest SEO factor, and Your Next Store pages typically load about twice as fast as Shopify or Wix on mobile. We ship built-in structured data, clean URLs, and international SEO. Wix has improved but still lags on mobile speed. WooCommerce can rank well if you have a developer tuning it.

What if I want to stay on Shopify or Wix?

Totally fine. Shopify is a solid choice if you're already scaling there, have a Plus contract, or rely on their in-person POS. Wix works for small stores where the website matters more than ecommerce. Your Next Store is best if you're feeling the limits (speed, fees, AI) and ready to move.

How do I choose between Your Next Store and the others?

Try all of them on a free trial. Load your products, look at the admin, build a test landing page, and check the mobile speed of a real customer-facing page. The platform that feels right after an afternoon of hands-on is usually the right pick. Your Next Store is free to try with no credit card.

Not sure yet? Just try it.

Free trial, no credit card needed. Describe your store and we'll have something live for you to look at in about 10 minutes.

Try Your Next Store freeSee pricing