Shopify vs Amazon: Which Ecommerce Platform is Right for You in 2024

Shopify and Amazon are two of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market, but they offer very different experiences for merchants and shoppers.

Shopify is a self-hosted platform, which means that merchants have complete control over their online stores. They can choose their own hosting provider, domain name, and design template. Shopify also offers a wide range of features and plugins to help merchants customize their stores and add new functionality.

Amazon is a marketplace platform, which means that merchants sell their products alongside other merchants on Amazon.com. Amazon handles all of the hosting, fulfillment, and customer service. Merchants can create their own listings and run their own promotions, but they are subject to Amazon's terms and conditions.

In this blog post, we'll take a comprehensive look at Shopify and Amazon, comparing their features, pricing, and benefits. We'll also help you to decide which platform is right for you based on your specific needs and goals.

Shopify vs Amazon: Features

Shopify and Amazon are both popular e-commerce platforms, but they offer distinct features and cater to different needs. Here's a comparison of some key features:

Shopify features

1. Customization: Shopify provides extensive customization options for your online store, allowing you to create a unique and branded shopping experience.
2. Ease of Use: It's user-friendly, making it ideal for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
3. Scalability: Shopify scales well as your business grows, accommodating a range of sizes and needs.
4. App Store: Access to a wide variety of apps and integrations for added functionality.
5. Payment Processing: Supports multiple payment gateways and currencies.
6. Hosting: Offers hosting and domain services.

Amazon features

1. Vast Customer Base: Access to Amazon's massive customer base, which can increase product visibility.
2. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping of products for sellers.
3. Global Marketplace: Ability to sell products in multiple countries.
4. Prime and Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Badges: Products may be eligible for Prime and FBA badges, increasing trust.
5. Amazon Advertising: Promote products on Amazon through various advertising options.
6. Customer Trust: Amazon's reputation for reliable and fast delivery can boost buyer confidence.

Shopify vs Amazon: Pricing

Shopify and Amazon have different pricing models and structures. Here's a comparison of their pricing:

Shopify pricing

1. Basic Plan: Starts at $29 per month. Ideal for small businesses and startups.
2. Shopify Plan: Priced at $79 per month. Offers additional features like gift cards and professional reports.
3. Advanced Shopify: Starts at $299 per month. Suitable for businesses with high growth and scaling needs.
4. Shopify Plus: Enterprise-level solution with custom pricing for large businesses. It offers advanced features and scalability.

Additional costs:

• Transaction fees: Vary based on the plan, but can be reduced by using Shopify Payments.
• App and plugin costs: Paid apps may add to the monthly expenses.
• Domain and hosting: Custom domain and hosting costs are not included in the base pricing.

Amazon pricing

• Amazon offers several selling plans, but they primarily involve fees based on the type of product and the subscription you choose.
• Individual Selling Plan: $0.99 per item sold, plus additional selling fees based on the product category.
• Professional Selling Plan: $39.99 per month, plus selling fees. It's more suitable for high-volume sellers.
• Referral fees: Vary depending on the category and type of product.
• Fulfillment fees: If you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), there are storage and fulfillment fees.

Amazon vs Shopify: Pros & Cons

Certainly, here are the pros and cons of using Shopify and Amazon as e-commerce platforms:

Shopify pros & cons

Pros:

1. Customization: Shopify offers extensive customization options, allowing you to create a unique, branded online store.
2. User-Friendly: It's known for its user-friendly interface, making it ideal for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
3. Scalability: Shopify can grow with your business, accommodating various sizes and needs.
4. App Store: Access to a wide variety of apps and integrations to extend functionality.
5. Payment Processing: Supports multiple payment gateways and currencies.
6. Branding: Full control over your brand's identity and customer experience.

Cons:

1. Costs: Monthly subscription fees and transaction fees can add up, especially for small businesses.
2. Hosting: Shopify hosting can be relatively expensive compared to self-hosted platforms.
3. Learning Curve: Customizing your store might require some learning if you're not familiar with the platform.

Amazon pros & cons

Pros:

1. Massive Customer Base: Access to Amazon's vast customer base can increase product visibility.
2. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping of products for sellers.
3. Global Marketplace: Ability to sell products in multiple countries and access international customers.
4. Prime and Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Badges: Products may be eligible for Prime and FBA badges, increasing trust.
5. Amazon Advertising: Promote products on Amazon through various advertising options.
6. Customer Trust: Amazon's reputation for reliable and fast delivery can boost buyer confidence.

Cons:

1. Competitive: The marketplace is highly competitive, making it challenging for some sellers to stand out.
2. Fees: Amazon charges various fees, including referral and fulfillment fees, which can impact profit margins.
3. Limited Brand Control: Limited control over branding and customer data on Amazon's platform.
4. Rules and Regulations: Sellers must adhere to Amazon's rules and policies, which can be strict.

Difference between Shopify and Amazon

Shopify and Amazon are both prominent e-commerce platforms but have several key differences:

1. Purpose: Shopify is an e-commerce platform that empowers businesses to create their own branded online stores. Amazon, on the other hand, is a massive online marketplace where businesses can list and sell their products alongside Amazon's own offerings.
2. Control: Shopify offers full control over your store's branding, design, and customer experience. Amazon provides less control as it prioritizes a uniform shopping experience for its customers.
3. Customization: Shopify allows extensive customization to create a unique store. Amazon has limited customization options for individual seller profiles.
4. Fulfillment: Shopify sellers are responsible for their own order fulfillment unless they use a third-party service. Amazon offers Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), handling storage, packing, and shipping.
5. Fees: Shopify charges subscription and transaction fees. Amazon charges referral and fulfillment fees, and sellers may also pay for subscription services.
6. Audience: Shopify sellers must generate their own traffic, while Amazon offers access to its vast customer base.
7. Brand Ownership: Shopify sellers own and control their customer data and branding. Amazon limits access to customer data and enforces marketplace rules.
8. Product Range: Shopify allows you to curate a diverse range of products. Amazon has strict category restrictions and requirements for sellers.
9. Advertising: Both platforms offer advertising options, but Amazon's advertising primarily promotes products within its marketplace, while Shopify's advertising extends beyond the platform.
10. Support: Shopify offers customer support for its platform. Amazon has Seller Support for seller inquiries but may be less personalized.

Shopify vs Amazon: Integrations

Shopify and Amazon both offer a wide range of integrations with third-party apps and services. This allows merchants to extend the functionality of their stores and add new features.

Shopify integrations

Shopify has over 6,000 integrations available, including integrations with:

• Payment processors (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, Klarna)
• Shipping carriers (e.g., USPS, FedEx, UPS)
• Marketing platforms (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Facebook Ads)
• Inventory management systems (e.g., ShipStation, Ordoro, Cin7)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM)

Amazon integrations

Amazon also has a wide range of integrations available, including integrations with:

• Payment processors (e.g., Amazon Pay, Stripe, PayPal)
• Shipping carriers (e.g., USPS, FedEx, UPS)
• Marketing platforms (e.g., Amazon Marketing Services, Klaviyo, Mailchimp)
• Inventory management systems (e.g., ShipStation, Ordoro, Cin7)
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems (e.g. Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM)

Which platform has better integrations?

Shopify generally has a wider range of integrations available than Amazon. However, Amazon's integrations with its own services (e.g., Amazon Marketing Services, Amazon Pay) are very well-integrated.

Selling on Shopify vs Amazon

Selling on Shopify and Amazon are two distinct e-commerce approaches, each with its own advantages and considerations. Here's a comparison of selling on Shopify vs. Amazon:

Selling on Shopify

Pros:

1. Branding Control: Shopify offers full control over your brand's identity, allowing you to create a unique, branded online store.
2. Customization: Extensive customization options enable you to tailor your store's design and functionality to your specific needs.
3. Diverse Sales Channels: Beyond your online store, you can sell on various sales channels, including social media, in-person, and more.
4. Scalability: Shopify can grow with your business, accommodating different sizes and requirements.
5. App Ecosystem: Access to a vast App Store with a wide range of apps and integrations to enhance your store's functionality.
6. Customer Data: You have more control over customer data and relationships.

Cons:

1. Monthly Costs: Shopify requires monthly subscription fees and transaction fees, which can add up.
2. Learning Curve: Customizing your store may require some learning if you're not familiar with the platform.

Selling on Amazon

Pros:

1. Vast Customer Base: Access to Amazon's vast customer base can increase product visibility.
2. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping of products, simplifying logistics.
3. Global Marketplace: You can sell products in multiple countries and access international customers.
4. Prime and Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) Badges: Products may be eligible for Prime and FBA badges, enhancing trust.
5. Amazon Advertising: Promote products within the Amazon ecosystem through various advertising options.
6. Fast Delivery: Amazon's reputation for reliable and fast delivery can boost buyer confidence.

Cons:

1. Competitive: The Amazon marketplace is highly competitive, making it challenging for some sellers to stand out.
2. Fees: Amazon charges various fees, including referral and fulfillment fees, which can impact profit margins.
3. Limited Brand Control: Amazon provides limited control over branding and customer data on its platform.
4. Rules and Regulations: Sellers must adhere to Amazon's rules and policies, which can be strict.

Shopify vs Amazon: Dropshipping

Shopify and Amazon both support dropshipping, but they offer different approaches and considerations for this business model. Here's a comparison of dropshipping on Shopify vs. Amazon:

Dropshipping on Shopify

Pros:

1. Full Control: You have complete control over your online store, allowing for brand customization and unique product offerings.
2. Diverse Product Range: With a dropshipping model, you can curate and sell a wide range of products without holding inventory.
3. Multiple Suppliers: You can work with multiple suppliers to source products, giving you flexibility.
4. Direct Customer Relationships: You maintain direct relationships with your customers, enabling better customer support and data ownership.
5. Shopify Apps: Access a variety of dropshipping apps to streamline your business operations.

Cons:

1. Business Setup: You need to set up and manage your online store, including website design and hosting.
2. Marketing: All marketing and traffic generation are your responsibility.
3. Inventory Management: While you don't hold inventory, you need to monitor stock levels and product availability from suppliers.
4. Payment Processing: You must set up payment gateways and manage transactions.

Dropshipping on Amazon

Pros:

1. Access to Amazon's Audience: Instant access to Amazon's vast customer base can jumpstart your dropshipping business.
2. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): You can use FBA to handle storage, packing, and shipping, reducing logistical challenges.
3. Global Marketplace: Sell on Amazon marketplaces in different countries, expanding your reach.
4. Prime and FBA Benefits: Products fulfilled by Amazon may be eligible for Prime and FBA badges, increasing trust and sales potential.
5. Amazon Advertising: Promote dropshipped products through Amazon's advertising options.

Cons:

1. Competition: The Amazon marketplace is highly competitive, making it challenging to differentiate your dropshipping business.
2. Fees: Amazon charges various fees, including referral and FBA fees, which can impact profitability.
3. Limited Control: You have limited control over branding and the customer experience on Amazon's platform.
4. Rules and Regulations: You must adhere to Amazon's policies and rules, which can be strict.

Shopify vs Amazon business model

Shopify and Amazon have distinct business models that cater to different aspects of e-commerce. Here's a comparison of their business models:

Shopify Business Model

1. E-commerce Platform: Shopify operates as an e-commerce platform and software service provider. It offers businesses the ecommerce tools and infrastructure to create and manage their own branded online stores.
2. Subscription and Transaction Fees: Shopify generates revenue primarily through subscription fees paid by online store owners. These fees vary based on the selected pricing plan and usage. Additionally, Shopify charges transaction fees for each sale made through its platform.
3. App Store: Shopify maintains an App Store where businesses can access a wide range of apps and integrations to extend the functionality of their online stores. Developers and app providers contribute to the ecosystem and may pay commissions to Shopify.
4. Payment Processing: Shopify offers payment processing services through Shopify Payments, which allows them to collect payment processing fees.

Amazon Business Model

1. Online Marketplace: Amazon functions as an online marketplace where third-party sellers, known as Amazon Marketplace sellers, can list and sell their products alongside Amazon's own offerings.
2. Referral Fees and Fulfillment Fees: Amazon generates revenue from its Marketplace by charging referral fees for each item sold, typically as a percentage of the sale price. Additionally, sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) pay storage and fulfillment fees.
3. Subscription Services: Amazon offers subscription services like Amazon Prime and Amazon Business, which generate recurring revenue from members.
4. Amazon Web Services (AWS): Amazon's cloud computing division, AWS, contributes significantly to the company's profitability by providing cloud services to businesses and organizations.
5. Amazon Advertising: Amazon generates revenue through advertising services offered to sellers and businesses looking to promote their products on the platform.

Conclusion

The choice between Shopify and Amazon is a critical one for any business owner. Both platforms offer their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and goals.

If you are looking for complete control over your online store and you are willing to put in the work to manage it yourself, then Shopify is a good option. Shopify offers a wide range of features and plugins to help you customize your store and add new functionality. Shopify also has a large and active community of users and developers, so you can easily find help and support when you need it.

FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions related to Shopify vs Amazon: