Stan Store vs Shopify: Which Platform is Right for YOU? [2024]
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With both Stan Store and Shopify, you can sell products and much more. But does one platform offer more bang for the buck? By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of the differences in features, benefits, and pricing of Stan Store vs Shopify.
TL;DR:
- Stan Store provides an easy way for creators to sell products directly from social media with its link-in-bio style storefronts.
- Shopify offers more advanced ecommerce features to build and scale an independent online store.
- Stan Store costs $29-$99/month with no transaction fees or hidden costs. Shopify starts at $29/month but has extra fees for payments, apps, etc that add up.
- For simple social selling, choose Stan Store. For advanced ecommerce capabilities, Shopify is the way to go
Stan Store vs Shopify: At a Glance
✅ Best for influencers selling from social media
✅ Build a high-converting storefront to sell your products/services
✅ 14-day risk-free trial
✅ Best Overall E-commerce platform
✅ All of the tools you need to start an online store
✅ 14-day risk-free trial
Why You Should Choose Stan Store
Stan Store is perfect for creators who are looking for a simple solution to sell their products online.
Unlike some alternative platforms, Stan Store makes it easy for anyone to create an online store, promote products on social media, offer discounts and coupons, and manage orders.
If all you need is to set up a link-in-bio type storefront then you should choose Stan Store over Shopify.
🏆 Best Store for Creators
Stan Store
Stan Store provides everything you need to build a profitable online store. With an intuitive drag & drop store builder and built-in marketing tools, anyone can create a beautiful ecommerce website.
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Why You Should Choose Shopify
If you’re an entrepreneur needing an online store that sells physical products, Shopify is your go-to solution.
It offers advanced e-commerce features and customization through its app marketplace, ideal for users with specific needs beyond direct selling to their social media followers.
Shopify is the ideal e-commerce platform for those needing a comprehensive online store that operates independently of their social media platforms.
🏆 Best for Ecommerce
Shopify
Shopify offers all the essential tools to be successful in e-commerce, catering to both seasoned entrepreneurs and newcomers. With Shopify, you get instant access to a comprehensive suite of tools that streamline sales, manage inventory, and enhance customer experiences — all in one place.
Pros:
Cons:
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About the Products
Before we analyze features, benefits, and pricing, let’s look at each product’s history…
Stan Store
Stan Store was created by entrepreneur John Hu in 2019.
As a TikTok creator himself, John created Stan Store out of his necessity to make selling products online easy for people without coding skills or design experience.
With Stan Store, anyone can create a beautiful online store in minutes and start taking orders right away.
Other Stan Store Comparisons
Shopify
Shopify was founded in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake after they recognized the need for a more intuitive e-commerce platform while attemping to build an online snowboard shop.
This led to the creation of Shopify, a platform designed to empower entrepreneurs worldwide by making it easier for them to start, run, and grow their own online stores.
With its user-first approach, Shopify stands out as a testament to its founders’ expertise in e-commerce and dedication to helping others succeed online.
Stan Store vs Shopify: What Features Do They Offer?
There are plenty of e-commerce platforms on the market, but what separates Stan Store and Shopify from the pack?
Let’s take a closer look at each product…
Stan Store Features
Stan Store comes equipped with tools to help creators sell their products, courses, and services online.
Some key features include:
- All-in-One Creator Store
- Simplified Checkout
- Built-in Marketing
- Detailed Analytics
- White Label Branding
- Integrations
- No Transaction Fees
- Easy to Use Interface
The goal of Stan Store is to provide creators with everything they need in one place to sell products, market their brand, and manage orders with ease.
With the robust set of included features, I think it achieves this goal well.
Shopify Features
Shopify excels as a comprehensive e-commerce platform, offering a wide array of features that set it apart from the competition.
Some of the standout features include:
- Intuitive Online Store Builder
- Unlimited Product Listings
- Secure Shopping Cart with 100+ Payment Gateways
- Integrated SEO Tools
- Mobile Commerce Optimization
- Detailed Analytics and Reporting
- Multichannel Selling (including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay)
- Inventory Management
- Customizable Themes
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Shopify POS for Physical Retail
- App Store with 6,000+ Apps for Extended Functionality
- Abandoned Cart Recovery
Shopify comes packed with powerful features designed to streamline the entire e-commerce process, eliminating the need for multiple separate tools and subscriptions.
Stan Store vs Shopify: How Much Do They Cost?
Now that you know all of the main features included in each product, let’s talk about how much each one costs.
Stan Store Pricing
Designed with scaling creators in mind, Stan Store’s pricing structure is transparent with no hidden fees or transaction costs that nickel and dime you as your business grows.
Stan Store only has 2 pricing packages to choose from:
- Creator ($29 per month)
- Creator Pro ($99 per month)
The most popular plan is their Creator Pro plan. For $99 per month you get everything included in the Creator plan plus:
- Email Marketing
- Unlimited Funnels
- Discount Codes and Upsell Offers
- Affiliate Payments
- Pixel Tracking
For those who want to save money, Stan Store offers a 20% discount on all annual plans.
Shopify Pricing
Understanding Shopify’s pricing is key to selecting the right plan for your business goals and budget.
The Basic Shopify plan starts at $29 per month, providing all the essential features needed to launch and manage an online store, including unlimited products, and 24/7 support.
For those needing more advanced features, Shopify and Advanced Shopify plans are available at $79 and $299 per month, respectively. These plans increase your capability for staff accounts, report generation, and lower credit card rates, among other benefits.
However, potential users should be aware of additional costs that may arise, including transaction fees via Shopify Payments, costs for third-party apps, premium themes, or purchasing custom domains.
These additional expenses are just the cost of doing business on Shopify, so it makes sense to budget for more than just the basic subscription fee when planning your online store.
Stan Store vs Shopify: The Final Showdown
Stan Store vs Shopify Final Words…
Both Stan Store and Shopify are excellent software platforms catering to the needs of online businesses in complementary ways.
For entrepreneurs looking to get a new e-commerce store off the ground, Shopify provides a more complete solution, including the tools and features to really scale a business.
However, for creators looking for a simple to implement solution, Stan Store is a perfect fit allowing you to seamlessly add a “link in bio” style storefront to any social media profile.
The choice comes down to your specific business goals. But either platform will help you succeed online.
A Better Alternative…
If you’re a creator looking for an all-in-one platform to sell digital products, subscriptions, and merchandise Sellfy is the best overall alternative to both Stan Store and Shopify.
Start your 14-day free trial today and discover how Sellfy can help you launch, grow, and succeed in your online business. No credit card is required, and you can cancel anytime.
