Stan Store vs. Shopify––which one is it going to be? Well, it depends, and here’s why:
Making money online has never been more accessible, yet more complex. Each platform offers different features and serves different purposes. There’s no one-size-fits-all platform in the world of digital marketplace, which means there’s no definitive answer.
Your budget today may not be your budget tomorrow. You need something that can scale up and down, based on your business goals and needs. But first, we ought to define what that means for your specific case.
I get it, choosing the right e-commerce platform can make or break your online business, which is why we’ll explore two of these top choices, and help you make an informed decision.
P.S.: I’ve helped businesses thrive on both platforms, so I know the ins and outs and, more importantly, how they impact your bottom line. In other words, I did the research, so you don’t have to. And today, I’m giving it all away, so let’s dive in.
Check out this Post: What is Stan Store? How it Works + Pricing (My 2024 Review)
Quick Verdict: Stan Store vs Shopify as e-Commerce Platforms
Stan Store
Stan Store is the go-to platform for creators focusing on digital products and services. If your business revolves around online courses, webinars, and coaching, Stan Store’s simplicity and user-friendly interface make it an ideal choice. It’s perfect if managing multiple physical products and advanced e-commerce features is NOT your priority.
Shopify
Shopify is your best bet if you need a comprehensive and scalable e-commerce solution. With advanced features, extensive customization options, and of 13,000 third-party integrations, Shopify excels in handling extensive product catalogs and complex operations. It’s the e-commerce platform that can grow with your business.
Which one is the best bet for building an online store?
Choose Stan Store if you are a creator or entrepreneur focusing mainly on digital products and require a simple, easy-to-manage storefront.
Opt for Shopify if you need a feature-rich, scalable platform that supports a wide range of products and business growth.
Stan Store Overview
Stan Store states that it “exists to help anyone work for themselves.”
Stan Store offers an all-in-one platform for influencers, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to monetize their social media audiences and sell digital downloads.
It allows users to organize and sell their digital products, membership services, and consultations with ease. Despite its relatively recent launch in 2020 by John Hu, it has already achieved:
A growing user base
Positive feedback for its user-centric design and its ‘no transaction fees’ policy
Powerful features such as a store builder, subscription manager, multiple integrations, and premium themes
Stan Store Key Features
Stan Store offers digital content creators a wide array of tools, making it a one-stop-shop for the e-commerce needs of those looking to monetize their social media followers.
Stan Store makes it easy to launch online businesses in an average of just 10 minutes and customize a store’s appearance with:
Themes
Colors
Fonts
Sell high-ticket coaching calls, medium-ticket personalized video responses, and low-ticket digital downloads with ease.
Plus, this all-in-one online store integrates with popular third-party tools to improve your workflow.
Now, let’s dive into some of its key features:
Solid creator tools. Stan Store equips creators with a wide array of tools, making it a one-stop shop for all your e-commerce needs.
One tap checkout. Simplify the checkout process, allowing customers to purchase products with a single click. This boosts conversion rates and user experience.
Email and SMS collection. Build a direct relationship with your audience by collecting emails and phone numbers for newsletters, updates, and promotional offers.
Zero transaction fees. Unlike many competitors, Stan Store charges zero transaction fees, ensuring you retain every dollar you earn.
Advanced analytics. Track your store’s performance with detailed performance analysis on customer behavior, sales, and more.
Calendar bookings. Offer followers the ability to book one-on-one calls directly through your store.
Webinars and courses. Host webinars and online courses directly on Stan Store. This feature is perfect for educators and coaches who aim to offer structured learning experiences.
Personalized video responses. Quickly set up and sell personalized video responses to your followers’ questions.
No coding required. Stan is designed to be user-friendly, meaning you don’t need any coding skills to create and manage your store. This makes it accessible to beginners and experts alike.
Key Considerations
Stan Store Pros
Stan Store Cons
Not suitable for large businesses. Stan Store is designed primarily for creators and smaller businesses. As it suggests you keep 4-5 products in your store, it may not be the best fit if you need to manage extensive product catalogs or complex inventories.
Limited advanced features. Stan Store excels in simplicity and user-friendliness for creators. However, it might fall short if you’re seeking more advanced e-commerce features found in platforms like Shopify.
Best for creators. If your primary focus is selling courses, webinars, coaching calls, or simple digital downloads, Stan Store is highly effective and user-friendly.
Stan Store Pricing
Stan Store offers two plans:
The Creator plan at $29/month
The Creator Pro plan at $99/month
The Creator plan includes essential features like a mobile-optimized store, analytics, and subscriptions, while the Pro plan adds advanced tools like email marketing, discount codes, and affiliate payments.
Stan Store Reviews
Stan Store holds a solid rating of 4.6 stars out of 210 reviews on TrustPilot. Here’s a breakdown of the feedback:
Positive reviews
A notable 94% of users have rated Stan Store with 5 stars, highlighting its user-friendly interface and excellent customer service:
Users frequently mention how simple it is to navigate and set up their stores.
People find Stan Store feature-rich, making it easy to set up and manage digital products with ease.
Negative reviews
Around 4% of users have given the platform 1 star, citing issues such as slow customer response times and problems with third-party affiliates. “There are no human beings there, just bots sending you generic emails.” Additionally, specific incidents with affiliates have raised trust concerns.
Shopify Overview
Founded in 2006 in Ottawa, Canada, by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake, Shopify is one of the leading e-commerce platforms globally.
The platform was born out of Lütke’s frustration with existing e-commerce solutions while attempting to launch an online store for snowboarding equipment.
Built to empower entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, Shopify provides a full-range solution for businesses in more than 175 countries to set up, operate, and grow their online stores.
Major brands like Netflix and Kylie Cosmetics trust Shopify with their e-commerce platform.
Key Features of Shopify
Shopify combines ease of use with powerful features, making it the go-to platform for businesses looking to scale up 360-degree businesses, integrate with social media platforms, sell physical products and digital products, manage inventory, and more.
Here are some of Shopify’s key features:
Checkout system
Advanced analytics
Customizable storefronts and the possibility to buy custom domains
AI-powered tools. Boost productivity with Shopify Magic, offering AI solutions like auto-reply, content generation, and product description writing.
Integrated mobile shopping. Reach millions of mobile users through the Shop app, allowing you to create a personalized mobile storefront that integrates with your online store.
Point of sale (POS) integration. Sell anywhere with Shopify’s POS system, which syncs your online and offline sales. If you’re someone who sells physical products but makes digital product sales like courses or membership, you can manage your sales and inventory in one place.
App ecosystem. Upgrade your store’s functionality with access to over 13,000 apps in the Shopify App Store. From marketing to logistics, find specialized tools to meet your business needs.
Multi-channel selling. You can expand your reach by selling on various platforms, including online, in-store, and social media.
Smart inventory management. Optimize stock levels and order fulfillment with intelligent inventory management tools.
Built in marketing tools. Leverage built-in SEO, email marketing, and discount code features to promote products.
Enterprise solutions. Scale with Shopify Plus, which offers advanced features like customizable checkout, B2B automation, and international selling capabilities for high-volume merchants.
Key Considerations
Shopify Pros
Shopify Cons
Although Shopify is user-friendly, there is still a learning curve, especially for newcomers to e-commerce platforms.
Shopify provides extensive customization options, but more complex customizations can require coding knowledge or hiring a developer.
Many advanced features rely on third-party apps, which can lead to additional costs and dependency on those app providers for updates and support.
Shopify’s built-in SEO features are robust, but its blogging capabilities are not as advanced as other platforms.
Choosing external payment gateways over Shopify Payments incurs additional transaction fees.
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support, but the quality and speed can vary.
Unlike Stan Store, which is designed to help creators monetize their digital content directly from a simplified storefront and the link in bio feature, Shopify primarily links to your comprehensive online store.
Shopify Pricing
At $24/month when billed yearly, the Basic plan is ideal for solo entrepreneurs. It features a 2% transaction fee for third-party payment providers and includes up to 10 inventory locations.
The Shopify plan, priced at $69/month when billed yearly, caters to small teams. For $299/month billed yearly, the next tier plan suits scaling businesses with custom reporting, enhanced support, and 15 staff accounts. The transaction fee is just 0.6%.
The Plus plan, starting at $2,300/month, this plan supports complex businesses and high-volume merchants.
Alternatively, Shopify offers three more payment plans for online entrepreneurs. The Starter plan is most similar to what Stan Store offers.
Shopify Reviews
With 4,530 reviews and a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on G2, Shopify is praised for:
Ease of use (many highlight its user-friendly interface and quick setup)
E-commerce services (offers comprehensive tools and easy integrations)
Simplifying online sales (great for managing sales and inventory)
However, there are some drawbacks:
Shopify can get expensive pretty fast with added features and plugins, so there are some hidden costs that users need to consider, especially if you’re trying to save money when deciding on the best platform
Customization options can be limited, and so are the built-in marketing tools (such as SEO tools like blogging)
Many users report poor customer service experiences
Shopify has a steeper learning curve than Stan Store
Head-to-Head Comparison of Each e-Commerce Platform
1. Ease of use
Stan Store: Superior for ease of use. The platform’s simplicity and intuitive design make it incredibly user-friendly for creators who want to avoid the complexities of managing an extensive e-commerce operation.
Shopify: While user-friendly, Shopify’s extensive features come with a steeper learning curve when using the store builder and integrations. It’s a good choice if you don’t mind investing time in mastering its capabilities.
2. Feature set
Shopify: Superior with its extensive features, including advanced analytics, inventory management, and countless third-party integrations.
Stan Store: More limited in features, focusing primarily on digital products and services.
3. Scalability
Shopify: Clearly superior in scalability. It supports businesses as they grow, offering multiple pricing tiers and scalable solutions for high-volume merchants.
Stan Store: Best suited for smaller, less complex operations.
4. Customer support
Shopify: With 24/7 customer support with varied experiences, Shopify is better in customer support. Some users find it lacking for complex issues, but its extensive help center often resolves many common problems.
Stan Store: More limited support but generally effective for its simpler range of services, although users complain about AI chatbots being ineffective.
End of the Day, It’s All About What YOU Need
With almost a decade of experience in digital marketing and e-commerce, having worked closely with both platforms, I know one thing for certain: both Stan Store and Shopify are solid choices for creators and entrepreneurs.
I’ve seen firsthand how Stan Store supports creators in monetizing their passions, while Shopify enables businesses to scale as they grow.
That’s why, there’s no definitive answer to the debate of ‘Stan Store vs. Shopify’. It’s simple––choose the platform that aligns with your needs. First thing first, you’ll need to establish a clear answer regarding:
Your budget
Your business goals
Any scalability concerns
When you’ve ticked off these three key considerations, you’ll know which one suits your needs best.