Global e-commerce market is growing at an exponential rate and it’s evolving as we speak. So, if you’re looking for ways to grow your business online, now is the time to get active in the e-commerce space. And there’s no better way to get started than by utilizing the top 2 e-commerce platforms in the world – Shopify and eBay. But, this begs the question: which one’s the better platform for selling online? We take a look at main differences between the two, so that you can decide which one’s better for you.

What is Shopify?

It doesn’t take much these days to create an online identity for your business, particularly in the e-commerce space. If you want to secure your financial future with a limited amount of upfront capital to begin with, then Shopify is just the right platform for you to start your e-commerce journey. Shopify is a popular ecommerce platform that enables businesses and individuals to create and manage their own digital storefront for their products and services online. In its basic form, Shopify helps to sell your products and services on the Web. Shopify is one of the earliest ecommerce platforms beginning in 2004 and is a complete ecommerce solution in the market today. It is an easy way to build trust and get people to buy from you, and eventually, grow your online business. 

What is eBay?

Based in San Jose, California, eBay is a global ecommerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers from all corners of the world. eBay is probably the world’s biggest online marketplace where you can buy and sell almost anything – from clothes and electronics to cars and collectibles. It is the best platform to buy and sell items; this is the place where you ca n buy anything you want from businesses or private sellers either by placing a bid on an auction or choose to buy right away with an instant ‘Buy It Now’ option. eBay is a constantly evolving website that isn’t too hard to master, as long as you know the ins and outs. With eBay, all the items you can literally think of are just a few mouse clicks away from being bought and sold, and your computer can magically turn into a money making machine.

Difference between Shopify and eBay

Platform 

Both Shopify and eBay are popular ecommerce platforms that allow businesses or individuals to buy and sell products or services online. Both are among the biggest online marketplaces out there. eBay is one of the oldest online marketplaces with a wide range of products that can be bought or sold online. The biggest difference between eBay and Shopify is that eBay is also a leading auction platform that directly facilitates the sale of products between the interested parties (buyers and sellers).

Business Model

Shopify is a powerful ecommerce platform that integrates all the essential ecommerce requirements and business functions into one unified platform through the SaaS model. Basically, it enables you to create a digital storefront for your business so you can sell your goods online. It enables third-party merchants to commercialize their products on their website and makes money via subscriptions, referrals, transaction and payments. eBay has a similar business model, except eBay is also an auction house and it deals in both B2C and C2C marketplace.

Pricing Structure 

Shopify has a fairly simple pricing structure, starting from a basic $29 a month, then the Regular plan that is $79 a month, finally, the Advanced plan that costs $299 per month. On top of this, Shopify also takes a transaction fee of 30¢. There is also a Shopify Plus plan for high-volume merchants, best suited for enterprise looking to expand their reach.

eBay, on the other hand, has a bit complex pricing structure – starts as low as $4.95/month on annual billing for starters looking to list a hundred items per month, or $21.95/month for sellers looking to list at least 250 items per month, or $299.95/month for listing 10,000 items. There’s also an Enterprise plan that allows you to list at least 100,000 items a month at a cost of $2999.95/month (annual subscription).

Shopify vs. eBay: Comparison Chart

Summary

Both are excellent ecommerce platforms and online marketplaces that provide everything you need to set up your own online storefront. Shopify is a popular ecommerce platform that enables businesses and individuals to create and manage their own online shop, so, if you wish to establish a solid online retail brand, Shopify is the right platform to begin with. On the other hand, if you are an already established marketplace looking to expand your business, eBay is the ideal solution for you. eBay also wins hands on, when it comes to pricing. But at the end of day, it’s all about which one’s right for your business and target audience.

Is Shopify more expensive than eBay?

Shopify is a slightly on the higher side, when it comes to pricing. Although, the pricing structure of eBay is quite complex, it is relatively cheaper than Shopify.

Is Shopify part of eBay?

No, Shopify is not part of eBay. But, you can easily integrate Shopify with the eBay sales channel, which also syncs your available inventory with all active sales channels.

Do I need Shopify to sell on eBay?

No, you do not need Shopify to sell on eBay, but you can connect eBay to your Shopify account to sell on Shopify through eBay.

What is the best eBay or Shopify?

eBay is an already established marketplace that hosts almost anything you can think of. eBay is great if you plan to sell a wide variety of products, including physical products online. Shopify is a complete ecommerce solution that is a great platform for those looking to grow their business and develop a solid customer base.

Is Shopify better than Amazon?

Shopify offers the best deal for money and it has cheaper pricing plans than Amazon. Shopify is a disruptive force in the global ecommerce space, but Amazon is an ecommerce giant that is way more valuable and profitable than Shopify.

Does Amazon own Shopify?

Shopify Inc. is a multinational ecommerce company based out of Ottawa, Ontario. Amazon does not own Shopify.

Is Shopify really that easy?

If you are looking to set up your own online shop without the extra bells and whistles and with no technical knowledge, Shopify is really good and easy to start with. In fact, the main purpose behind it was to make setting up and running a store simpler and faster.

Sharing is caring!