Shopify alternative
A custom store built for you, without the app stack
Shopify is the default DIY choice for e-commerce, and genuinely good at it. Aystra builds you a custom store with orders — and booking, if you take appointments — in 2 to 4 weeks, then you run it yourself from €39/mo flat.
Written July 2026. This is an honest comparison of two different things: a DIY commerce platform and a done-for-you studio plus platform.
Why owners look past Shopify
Shopify runs millions of stores and fits many of them well. Owners come to us when one of these starts to bite.
The bill grows app by app
The plan is the small part. A paid theme, a reviews app, a translation app, email — each need adds a line item, and the monthly total quietly doubles.
You are the builder and the maintainer
Setting up the theme, wiring the apps, keeping them from breaking each other. That time is real, and it competes with running the shop.
Services fit awkwardly
Shopify is built around products. If you also take bookings — a salon with a shelf, a maker who teaches — appointments mean more apps or a second system.
A theme is still a theme
There are about 24 free themes and 1,200 paid ones. A store that looks like your brand, not your theme, means hiring a designer or developer on top.
Side by side
The honest comparison. Shopify is a DIY commerce platform you assemble and run yourself; Aystra is a custom build plus a self-serve platform underneath.
Who builds it
- Aystra
- We do — custom, in 2 to 4 weeks
- Shopify
- You do, from a theme — or you hire a Shopify partner on top
Cost model
- Aystra
- Build from €3,500 one-time, then a flat plan from €39/mo
- Shopify
- From about €25–33/mo on Basic (annual vs monthly billing, July 2026), before theme, apps, and email
Transaction fees
- Aystra
- None from us. Stripe’s standard card rates apply, nothing on top
- Shopify
- None with Shopify Payments; 0.6–2% per sale on other gateways, by plan
Booking & orders
- Aystra
- Built in: services, staff calendars, orders, and reviews in one admin
- Shopify
- Orders are core; booking, reviews, and subscriptions are apps
Multi-language
- Aystra
- English, Spanish, Ukrainian equal-weight; the catalog is translated per language
- Shopify
- Possible via Translate & Adapt and per-market setup; full control usually means another app
Design
- Aystra
- Bespoke to your brand, fast by default
- Shopify
- Theme-based; bespoke means a designer or developer on top
Your data & code
- Aystra
- Your storefront code in your repo; full export any time
- Shopify
- Products and customers export as CSV; the theme and store stay in Shopify
Prices from shopify.com and aystra.co/pricing, July 2026.
Who should build on which
Aystra fits you if
- You sell up to about 1,000 products and want the store built for you
- You take bookings as well as orders — services, staff calendars, and a shop in one admin
- You want one flat monthly cost instead of plan plus apps
- You sell in more than one language and want it native, not an add-on
Shopify still fits if
- Your catalog runs past about 1,000 products, or you plan to scale far beyond one shop
- You need the app ecosystem — subscriptions, dropshipping, complex shipping, retail POS
- You have the time and enjoy assembling and running the store stack yourself
- Your operation depends on Shopify-only integrations your suppliers or 3PL use
Getting started
How it works
- 01
Tell us about the shop
Share your products, languages, and photos on the join page. We reply with a scope and a fixed quote.
- 02
We build the store, 2 to 4 weeks
A custom storefront with orders — and booking if you need it — designed to your brand. Two feedback sessions are included.
- 03
You run it
From €39/mo the platform hosts the store and gives you the admin: products, orders, clients, reviews, no code. Export your data any day.
Moving from Shopify? Export your products and customers as CSV, send them with the join form, and we scope the migration as part of the quote.Start on the join page
Shopify alternative FAQ
Is Aystra a good Shopify alternative for every store?
No. If you run past about 1,000 products, need the app ecosystem, or dropship, Shopify remains the right tool. Aystra fits local and premium shops that want a custom store built for them — especially ones selling in two or three languages or taking bookings too.
What does it cost compared to Shopify?
Aystra is a one-time build from €3,500 plus a flat plan from €39/mo. Shopify Basic is about €25–33/mo before a theme, apps, and email — and you build and maintain it. You are paying for a custom build and a person, not a subscription to software.
Can you move my Shopify store over?
Yes. Export your products and customers from Shopify as CSV and we bring them into the new store. Most builds take 2 to 4 weeks with two feedback sessions included.
What about payment and transaction fees?
Checkout runs on Stripe at Stripe’s standard card rates; we take nothing per sale. On Shopify you avoid its per-sale fee only inside Shopify Payments — other gateways add 0.6–2% per sale depending on plan.
Tell us what you are building.
Take the two-minute estimate or send a note. We read it the same day.