TL;DR

• As an Amazon seller, Shopify gives you full control over branding, pricing, and customer relationships.

• Lower fees than Amazon—Shopify has a flat monthly fee, while Amazon takes a cut of every sale.

• Easily integrate with Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and social media to expand your reach.

• Requires marketing efforts like SEO and ads since Shopify doesn’t have built-in traffic.

• Great for long-term brand building, while Amazon works best for quick sales.

• Perfect for dropshipping, letting you scale without managing inventory.

As an Amazon seller, you may be frustrated with high fees, tough competition, and little control over your customers. Shopify gives you a way to fix these problems. With over 1.7 million businesses using it, Shopify is a trusted platform for online stores. 

But is it right for your business?

This guide will show how Shopify can help Amazon sellers grow. We’ll cover key features like easy setup, secure payments, and multi-platform selling, so you can control pricing and customer data. We’ll also compare Shopify with other eCommerce platforms to help you decide if it’s the best choice for your business.

Is Shopify worth it?

If you're an Amazon seller looking to expand beyond Amazon, Shopify could be the solution. It gives you full control over your brand, pricing, and customer data, things Amazon doesn’t allow. Shopify ecommerce development enables you to create a unique online store that reflects your brand’s personality and directly connects with your customers.

By moving to Shopify, you can reduce your dependency on Amazon and diversify your sales channels. Shopify lets you reach customers outside of Amazon, manage your marketing, and retain customer relationships.

Shopify offers a user-friendly platform packed with tools that help Amazon sellers transition to their own online store. Here are some key features:

These features make Shopify an ideal platform for Amazon sellers looking to scale their business beyond Amazon’s restrictions.

Pros of using Shopify

#1: More control over your business

Unlike Amazon, Shopify lets you own your customer relationships. You can collect customer emails, send marketing campaigns, and encourage repeat purchases without restrictions. This means you are building a long-term brand rather than just making sales through a marketplace.

How it helps:

You are no longer dependent on Amazon’s algorithm changes, policy updates, or sudden suspensions. You can create personalized customer experiences, offer loyalty programs, and directly engage with your buyers.

#2: Lower fees than Amazon

Amazon takes 8-15% referral fees on every sale, plus additional FBA fees for storage and fulfillment. Shopify has a flat monthly fee and lower transaction costs, allowing you to keep more of your profits.

How it helps: 

Lower fees mean higher profit margins. Instead of giving a large percentage to Amazon, you can reinvest in ads, product development, and customer acquisition. Here, you can opt for  the Shopify store development services for your performance optimization. 

#3: Easy integration with marketplaces

Shopify makes it easy to sync inventory with Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and social media platforms. This means you can sell on multiple channels while managing everything from a single dashboard, reducing the hassle of updating inventory manually.

How it helps:

You can maintain a strong presence on Amazon while expanding to your own store, diversifying revenue streams, and reaching more customers.

#4: Flexible pricing & promotions

Unlike Amazon, which restricts pricing flexibility, Shopify allows you to set your own prices, run sales, and create loyalty programs. You can also offer discounts and promotions without worrying about competitors undercutting you on the same platform.

How it helps: 

You can experiment with different pricing strategies, offer bundle deals, and create seasonal promotions to boost sales and customer retention.

#5: No Direct Competition

On Amazon, your products are displayed alongside competitors, making it harder to stand out. Shopify gives you a dedicated store where customers only see your products, helping you build a stronger brand identity and increase customer loyalty.

How it helps: 

Customers won’t be distracted by competing products, leading to higher conversion rates and better brand recognition over time. On the other hand, Shopify design and development highly impact your customer retention rate. 

Cons of using Shopify

#1: Monthly subscription fees

Shopify charges a monthly fee starting at $29, which can add up over time. However, this cost is predictable and often lower than Amazon’s high referral and fulfillment fees.

How it affects you: 

If you’re just starting out and have limited sales, the monthly cost may feel like an extra burden compared to Amazon’s pay-as-you-sell model.

#2: Requires marketing effort

Unlike Amazon, where customers are actively searching for products, Shopify requires SEO, paid ads, and marketing to drive traffic to your store. You’ll need to invest in ads or content marketing to attract buyers.

How it affects you: 

You must create a solid marketing strategy, run ads, and actively promote your store through social media, which requires time and effort. Here, you can choose our SEO services for effective marketing. 

#3: Transaction fees

If you don’t use Shopify payments, third-party gateways like PayPal and Stripe charge extra transaction fees, which can eat into profits.

How it affects you: 

If you prefer using PayPal or another processor, you might lose a percentage of each sale in transaction fees.

#4: Extra costs for apps

Some advanced features require paid apps, which can increase costs over time. However, these apps often provide automation and tools that can boost sales and efficiency.

How it affects you: 

Depending on the complexity of your store, you may need to pay extra for features like advanced SEO tools, customer reviews, or automated email marketing.

Shopify vs other eCommerce platforms

Choosing the right platform for your online business is critical. Each platform offers unique benefits and drawbacks depending on your business model. 

Below is a detailed comparison of Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and WooCommerce to help you decide which one best fits your needs.

Key takeaways 

• Use Shopify if you want a fully branded store and control over pricing, marketing, and customer data.

• Use Amazon if you want fast sales but don’t mind higher fees and competition.

• Use eBay if you sell unique items but don’t need extensive customization.

• Use WooCommerce if you prefer full control and are comfortable with website setup.

Pro tip: 

As an Amazon seller, combining Shopify with Amazon or eBay is the best way to scale. Shopify gives you full control over branding and pricing, while Amazon and eBay bring in immediate traffic. 

Is Shopify worth it for dropshipping?

Yes! Shopify is one of the best platforms for dropshipping, 

Pro tip: 

You can combine FBA with Shopify dropshipping and use Amazon for high-demand, fast-moving products, and run a Shopify store for custom or niche products that don’t fit Amazon’s model. This way, you maximize sales while reducing dependency on one platform.

Final thoughts

Shopify gives Amazon sellers the chance to break free from high fees and marketplace restrictions. With full control over branding, customer relationships, and pricing, it’s a smart move for those looking to scale beyond Amazon. 

However, growing a Shopify store takes time and effort. If you’re unsure where to start, our expert Amazon consultants can help from setting up your store to optimizing sales and running ads, we can guide you every step of the way.