Sellfy vs Shopify – Which Is Better?

Doing business online has never been easier. Nowadays, anyone can launch an eCommerce store from the comfort of their home without any web development skills. All you have to do is to use any of the numerous eCommerce platforms available.

These eCommerce platforms provide all the necessary tools and features you need to successfully operate an online store. You can conduct sales, marketing, logistics, and fulfillment activities with a reliable eCommerce platform.

Interestingly, Shopify and Sellfy are two such eCommerce platforms.

If you want to launch an online store and you’re wondering which among the two platforms is best, find out here as I compare Sellfy vs Shopify.

What Is Sellfy?

Sellfy is an eCommerce platform for creators.

It was launched in 2011 with a mission to help creators all over the world earn money from doing what they love.

So far, Sellfy has attracted over 270,000 creators with more than 1.2 million products sold. You can sell on Sellfy or connect the platform to sell on social media platforms.

You can sell your products and services using Sellfy if you’re a writer, designer, musician, photographer, videographer, or if you create any kind of digital or physical files. Sellfy also supports print on demand businesses.

Most Sellfy users are situated in Europe, North America, and Asia, but you can use the platform from any location.

Sellfy is a premium eCommerce platform; however, you can use the platform free for 14 days before purchasing a subscription. Aside from subscriptions, Sellfy doesn’t charge any additional payment.

What Is Shopify?

Although the platform went public in 2015, Shopify has been around since 2004. It is an all-in-one eCommerce platform you can use to launch any type of eCommerce business.

Over 1 million online businesses are powered by Shopify. With Shopify, you can do more than just setting up a store. You can purchase business domains, buy eCommerce hosting, etc.

When you launch a Shopify store, you’re given a free sub-domain name that you can change to a custom one.

Shopify lets you sell anywhere. You can sell on the platform, your website, social media, online marketplaces like Amazon, etc. You can also do point of sale (POS) business with Shopify.

Overall, Shopify is free for 14 days prior to purchasing a premium subscription. No other fees are required and you have the flexibility to pay monthly, annually, or biennially.

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How To Get Started

Sellfy

Setting up a Sellfy store is simple. The first step is email verification. Provide your email, click on the link that you receive to activate it, and you now have a Sellfy account.

Login to your account and start adding information about your store. This includes store name, link, language, payment settings, product category, pages, etc. The store link is under the Sellfy domain (eg. www.Sellfy.com/my-store) because you will be selling on the platform. Likewise, you can use a custom domain with Sellfy.

After these basic settings are set, you can start adding products for sale to your Sellfy store.

Shopify

With Shopify, the first thing to do is to register your account. The most important details for registering an account include your store name, legal business name, time zone, weight units, currency, and a password. You can choose to display multiple currencies.

Once finished, your store will be assigned a myshopify domain. It’s important to edit your homepage metadata.

You can set your custom domain name to replace the myshopify domain from your settings. Your store is also given a default theme and order IDs. All of these can be customized when you want to fully design your store.

Verdict

Although Sellfy and Shopify feature different setup processes, both are easy to complete.

Store Design

Sellfy

There’s not much to do when designing a Sellfy store. Store designing is basically customizing, which involves uploading a header image, logo image, social links, and customizing page layouts, navigations, headers, and footers.

Nevertheless, the Sellfy store builder lets you build stylish pages for your store using modules. There are various modules available including text panel, newsletter form, contact form, hero block, and product modules. With the store builder, you can build various landing pages for your store.

If you’re on the Sellfy Starter plan, a Sellfy branding will be displayed at the bottom of your page. You can only remove this after purchasing a premium subscription.

Shopify

When you launch your Shopify store, the default Debut theme will be installed. Themes are made up of a block of contents so it’s easy to redesign your store by editing the Debut theme.

To design your store, you will use the Shopify Theme Editor. The Theme Editor allows you to customize your page content, layout, typography, and colors. You can edit your header, footer, product pages, collection pages, posts, blog pages, and cart pages.

You won’t need to write down any code and it’s possible to duplicate the theme before editing so you can easily revert if there are errors.

Interesting Read: Clickfunnels vs Shopify

Verdict

You can do more designing and customization with Shopify than Sellfy. Plus, the displayed branding with Sellfy is a disadvantage.

Themes

Sellfy

All Sellfy stores feature a basic default theme; there are no other themes to select. If you want a unique looking Sellfy store, you’ll have to customize it from start to finish with the Store Customizer tool.

Nevertheless, with the many options available, you can build a unique theme using the Sellfy store customizer. Although it might take some time, you will find it easy to complete as the store customizer tool is drag-and-drop.

You can do more with advanced customization which is available only to Sellfy Business and Premium users. It cannot be accessed with a Starter subscription plan.

Shopify

Shopify features several eCommerce store themes that you can install. These are professionally designed themes and they save you the stress of having to design from scratch.

However, most of these eCommerce store themes are not free. There are just 9 free themes and 64 paid themes with each one costing $100 – $180; most of them cost $180. By selecting a theme from the theme store, you can view a demo before applying it to your Shopify store.

Shopify themes are all mobile friendly and optimized for SEO. Furthermore, there’s documentation so you won’t find them difficult to manage.

Verdict

Clearly, Shopify is the winner in this Sellfy vs Shopify feature comparison.

Email Marketing

Sellfy

Email marketing is one of Sellfy’s built-in marketing features. With this feature, you can easily collect newsletter subscribers and send product updates to your customers via email.

You don’t have to bother with designing your emails because Sellfy features four customizable email templates that you can use. This includes a product launch, product discount, product update, and custom message template.

You can customize these templates or create yours using the rich text editor. The editor allows you to add images, HTML code, clickable links, bullet points, etc. There’s a statistics dashboard to monitor your email performance including delivery rate, open rate, click rate, etc.

Shopify

From the Marketing section in your Shopify dashboard, you can conveniently market your business via email. You can send, manage, and analyze emails – and it’s simple.

There are several ready-made email designs to choose from. Automatically, Shopify adds your logo and branding to these email templates.

Available templates include a product collection, sales, and newsletter template, etc. You just have to change the text, colors, buttons, images, etc. if necessary before sending it.

Also, you can import and export email lists. From the Analyze section, you can monitor conversion rates, open rates, add to cart rate, total growth, etc.

Verdict

Although Shopify and Sellfy are ideal for email marketing, the winner here is Shopify because it has more email templates.

Payments

Sellfy

Receiving payments from customers is hassle-free with Sellfy. Payments are processed between you and your customers, while Sellfy doesn’t interfere. You only work with your preferred payment processor although Sellfy supports PayPal and Stripe (for card payments).

Therefore, to receive payments as a Sellfy Merchant, you should have a PayPal or Stripe account, or both. From the Payment Settings section in your store settings, login with your details to connect the payment processors. Afterward, authorize access to receive payments.

With Sellfy, you get credited immediately once a customer’s payment is completed. Most importantly, your PayPal and Stripe account currencies must be the same as your Sellfy account currency.

Shopify

It has a native payment gateway known as Shopify Payments. You can start receiving money quickly without the need for third-party processors. Thankfully, Shopify Payments supports all major debit and credit cards. Not to mention, it accepts payment via Google Pay and Apple Pay.

You don’t have to worry about compromise because Shopify payments support 3D secure checkouts and it is PCI-compliant. Aside from Shopify payments, there are more than 100 third-party payment processors available on the Shopify App Store.

The third-party payment processors are unique to different regions so you can utilize the best payment provider in your locality. Interestingly, Shopify supports cryptocurrency payments via platforms like BitPay, Coinbase, etc.

Verdict

With support for more payment processors, Shopify wins in this Shopify vs Sellfy feature comparison.

Shipment Tracking

Sellfy

Since Sellfy is a platform used mainly by creators who create digital products, there isn’t much need for product tracking. After payment, customers simply download their products.

Nevertheless, if you sell physical products on Sellfy, you can still issue tracking numbers to customers. However, you have to do this manually as Sellfy doesn’t automatically generate a tracking number for products.

Creating these tracking numbers isn’t difficult and you can do that as you add new physical products.

Shopify

If you utilize Shopify Shipping to ship your products, your products are automatically issued a tracking number. Your customers can input this tracking number on your website to monitor their orders.

Alternatively, if you’re using other third-party shipping services, you can manually add tracking numbers from the Orders section in settings.

However, if you’re using a shipping carrier that’s fully supported by Shopify, you just have to provide the tracking URL and the tracking information will be imported.

Finally, there are several order tracking apps in the Shopify app store that you can install and use.

Verdict

Tracking is automatic and manual with Shopify while with Sellfy, it is only manual. Shopify wins.

Shipping & Delivery

Sellfy

As a Sellfy merchant who sells physical products, you are the one to create delivery methods. From your Sellfy account settings, you can enter your shipping options for customers to see; most especially the delivery regions.

By default, Sellfy sets your shipping region to ‘worldwide.’ You can change this simply by selecting Add Shipping Region/Country. Also, you have to add shipping costs. Sellfy enables you to add two shipping costs; for the first product and additional products.

If you’re offering free shipping, you can leave the price at $0.00.

Shopify

You can save the stress and cost of using third-party shipping carriers by utilizing Shopify’s native shipping service. The advantage you get is lower shipping fees; up to 90 percent less than other shipping carriers.

Shopify shipping works with many top shipping carriers including DHL, USPS, FedEx, Canada Post, UPS, etc. You’ll only work with the rates of these carriers mainly if you’re not shipping to Canada and the United States.

Likewise, Shopify shipping allows you to manage all shipping orders and inventory in one place which implies that you can fulfill orders faster.

Verdict

With native shipping support, shipping is more convenient with Shopify than with Sellfy.

Analytics

Sellfy

From your Sellfy dashboard, you can access your store analytics under the Overview section. Here, you can find your store visits, purchases, conversion rate, revenue, top products, traffic, countries, etc. At a glance, you can know which days you sold more from the bar chart.

The Sellfy analytics dashboard displays data from the last 30 days by default. You can adjust the time frame for more specific insights. Sellfy supports UTM (urchin tracking module) which you can use to track specific campaigns.

Furthermore, you can connect Google Analytics with your Sellfy account for comprehensive analytics.

Shopify

With Shopify, you don’t lack analytics and reports. The Shopify Analytics dashboard is easy to comprehend as all the important data are displayed. This includes your store’s average order value, conversion rate, customer device type, location, traffic source, customer rate, top products, top pages, etc.

Each of these data is contained & summarized in cards and you can view a more detailed report by clicking on these cards. The time frame can be easily adjusted to a few specific analytics.

In the Shopify app store, there are several analytics apps. Not to mention, Sellfy works with Google Analytics too.

Verdict

Both Shopify and Sellfy provide reliable analytics, so it’s a draw.

Third-party Integrations

Sellfy

With Sellfy, you can connect to other third-party platforms; up to 6 of them. This includes Google Analytics, Webhooks, Facebook, Patreon, Zapier, and Twitter. The methods of integrating these platforms are different but you get all the instructions you need from the Sellfy help center.

Although Sellfy doesn’t feature many third-party integrations, its integration with Zapier gives it an edge as you can connect to multiple apps.

Shopify

Shopify works with almost every top web platform. Basically, the platform integrates with Facebook, Instagram, Walmart, eBay, Amazon, WordPress, Zapier, etc. Then, there’s the app store where you get more.

The Shopify app store features about 2,500 apps. These include marketing, designing, inventory management, shipping, productivity, reporting, and customer support apps, amongst others.

Installing these Shopify apps is free, but if the platform requires a subscription or any other payment form, then you have to pay.

Verdict

Shopify features more third-party integrations than Sellfy. Not to mention, it has over 2000 apps in its app store.

Customer Support & Resources

Sellfy

You can contact the Sellfy support team by sending them a message via a contact form or chatting via LiveChat. In the Sellfy Help Center, you get access to help documents as a Sellfy store owner and as a buyer.

This includes articles on account management, payments, adding products, etc. for sellers and articles on product-related issues, downloading issues, and purchasing issues for the buyer.

Other useful resources featured on Sellfy include a blog and a YouTube money calculator. Plus, they have an active presence on top social media platforms.

Shopify

You can get quick help from the Shopify Help Center. In the help center, you’ll find articles about starting, selling, managing, marketing, and expanding your Shopify store.

There are also help documents on designing Shopify themes and developing Shopify apps. Furthermore, you can get help from other Shopify users in the Shopify community. Most importantly, you can start discussions and get feedback on your store from the Shopify community.

To get direct help from the Shopify support team, you must be logged in and the support is 24/7. Shopify has official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram that you can follow for updates.

Verdict

Sellfy and Shopify have similar customer support channels, but Shopify wins here as the platform features more resources.

Security

Sellfy

Sellfy is a safe eCommerce platform to use because it guarantees the highest standard of personal data and content protection for sellers. All stores are hosted with an SSL certificate (HTTPS) and are GDPR compliant, so customers’ data is also protected.

You can protect your digital files using methods such as PDF stamping, protected downloading, and SSL encryption. Furthermore, Sellfy payment and checkout mediums are secure.

Shopify

As a certified Level 1 PCI-compliant, Shopify is a secure platform. To protect your account from breaches, you can employ security measures such as 2FA and TLS.

Data provided by you and your customers is protected as Shopify follows GDPR and CCPA data protection guidelines.

Verdict

In terms of security, you can go with either Sellfy or Shopify.

Pricing

Sellfy

Sellfy features three pricing plans:

• Starter Plan – $29 per month when billed every month, or $19 per month when billed annually
• Business Plan – $59 per month when billed monthly, or $39 per month when billed annually
• Premium Plan – $129 per month when billed monthly, or $89 per month when billed annually

Sellfy doesn’t offer a free plan. If you’re looking to start for free, you may want to try a platform like Gumroad which offers equally good features.

Shopify

Its pricing plans are based on a monthly subscription, which includes:

• Basic Shopify Plan – $29 when billed monthly
• Shopify Plan – $79 when billed every month
• Shopify Lite Plan – $9 when billed monthly
• Shopify Plus Plan – Custom Pricing
• Advanced Shopify Plan – $299 when billed monthly

Sellfy vs Shopify – Similarities & Differences

Similarities

• Both Shopify and Sellfy support email marketing.
• They both provide reliable analytics.
• No free accounts
• Both Sellfy and Shopify are easy to set up.
• They both support third-party integrations.
• With either Shopify or Sellfy, you get a secure online store.

Differences

• Shopify features eCommerce themes, while Sellfy features none.
• Unlike Sellfy, Shopify features more email templates.
• Selly supports only PayPal and Stripe, while Shopify features a native payment gateway and also supports third-party payment processors.
• Shopify features third-party integrations and apps, while Sellfy features just integrations.

Shopify vs Sellfy – Pros & Cons

Sellfy Pros

• Easy to set up unlike most of its alternatives
• Reliable store analytics
• Reliable support and resources
• Email marketing support
• Third-party integration

Sellfy Cons

• The Starter Plan is not white-label
• No themes
• Supports PayPal and Stripe

Shopify Pros

• Easy to set up
• Reliable support and resources
• Ecommerce themes
• Dependable store analytics
• Email marketing support
• Native payment processor
• Native shipping and tracking support
• Third-party integrations and apps

Shopify Cons

• Paid themes are expensive

Shopify vs Sellfy – Which Is Better?

As an all-in-one eCommerce platform, it’s difficult to find a platform that beats Shopify. While Sellfy focuses on content creators, anyone with an eCommerce dream can use Shopify.

Besides, Shopify makes eCommerce easy and safe with ready-made themes, email marketing templates, 24/7 support, useful resources, numerous integrations, top-notch security, etc. Also, Sellfy falls short in most of these features.