Many sellers want to know the difference between Amazon and Shopify. Amazon stands as the world’s largest online marketplace. It serves 200 million Prime members and more than 197 million shoppers each month. Meanwhile, Shopify powers 1.75 million stores across 175 countries. Fees, tools, and branding options differ. Sellers choose based on their dreams, budget, and plans.
Main Difference Between Amazon and Shopify
In fact, these platforms work in different ways. Amazon acts as a shared marketplace. Sellers list items next to many others. They pay referral fees of 8%–15% plus $0.99 per item on the basic plan. On the other hand, Shopify works as a standalone platform. Merchants pay a monthly fee between $29 and $299. They gain full control over branding, design, and customer data. Amazon gives high traffic. Shopify offers more design freedom.
Amazon Vs. Shopify
What is Amazon
Originally Amazon started in 1994 as an online bookstore. Jeff Bezos founded the site. Today the company sells items from books to cloud services. It reported $637.9 billion in revenue in 2024.
Read Also: Difference Between Amazon and eBay
It employs about 1.56 million people worldwide. The Amazon Prime program boasts 200 million members for free shipping and video streaming. Moreover, Amazon attracts over 197 million visitors per month in the U.S. It also runs AWS, the leading cloud service by market share.
What is Shopify
Shopify launched in 2006 in Ottawa, Canada. Three founders built it for snowboarding gear sales. Today Shopify powers over 5 million businesses in 175 countries. In 2024 it processed $292.3 billion in sales.
Read Also: Difference Between Ecommerce And Ebusiness
It earned $8.88 billion in revenue and $2.02 billion in operating income in 2024. About 8,100 people work there now. Moreover, Shopify offers hundreds of themes and over 8,000 apps. It also runs its own fulfillment network in select regions.
Comparison Table “Amazon Vs. Shopify”
| Business Model | Shared marketplace. Sellers pay 8%–15% fee and $0.99 per item. | Subscription platform. Plans at $29, $79, $299 per month. |
| Pricing & Fees | $0.99 per item (Individual) or $39.99 monthly, plus 8%–15% fee. | Zero fees with Shopify Payments, 0.5%–2% with external gateways. |
| Branding | Uses fixed listing templates on “amazon.com.” | Offers full theme editing with HTML/CSS and custom domains. |
| Traffic | Over 197 million U.S. visitors per month. | Around 56.5 million visitors across all stores each month. |
| Fulfillment | FBA with two-day Prime shipping. Starts at $0.75 per cubic foot per month. | Merchants self-ship or use Shopify Fulfillment Network with up to 88% off. |
| Apps & Tools | Basic tools via Seller Central and external apps. | Over 8,000 apps in App Store for marketing, chat, reviews, and more. |
| Support | Ticket and callback support. Policies can change quickly. | 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support with guides. |
Difference Between Amazon and Shopify in Detail
Get to know the Difference Between Amazon Vs. Shopify in Detail.
1. Business Model
Amazon runs a central marketplace. Sellers list products side by side. They compete on price and ratings. They pay referral fees of 8%–15% and $0.99 per item on the Individual plan.
Shopify uses a subscription model. Merchants pay $29, $79, or $299 monthly. They set up full online shops. They pay 0.5%–2% in transaction fees if they use an external gateway. Using Shopify Payments removes these fees.
2. Store Design & Branding
Amazon listings follow a set template. Sellers add images, bullet points, and descriptions. However, no custom HTML or brand pages exist. The seller’s listings always live on amazon.com.
Shopify gives full design control. Merchants pick from over 70 free themes and paid templates. They can edit HTML, CSS, and checkout flows. This level of freedom lets brands look unique online.
3. Traffic & Audience
Amazon sees over 197 million U.S. visitors each month. Sellers tap into this built-in audience. Ads on Amazon can boost visibility. However, competition can drive costs higher.
Shopify stores attract around 56.5 million visitors per month overall. Merchants drive traffic with SEO, email, and social media. They own visitor data for retargeting. Consequently, they avoid sharing customer lists with other sellers.
4. Pricing & Fees
Amazon offers an Individual plan at $0.99 per item sold. It also offers a Professional plan at $39.99 per month. Sellers always pay the 8%–15% referral fee on each sale.
Shopify has three main plans at $29, $79, and $299 per month. Using Shopify Payments cuts transaction fees to 0%. Otherwise, merchants pay 0.5%–2% per sale. This model helps predict costs easily.
5. Fulfillment & Logistics
Amazon FBA stores, packs, and ships products for sellers. It gives access to two-day Prime delivery. Storage fees start at $0.75 per cubic foot per month.
Shopify lets merchants handle shipping themselves or use third-party services. The Shopify Fulfillment Network offers two-day delivery in select zones. It delivers up to 88% off standard shipping rates. Merchants print labels and track orders right in Shopify.
6. Customization & Apps
Shopify’s App Store features over 8,000 apps. Merchants add tools for email, chat, reviews, and subscriptions. App installation takes minutes.
Amazon limits add-ons to Seller Central features. Sellers often rely on outside software for repricing, analytics, and feedback. These tools require manual setups and separate billing.
7. Support & Scalability
Shopify provides 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email. Help articles and forums guide merchants step by step. APIs let brands integrate custom systems.
Amazon offers Seller Central support through tickets, email, and callbacks. Response times vary. Sellers use Amazon Global Selling to reach markets in Europe, Japan, and beyond.
Key Difference Between Amazon and Shopify
Here are the key points showing the Difference Between Amazon Vs. Shopify.
- Marketplace vs Platform Amazon works as a shared marketplace. Shopify lets brands run their own sites.
- Built-in Traffic vs Self-Driven Traffic Amazon brings millions of shoppers to its marketplace. On Shopify, merchants drive visitors via SEO, ads, and email.
- Shared Listings vs Unique Storefront Amazon listings follow one template for all sellers. Shopify shops show unique layouts and branding.
- Referral Fees vs Subscription Fees Amazon charges 8%–15% referral fees and $0.99 per sale on the Individual plan. Shopify charges $29–$299
- Standard Domain vs Custom Domain Amazon URLs always include “amazon.com.” Shopify lets merchants use any domain they own.
- Limited Customer Data vs Full Data Access Amazon keeps customer contact within its system. Shopify gives merchants full access to buyer info.
- Template Design vs Full Customization Amazon uses fixed listing templates. Shopify allows code edits in HTML and CSS.
- Single Sales Channel vs Multi-Channel Options Amazon focuses on its own marketplace. Shopify integrates with social media, marketplaces, and in-store POS.
- Basic Tools vs App Ecosystem Amazon offers core tools through Seller Central. Shopify offers over 8,000 apps for every need.
- Fulfillment by Amazon vs Flexible Fulfillment Amazon FBA handles storage, packing, and shipping. Shopify lets merchants pick any shipping or 3PL service.
- Ticket Support vs 24/7 Live Support Amazon uses tickets and callbacks for help. Shopify offers live chat, email, and phone support all day.
- High Competition vs Brand Focus Sellers compete directly on Amazon. Shopify lets brands stand out with custom sites.
- Hidden Fees vs Transparent Pricing Amazon may add storage and removal fees. Shopify shows clear monthly and transaction costs.
- Customer Loyalty vs Brand Loyalty Amazon focuses on Prime members. Shopify helps brands build direct loyalty through email and marketing.
FAQs: Amazon Vs. Shopify
Conclusion
The difference between Amazon and Shopify rests on traffic versus control. Amazon delivers huge visitor numbers. Shopify gives full design and data control. Moreover, sellers pay different fees and handle fulfillment in different ways. Brands should match their needs with the right choice.
References & External Links
- Amazon News and latest company updates
- Shopify News and latest company updates
