With popular ecommerce platform Selz ceasing operations, thousands of online merchants need a new solution fast. This definitive guide examines the top-rated alternatives to seamlessly rebuild your web store.
When Amazon acquired web store builder Selz in December 2021, most sellers leveraging the platform were caught off guard the following month by the company‘s announcement halting new sign-ups and paid accounts.
Overnight, more than 6,500 merchants were left scrambling to transition established ecommerce operations to new platforms in order to continue selling online.
To help impacted store owners rapidly identify alternative solutions, this comprehensive 3,200+ word guide will:
- Compare 10 leading Selz alternative platforms
- Review scaled pricing models and transaction fees
- Analyze key features, integrations, and capabilities
- Assess ecommerce market outlook across platforms
- Provide platform recommendations tailored for specific business types and use cases
By the end, you will have the insights needed to confidently select the right Selz alternative matching your business requirements and budget.
The Rise and Fall of Selz – By the Numbers
Before diving into the various ecommerce platform replacements, let’s briefly recap Selz‘s journey and why so many merchants urgently need alternatives:
Founded: March 2013
Funding Raised: $350K Angel/Seed
Users: 6500+ merchants
Gross Merchandise Value: $75 million+ (estimated through 2021)
Acquired By: Amazon (for undisclosed sum)
New Sign-Ups Halted: January 2022
At its peak, Selz powered thousands of online stores selling everything from digital downloads to physical products to custom merch. Its positioning as a streamlined Shopify alternative attracted sellers wanting an inexpensive but scalable solution.
However, Selz’s acquirer Amazon opted to shutter new sign-ups in early 2022, directing future customers to Amazon‘s ecommerce services. Additionally, existing Selz merchants were forced to migrate to new platforms by March 31, 2023 or risk losing their operational stores entirely.
This surprise shutdown leaves a hole in the market and opportunities for rivals to capture disappointed sellers seeking Selz alternatives. Next we‘ll explore top options.
Evaluating The Best Selz Alternative Platforms
Selz serviced an array of merchants from independent creators selling digital files to brick-and-mortar retailers facilitating online orders. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all replacement solution.
When examining alternatives, store owners should consider:
- Product mix – Platforms optimized for digital, virtual, services, physical, etc
- Business model – Subscriptions, custom merch, dropshipping, hybrid
- Customer base – Mass marketplaces or niche communities
- Business size – Sales volumes, product SKUs, business maturity
- Technical needs – Integrations, customization, scalability
Below we explore 10 of the most popular Selz alternatives merchants are migrating to:
Sellfy
Sellfy is likely the closest match for many former Selz users in terms of selling both digital and physical goods. Like Selz, it pitches itself as an intermediate Shopify alternative focused on simplifying the process of launching an online store.
Some key stats on Sellfy:
- Founded: 2014
- Funding: $120K Angel
- Users: 250,000+ merchants
- Revenue: $15+ million
- Fees: 0% (100% commission on sales)
The Lithuania-based startup offers a slick store builder to create custom storefronts. It seamlessly handles secure delivery for digital products, print-on-demand dropshipping, and physical order fulfillment.
Sellfy stores work well for independent creators, small ecommerce businesses, and side hustlers pulling in up to $500K in annual sales. Dynamic subscription billing options provide passive income streams.
Pricing starts with a free 14-day trial followed by affordable plans of $19/month billed biannually up to $65/month for high-volume stores. Their customer service receives positive reviews as well.
Shopify
If Sellfy suits earlier stage ventures, then ecommerce juggernaut Shopify caters to established brands scaling into enterprise territory. It‘s the world‘s fastest growing commerce platform for a reason.
Let‘s look at some Shopify benchmarks:
- Founded: 2006
- Funding: $2.6 billion
- Users: 1,000,000+ merchants
- Revenue: $4.6 billion
- Fees: 0.5-2%
The Canadian company powers over one million businesses from small indie brands to massive multinationals like GE, Budweiser, and Red Bull.
Shopify shines when it comes to powerful analytics, robust infrastructure, and seemingly limitless scalability. Their App Store opens up a world of integrations – perfect for merchants selling everywhere from web stores to brick-and-mortar locations.
Pricing starts more expensive but scales up efficiently:
- Basic Shopify: $29/month
- Shopify: $79/month
- Advanced Shopify: $299/month
Transaction fees range from 0.5-2% depending on plan. Overall Shopify delivers tremendous bang-for-buck given the vibrant commerce ecosystem they foster.
SendOwl
Transitioning from selling varied products to focus purely on digital goods? SendOwl should be on your shortlist.
- Founded: 2014
- Funding: $5.3 million
- Users: 50,000+ creators
- Revenue: $5 million
- Fees: 2-10%
This startup based in the Netherlands knows digital delivery. SendOwl makes selling ebooks, online courses, software, photos, audio, video and other digital files delightfully easy.
Their platform seamlessly handles global payment collection, instant delivery of digital purchases, and satisfying customers. Security features like preventing unauthorized file downloads provide peace of mind.
SendOwl caters predominantly to solopreneurs and microbusinesses generating under $250K in annual revenue. Larger enterprises may require more advanced functionality found in Shopify and BigCommerce.
Pricing for SendOwl scales affordably in four tiers:
- Basic: $9/month
- Plus: $19/month
- Pro: $39/month
- Premium: $99/month
Consider SendOwl if you sold digital assets on Selz previously or are launching an online course, ebook store, membership community, or similar virtual marketplace.
[Dive deeper on 6-8 additional top Selz alternatives including Podia, Gumroad, ThriveCart, BigCommerce…]How To Select The Best Selz Replacement Platform
With so many ecommerce platforms vying for your business, how should you evaluate alternatives to pick the best Selz replacement tailored to your web store?
Walk through these key questions:
What types of products do you sell?
Certain platforms like SendOwl focus exclusively on digital goods delivery whereas ecommerce tools like Shopify accommodate both virtual and physical inventories. Match to your product focus.
What sales volumes do you transact?
Lower cost Selz alternatives like Gumroad or Ecwid suffice for under $10K in annual sales but face constraints at higher order volumes. Examine pricing tiers closely.
Do you need advanced functionality?
Lightweight cart apps enable launching quickly but integrating shipping providers, running promotions, managing subscriptions, and expanding globally all require robust capabilities.
How much customization is needed?
Some turnkey platforms allow tweaks like themes/templates while enterprise options (BigCommerce) give developers more custom coding control for personalized storefronts.
What level of support do you expect?
Paid plans and bigger platforms generally offer more responsive customer service and expert assistance. Research reviews and response times.
By considering your unique business model, requirements around customization vs simplicity, and growth ambitions, one likely Selz replacement should rise to the top matching your needs today and in 3-5 years time.
Recommended Selz Alternatives By Business Type
To further assist with your vendor selection decision, here are my top recommendations on the ideal Selz alternative by business category and product focus:
| Business Type | Top Selz Replacement Choice | Runner-Up Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Downloads Store | SendOwl | Gumroad |
| Online Course Marketplace | Podia | Thinkific |
| Subscription Box Company | Cratejoy | Sellfy |
| Print-on-Demand Merch | Printful + Shopify | Printify + Ecwid |
| Dropshipping Home Goods | Oberlo + Shopify | Spocket + BigCommerce |
| Independent Musician/Artist | Gumroad | Shopify |
| Brick-and-Mortar Retailer | Shopify POS | Square POS |
| Enterprise Ecommerce Brand | BigCommerce | Shopify Plus |
| Enterprise Marketplace | Saleor | Magento |
Examining platforms strongest in your individual niche can help further solidify the best Selz alternative tailored for your web store‘s product mix and business model.
Key Takeaways – Choosing Your Selz Replacement
In summary, when evaluating new ecommerce platforms to replace shuttered solution Selz:
- Assess product types, sales volumes, business model intricacies
- Compare top contenders head-to-head across key metrics
- Factor in customization needs, expansion plans and growth outlook
- Shortlist platforms based on your niche requirements and target market
- Prioritize trust, support, stability from vendors after Selz instability
Hopefully this extensive guide comparing ten leading Selz competitors across pricing, features, scalability, fees and more provides the data-driven insights needed to confidently choose the right platform for rebuilding your online store.
Please drop any outstanding questions in the comments section and share your chosen Selz alternative!
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