5 Most Popular Shopify Alternatives for B2B Enterprises in India

As B2B eCommerce grows rapidly in India, many enterprises are discovering that Shopify, though good for B2C, may not meet all the unique demands of B2B businesses. Whether it's due to limitations in customization, pricing structures, scalability, or localization issues, businesses are looking for Shopify Plus alternatives that can give more tailored solutions for Indian B2B companies. 

As Indian B2B companies seek more tailored solutions to scale beyond Shopify Plus, several platforms stand out for their advanced features, flexibility, and support for complex business needs. 

Before we evaluate the top Shopify alternatives for B2B, let us first check what are the key features required in an ecommerce platform for a growing B2B company.

7 Must-Have Features in Your Shopify Plus Alternative For India

Here is a list of 7 non-negotiable features to have in your B2B solution for Indian markets:

1. Comprehensive B2B Features and Custom Pricing: Built-in B2B features and personalized pricing to help your B2B enterprise experiment and grow sales. 
2. Headless Commerce: Flexibility is key in B2B, with 84% of businesses planning to invest in customized solutions, having decoupled headless solutions make it possible to build tailored solutions.
3. Multi-vendor Marketplace: With 75% of B2B buyers preferring self-service options, wholesale brands in India need B2B multi-vendor marketplace solutions which allows them to scale and manage multiple vendors with ease.
4. Bulk Ordering: 80% of B2B transactions involve bulk purchases, making the bulk ordering feature essential for smooth operations.
5. Mobile-First Approach: With 50% of B2B searches happening on mobile, having a mobile-first and PWA-enabled platform ensures businesses capture this growing trend.
6. Multi-Currency and Multi-Lingual Support: In a globalized market, 35% of Indian B2B businesses engage in cross-border trade and hence having multi-currency and multi-lingual support is crucial for these transactions.
7. Integrated Payment Gateways: 68% of B2B buyers prefer digital payment, and StoreHippo’s multiple integrated payment gateways cater to this demand.

Source:Forrester, Google, WTO, Statista

Now that we have establish the most important factors needed in Shopify alternatives for B2B enterprises, it is time to check the top contenders and evaluate their pros and cons. 

5 Best Shopify Plus Alternatives For Indian B2B Companies

To help you navigate the landscape, we’ve compared five of the most popular Shopify alternatives that are better suited for B2B enterprises, each offering distinct advantages. 

Here’s a look at the top five alternatives that offer enhanced customization, scalability, and B2B-focused tools to help enterprises thrive in the competitive Indian market.

Let’s dive in.

1. StoreHippo: The Most Comprehensive B2B Solution

StoreHippo is one of the best Shopify alternatives for B2B enterprises as it is designed with B2B requirements in mind. Its headless architecture ensures that businesses can scale effortlessly while allowing for deep customization without the need for extensive developer intervention. Unlike Shopify, StoreHippo excels in areas such as bulk ordering, multi-vendor marketplaces, and dynamic pricing, offering a future-proof solution for enterprises looking to create multiple customer touchpoints.

Pros:

• Low-Code Platform offers fully hosted  and managed solutions with no development hassles.
• MACH Architecture for seamless personalization and innovative custom solutions.
• Headless architecture for greater flexibility and customization.
• Advanced B2B features such as custom pricing, pricing override, bulk ordering, and minimum quantity thresholds.
• Multi-store and multi-currency support, essential for enterprises with international clients or pan India presence.
• Mobile-first approach with built-in mobile app builder and PWA support make StoreHippo an ideal Shopify Plus alternative for brands planning expansion in Tier II and III cities in India.
• Seamless integration across all channels for omnichannel selling.
• Flexible Customization to easily tweak frontend and backend.
• Scalable Infrastructure to handle peak loads with ease.
• Comprehensive B2B Features to manage bulk orders, RFQ, and pricing overrides.
• Mobile-First Technology with built in mobile apps builder PWA, SPA, and MEAN stack for faster stores.
• 300+ Inbuilt Features eliminates the need for third-party apps.
• Diverse Business Models like multi-vendor, multilingual, and multi-store setups come as native features. Also supports Quick Commerce, hyperlocal commerce, and new-age hybrid business models making it one of the best Shopify Plus alternatives for booming ecommerce markets in India.
• B2B and D2C from One Platform is possible as there is inbuilt support for D2C, B2C, B2B2C etc which makes it possible to run multiple business verticals from a single platform.
• Enhanced Security with PCI-DSS, ISO, SOC 2 compliant with free SSL and audit logs.
• Integrated Solutions and 120+ integrations for payments, logistics, and CRM/ERP.
• White-Label Capabilities make it possible to build branded solutions for enterprises.

Cons:

• Advanced B2B ecommerce solutions are available only with  higher plans i.e, Enterprise and Platinum plans
• POS options are available with third-party integration but do not have own POS system

2. Magento: Powerful Customization but High Maintenance

Magento is a well-known platform offering high levels of customization, making it a good option for large B2B enterprises seeking Shopify alternatives. However, Magento’s reliance on developers for building and maintaining the platform makes it more resource-intensive than alternatives like StoreHippo, which offers built-in B2B features without requiring extensive third-party apps.

Pros:

• Highly Customizable Platform lets businesses tailor their solutions with in-house development capabilities, ideal for custom eCommerce setups.
• Strong Community Support provides access to extensive developer resources and numerous plugins for enhanced functionality.
• Advanced B2B Features such as multiple pricing tiers and complex product catalogs, make it an ideal Shopify Plus alternative for large-scale B2B operations.
• Scalable for Enterprises handling high volumes, making it a suitable choice for large businesses with significant resources.
• Flexible Integrations with external systems like ERPs and CRMs, streamlining business processes and data synchronization.

Cons:

• High development and maintenance costs can make it challenging for smaller enterprises to manage long-term.
• Steep learning curve, especially for non-technical users, adds complexity to the platform.
• Ongoing management and frequent optimization are required for smooth operations.
• Costly hosting and infrastructure make the enterprise edition expensive, positioning it as the best Shopify Plus alternative primarily for large brands.
• Lack of built-In mobile features without relying on third-party solutions limits its mobile-first capabilities.

3. BigCommerce: Easy to Use but Limited Flexibility

BigCommerce is a cloud-based platform that caters to mid-sized B2B businesses and can be a good Shopify Plus alternative for enterprises in India. It offers built-in B2B features like custom pricing, bulk orders, and customer segmentation, but lacks the flexibility and scalability of StoreHippo when it comes to handling complex multi-vendor or multi-channel setups.

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface designed for easy setup, making it ideal for non-technical users, which positions it as one of the Shopify alternatives for B2B enterprises seeking simplicity.
• B2B-Specific Features like custom catalogs, price lists, and bulk ordering cater to the unique needs of B2B businesses.
• Easy Payment Integration with popular B2B gateways for smooth transactions.
• SEO-Friendly Design that helps boost online visibility and organic traffic.
• Good Scalability for mid-sized enterprises looking for simplicity and growth, making it another strong option in the list of Shopify alternatives for B2B enterprises.

Cons:

• Limited Customization compared to headless platforms like StoreHippo, restricting flexibility for businesses seeking more control.
• Lacks Multi-Vendor Features, making it a weaker Shopify alternative for businesses looking to expand into marketplace models.
• Add-On Costs can escalate as business needs grow, potentially leading to higher operational expenses.
• Weaker Mobile Experience, with no built-in mobile app builder, limiting mobile-first strategies.
• Limited Flexibility at Scale, making it a less viable Shopify alternative for enterprises looking to scale beyond the mid-market stage.

4. WooCommerce: Affordable but Plugin-Dependent

WooCommerce, powered by WordPress, is one of the most affordable Shopify alternative B2B eCommerce platforms for Indian wholesale companies. It’s easy to set up and familiar to businesses already using WordPress. However, WooCommerce’s reliance on multiple third-party plugins to offer basic B2B functionalities often results in a fragmented system that lacks the cohesiveness offered by other Shopify alternatives that offer the B2B features out-of-box.

Pros:

• Cost-Effective Solution for smaller B2B businesses looking to reduce expenses, making it a viable Shopify Plus alternative for startups.
• Extensive Plugin Library offers a wide range of functionalities to meet diverse business needs.
• Easy Setup for businesses already familiar with WordPress, ensuring a smooth transition.
• Robust Content Management capabilities for organizing and publishing product information effectively.
• Large Developer Community provides access to support and resources, making it another strong Shopify Plus alternative for enterprises seeking flexibility and customization.

Cons:

• Dependency on third-party plugins can lead to compatibility and integration issues, making the platform less stable as you scale.
• Scaling limitations for larger enterprises with complex needs, often requiring multiple plugins or custom development.
• Frequent updates to both WordPress and plugins are necessary to avoid security vulnerabilities, which can disrupt operations making it not the best Shopify alternative for big brands.
• Lack of native B2B features means extensive modifications are needed to meet basic B2B requirements, complicating setup.
• Cumbersome maintenance and troubleshooting, especially when managing a high number of plugins and customizations.

5. SAP Commerce Cloud: Robust but Complex for B2B

SAP Commerce Cloud is a heavyweight in the eCommerce space, known for handling large-scale enterprise needs. Its integration with the SAP ecosystem makes it ideal for businesses already leveraging SAP’s ERP and CRM solutions. However, its complexity and cost make it inaccessible to many B2B enterprises, particularly mid-market businesses that need a more agile solution like StoreHippo.

Pros:

• Strong Integration with the SAP suite of products, making it a solid Shopify Plus alternative for businesses already in the SAP ecosystem.
• Handles Complex B2B Processes like configurable products, multi-channel orders, and high-volume transactions, making it one of the best Shopify competitors for big brands.
• Highly Scalable for large, established enterprises, positioning it as a strong choice as an alternative to Shopify.
• Robust Security and Compliance options to meet enterprise-level needs.
• Deep Customization possibilities, ideal for brands with significant technical resources, making it an ecommerce solution that supports innovation.

Cons:

• Expensive for Mid-Market Enterprises, making it less accessible as a Shopify Plus alternative for smaller businesses.
• Complex Implementation process that requires a high level of technical expertise.
• Longer Setup Times and higher time-to-market compared to other competitor platforms in the same budget.
• Over-Engineered for businesses not already using SAP solutions, leading to potential inefficiencies.
• Limited Flexibility for businesses needing rapid adaptability, especially compared to other Shopify alternatives for B2B enterprises.

Conclusion

While Shopify has its strengths in the B2C market, B2B businesses in India require platforms that are more attuned to their unique requirements. StoreHippo, a leading Shopify alternative, offers a more comprehensive solution with advanced B2B features, enhanced scalability, and superior customization options.

 Its headless architecture, mobile-first approach, and extensive feature set make it the ideal choice for Indian enterprises seeking to grow without the constraints imposed by traditional eCommerce platforms. Whether you prioritize flexibility, seamless mobile integration, or robust B2B functionalities, StoreHippo stands out as the best Shopify alternative for B2B enterprises in India looking to future-proof their eCommerce operations.

Ready to modernize your B2B business for the future of ecommerce? Explore StoreHippo B2B ecommerce solutions, book a demo now.