Shopify vs Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart)
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Business and The 11 Best Ecommerce Platforms. Last verified June 4, 2026.
The short answer
Shopify ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #7) for Small business owners choosing an e-commerce platform (Shopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce) / Brands building online stores. The best all-around choice for ease of use, app selection, and support, making it ideal for most small businesses.
At a glance
| Shopify | Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Business | #7 / The 11 Best Ecommerce Platforms |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 93 | 7.9 |
| Best for | Best all-in-one platform | Best free plan |
| Pricing | $$ ($29 to $299/mo) | $ ($0 to $229/mo) |
| HQ | Ottawa, Canada | Tamarac, USA |
| Founded | 2006 | 1997 |
Shopify
The best all-around choice for ease of use, app selection, and support, making it ideal for most small businesses.
www.shopify.comSee full entry in The 11 Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Business
Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart)
Offers a uniquely comprehensive free plan for US businesses using its native payment gateway.
www.shift4shop.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.