Shopify and Medusa are two standout ecommerce platforms, but they serve very different needs.
We’ve spent over 200 hours testing, comparing, and building on both platforms to help you make the right choice for your online store.
Based on our research, Shopify is the better option for businesses looking for an all-in-one, ready-to-launch solution.
Medusa is better suited for businesses with strong technical teams looking for maximum customisation and control over their ecommerce experience.
When it comes to ecommerce branding, most new store owners think it’s about picking a nice logo and choosing two or three brand colors.
After analyzing over 20,000 online stores for our ecommerce design gallery over the last 10 years, I can tell you confidently:
Real branding goes way deeper.
The best stores — the ones that are still around today, still growing, still trusted — have branding woven into every single part of their business.
And more often than not, they’re built on Shopify, with a few standouts using WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, and Squarespace.
Quick Answer: If you’re serious about building a scalable brand, managing inventory, or selling both physical and digital products, Shopify is the better long-term option.
If you just want to sell a few digital products fast with minimal setup and zero tech stress, Gumroad is the easiest way to do it.
I’ve used both for my own projects and with dozens of clients.
Each one solves a different kind of problem — but knowing which platform works best for you upfront can save you months of frustration and thousands of dollars in wasted fees.
Quick answer: The best ecommerce platforms for small businesses right now are Shopify for scaling, Wix for all-in-one ease, and Square Online if you’re already selling in person.
Each one fits different business models, so choosing the right one comes down to how tech-savvy you are, what you’re selling, and how fast you want to grow.
After more than 10 years in ecommerce — building, breaking, and rebuilding online stores — I’ve tested just about every major platform out there.
If you’re a small business owner looking to get online or grow sales without a dev team or a six-figure budget, this guide will help you choose the right ecommerce platform without wasting months on trial and error.
Let’s dig in.
Starting an online business always sounded like something I needed thousands of dollars, a design team, and some Silicon Valley experience to do. I thought it was just out of reach. That changed when I found the Shopify 1MBB program.
This isn’t just another “free trial” gimmick. This is a real, structured program from Shopify and Operation HOPE, made to help Black entrepreneurs like me get the tools, support, and resources to launch our own businesses — starting with 120 days of Shopify completely free.
Quick Answer: If you want speed and convenience, go Shopify.
If you want control, custom design, and long-term ROI, build your own site.
I’ve run ecommerce stores both ways. I’ll break down the real-world pros and cons — no fluff.
When someone asks me, “What’s the cheapest legit way to start selling online?”—my answer is nearly always the same: Shopify Starter.
But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
After 15+ years of building ecommerce stores, consulting for brands, and watching platforms evolve, I can tell you that while this plan is lean, it can be incredibly effective if you use it the right way.
In this review, I’ll walk you through exactly how the Shopify Starter plan works, who it’s made for, what it offers (and what it leaves out), and whether it’s the best move for your business.
Shopify and Instagram Shop are two popular platforms for selling products online — but which one is right for your business?
We’ve tested both tools extensively and used them across multiple ecommerce projects to bring you a clear, no-nonsense verdict.
When it comes to building a real brand and owning your customer experience, Shopify comes out on top.
But if you’re looking for a fast, low-cost way to test products on social media, Instagram Shop still has a role to play.
Selling digital products is a completely different game from selling physical goods. You don’t need inventory, shipping, or warehouses, but you do need the right eCommerce platform.
Shopify and Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) are two of the biggest options, but they cater to very different business models.
Shopify is a hosted, all-in-one platform that makes it easy to start selling digital and physical products without any technical knowledge.
On the other hand, Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for selling digital products like eBooks, courses, and software. Since it’s self-hosted, you get full control, but it comes with more setup responsibilities.
The right choice depends on what you’re selling, how much control you need, and your technical comfort level.
Below, I’ll break down their differences in pricing, features, customization, and ease of use—so you can pick the best platform for your digital business.
Designing a store that actually converts is one of the biggest challenges when you first start with Shopify.
The default Shopify builder works well for getting your store live, especially if you’re sticking with a theme.
But if you want more control over how things look — like custom layouts, sales-focused sections, or mobile-specific tweaks — you might find a page builder useful.
I didn’t want to pay a developer or mess with custom code. I just needed a way to build better pages — fast. That’s when I found PageFly.
It’s one of the most popular page builders for Shopify, and the free plan lets you test it out properly without any pressure.
Here’s Why This Guide Exists: A couple of weeks ago, I bought a trending product from a Shopify store that looked solid.
The sales popups kept flashing — “Sophie from Manchester just bought this!” — and the countdown timer told me there were only 2 left.
I hit buy in under a minute. Felt like a smart, fast shopper.
Turns out, it was all fake. The product never arrived. The refund policy led nowhere. And worse, those fake sales notifications? Completely made up by a plugin.
Selling digital products changed my business. No stock. No shipping. No support headaches.
Just great margins, global reach, and total scalability. But it only works if you’re using the right platform.
Over the last 10+ years building ecommerce stores, testing tools, and coaching clients, I’ve used or audited almost every digital product platform out there. Some were amazing.
Others were overpriced, clunky, or a complete waste of time.
If you’re wondering where to sell digital products, I’ll walk you through what’s actually worth using — based on your product, your skill level, and what kind of business you want to run.
