How Cardel and Shopify compare
Shopify is what you use when the store is the business. World-class checkout, inventory and shipping, taxes, POS, thousands of apps, Shopify Email, Shopify Inbox, and a theme store make it the standard for merchants of every size. It scales from one product to a warehouse without changing platforms.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own. Cardel is not a commerce platform: no inventory engine, shipping labels, tax calculation, POS, or app store.
Where they are different
Shopify's blog and pages serve the store. Cardel's Shop serves the site: blog, Showcase, Videos, Schedule, and reader comments come first.
Shopify Inbox handles chat. Cardel's Messaging Center also receives email on your own domain and contact form, with AI Suggest.
Shopify doesn't manage scheduling natively. Cardel schedules with Google and Outlook sync avilable.
Choose Shopify when you sell products at volume and need inventory, shipping, tax, and apps.
Choose Cardel when selling is one part of a site, audience, bookings, and inbox that should live together on your domain.
You are the Forgemaster. Cardel is your forge. What you build is yours.
Common questions
Is Cardel a Shopify alternative?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Shopify when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list below shows where the two overlap and where they part.
Can I use Cardel and Shopify together?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Shopify for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared to Shopify?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Shopify sets its own prices, so check their pricing page below for current plans.
How do I switch from Shopify to Cardel?
Choose Start for Free, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
Compare features
What's on Cardel and Shopify
A check means that capability is available. Shopify is marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Custom domainUse your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Use your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Cardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Editor ModeCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Theme and fontsCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Brand kitCardel: IncludedShopify: Not included
Public content
- BlogCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Reader engagementCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Showcase pagesCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Shop pagesCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
Reach and quality
- SEOCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceGroups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Groups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Cardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Email templates and From addressesCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- AI Email Template BuilderCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Email send and receive on own domainSend and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Send and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Cardel: IncludedShopify: Not included
- Marketing emailsCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Campaign workflowsCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Messaging CenterCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- AI SuggestCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsSell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Sell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Cardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Orders and fulfillmentCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Cardel: IncludedShopify: Not included
Team
- Admin usersCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- Per-admin permissionsCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
- AI AssistantCardel: IncludedShopify: Included
Other
- App storeCardel: Not includedShopify: Included
- Tax calculationCardel: Not includedShopify: Included
- Sell on marketplacesCardel: Not includedShopify: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Cardel or Shopify, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Cardel or Shopify may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Cardel vs Shopify pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Cardel
You don't pay until you publish
Build at no cost, then choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live.
Shopify
Current plans and prices
See what Shopify charges on their pricing page.
Forge your community
Choose Cardel
Looking for a Shopify alternative? Bring your work to a site of your own.
Compare Cardel
See how Cardel stacks up, or explore Shopify comparisons.
