Shopify vs Stan Store: Best Platform for Creators in 2025
Compare Shopify and Stan Store for selling digital products in 2025. See which fits your goals—and try both free to find your perfect platform.
If you're trying to sell something online, a digital product, a coaching session, or a full catalog of physical goods, you've probably heard of Shopify and Stan Store. They're both popular platforms, but they serve very different needs. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how they compare, who each is best for, and what you should consider before choosing one.
Let’s keep it simple, practical, and honest.
Shopify vs. Stan Store: A Quick Look
Shopify is a powerful eCommerce platform made for businesses of all sizes. It lets you sell physical and digital products, manage inventory, design your site, track sales, and scale your store globally.
Stan Store is built for creators, people who sell digital products or services through social media. Think eBooks, online courses, coaching calls, or membership communities.
If you’re a solo creator or just want to start fast, Stan Store might be all you need. If you want full control and room to grow, Shopify has more tools.
Ease of Use: How Fast Can You Launch?
Stan Store is the fastest way to get something live. Most users are up and running in under 30 minutes. There’s no coding, and the layout is basically plug-and-play.
Shopify takes longer. Even a basic store setup can take a few hours. If you want something custom, you’ll likely need to install apps, tweak code, or hire a developer. But you get more flexibility.
Verdict: Use Stan Store if you need to start selling today. Use Shopify if you’re building a brand or plan to scale.
What Can You Sell?
| Feature | Shopify | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| Physical products | ✅ Yes, with inventory & shipping | ❌ Not supported |
| Digital downloads | ✅ Native & via apps | ✅ Core feature |
| Subscriptions | ✅ Via apps | ✅ Built-in |
| Services & appointments | ✅ With 3rd-party apps | ✅ Built-in (calendar integration) |
| Online courses | ✅ With course platforms (e.g., Thinkific) | ✅ Built-in course builder |
| Webinars / live offers | ✅ Via integrations | ✅ Native or via Zoom |
Stan Store doesn’t support physical products. If you plan to ship anything, go with Shopify.
Customization & Branding
Shopify wins here. You can choose from hundreds of themes, edit every page, and even dive into the code (HTML, CSS, or Shopify’s Liquid language). It’s great if you want to match your store to your brand exactly.
Stan Store is limited. You get one main page and a few style tweaks. It looks clean and works well on mobile, but you can’t really make it your own beyond colors and text.
For a closer look at using visual design to boost engagement, this Webflow engagement guide shows how UX and interactivity directly influence conversions, especially relevant if you lean toward Shopify's flexible frontend tools.
Verdict: Shopify gives you full creative control. Stan Store keeps things simple and on-brand for social media.
Marketing & Growth Tools
| Feature | Shopify | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| SEO tools | ✅ Advanced | ❌ Basic/none |
| Email marketing | ✅ Native & 3rd-party tools | ✅ Built-in (Pro = automation) |
| Funnels | ✅ Via apps like Zipify | ❌ Sunset for new users |
| Upsells & discounts | ✅ Robust discount logic, BOGO, etc. | ✅ Order bumps (Pro only) |
| Affiliate program | ✅ 3rd-party apps | ✅ Built-in (Pro plan only) |
| Social selling | ✅ Available via integrations | ✅ AutoDMs, link-in-bio focus |
If you’re considering landing pages or funnels as part of your marketing stack, check out our Leadpages CRO Guide for actionable tips on converting visitors into customers using popups, A/B testing, and mobile-first design.
Stan Store is made for creators who already have an audience. If you’re selling through Instagram or TikTok, it works. Shopify is better if you want to grow using SEO, ads, or a full content site.
Pricing and Costs
| Plan/Feature | Shopify | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $5/month (Starter, limited features) | $29/month (Creator) |
| Mid-tier | $39–$105/month (Basic to Shopify plan) | N/A |
| Premium | $399/month (Advanced plan) | $99/month (Creator Pro) |
| Transaction fees | 0%–2% (depends on plan & payment method) | 0% platform, Stripe/PayPal apply |
| App/theme costs | Apps: $5–$100+/mo, Themes: $150–$380 one-time | No extra costs (fewer features) |
Stan Store has no platform fees, but Stripe or PayPal still take a cut (around 2.9% + 30 cents per sale).
Verdict: Stan Store is cheaper and more predictable. Shopify can cost more but gives you more tools to earn back what you spend.
Integrations and App Ecosystem
Shopify has 8,000+ apps for everything from accounting to customer reviews to upsells. This makes it super flexible, but you can end up relying on lots of plugins.
Stan Store keeps it simple. It integrates with Stripe, PayPal, Zoom, Google Calendar, and Mailchimp. You can connect more tools using Zapier.
If you want lots of automation and third-party tools, Shopify wins. If you just want to sell digital products, Stan Store covers the basics.
Who Each Platform Is For
Use Stan Store if you:
- Already have an audience on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube
- Sell coaching, courses, or eBooks
- Want to go live in under 30 minutes
- Hate dealing with tech
Use Shopify if you:
- Sell physical products
- Want to build a brand and full website
- Need SEO and long-term growth tools
- Are ready to invest more time/money upfront
Can You Use Both?
Yes. Some creators use Stan Store for quick digital sales and Shopify as a full brand website or to sell merch. There’s no direct sync, but you can link between them.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re a creator looking to monetize your audience today with digital products or 1:1 services, Stan Store is a fantastic place to start. It’s simple, fast, and affordable.
If you’re building a bigger business, need physical product support, or care about full branding and customization, go with Shopify. It takes more setup, but you get long-term growth and flexibility.
If you’re still debating which conversion-focused tool to stack with your platform, our Unbounce vs Leadpages comparison breaks down which is better depending on how you generate traffic, great context if you plan to scale with ads or squeeze pages.
FAQ: Shopify vs Stan Store
1. Can I sell courses on both platforms?
Yes. Stan Store has a built-in course builder. Shopify supports courses via apps like Thinkific or Podia.
2. Does Stan Store take a cut of sales?
No. Stan doesn’t charge transaction fees. You still pay Stripe or PayPal.
3. Can I migrate from Stan Store to Shopify later?
Yes, but there’s no one-click tool. You’ll need to copy over your products manually or hire help.
4. Which is better for SEO?
Shopify. It gives you better control over meta tags, alt text, and sitemaps. Stan Store is more social-focused.
5. Do either offer a free trial?
Yes. Both platforms offer free trials so you can test before you commit.
If you’re stuck choosing, try both. Start with Stan Store here or launch a Shopify trial here. You can always evolve as your business grows.
