Amazon vs Shopify
type: Article
description: Amazon is a massive marketplace platform where sellers reach 300+ million customers, while Shopify is an independent e-commerce platform that lets merchants build and own their own storefronts. Amazon takes 15-45% in fees but provides traffic; Shopify charges $29-399/month but offers full brand control.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-18T10:23:22.914Z
date created: 2026-06-18T10:23:22.914Z
date modified: 2026-06-18T10:23:22.968Z
content reference time: 2026-06-18T10:23:22.968Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Amazon Seller Central
about: Shopify
abstract: Amazon is a massive marketplace platform where sellers reach 300+ million customers, while Shopify is an independent e-commerce platform that lets merchants build and own their own storefronts. Amazon takes 15-45% in fees but provides traffic; Shopify charges $29-399/month but offers full brand control.
text: Business Model. Monthly Base Cost. Commission/Fees. Customer Base Access. Brand Control. Setup Time. Seller Account Suspension Rate
conclusion text: Choose Amazon if you want immediate access to 300+ million customers and don't mind paying 15-45% in fees for built-in traffic and handling. Choose Shopify if you want complete brand control, lower long-term costs, and are willing to invest in marketing to drive your own traffic.
additional property: Monthly Base Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: $0 | Shopify: $29-$399
  value reference: Amazon Seller Central
additional property: Per-Transaction Commission
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: 15-45% | Shopify: 0%
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Accessible Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: 300+ million | Shopify: 0 (self-driven)
  value reference: Amazon Seller Central
additional property: Setup Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: 2-7 days | Shopify: 1-3 days
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Brand Control Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: 2-3 (limited) | Shopify: 9-10 (full)
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: App/Integration Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: 2,000+ | Shopify: 4,600+
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Annual Account Suspension Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: 0.1-0.3% | Shopify: ~0.01%
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: $10,000+ (avg top 10%) | Shopify: $5,000+ (lower barrier)
  value reference: Amazon Seller Central
additional property: Active Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 4.6 Million+
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 27%
additional property: Platform Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments)
additional property: Available Apps/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 13,000+
additional property: Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 1.4%
additional property: Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 1.2%
additional property: Hosting Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Fully Managed SaaS
additional property: AI/Automation Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in
additional property: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $29
additional property: Top Tier Plan Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $399
additional property: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 200+ templates
additional property: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 8,000+
additional property: Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Phone, Email & Chat
additional property: Enterprise Plan Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Yes ($2,300+/month)
additional property: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $468
additional property: Product Variation Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2,000+
additional property: Multi-Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 200+
additional property: Transaction Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 0% (on Shopify Payments)
additional property: Design Customization Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Advanced (Liquid code access)
additional property: Available Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: ~300 (optimized for sales)
additional property: Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited
additional property: Transaction Fee Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 3.89%
additional property: Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $214
additional property: Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $29
additional property: Listing Renewal Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Included in subscription
additional property: Product Variant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited
additional property: Sales Breakeven Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $1,350
additional property: Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Self-driven traffic
additional property: Commission Fee (Per Transaction)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30
additional property: Built-in Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Zero (must generate own traffic)
additional property: Average Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 30-90 days (with marketing)
additional property: Brand Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Complete (10/10)
additional property: Customer Data Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 100% direct access to customer emails and data
additional property: Product Listing Limits
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited products
additional property: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 100+
additional property: Setup Time to Live Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 7-14 days
additional property: Available Apps & Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 6,000+ apps
additional property: Checkout Conversion Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 3.2-3.5%
additional property: Platform Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 99.99%
additional property: Built-in Enterprise Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs
additional property: API Control & Headless Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Good GraphQL API; limited headless options
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/amazon-seller-central
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/amazon-seller-central
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/amazon-vs-shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/amazon-vs-shopify
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related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-woocommerce
teaches: How to choose between Amazon Seller Central and Shopify
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Amazon vs Shopify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Amazon Seller Central
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: ASC
language: en-US
description: World's largest e-commerce marketplace with 300+ million active customers
subject of: Amazon vs Shopify

Shopify
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Fully managed cloud-based e-commerce platform with integrated payments and hosting.
subject of: Amazon vs Shopify

Amazon vs Shopify — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Amazon vs Shopify. Contains 112 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Monthly Base Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Per-Transaction Commission
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Accessible Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Access
variable measured: Setup Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Time to Revenue
variable measured: Brand Control Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control
variable measured: App/Integration Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Annual Account Suspension Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale Potential
variable measured: Active Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Platform Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Apps/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Hosting Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: AI/Automation Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Top Tier Plan Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design
variable measured: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Enterprise Plan Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Product Variation Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Management
variable measured: Multi-Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: International Features
variable measured: Transaction Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Customization Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Available Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design
variable measured: Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Transaction Fee Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Listing Renewal Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Product Variant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Sales Breakeven Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economics
variable measured: Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Commission Fee (Per Transaction)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Built-in Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reach & Traffic
variable measured: Average Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Speed & Efficiency
variable measured: Brand Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control & Flexibility
variable measured: Customer Data Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control & Flexibility
variable measured: Product Listing Limits
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Setup Time to Live Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Available Apps & Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Checkout Conversion Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Platform Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Built-in Enterprise Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: API Control & Headless Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Ideal Business Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Fit
variable measured: Implementation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup & Deployment
variable measured: Payment Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Store Design Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Transaction Fee Percentage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Marketplace Visitors
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Traffic
variable measured: Available Apps/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: Suitable Product Categories
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Type
variable measured: Developer Cost (Hourly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operating Costs
variable measured: Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Free Plan Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Transaction Fee (Standard)
variable measured: Supported Sales Channels
variable measured: Inventory Locations Support
variable measured: Starting Price
variable measured: Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
variable measured: Initial Setup Time
variable measured: Built-in Features Included
variable measured: Multi-Store Support
variable measured: Maximum Plan Cost
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/amazon-vs-shopify

Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon vs Shopify.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Market Access
has defined term: Time to Revenue
has defined term: Control
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Scale Potential
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Design
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Product Management
has defined term: International Features
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Economics
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Costs
has defined term: Reach & Traffic
has defined term: Speed & Efficiency
has defined term: Control & Flexibility
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Market Fit
has defined term: Setup & Deployment
has defined term: Traffic
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Product Type
has defined term: Operating Costs
has defined term: Payments
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Free Plan
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Ownership

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-access
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Time to Revenue
type: DefinedTerm
term code: time-to-revenue
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale Potential
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-potential
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-management
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

International Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: international-features
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economics
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: costs
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reach & Traffic
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reach-&-traffic
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed & Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed-&-efficiency
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control & Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control-&-flexibility
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Fit
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-fit
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup & Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup-&-deployment
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Traffic
type: DefinedTerm
term code: traffic
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Type
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-type
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operating Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operating-costs
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payments
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payments
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Free Plan
type: DefinedTerm
term code: free-plan
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership
in defined term set: Amazon vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-18T10:23:22.968Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: amazon-vs-shopify
main entity: How much does it cost to sell on Amazon vs Shopify?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Amazon charges $0 base fee but takes 15-45% commission per sale plus 30-45% referral fees for products like electronics and books. Shopify charges $29-$399/month with 0% transaction fees (only 2.9% + 30¢ payment processing). At $10,000/month revenue, Amazon costs $1,500-$4,500 vs Shopify's $87-$1,189, making Shopify cheaper for established sellers but Amazon cheaper upfront.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform is better for beginners?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Amazon is better for immediate sales without marketing investment - you get access to 300+ million customers immediately. Shopify is better if you want brand control and long-term profitability. Most experts recommend Amazon first (2-7 days to launch, zero upfront cost), then moving to Shopify once you have an audience to control.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use both Amazon and Shopify at the same time?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes - 67% of top sellers use both platforms. Amazon handles high-volume commodity sales while Shopify builds your owned brand and customer relationships. You can import Shopify products to Amazon, but Amazon policies may restrict private-label products, so verify seller agreements.
    language: en-US
main entity: What happens if my Amazon account gets suspended?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Amazon account suspensions (0.1-0.3% of sellers annually) can take weeks to resolve and reinstatement is not guaranteed. With Shopify, you own the account completely - there's no risk of suspension. This is why 43% of sellers cite account risk as their biggest Amazon concern.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much do I need to spend on marketing with Shopify?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Budget $100-$500/month minimum for ads (Facebook, Google, TikTok) to compete. Without marketing spend, Shopify stores average $500-$2,000/month revenue. Amazon's built-in traffic allows sales without marketing, but paid Amazon Ads ($50-$200/day for profitable campaigns) accelerate growth.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Amazon Seller Central and Shopify
type: HowTo
description: Amazon is a massive marketplace platform where sellers reach 300+ million customers, while Shopify is an independent e-commerce platform that lets merchants build and own their own storefronts. Amazon takes 15-45% in fees but provides traffic; Shopify charges $29-399/month but offers full brand control.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Business Model
step: Consider: Monthly Base Cost
step: Consider: Commission/Fees
step: Consider: Customer Base Access
step: Consider: Brand Control
step: Consider: Setup Time
step: Consider: Seller Account Suspension Rate
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Amazon if you want immediate access to 300+ million customers and don't mind paying 15-45% in fees for built-in traffic and handling. Choose Shopify if you want complete brand control, lower long-term costs, and are willing to invest in marketing to drive your own traffic.

Consider: Business Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Business Model: Amazon Seller Central has Marketplace (3rd-party sellers), while Shopify has Self-hosted storefront builder.

Consider: Monthly Base Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Monthly Base Cost: Amazon Seller Central has $0 (pay per sale), while Shopify has $29-$399.

Consider: Commission/Fees
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Commission/Fees: Amazon Seller Central has 15-45% per sale + referral fees, while Shopify has 0% transaction fee (2.9% + 30¢ payment processing).

Consider: Customer Base Access
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Customer Base Access: Amazon Seller Central has 300+ million Amazon customers, while Shopify has 0 (must drive own traffic).

Consider: Brand Control
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Brand Control: Amazon Seller Central has Limited (Amazon-owned listings), while Shopify has Complete control over storefront.

Consider: Setup Time
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Setup Time: Amazon Seller Central has 2-7 days, while Shopify has 1-3 days.

Consider: Seller Account Suspension Rate
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Seller Account Suspension Rate: Amazon Seller Central has 0.1-0.3% annually, while Shopify has 0.01% (rarely suspended).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Amazon vs Shopify
review body: Amazon is a massive marketplace platform where sellers reach 300+ million customers, while Shopify is an independent e-commerce platform that lets merchants build and own their own storefronts. Amazon takes 15-45% in fees but provides traffic; Shopify charges $29-399/month but offers full brand control.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Amazon vs Shopify

Ideal Business Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $0-20M GMV (optimal fit)

Implementation Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Low; point-and-click setup

Payment Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments)

Store Design Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Extensive (9/10)

Transaction Fee Percentage
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9%

Annual Marketplace Visitors
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Self-generated

Available Apps/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 10,000+

Suitable Product Categories
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: All product types

Developer Cost (Hourly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $100-150 (optional)

Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: ~30% of all online stores

Free Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter plan minimum)

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.7% + $0.30

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale)

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited with advanced sync

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter Plan)

Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $5-39 (all-inclusive)

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Hours to 1 day

Built-in Features Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Hosting, SSL, domain, support included

Multi-Store Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Separate subscriptions required

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise)

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Ongoing regular updates

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $105 (Shopify Plan)

Enterprise Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus)

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 6000+

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 30-60 minutes

Free Physical Items Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: None (paid plans only)

Mobile Responsiveness
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Mobile-optimized by default

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $39

Transaction Fees
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 8,500+

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 days

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 6 (Liquid templating limits)

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Shopify manages all compliance

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited (pricing tier independent)

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $468 + transaction fees ($2,900)

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $39/month (Basic plan)

Transaction Fees (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 99.99%

Native App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 6,800 verified apps

Setup Time (No-Code)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 hours to launch

Customization Depth (Code Access)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language)

Payment Gateway Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 100+ official integrations

PCI DSS Compliance Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Level 1 (fully managed)

Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30

Product Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2-3 days

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: ~8,000+ apps

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 28%

Native Multi-Vendor Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: No (requires apps)

Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Limited (basic automation)

Starting Monthly Cost (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $39/month

Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Available App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 8,000+ apps

Product Listings Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

API Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Full REST & GraphQL APIs

Multi-Channel Selling Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.)

Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Included in all plans

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: $348-3,588/year

Available Extensions/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 8,000+ apps

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 99.99% guaranteed

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: 24/7 dedicated support team

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access

Data Portability
type: PropertyValue
value: Amazon Seller Central: N/A | Shopify: Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist

SpeakableSpecification
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Amazon Seller Central — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Shopify — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Amazon Seller Central vs Shopify
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object: Amazon Seller Central
object: Shopify

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Built-in Features Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Multi-Store Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Enterprise Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Free Physical Items Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Free Plan

Mobile Responsiveness
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Native App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Setup Time (No-Code)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Depth (Code Access)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Payment Gateway Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments

PCI DSS Compliance Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Product Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Native Multi-Vendor Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Monthly Cost (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Product Listings Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Multi-Channel Selling Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Extensions/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Data Portability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ownership