If you're planning to start an online store in India, two powerful options stand out in 2025 — Shopify and Amazon SmartBiz (also known as Amazon SmartCommerce).

Both let you build your own e-commerce website — but they serve different needs.

This blog gives you a detailed comparison of Shopify vs Amazon SmartBiz, focusing on setup, features, pricing, and scalability, to help you decide which platform is right for you.

Quick Comparison Table

What is Amazon SmartBiz?

Amazon SmartBiz (also known as SmartCommerce) is Amazon's free e-commerce website builder designed for Indian small businesses.

You can:

• Set up your online store in minutes

• Add unlimited products

• Use Amazon's delivery partners (via Shiprocket)

• Accept UPI, Net Banking, COD

• Share your store via WhatsApp, Instagram, and other social platforms

It's Amazon's response to India's growing D2C movement.

1. Store Setup and Customization

Shopify

• Offers hundreds of free and premium themes

• Full design control (custom code supported)

• Global developer and agency ecosystem

Amazon SmartBiz

• Theme-based templates (basic, clean layouts)

• Quick setup; ideal for non-tech founders

• Limited customization but fast to launch

Verdict: Shopify offers more design flexibility. SmartBiz wins on speed.

2. Product & Inventory Management

SmartBiz simplifies listing creation using AI, while Shopify provides more granular control.

3. Payments and Checkout

Shopify

• Supports multiple payment gateways

• Custom checkout flows

• Supports international currencies

Amazon SmartBiz

• Razorpay, Pine Labs, UPI, Net Banking, COD

• Quick 2-day settlement

• Checkout is simple and mobile-friendly

Verdict: If you need global support and advanced checkout, go with Shopify. If you sell in India only, SmartBiz works well.

4. Shipping & Logistics

Both platforms support Shiprocket, which works well for Indian sellers.

5. Marketing, SEO & Analytics

Verdict: Shopify offers better long-term growth tools. SmartBiz is ideal for plug-and-play sellers.

6. Customer Relationship Management

Shopify is better if you plan to build a community or email list.

FAQs

1. What is Amazon SmartBiz?
Amazon SmartBiz is a tool by Amazon that helps small businesses set up their own online store quickly. It’s designed for people who want a simple way to sell products without heavy setup work.

2. How does Amazon SmartBiz compare to Shopify?

• Shopify gives you more control, customization, and integrations.

• SmartBiz is simpler and tied directly to Amazon’s ecosystem.
  If you want flexibility and long-term brand building, Shopify is stronger. If you want speed and simplicity, SmartBiz works.

3. Is Amazon SmartBiz free?
Yes. Amazon SmartBiz is currently free to use. The platform will remain free until March 2026. After that, Amazon plans to introduce a monthly subscription, which is expected to be lower than Shopify’s monthly plans.

4. What is the pricing for Amazon SmartBiz?
Right now, there is no monthly subscription fee. Once pricing begins (after March 2026), you can expect it to be more affordable than Shopify. Exact details haven’t been released yet.

5. What are the charges involved with SmartBiz?
Even though the platform itself is free till 2026, you may still need to pay for:

• Transaction fees (if applicable)

• Any add-on services you choose to use
  This makes it important to calculate total cost before choosing.

6. Is Shopify more expensive than SmartBiz?
Shopify’s plans start higher compared to SmartBiz. Since SmartBiz is free until 2026 and expected to have a lower subscription afterward, it’s currently the cheaper option.

7. Which is better for beginners: SmartBiz or Shopify?

• If you want a quick setup and already sell on Amazon, SmartBiz is easier.

• If you want to build a branded ecommerce site with growth potential, Shopify is better.

8. Can I switch later if I choose the wrong platform?
Yes. Many businesses start on one platform and later migrate. However, migration can take effort, so it’s better to choose based on your long-term goals.

Final Recommendation

Both platforms are excellent — choose based on your goals.

You can even start with SmartBiz to validate your idea and shift to Shopify when you’re ready to scale.