Kartra vs. Shopify is a battle of two titans in the eCommerce world. Both platforms have pros and cons, but which is the best for you? In this blog post, we’ll compare Kartra and Shopify side-by-side, so you can decide which platform is right for your business.
Kartra vs. Shopify Overview
What Is Kartra?
Kartra is an all-in-one platform that allows users to build and launch their own online businesses, including eCommerce stores, membership sites, digital courses, and more. It includes a page builder, email marketing system, help desk, funnel builder, and more. Kartra also has a 14-day full trial for new users for only $1.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is a cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Merchants can use Shopify to create online stores, sell on marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay, and manage point-of-sale (POS) transactions in brick-and-mortar stores. Shopify offers many features, including payment processing, inventory management, shipping, marketing, and customer management.
Kartra Pros
You Can Build Anything With Kartra
Kartra allows users to build any online business, from simple sales pages to full-fledged membership sites. Kartra’s drag-and-drop page builder makes it easy to create beautiful pages without any coding knowledge.
Kartra Is An All-In-One Platform
Kartra is a comprehensive platform with all the features required to manage your online business, from email marketing to payment processing. With Kartra, there’s no need to worry about integrating different software platforms – everything is already included, making it easy to get started and scale your business as needed.
Email Marketing System Included
With Kartra, you get a powerful email marketing system included in your subscription. This system makes it simple to create stunning email newsletters, autoresponders, and more. Plus, with Kartra’s advanced segmentation and automation features, you can ensure that your emails are always relevant and engaging for your subscribers.
14-Day Full Trial For $1
Kartra offers a 14-day full trial for just $1 – this is an unbeatable offer if you’re considering using Kartra for your business. With the trial, you’ll have access to all of Kartra’s features to test the platform before committing to a long-term subscription plan.
Kartra Cons
Lack Of Integrations
Kartra has fewer integrations than other platforms because everything is built into Kartra. This can be viewed as beneficial or detrimental. It’s a good thing because it makes Kartra an all-in-one platform, but it’s bad because it means that if you want to use a specific tool that isn’t built into Kartra, you’re out of luck.
It Has A Learning Curve
Kartra has a learning curve because it’s such an all-in-one platform. So many features and tools are available that it can overwhelm new users. However, once you’re familiar with it, Kartra is very user-friendly and easy to use.
Not The Best Solution For Dropshippers
Kartra is not the best solution for dropshipping because it has fewer integrations with dropshipping apps and tools. Additionally, the lack of built-in features for managing inventory and orders can make dropshipping more complicated than necessary.
Costly Compared to Shopify
Kartra is more expensive than Shopify, one of its biggest drawbacks. The price difference can be significant depending on the plan you choose. For example, the cheapest Kartra plan is $99/month, while the most affordable Shopify plan is only $29/month.
Kartra Main Features
Page Builder
Kartra’s page builder is one of the market’s most powerful and easy-to-use builders. With Kartra, you can easily create beautiful pages with drag and drop, no coding required. There are also various templates and elements to choose from, so you can create any kind of page you need.
Kartra Leads
Kartra Leads is a powerful lead capture system that allows you to capture leads from various sources, including your website, landing pages, and even Facebook ads. With Kartra Leads, you can segment your leads, score them based on their behavior, and even automate your follow-up emails.
Kartra Helpdesk
Kartra’s helpdesk system is a great way to provide excellent customer support. With Kartra Helpdesk, you can easily create a knowledge base, ticketing system, and live chat system all in one place. This makes it easy for your team to provide quick and efficient customer support.
Funnels & Campaigns
Kartra’s funnel builder is one of the most robust on the market. With Kartra’s funnel builder, you can easily create complex sales funnels with multiple steps and upsells/downsells. You can also track the performance of your funnels so you can optimize them for maximum conversion rate.
Additionally, with Kartra’s campaign builder, you can easily create and track email marketing campaigns and retargeting campaigns.
Email Automation Platform
Kartra comes with a potent email automation platform built-in. With Kartra’s email platform, you can easily send automated emails based on user behavior (such as abandoned cart emails or product recommendations) and create complex drip campaigns.
Kartra Membership
Kartra offers membership sites as a built-in feature, so you don’t need to worry about installing any third-party plugins or applications. You can easily create and manage your membership site within the Kartra platform.
Affiliate Management
Kartra has an affiliate management system that allows you to track your affiliates’ sales and commissions easily. You can also set up automatic commission payments so that your affiliates get paid when they make a sale. There is no need to send out commission payments each month manually.
Video Hosting
Kartra offers video hosting as a built-in feature. You can host your videos on Kartra’s servers and embed them on your website or blog. You won’t need to pay for a separate video hosting service.
Kartra Marketplace
The Karta Marketplace is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell digital products such as ebooks, courses, templates, and more. The Marketplace is integrated with Karta’s payment processing system so that you can easily sell your products to customers worldwide.
Kartra Calendars
Kartra Calendars allow you to create and manage events within the Karta platform. You can easily add events to your calendar, set up reminders, and send invitations to guests.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is an eCommerce platform allowing users to create and launch online stores. It includes various pre-built themes, payment gateway integrations, blogging features, great analytics, and a Shopify mobile app. Shopify also has a 14-day free trial for new users.
Shopify Pros
Excels At Ecommerce Functionality
One of the top eCommerce platforms available today is Shopify. For a good reason, too. It is easy to use, packed with options, and incredibly scalable. Shopify should be first on your list if you want to start an online store.
App Store With a Huge Variety
The Shopify App Store is a massive asset for Shopify users. There are apps for everything from accounting to social media marketing to product customization. And if you need an app that isn’t in the store, you can always hire a Shopify Expert to build it for you.
Affordable Pricing
Shopify has three pricing plans: Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify. The basic plan starts at just $29 per month, making it one of the most affordable eCommerce platforms on the market. And if you need more advanced features, the higher-priced plans are still very reasonable compared to other platforms like Magento or BigCommerce.
14-Day Free Trial
One of Shopify’s best features is that you can try the platform out for free for 14 days before deciding to use it permanently. This is great for determining whether Shopify is the right platform for you without investing any money upfront.
Very Easy To Get Started And Use
Even those who have never created a website can use Shopify because it is made to be simple to use. The platform is intuitive and user-friendly, with a drag-and-drop interface that makes building pages quick and easy. Plus, many resources are available (including 24/7 support) if you ever get stuck or need help.
Shopify Cons
Apps Can Be Costly
One of the potential drawbacks of using Shopify is that buying new apps can be expensive. While some apps are free, many more valuable and feature-rich apps come with a price tag. This can quickly add up, especially if you need to buy multiple apps to get the functionality you want for your store.
Only Suited For Ecommerce Stores
Shopify is an excellent platform for eCommerce stores, but it’s not suitable for other websites. If you’re looking to create a blog, portfolio, or business website, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Shopify is focused on eCommerce and doesn’t offer the same features and flexibility as other website builders.
Functionality Can Be Limited(More Intended For Beginners)
While Shopify is easy to use, it can be limiting in terms of functionality. If you’re looking for a platform with advanced features and customization options, Shopify may not be the right choice for you. It’s more suited for beginners just starting out with their online store.
Shopify Main Features
Wide Variety Of Pre-Built Themes
Shopify has a wide variety of pre-built themes to choose from, which makes it easy to find a theme that suits your business. Both free and paid themes are available, so you can choose the perfect theme for your budget.
Vast Variety Of Payment Gateway Integrations
Shopify offers a wide variety of payment gateway integrations, which is excellent for businesses that need to accept multiple forms of payment. You can also use Shopify’s built-in payments system, which is powered by Stripe.
Blogging Features
Shopify includes basic blogging features, perfect for businesses that want a blog on their website. You can easily add blog posts, and there are various ways to customize your blog to match your website’s design. It is a less sophisticated blogging platform than other popular options, like WordPress, but it’s good enough to get the job done.
Great Analytics
Shopify’s analytics features are great for businesses that want to track their website’s performance. You can see detailed information about your website’s traffic, sales, and more. Plus, Shopify’s reporting features make it easy to generate reports and share them with others.
Shopify Mobile App
The Shopify mobile app is excellent for businesses that need to manage their store on the go. The app lets you view your store’s stats, add products, fulfill orders, and more.
Shopify App Store
The Shopify App Store is one of the most popular features of Shopify. It allows you to add new features and functionality to your Shopify store without hiring a developer. There are over 2,000 apps available in the Shopify App Store, ranging from accounting and marketing to shipping and product customization.
Shopify has many available integrations, allowing you to connect your Shopify store to other software platforms. This includes accounting software like QuickBooks, CRM software like Salesforce, and email marketing platforms like Mailchimp.
Kartra vs. Shopify: Pricing And Plans
Kartra offers four main pricing plans, which are as follows:
- The Starter Plan: $99 per month. This plan includes up to 2,500 leads and 15,000 emails per month. You’re also only allowed to host 50 videos, sell 20 products, have two membership sites, connect a single helpdesk, and this plan doesn’t include the Kartra agency feature. This feature is available on every other Kartra plan except the Starter.
- The Silver Plan: $199 per month. This plan includes up to 12,500 leads, three custom domains, and Kartra Agency.
- The Gold Plan: $299 per month. This plan includes up to 25,000 leads and allows you to host five custom domains.
- The Platinum Plan: $499 per month. With up to 50,000 leads and ten custom domains, this plan is their most comprehensive choice.
It’s important to note the Silver, Gold, and Platinum Kartra packages are unlimited for everything. This includes emails, bandwidth, pages, videos, membership sites, etc.
Shopify Pricing
Shopify has three main pricing plans, which are as follows:
- The Basic Shopify Plan: $29 per month. This plan gives you access to the core features of Shopify, including unlimited products and 24/7 support.
- The Shopify Plan: $79 per month. As well as the features included in the basic plan, this option also gives you access to gift cards and professional reports.
- Advanced Shopify Plan: $299 per month. In addition to the features of the other two plans, this option provides you with advanced report building and third-party calculated shipping rates at checkout.
Shopify also has an enterprise solution priced on a case-by-case basis, depending on the size of your business.
Kartra vs. Shopify Key Differences: Features Only Included With Kartra
Drag-And-Drop Editor
Kartra has a powerful drag-and-drop editor that lets you easily create beautiful pages and funnels without touching a single line of code. With Kartra, you can easily create custom pages, funnels, memberships, courses, and more.
On the other hand, Shopify does not come with a drag-and-drop builder. To create custom pages or funnels on Shopify, you’ll need to hire a developer or learn how to code. Alternatively, there may be certain apps available on their app store or custom apps available that you can use to add drag-and-drop functionality to your store. Don’t take our word on this; we suggest doing further research if you want this feature.
Helpdesks
Kartra has a built-in helpdesk tool that lets you efficiently manage customer support requests from one central location. With Kartra’s helpdesk tool, you can create custom ticket types, set up automated responses, and track all of your support requests in one place.
Shopify does not come with a built-in helpdesk tool. If you want to use a helpdesk on Shopify, you’ll need to install an app from the Shopify App Store or hire a developer to build one for you.
Calendars
Kartra has a built-in calendar tool that lets you easily schedule and manage events from one central location. With Kartra’s calendar tool, you can create custom event types, send automatic reminders, and track all of your events in one place.
Shopify does not come with a built-in calendar tool. If you want to use a calendar on Shopify, you’ll need to install an app from the Shopify App Store, which you may have to pay for.
Affiliate Center
Kartra has an affiliate center that lets you efficiently recruit affiliates and manage your affiliate program from one central location. With Kartra’s affiliate center, you can automatically set up commission tiers, track affiliate sales, and pay commissions.
Shopify does not come with an affiliate center. If you want to use an affiliate program on Shopify, you’ll need to look for an app from the Shopify app store that provides this functionality.
Kartra vs. Shopify Key Differences: Features Only Included With Shopify
Wide Variety Of Themes
You can access over 100 free and premium themes when you create a store on Shopify. This allows you to customize the look and feel of your store to match your brand.
Kartra also has built-in themes for you to use; however, they have less variety available than what’s available on Shopify. However, they have a drag-and-drop builder that allows you to create custom pages for your store.
Shopify is a better platform if you want to have a lot of control over the appearance of your store. However, if you are okay with spending some time creating custom pages, then Kartra will work just fine.
Unlimited Products
Shopify allows you to add an unlimited number of products to your store. This is perfect for businesses that have a large inventory or are planning on expanding their product line in the future.
If you have or plan on having a large inventory, then Shopify is the better platform for you.
Dropshipping Functionality
Shopify has dropshipping functionality that allows you to connect your store with dropship suppliers. This means that when customers place orders in your shop, it’s automatically sent to the supplier, who will then ship it directly to the customer. There are various apps available on the Shopify app store for dropshipping, such as Oberlo, Spocket, and Dropified, to name a few.
Kartra does not have any built-in dropshipping functionality. However, they have an integration with Shipstation, allowing you to connect your Kartra store with dropship suppliers. You can easily connect Kartra and Shipstation using the Zapier integration tool.
If dropshipping is vital to you, then Shopify is the better platform as it has much more functionality, while Kartra is not the best suited for this purpose.
Blogging Functionality
Shopify has built-in blogging functionality, which means you can easily add a blog to your Shopify store and start writing articles.
Kartra also has blogging functionality but isn’t as robust as Shopify offers. With Shopify, many features allow you to implement an effective content marketing strategy and include features for optimizing your SEO ranking. There are also countless apps available from the app store that can enhance your store’s SEO ranking.
If blogging is important to you, then Shopify is the better platform as it has better blogging capabilities, while Kartra is not quite as robust.
Payment Integrations
Shopify comes with over 70 payment gateway integrations, which means you can accept payments from all over the world and in multiple currencies using almost any payment gateway.
Kartra only comes with four payment gateway integrations. However, they integrate with Stripe, allowing you to accept payments worldwide and in multiple currencies.
If accepting payments from all over the world is essential to you, then Shopify is the better platform as it has more payment gateway integrations.
Kartra vs. Shopify: Key Similarities
Both Are User Friendly
Kartra and Shopify are very user-friendly, and you should be able to use both platforms easily. Both platforms require no coding skills and are aimed at beginners. We would say, though, that Shopify is slightly more simplistic and has a smaller learning curve.
Both Have Ecommerce Functionality (Although Shopify Is Better)
Kartra and Shopify offer eCommerce functionality, allowing you to sell products and services online. However, Shopify is the better platform for eCommerce, as it offers more features and integrations specifically for online stores. If you run a dropshipping store, there isn’t even a debate. Shopify wins all day long.
Both Have Blogging Capabilities
Both platforms have built-in blogging functionality, so you can effortlessly add a blog to your website to share news, articles, and other content with your visitors.
Both Offer Email Marketing Tools
To help you build your list and communicate with your subscribers, Kartra and Shopify both offer email marketing tools. With both platforms, you can send automated emails based on subscriber behavior and create targeted email campaigns. It is important to note that with Shopify, you will need to use third-party apps for increased email marketing functionality.
Both Come With Beautiful Templates & Themes
Kartra and Shopify both offer a wide selection of professionally designed templates and themes that you can use to give your website a unique look and feel. You can find a template that suits your needs on either platform, regardless of whether you want a straightforward design or something more intricate.
Kartra vs. Shopify: Who Is Kartra For?
Kartra is an eCommerce platform that is best for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution. Kartra offers a complete set of features to build, grow, and scale your online business. With Kartra, you can create beautiful online stores, launch marketing campaigns, automate your sales process, and much more.
Kartra is ideal for businesses of all sizes. If you’re starting out, Kartra makes it easy to get started with their drag-and-drop store builder and customizable templates. If you’re a growing business, Kartra’s powerful marketing automation tools will help you scale your business by automating your sales and marketing processes. And if you’re a large enterprise, Kartra’s enterprise-grade features will give you the power to grow your business online.
If you’re selling lots of digital products or courses or need to restrict access to your content by using memberships, Kartra is the perfect platform for this purpose. If you’re familiar with internet marketing, then the higher price point of Kartra is worth the price point as it gives you access to pretty much any feature you need with no limitations.
Kartra vs. Shopify: Who Is Shopify For?
Shopify is a comprehensive eCommerce platform that provides companies of all sizes with a total online sales solution. Small to large businesses of all shapes and sizes can use Shopify.
Shopify is easy to use, with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for even the most non-technical users to build and manage their online store. Additionally, Shopify provides a massive selection of features and integrations, making it a very flexible platform.
The following are some examples of the kinds of companies that would work well with Shopify:
- Online Stores: Shopify is perfect for businesses selling products online. With Shopify, you can easily create an online store, add products, process payments, and ship orders. You can also use Shopify’s built-in blogging platform to write articles and product descriptions or create other types of content to help promote your products.
- Retail Stores: If you have a physical retail store, you can use Shopify’s POS (Point of Sale) system to accept credit card payments in-store, track inventory levels and manage customers’ orders.
- Service Businesses: Many service-based businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, hair salons, etc., can use Shopify to take online bookings and appointments. This can help streamline your business operations and make it easier for customers to schedule appointments with you.
- B2B Businesses: Businesses that sell products or services to other businesses (B2B) can use Shopify’s wholesale functionality to offer discounted pricing on bulk orders and manage multiple pricing tiers for different customer groups.
- Dropshipping Businesses: With Dropshipping, you can operate an online store without keeping any inventory. When a customer orders something from your store, the order is sent to the supplier, who then ships the items directly to your customer on your behalf. Dropshipping businesses are ideal for those who want to launch an online store with little initial investment.
- Multi-Channel Sellers: If you sell your products through multiple channels such as brick-and-mortar stores, pop-up shops, trade shows or fairs, or online marketplaces such as Amazon or Etsy), then Shopify can help you centralize your inventory management and order processing so you can save time and keep better track of your sales overall.
Shopify is a platform that can assist you in selling online regardless of the kind of business you run.
Kartra Vs. Shopify: Our Recommendation
If we were to pick a winner between these two platforms, we would go with Kartra for the following reasons:
- Kartra provides users with everything they need to run their online business in one convenient platform. This includes features for building websites, creating and managing products, processing payments, providing better customer support, planning appointments with your customers, and more.
- Kartra offers a lot of inbuilt functionality and unique features you can’t find on any other platforms. For example, Kartra has inbuilt features like Affiliate program management, Membership management, and automation features that make your life so much easier.
- Kartra has Done-For-You campaigns that You can use to sell ANYTHING you want without having to create any content yourself!
- Their landing pages and sales funnels are optimized for conversions and are perfect for newbies who lack marketing experience.
- You don’t need to use third-party platforms to host your marketing videos and instead can use Kartra as they have their own video hosting capabilities.
- Their Detailed analytics is a fantastic tool that allows you to track your website’s traffic and conversion rates. Using their analytics, you can deeply analyze each visitor and make better business decisions.
- Finally, Kartra’s email marketing system is second to none. With Kartra, you can easily create beautiful email campaigns that are highly effective. Plus, Kartra’s email deliverability is excellent, so you can be sure that your messages will reach your subscribers.
- Kartra is the obvious choice for anyone looking for an all-in-one solution for their online business.
Kartra vs. Shopify: Conclusion
The bottom line is that both Kartra and Shopify are great platforms with a lot to offer. However, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it depends on your specific needs as to which platform is best for you.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that offers membership capabilities, affiliate management, video hosting, and more, then Kartra is the way to go. However, if you’re primarily interested in an eCommerce platform with fabulous themes, unlimited products, and dropshipping functionality, then Shopify is the better choice.
Whichever platform you choose, research and compare features before making a final decision.
To summarize everything mentioned above, if you’re an internet marketer focused on conversions and sales funnels, go with Kartra. If you’re selling physical products, Dropshipping, or a retail store, Shopify would be the better option.
We hope you enjoyed this Kartra vs. Shopify comparison, and please let us know if you have any questions!
FAQ’s
Can you Integrate Shopify And Kartra?
You can integrate Shopify and Kartra by using a Shopify plugin. Several plugins will allow you to do this, but we recommend using Zapier to integrate them.
Can Kartra Be Used To Sell Physical Products?
Yes, Kartra can be used to sell physical products. You can add products to your Kartra account and then sell them through your Kartra website or the Kartra marketplace. You can also use Kartra to create product pages on your website and sell products through your website. There are better solutions, and Kartra isn’t the best suited for this purpose.
Is Shopify Suitable For Beginners?
Yes, Shopify is appropriate for newbies because it’s simple to use, has a wealth of documentation, and offers a wealth of support. You can also find many helpful Shopify plugins and themes that will make setting up your shop easier.
Who Are Shopify’s Main Competitors?
Shopify’s main competitors are BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento. These are all eCommerce platforms that offer similar features and functionality to Shopify.
Who Are Kartra’s Main Competitors?
Kartra’s main competitors are Clickfunnels, Infusionsoft, ActiveCampaign, and HubSpot. These platforms offer similar features to Kartra, such as membership sites, affiliate management, and email marketing.