Shift4shop vs Network Solutions: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Shift4shop and Network Solutions both offer valuable features, but they cater to different user needs and preferences.

Shift4shop (Overall Grade: 6.4/10)

is a robust ecommerce platform with a wide range of professional templates, extensive customization options, and advanced ecommerce features. It excels in providing comprehensive support and security measures, making it ideal for businesses looking for a powerful and flexible online store solution. When comparing Shift4shop vs Network Solutions, Shift4shop stands out for its superior ecommerce capabilities and user management features.
Network Solutions (Overall Grade: 5.4/10)

, on the other hand, is a more straightforward and user-friendly platform, suitable for small to medium-sized businesses and individuals looking to establish an online presence without needing advanced technical skills. Considering Shift4shop vs Network Solutions, Network Solutions offers a variety of templates and essential tools for website creation and management, but it falls short in terms of advanced ecommerce functionalities and customization options.

	Overall grade: 6.4	Overall grade: 5.4
Design functionalities & templates	7.5	7.2
Ease of use	7.0	6.8
Ecommerce	7.6	6.3
Website Editors	7.2	6.3
Product testing options	5.0	0.5
Price	6.7	6.4
Hosting quality	7.8	7.8
Website speed optimization	6.3	6.7
Plugins and integrations	7.3	4.8
Marketing features	8.0	7.2
Customer support	7.9	6.6
Security	8.9	7.5
AI capabilities	0	1.1
User Management	7.9	3.2
Overall	6.4	5.4

Best for ecommerce

7.6

6.3

Verdict

: Shift4shop vs Network Solutions reveals that Shift4shop is better suited for businesses with advanced ecommerce needs, while Network Solutions is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses seeking simplicity.

Shift4shop

: Shift4shop offers a comprehensive ecommerce platform with advanced features such as extensive payment gateway integrations, inventory management, and abandoned cart recovery. It is designed to support various business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand, making it a robust choice for businesses with complex needs. However, when comparing Shift4shop vs Network Solutions, Shift4shop’s extensive features might be overwhelming for beginners.
Network Solutions

: Network Solutions provides a straightforward and user-friendly platform, perfect for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers essential ecommerce features like marketing tools, personalized email, and product listings, making it easy to establish an online store. However, it may lack the advanced functionalities that larger businesses might require when comparing Shift4shop vs Network Solutions.

Best for informational & business websites

7.2

7.4

Verdict

: When comparing Shift4shop vs Network Solutions for informational and business websites, Network Solutions has a slight edge due to its comprehensive approach to website speed optimization and a variety of hosting options.

Shift4shop

: Shift4shop is a robust eCommerce platform that can also be used for informational websites. It offers a wide range of customizable templates and extensive learning resources, making it a good choice for users who need a versatile platform. However, its primary focus on eCommerce might make it more complex for purely informational sites.
Network Solutions

: Network Solutions is tailored for small businesses and individuals looking to establish an online presence. It offers a variety of templates and tools that are easy to use, even for those without coding knowledge. Its focus on improving Core Web Vitals and a variety of hosting options make it a strong contender for informational and business websites. When comparing Shift4shop vs Network Solutions, Network Solutions’ user-friendly interface and comprehensive hosting solutions make it a preferred choice for informational sites.

Detailed comparison

7.5

7.2

🏆

Winner: Shift4shop.

If you’re looking for a platform with a broader range of free templates and extensive customization options, Shift4shop is the preferred choice.

Shift4shop provides a selection of over 100 free eCommerce templates, catering to a wide array of design preferences and brand identities. These templates are professionally designed with an emphasis on optimizing sales, employing the latest in technology and design trends. This variety ensures that businesses can find a design that closely aligns with their brand and aesthetic requirements.

Shift4shop Themes

Network Solutions offers a wide variety of templates and designs tailored to meet the diverse needs of its users. Whether you’re setting up a website for a small business, a personal blog, or a large e-commerce platform, you’ll find an extensive selection of options to choose from. With hundreds of professionally designed templates, users can easily find a style that perfectly matches their vision and brand identity. Moreover, these templates are customizable, allowing for a high degree of personalization in terms of layout, color schemes, and functionality, ensuring that each website can be unique and fully optimized for its intended purpose.

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7.0

6.8

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

. With a score of 7.0, Shift4shop offers a slightly better user experience compared to Network Solutions, which scores 6.8. Shift4shop provides a comprehensive ecommerce platform with a range of features and customization options, though it may present a steeper learning curve for beginners. Network Solutions, while user-friendly and accessible, has an interface that some may find outdated and offers limited advanced customization options.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

. Shift4shop excels with its extensive learning resources, including articles, videos, and 24/7 customer support, making it easier for users to navigate and utilize the platform effectively. Network Solutions also offers high-quality tutorials and customer support, but its resources for advanced customization are somewhat limited.

Learn more about Shift4shop’s resources

Learn more about Network Solutions’ resources

7.6

6.3

Shift4shop and Network Solutions both offer ecommerce solutions, but they cater to different business needs. Shift4shop is more suited for businesses looking for a comprehensive ecommerce platform with advanced features, while Network Solutions is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses seeking a straightforward and user-friendly solution.


Ecommerce themes and templates	6.5	6.5
Product page customization	7.8	6.8
Payment processing and commissions	8.4	6.0
POS capabilities	7.0	5.0
Payment gateways	9.0	7.0
Product numbers	7.5	6.0
Additional ecommerce features	7.2	5.5

Shift4shop ecommerce features:

Payment Gateway integrations
Inventory management
Abandoned cart recovery
Order management

Network Solutions ecommerce features:

Marketing Tools
Personalized Email
Product Listings

Ecommerce themes & templates

Shift4shop offers a variety of professional, customizable, and mobile-friendly website templates designed specifically for online stores. Network Solutions provides a range of responsive ecommerce templates that cater to different business sizes and industries, ensuring a seamless shopping experience across various devices.

Product page customization

Shift4shop offers advanced product page customization features, including inventory tracking, customizable product layouts, and the ability to showcase products through images, zoom, and video. The Product Designer app further enhances customization for personalized products. Network Solutions allows users to personalize product descriptions, images, and videos, and customize product options such as size, color, and material. It also supports customer reviews and ratings integration.

Payment processing

Shift4shop supports over 200 payment gateways, including major providers like PayPal, Visa, and Stripe, without charging additional transaction fees from the platform itself. Merchants may incur standard fees from their chosen payment providers, typically ranging from 2-3% per sale. Network Solutions offers essential ecommerce features, including a built-in shopping cart and support for a wide range of payment options such as PayPal, PayFlow, USA ePay, CyberSource, and PlugNPay. Commissions are charged by the gateways themselves, not by Network Solutions.

In summary, Shift4shop provides a more robust and flexible ecommerce solution with advanced features and extensive payment gateway support, making it suitable for businesses with more complex needs. Network Solutions, on the other hand, offers a simpler and more user-friendly platform, ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking to establish an online store efficiently.

7.2

6.3

🏆

Winner: Shift4shop

. Shift4shop, with a score of 7.2, offers a comprehensive website builder with a focus on e-commerce, enabling the creation of various types of websites with an array of templates and customization options including a drag-and-drop editor. It integrates advanced features for product management, payment processing, and SEO optimization, alongside marketing tools for social media and email campaigns. Security measures and customer support options are in place, although reviews on support quality vary.

Network Solutions’ editor, scoring 6.3, provides a suite of tools for website creation and management, catering to businesses and individuals alike. It offers an intuitive website editor that allows users to design, edit, and publish their websites without needing advanced technical skills. With a wide array of templates and customization options, users can create professional-looking websites that are responsive and optimized for search engines. However, some users may find the interface a bit outdated and less intuitive compared to more modern website builders.

Mobile editor/app

🏆

Winner: None

. Both Shift4shop and Network Solutions do not offer dedicated mobile editor apps. This means that users of these platforms will need to rely on desktop-based editors for making changes to their websites. While both platforms provide comprehensive tools and features for website creation and management, the lack of mobile editing capabilities could be a limitation for users who prefer or require on-the-go website management.

In summary, neither Shift4shop nor Network Solutions stands out in this category due to the absence of mobile editor apps.

5.0

0.5

Overall Result

:

Shift4shop wins

. Shift4shop scores 5.0, significantly higher than Network Solutions’ 0.5, due to its free plan for US customers and the ability to test all features within this plan. Network Solutions, on the other hand, does not offer a free trial or free version, and access to its features is only available after purchasing a plan, despite having a 30-day money-back guarantee.


Free Plan	Yes, only for US customers	No
Trial Duration	No	No
Testing Premium Features	All features within free plan	Only after purchasing a plan
Money-back Guarantee	No	30-day money-back guarantee

6.7

6.4

Shift4shop offers a free plan with essential features for businesses using its payment processor, while Network Solutions provides more affordable entry-level plans with additional marketing and e-commerce capabilities.

	Offerings	Offerings
Free	Free Plan ($0/month): Requires minimum $500/month processed payments with their Shift4shop payment with 2.90% + 30 Cents transaction fees. Unlimited Products, SEO & Marketing Tools, Unlimited Staff Users, Integrated Blog, Unlimited Bandwidth, 24/7 Customer Support, No Revenue Caps, API Access, Secure Online Payments. This plan allows to manage only 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered.	No offering at this amount
$0-$5	No offering at this amount	Website ($4.95/month): – Easy-to-use website builder – Domain & Domain Privacy: 1 Year Free – Professional Email: 3 Months Free – SSL Certificate: 1 Month Free – 1-hour expert design support Value for Price: 6.5
$5-$9	No offering at this amount	Website + Marketing ($7.95/month): – Includes all features from the Website plan – Sell services – Appointment scheduling – Social and email marketing – AI copywriting tool (NEW) Value for Price: 7.5
$9-$10	No offering at this amount	Online Store ($9.95/month): – Includes all features from the Website + Marketing plan – Sell products and services – Sell on Facebook & Instagram Value for Price: 8.0
$10+	Paid Plan ($29/month): All features of the free plan with support for other payment processors such as PayPal. This plan allows to manage only 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered. Value for Price: 8.5	Online Marketplaces ($19.95/month): – Includes all features from the Online Store plan – Sell on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, & more Value for Price: 8.5

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

7.8

🏆

Winner: Tie

. Both Shift4shop and Network Solutions offer robust hosting solutions, each with unique strengths. Shift4shop provides managed cloud hosting with unlimited bandwidth and storage, while Network Solutions offers a variety of hosting options, including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting, with a higher uptime guarantee. Both platforms have their pros and cons, making them equally matched in hosting quality.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, with unlimited bandwidth and storage, daily backups.	Yes, with various hosting options including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting.
Data Centers:	Shift4shop does not disclose the locations of its data centers	Network Solutions doesn’t publicly disclose any information about its data centers.
Type of hosting:	Managed Cloud Hosting	Shared Hosting, VPS hosting, WordPress Hosting
Uptime:	99.9%	99.99%
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.9%	Yes, 99.99%

6.3

6.7

🏆 Winner: Network Solutions

Both Shift4shop and Network Solutions offer various strategies for optimizing website speed, but Network Solutions has a slight edge due to its comprehensive approach to Core Web Vitals improvements.


Focus	CDN, Code Minification, Image optimization, Caching	CDN, Web Caching, Image Optimization, SEO optimization
Performance Tools	Varies depending on optimization	Varies widely, depending on optimization, hosting type, and website complexity
Key Strategies	CDN, Code Minification, Image optimization, Caching	CDN, Web Caching, Image Optimization, SEO optimization
Load Times	Varies depending on optimization	Varies widely, depending on optimization, hosting type, and website complexity
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies depending on optimization	Varies widely, depending on optimization, hosting type, and website complexity
Core Web Vitals Improvement	No specific information provided	LCP, FID, CLS improvements

Shift4shop employs several strategies to enhance website speed, including the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN), code minification, image optimization, and caching. These methods aim to reduce load times and improve overall site performance. However, Shift4shop does not provide specific information on improvements in Core Web Vitals, which are crucial metrics for assessing user experience.

Network Solutions, on the other hand, also utilizes a CDN, web caching, image optimization, and SEO optimization to boost website speed. Additionally, Network Solutions focuses on improving Core Web Vitals, specifically Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These improvements indicate a more comprehensive approach to enhancing user experience and site performance.

In summary, while both platforms offer robust speed optimization strategies, Network Solutions’ focus on Core Web Vitals gives it a slight advantage in this comparison.

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7.3

4.8

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop.

Shift4shop scores 7.3, offering a diverse range of plugins and extensions that cater to various ecommerce needs, from advanced analytics to specialized marketing tools. Network Solutions, with a score of 4.8, provides essential integrations but lacks the extensive options available on Shift4shop.

Shift4shop’s comprehensive app store and third-party service integrations make it a robust choice for businesses looking to enhance their online store’s functionality. Network Solutions, while providing necessary tools for ecommerce, focuses more on built-in features rather than a wide range of third-party plugins.

Shift4shop Applications

Shift4shop integrations

8.0

7.2

🏆

Overall Winner: Shift4shop

. Shift4shop excels with its comprehensive SEO tools, robust email marketing, and advanced analytics, making it a strong choice for ecommerce-focused marketing. Network Solutions offers solid features but lags slightly in overall marketing capabilities.


SEO Tools	Comprehensive SEO features, including Schema.org markup	Customizable meta tags, Google Analytics integration
Email Marketing	Built-in Newsletter Module, effective for ecommerce	Customizable templates, drag-and-drop editor
Blogging	Blog Posts, Disqus Comments, Categories and tags	RSS Feed, Commenting System, Social Media Sharing
Social Media Integration	Integration with various platforms, automated content updates	Easy connection to major platforms, social media buttons
Analytics and Reporting	Robust tools with CRM functionalities	Suite of tools, Google Analytics integration
Ads and Promotions	Discounts, coupons, affiliate program, loyalty rewards	SEO services, PPC advertising management, social media marketing

7.9

6.6

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

. Comparing Shift4shop vs Network Solutions, Shift4shop takes the lead with its comprehensive 24/7/365 customer support. Shift4shop offers multiple support channels, including US chat support, US phone support, and European support, ensuring that users can get assistance at any time. The dedicated eCommerce support team based in the U.S. is particularly beneficial for businesses needing immediate help.

Network Solutions, while providing 24/7 live chat support, falls short in comparison due to the lack of additional support channels and enterprise-level support. Although Network Solutions is known for its customer support, the limited options and absence of phone support make it less versatile than Shift4shop’s offerings.

8.9

7.5

🏆

Winner: Shift4shop

. Shift4shop excels in providing a secure environment for eCommerce businesses with its comprehensive security measures. It offers free SSL certificates, PCI compliance, and advanced fraud protection, which are crucial for safe online transactions. Additionally, Shift4shop’s use of Cloudflare for DDoS protection and daily data backups further enhances its security profile, making it a robust choice for businesses concerned about security.

Network Solutions, while offering essential security features such as SSL certificates, malware protection, and data encryption, does not match the specialized eCommerce security measures provided by Shift4shop. However, it still provides a solid foundation for small businesses and individuals looking to secure their websites effectively.

1.1


AI Builder	Not available	Not available
AI Ecommerce Features	Not available	Not available
AI Content Generation	Not available	AI copywriting tool on higher plans
Additional AI Features	Not available	Not available

🏆 Winner: Network Solutions

. Network Solutions slightly edges out Shift4shop with its AI copywriting tool available on higher plans. However, both platforms lack comprehensive AI capabilities, making them less suitable for users seeking advanced AI-driven features.

Shift4shop, with a score of 0, does not offer any AI functionalities. This includes the absence of AI builders, ecommerce features, content generation, and additional AI tools.

Network Solutions, with a score of 1.1, provides a basic AI copywriting tool on higher plans but lacks other AI features. This minimal AI capability gives it a slight advantage over Shift4shop.

7.9

3.2

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

. When it comes to managing users, Shift4shop offers a more robust and flexible system compared to Network Solutions.

Shift4shop allows for multiple users to manage and edit a website, with the number of staff user slots varying by plan. Additional users can be added as needed through the purchase of extra Staff User seats at $10 per user per month. This system is designed to accommodate business growth by enabling the distribution of website management tasks among staff members with customizable roles and permissions.
Network Solutions’ website builder offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels compared to other platforms.

Shift4shop User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Admin	Full control over the platform, responsible for setting up and managing all aspects of the online store.	Complete access to all areas including configuration, order management, product listings, user management, and analytics.
Manager	Oversees day-to-day operations, including order processing, inventory management, and customer service.	Access to order management, inventory, reports, and limited settings for day-to-day operations. Does not have access to high-level configurations.
Sales Rep	Focuses on customer interaction, order entry, and sales tracking.	Access to customer information, order creation, and sales reporting tools. Cannot alter product listings or configurations.
Content Creator	Generates product descriptions, blog posts, and marketing material.	Access to content management systems, blog, and marketing tools. No access to order management or configurations.
Customer Service Rep	Handles customer inquiries, returns, and complaints.	Access to customer information, order status, and communication tools. Limited access to order modifications.

Additional Features


SSL Certificate	✓	✓
Custom Domain	✓	✓
Free Custom Domain Included	X	✓
International Domains	✓	✓
Mobile Responsive	✓	✓
Page Speed	✓	✓
Website Builder Mobile App	X	X
Convert a Website To An App	X	X
Website Analytics	✓	✓
Multilingual Sites	✓	✓
Multiple Users	✓	X

User Feedback

Shift4shop

34 reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

Network Solutions

60 reviews

1.9 out of 5 stars

Shift4Shop reviews present a mixed but generally positive perspective from users. They appreciate the platform’s feature-rich storefront capabilities, ease of use, and versatility in integrating various services, which facilitates online sales and efficient eCommerce management. However, critiques focus on the less intuitive user experience, occasional technical issues such as slow site loading, and the perceived degradation of customer service quality since the Shift4Shop takeover. Despite these criticisms, Shift4Shop is recognized for its cost-effectiveness, support for different customer types, and the ability to solve a variety of eCommerce-related problems, benefiting users by enhancing their online sales capabilities and operational efficiency.

User reviews of Network Solutions are mixed, with some praising its prompt customer support and variety of domain management options. However, there are widespread complaints about the platform’s outdated business practices, high costs, and poor customer service. Users often find the website’s layout confusing and report instances of misleading promises regarding refunds. Overall, while Network Solutions has some positive attributes, its drawbacks suggest that users may want to consider alternatives.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

Which platform is better for beginners, Shift4shop or Network Solutions?

Shift4shop, while robust, has a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive ecommerce features. Network Solutions, on the other hand, is more straightforward and might be easier for beginners who need basic website functionalities without complex ecommerce tools.

Can I use both Shift4shop and Network Solutions for selling products online?

Yes, both platforms support online selling. Shift4shop is more suited for businesses looking for comprehensive ecommerce solutions with advanced features like inventory management and extensive payment gateway integrations. Network Solutions offers basic ecommerce capabilities, ideal for smaller businesses or those just starting out.

How do Shift4shop and Network Solutions differ in terms of pricing and value?

Shift4shop offers a free plan for users willing to use its payment processor, which is great for businesses processing over $500/month. Network Solutions provides more traditional pricing tiers, starting with basic website building options and scaling up to include more advanced marketing and ecommerce tools.

What type of customer support can I expect from Shift4shop and Network Solutions?

Shift4shop provides 24/7 customer support with multiple channels including live chat and phone support, making it reliable for businesses that require constant assistance. Network Solutions also offers 24/7 support but primarily through live chat, which may not cater to all user preferences.

Which platform offers better templates and customization options?

Shift4shop offers over 100 free ecommerce templates that are professional and customizable, catering to a wide range of business types. Network Solutions also provides a variety of templates, but they are generally more basic and less focused on ecommerce.