Shift4shop vs Pixpa: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Shift4shop and Pixpa both offer robust website building solutions, but they cater to different user needs and preferences.

Shift4shop (Overall Grade: 6.4/10)

is a comprehensive ecommerce platform designed to support various business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand. It excels in providing advanced product management tools, extensive payment gateway integrations, and strong security features. However, it may present a steeper learning curve for beginners and lacks some of the user-friendly design flexibility found in other platforms. When comparing Shift4shop vs Pixpa, Shift4shop is ideal for businesses looking for a powerful, feature-rich ecommerce solution.
Pixpa (Overall Grade: 6.7/10)

stands out for its user-friendly interface and highly customizable templates, making it perfect for creatives and small businesses. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, built-in online stores, blogs, and client galleries, along with strong SEO and marketing tools. Pixpa’s ease of use and affordability make it an excellent choice for users who prioritize design flexibility and simplicity. In the Shift4shop vs Pixpa comparison, Pixpa is the preferred option for those seeking an intuitive platform to establish an online presence without extensive technical skills.

	Overall grade: 6.4	Overall grade: 6.7
Design functionalities & templates	7.5	7.8
Ease of use	7.0	8.4
Ecommerce	7.6	7.0
Website Editors	7.2	7.5
Product testing options	5.0	8.5
Price	6.7	9.1
Hosting quality	7.8	5.4
Website speed optimization	6.3	3.0
Plugins and integrations	7.3	6.7
Marketing features	8.0	7.4
Customer support	7.9	7.0
Security	8.9	8.3
AI capabilities	0	0.0
User Management	7.9	7.3

Best for ecommerce

7.6

7.0

Verdict

: Shift4shop is a more comprehensive solution for larger businesses with complex needs, while Pixpa is ideal for creatives and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with essential ecommerce features.

Shift4shop

: Known for its extensive ecommerce capabilities, Shift4shop supports a wide array of business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand. It offers advanced product management tools, multiple payment gateway integrations, and robust marketing features. However, when comparing Shift4shop vs Pixpa, Shift4shop might be more complex for beginners due to its extensive features.
Pixpa

: Tailored for creatives and small businesses, Pixpa offers a user-friendly interface with customizable templates and essential ecommerce tools. It excels in SEO and marketing features but may lack some advanced ecommerce functionalities compared to Shift4shop.

Best for informational & business websites

7.2

7.9

Verdict

: When it comes to creating informational and business websites, Pixpa has a slight edge over Shift4shop due to its user-friendly interface and higher degree of customization flexibility.

Shift4shop

: Shift4shop is a robust eCommerce platform that offers a variety of professional, customizable, and mobile-friendly website templates. While it excels in providing tools for online business operations, its focus on eCommerce might make it less ideal for purely informational websites. The platform’s comprehensive features and customization options can present a steeper learning curve for beginners. Shift4shop scores 7.2 in this category.
Pixpa

: Pixpa is an all-in-one platform designed for creatives and small businesses to create professional websites with ease. Its drag-and-drop interface and highly customizable templates make it particularly suitable for users without extensive technical skills. Pixpa’s focus on design flexibility and user-friendliness makes it an excellent choice for informational and business websites. Pixpa scores 7.9 in this category.

Detailed comparison

7.5

7.8

🏆

Winner: Pixpa.

Pixpa edges out Shift4shop with its higher degree of customization flexibility and a broader range of creative design possibilities.

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

Pixpa offers a wide variety of templates and designs tailored to meet the diverse needs of creative professionals. With an extensive library that includes numerous options, users can easily find the perfect template that aligns with their brand identity and showcases their work in the best light. From sleek, minimalist designs to more complex and dynamic layouts, Pixpa ensures that there is something for everyone, regardless of their style or industry.

Pixpa Themes

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7.0

8.4

🏆 Winner: Pixpa

. With a score of 8.4, Pixpa excels in user-friendliness, offering an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and highly customizable templates. This makes it particularly suitable for creatives and small business owners who want to establish an online presence without needing extensive technical skills. Shift4shop, scoring 7.0, provides a comprehensive ecommerce platform but may present a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its rich functionality and customization options.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Pixpa

. Both platforms offer extensive learning resources, but Pixpa’s detailed tutorials, step-by-step guides, and video walkthroughs are designed to assist users of all skill levels effectively. Shift4shop also provides a wide range of articles and 24/7 customer support, but Pixpa’s resources are more tailored to ease the learning process for non-technical users.

Learn more about Shift4shop’s resources

Learn more about Pixpa’s resources

7.6

7.0

Shift4shop and Pixpa both offer robust ecommerce solutions, but they cater to different needs and business sizes. Shift4shop is designed for a wide array of business models, including dropshipping and print-on-demand, and provides advanced product management tools. Pixpa, on the other hand, is tailored for creatives and small businesses, offering simplicity and ease of use.


Ecommerce themes and templates	6.5	6.8
Product page customization	7.8	6.5
Payment processing and commissions	8.4	7.5
POS capabilities	7.0	0.0
Payment gateways	9.0	7.0
Product numbers	7.5	5.5
Additional ecommerce features	7.2	6.0

Shift4shop ecommerce features:

Payment Gateway integrations
Inventory management
Abandoned cart recovery
Order management

Pixpa ecommerce features:

SEO and Marketing features
Secure Payments
Comprehensive product options

Pixpa Add a product

Ecommerce themes & templates

Shift4shop offers templates specifically designed for online stores, ensuring a professional and functional ecommerce experience. Pixpa provides a variety of ecommerce-specific templates that are mobile-responsive and customizable, though advanced features may be limited to higher-tier plans.

Product page customization

Shift4shop offers advanced product page customization features, including inventory tracking, customizable layouts, and the ability to showcase products through images, zoom, and video. The Product Designer app further enhances customization for personalized products.

Pixpa allows for detailed product page customization with options for multiple images, pricing variations, and detailed descriptions. Users can also customize layout and design elements to match their brand identity and integrate customer reviews, related products, and promotional banners.

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. The platform also supports POS capabilities through third-party integrations.

Pixpa does not charge commissions on sales, allowing creators to keep all revenue generated, minus any transaction fees from payment processors. It supports various payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, and PayUmoney, but does not offer POS capabilities.

In summary, Shift4shop is a more comprehensive solution for larger businesses with complex needs, while Pixpa is ideal for creatives and small businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with essential ecommerce features.

7.2

7.5

🏆

Winner: Pixpa

. Pixpa, with a score of 7.5, is an all-in-one platform designed for creative professionals to build their own websites without needing any coding knowledge. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create and customize a professional-looking website, portfolio, or e-commerce store. Pixpa provides a variety of templates and design options tailored to photographers, artists, designers, and small businesses. Additionally, it includes features such as client galleries, blogging, and SEO tools to help users showcase their work effectively and grow their online presence.

Shift4shop’s editor, scoring 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. While it provides significant resources for store management and marketing, some users experience a learning curve and report challenges with customer support and usability aspects.

Pixpa editor

Mobile editor/app

5.5

🏆

Winner: Pixpa

. When it comes to mobile editing capabilities, neither Shift4shop nor Pixpa offers a dedicated mobile editor app. However, Pixpa allows users to edit their websites through a mobile browser, providing some level of flexibility for on-the-go adjustments. This feature, although limited, gives Pixpa an edge over Shift4shop, which does not offer any mobile editing capabilities.

In summary, Pixpa receives a higher rating due to its ability to perform some website edits via a mobile browser, while Shift4shop lacks this functionality entirely.

5.0

8.5

Overall Result

:

Pixpa wins

. Pixpa scores 8.5, significantly higher than Shift4shop’s 5.0, offering more comprehensive product testing options. Pixpa provides a 15-day free trial with access to all premium features and a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to thoroughly evaluate the platform. Shift4shop, while offering a free plan for US customers, lacks a trial version and a money-back guarantee, limiting the testing flexibility.


Free Plan	Yes, only for US customers	No
Trial Duration	No	15 days
Testing Premium Features	All the features within its free plan	All premium features during 15-day free trial and within 30-day refundable period
Money Back Guarantee	No	30-day money-back guarantee

6.7

9.1

Pixpa offers more affordable and flexible pricing plans compared to Shift4shop, which has a free plan but requires using their payment processor.

	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-$10	No offering at this amount	Basic ($8/month): Ideal for personal use with basic website features, gallery images, and blogging. Possible to have up to 10 website pages and up to 200 images. Value for Price: 6.0
$10-$20	No offering at this amount	Creator ($15/month): Targets creators with more storage and enhanced visibility options. Value for Price: 7.0
$15-$20	No offering at this amount	Professional ($20/month): For professionals needing ecommerce enhancements and larger storage. Value for Price: 8.0
$20+	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	Advanced ($25/month): Best for businesses requiring extensive resources and advanced ecommerce tools. Value for Price: 9.0

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

5.4

🏆

Winner: Shift4shop

Shift4shop offers managed cloud hosting with unlimited bandwidth and storage, daily backups, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee, making it a reliable choice for eCommerce businesses. Pixpa, while utilizing AWS for scalable cloud hosting, lacks uptime statistics and guarantees, which may be a concern for users needing consistent performance. Shift4shop’s comprehensive hosting features give it an edge in this comparison.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, with unlimited bandwidth and storage, daily backups.	Yes, scalable cloud hosting with varying storage levels and unlimited bandwidth.
Data Centers:	Shift4shop does not disclose the locations of its data centers	Pixpa doesn’t publicly disclose any information about its data centers.
Type of hosting:	Managed Cloud Hosting	Managed Cloud Hosting
Uptime:	99.9%	Pixpa does not provide uptime statistics
Uptime Guarantee:	99.9%	No

6.3

3.0

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

Both Shift4shop and Pixpa have their own strategies for optimizing website speed, but Shift4shop has a higher score in this category.


Focus	CDN, Code Minification, Image optimization, Caching	Code Minification, CDN, HTML caching, Server Side Rendering, SEO optimization
Performance Tools	Varies depending on optimization	No specific data available
Key Strategies	CDN, Code Minification, Image optimization, Caching	Code Minification, CDN, HTML caching, Server Side Rendering, SEO optimization
Load Times	Varies depending on optimization	No data available
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies depending on optimization	No data available
Core Web Vitals Improvement	No information provided	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements

Shift4shop employs a variety of strategies to enhance website speed, including the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN), code minification, image optimization, and caching. These techniques help in reducing load times and improving overall website performance. However, specific data on load times and PageSpeed scores for Shift4shop websites are not provided, making it difficult to gauge the exact performance metrics.

Pixpa, on the other hand, focuses on code minification, CDN, HTML caching, server-side rendering, and SEO optimization to improve website speed. Despite these efforts, there is no available data on the load times and PageSpeed scores for websites built with Pixpa. Pixpa does emphasize improvements in Core Web Vitals, particularly in Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

Overall, while both platforms have robust strategies for speed optimization, Shift4shop edges out Pixpa with a higher score in this category.

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7.3

6.7

🏆 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. Pixpa, with a score of 6.7, provides essential integrations but falls short in comparison to Shift4shop’s extensive offerings.

Shift4shop’s plugins enable functionalities like tailored checkout experiences, expanded payment options, and sophisticated inventory management, making it a robust choice for ecommerce businesses. Pixpa, while offering over 100 plugins for enhancing website functionality, primarily focuses on creative and small business needs, with advanced features available in higher-tier plans.

Shift4shop Applications

Shift4shop integrations

Pixpa Applications

Pixpa Apps and integrations

8.0

7.4

🏆

Overall Winner: Shift4shop

. Shift4shop excels with its comprehensive set of marketing tools, particularly in email marketing and social media integration. Pixpa, while strong in SEO and social media features, falls slightly behind in overall marketing capabilities.


SEO Tools	✓	✓
Email Marketing	✓	✓
Blogging	✓	✓
Social Media Integration	Advanced integration for ecommerce	Integrated social media buttons and features
Analytics and Reporting	Robust analytics and CRM functionalities	Google Analytics integration for comprehensive insights
Ads and Promotions	Discounts, coupons, and affiliate programs	SEO, social media integration, and promotional discounts

7.9

7.0

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

. Comparing Shift4shop vs Pixpa, Shift4shop takes the lead in this category 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 whenever they need it. The dedicated eCommerce support team based in the U.S. is particularly praised for its responsiveness and expertise.

Pixpa also provides 24/7 customer support via email and live chat, which is beneficial for users needing assistance at any time. However, it lacks the extensive support options and dedicated teams that Shift4shop offers, making it slightly less robust in comparison.

8.9

8.3

🏆

Winner: Shift4shop

. Shift4shop excels in providing a secure environment for eCommerce businesses, with a strong focus on PCI compliance, daily backups, and advanced fraud protection. The platform’s use of Cloudflare for DDoS protection and support for ADA compliance further enhance its security credentials, making it a reliable choice for online business operations.

Pixpa also offers a solid security framework, particularly suited for creative professionals and small businesses. With SSL encryption, regular security audits, and robust firewalls, Pixpa ensures that user data is protected and websites remain secure. However, it falls slightly behind Shift4shop in terms of comprehensive security measures and overall protection.

Security Scores:

Shift4shop: 8.9
Pixpa: 8.3

0.0


AI Builder	No	No
AI Ecommerce Features	No	No
AI Content Generation	No	No
Additional AI Features	No	No

🏆 Winner: None

. Both Shift4shop and Pixpa do not offer any AI capabilities. This includes the absence of AI builders, AI-driven ecommerce features, AI content generation, and any additional AI functionalities. Users looking for AI-enhanced website building tools will need to consider other platforms.

7.9

7.3

🏆 Winner: Shift4shop

. Managing your online team with Shift4shop and Pixpa involves different approaches to website editing access.

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.
Pixpa offers a Users and Permissions feature allowing multiple users on Professional plans (up to 5 users) and Advanced plans (unlimited). The site owner can grant edit access to sections like General, Store, Client Galleries, Marketing, Settings, and Administration, customizing permissions based on user roles. The site owner can manage user permissions, suspend or reactivate users, and permanently remove them, but irreversible actions should be approached with caution.

Both platforms support simultaneous editing, but Shift4shop’s flexibility in adding users as needed gives it an edge for growing businesses.

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	✓	✓

User Feedback

Shift4shop

34 reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

Pixpa

60 reviews

4.7 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. Additionally, some users find the setup process and system architecture to be overly complex and dated. 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.

Pixpa stands out for its exceptional customer service, easy-to-use interface, and affordable pricing. Users appreciate the variety of templates and customization options available, allowing them to create professional-looking websites tailored to their needs. The responsive and helpful customer support, coupled with the platform’s features like online forms and integrations, make Pixpa a valuable tool for individuals and businesses seeking to establish a strong online presence. Despite some minor issues like limited options for third-party integrations and mobile layout adjustments, Pixpa remains highly recommended for its versatility, professionalism, and overall value.

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 easier to use, Shift4shop or Pixpa?

Pixpa is generally easier to use, especially for beginners and creatives, due to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and simpler design tools. Shift4shop, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve due to its more complex ecommerce functionalities.

Can I use both Shift4shop and Pixpa for large-scale ecommerce?

Shift4shop is better suited for large-scale ecommerce because it offers more robust tools for product management, payment processing, and advanced ecommerce functionalities. Pixpa is more tailored for small businesses and creatives who need basic ecommerce features.

How do Shift4shop and Pixpa compare in terms of customization?

Pixpa offers more flexibility in customization with a wide range of templates and design options that cater to creatives. Shift4shop also offers a variety of templates but focuses more on ecommerce optimizations rather than broad design customization.

What are the pricing options like for Shift4shop and Pixpa?

Shift4shop offers a free plan but requires using their payment processor, while Pixpa offers more flexible pricing plans starting from a lower price point, making it more accessible for users with smaller budgets or less extensive needs.