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Framer vs Shopify: Which One is Better in 2025?

Choosing between Framer and Shopify? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your design and frontend needs.

When it comes to building and managing an online store, choosing the right platform is crucial. In this article, we will compare Framer and Shopify, examining their features, pricing, and limitations.

Whether you're a seasoned e-commerce professional or just starting out, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each platform can help you make an informed decision. Let's dive into the details and see how Framer and Shopify stack up against each other.

Overview of Framer and Shopify

What is Framer?

Framer

Framer is a web builder tool that allows users to design and publish modern, responsive websites. It offers an intuitive interface for creating beautiful sites and includes features for design, collaboration, layout, breakpoints, effects, navigation, plugins, SEO, performance, built-in CMS, AI tools, and localization.

Key features of Framer include a design experience similar to Figma, real-time collaboration, and responsive design capabilities. Additionally, it provides tools for adding effects without code, visual navigation tools, and a built-in CMS for dynamic content management.

What is Shopify?

Shopify

Shopify is a comprehensive commerce platform that allows businesses to create, manage, and grow their online and offline stores. It supports selling products online, in person, locally, and globally, and offers tools for marketing, customer engagement, and business management.

Main features of Shopify include an online store builder with pre-built themes or custom designs, a point of sale system for in-person sales, and multichannel integration for selling across social media and marketplaces. Additionally, it offers a fast, customizable checkout system, integrated marketing tools, and access to over 13,000 apps for additional features.

Features of Framer & Shopify

Similarities

Both Framer and Shopify offer a range of features that cater to building and managing websites effectively.

  • Website Building: Both platforms provide tools for creating and customizing websites, with Framer focusing on design and Shopify on e-commerce.
  • Responsive Design: Each platform supports responsive design, ensuring websites look good on all devices.
  • SEO Optimization: Both Framer and Shopify include features to optimize websites for search engines.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: Framer and Shopify offer real-time collaboration tools to facilitate teamwork.
  • Plugins and Apps: Both platforms support plugins and apps to extend functionality and enhance user experience.

Differences

Here are the key differences in features between Framer and Shopify:

  • Design Flexibility: Framer offers a free-form canvas for intricate design work, while Shopify focuses on pre-built themes and templates for quick setup.
  • Prototyping Tools: Framer includes advanced prototyping capabilities for interactive designs, which Shopify does not provide.
  • Point of Sale (POS): Shopify supports in-person sales with its POS system, a feature not available in Framer.
  • App Ecosystem: Shopify has an extensive app store with over 13,000 apps for additional functionalities, whereas Framer's marketplace is more limited.
  • Payment Processing: Shopify offers integrated payment solutions like Shopify Payments, which Framer does not include.

Pricing of Framer & Shopify

Framer Pricing

Framer offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different business needs. Here is a summary of their available plans:

  • Startup Plan: $75/month (billed yearly)
    • 15,000 pages
    • 200 GB bandwidth
    • 20 CMS collections
  • Scaleup Plan: $200/month (billed yearly)
    • 30,000 pages
    • 500 GB bandwidth
    • 30 CMS collections
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing and billing terms
    • Custom limits
    • Custom security
    • Slack support

Shopify Pricing

Shopify offers a variety of pricing plans to cater to different business needs. Here is a summary of their available plans:

  • Starter Plan: $5/month
  • Basic Plan: $39/month (monthly), $29/month (yearly)
    • Includes 2 staff accounts
    • Standard checkout capacity
    • Up to 10 inventory locations
    • 2.9% + 30¢ online standard card rate
  • Shopify Plan: $105/month (monthly), $79/month (yearly)
    • Includes 5 staff accounts
    • Standard checkout capacity
    • Up to 10 inventory locations
    • 2.7% + 30¢ online standard card rate
  • Advanced Plan: $399/month (monthly), $299/month (yearly)
    • Includes 15 staff accounts
    • 10x checkout capacity
    • Up to 10 inventory locations
    • 2.5% + 30¢ online standard card rate
  • Plus Plan: Starting at $2,300/month on a 3-year term
    • Unlimited staff accounts
    • 40x checkout capacity
    • Up to 200 inventory locations
    • Most competitive card rates
  • Retail Plan: $89/month
  • Enterprise Commerce: Custom pricing, contact support for details

Reviews of Framer & Shopify

Framer Reviews

Overall, users have given Framer a mixed reception, with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5. Customers found the learning curve and limited integrations frustrating, while the design tools were helpful.

"The interface is not very intuitive, and it takes a while to get used to the features." - John D., 3/5

"Limited third-party integrations make it hard to connect with other tools we use." - Sarah K., 2.5/5

Shopify Reviews

Shopify has received an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5. Users found the platform's pricing and limited customization options frustrating, while the ease of use was helpful.

"The pricing is quite high for small businesses, and the customization options are limited." - Alex P., 3/5

"Customer support is not very responsive, and the app integrations can be buggy." - Jamie L., 2.5/5

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Framer and Shopify

Subframe

Subframe is a code-first design tool that empowers designers and developers to build high-quality user interfaces swiftly. With features like a drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code, Subframe ensures a seamless and efficient UI creation process.

Pros of Subframe

Subframe is a code-first design tool that empowers designers and developers to build high-quality user interfaces swiftly.

  • Design with real components: Subframe's visual UI editor allows you to drag-and-drop on an intuitive, responsive canvas, ensuring pixel-perfect UI every time.
  • Stunning UI templates: With hundreds of templates inspired by world-class products and built with reusable components, you'll never start from scratch again.
  • High-quality code generation: Copy and paste front-end code directly from Subframe and add business logic in your codebase, saving you time on CSS adjustments.
  • Free to start: Begin building UI visually without needing a credit card, making it accessible for everyone to try.
  • Real-time collaboration: Work seamlessly with your team in real-time, enhancing productivity and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Subframe's Pricing

At Subframe, we offer a range of pricing plans to suit different needs:

  • Free Plan: $0 per user/month
    • 1 project
    • Up to 3 page designs
    • Up to 3 team members
    • 200+ UI templates & snippets
  • Pro Plan: $29 per user/month
    • Up to 3 projects
    • Unlimited page designs
    • Unlimited team members
    • Custom components
    • 200+ UI templates & snippets
  • Custom Plan: Let's talk
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited page designs
    • Custom fonts
    • Integrate your own components
    • Dedicated Slack support
    • Figma plugin

For more details, visit our Subframe Pricing page. Ready to see Subframe in action? Book a demo with us today!

What Are Others Saying?

Users have given Subframe an overall rating of 5 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, time-saving features, and high-quality code generation.

  • "Subframe saved us a lot of time by letting me ship frontend code and control the product experience." - Alex Lee
  • "Subframe is like chipotle. Even if you have no taste (me) you can put things together and it still comes out pretty good." - Andrew Wang
  • "I'm truly blown away by how quickly I can build out a dashboard UI with their product." - Ross Campbell

Why Choose Framer, Shopify or Subframe?

If you are a designer or a creative professional who values intricate design work and advanced prototyping capabilities, you might prefer using Framer over Shopify. Framer's intuitive interface and no-code effects make it ideal for those who want to create visually stunning and responsive websites without extensive coding knowledge.

On the other hand, if you are an entrepreneur or a business owner looking to manage an online store with ease, Shopify might be the better choice for you. Shopify's comprehensive commerce platform supports online and in-person sales, making it perfect for businesses that need a scalable solution with extensive app integrations and robust payment processing.

As part of Subframe, we believe that if you are a developer or a designer who needs to build high-quality user interfaces quickly, Subframe is the best option for you. Our drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code generation make it an excellent choice for those who want to streamline their UI creation process and save time on frontend development.

Framer, Shopify, or Subframe: Which is The Best Tool For You?

Choosing between Framer, Shopify, and Subframe ultimately depends on your specific needs and goals. Each platform offers unique strengths, whether it's Framer's advanced design capabilities, Shopify's robust e-commerce solutions, or Subframe's efficient UI building tools.

However, if you're looking for a tool that combines ease of use, high-quality code generation, and real-time collaboration, we recommend giving Subframe a try. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor and pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code, Subframe is designed to help you build stunning user interfaces quickly and efficiently.

Join thousands of happy builders.

Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.