Best Shopify Alternative in the Philippines 2026 — FlexiCommerce vs Shopify Full Comparison

If you are looking to start an online store in the Philippines, Shopify is probably one of the first names that comes to mind. It is the world's most popular ecommerce platform, used by millions of merchants globally. But is Shopify really the best choice for Filipino businesses? When you factor in the USD-based pricing, recurring monthly fees, 2% transaction commission, and the cost of essential apps and themes, Shopify quickly becomes a very expensive proposition — especially when the Philippine Peso sits at roughly ₱56-58 per dollar.

In this article, we will do a detailed FlexiCommerce vs Shopify comparison — covering pricing, features, mobile apps, payment gateways, shipping integrations, and Philippines-specific capabilities. We will also look at how FlexiCommerce compares to other popular alternatives like Packworks and WooCommerce.

Why Look for a Shopify Alternative in the Philippines?

Shopify is a global platform — it was not built specifically for the Philippine market. Here are the key problems Filipino businesses face when using Shopify:

• USD-based pricing — Shopify charges in US dollars. The Basic plan costs $39/month (~₱2,200/month), and with the exchange rate, costs fluctuate unpredictably. Over a year, that is over ₱26,400 just for the platform fee — and that is before you add apps, themes, or transaction fees.
• 2% transaction commission — On top of your payment gateway fees (Xendit charges ~2.5-3.5%), Shopify takes an additional 2% commission on every sale unless you use Shopify Payments. While Shopify Payments is available in the Philippines, it has limited support compared to Xendit's full suite of local payment methods.
• No mobile app included — A dedicated customer mobile app is essential in the Philippines where 76% of ecommerce happens on mobile. Shopify does not include one — third-party mobile app builders cost $500+/month (₱28,000+/month).
• Limited Philippine-specific features — No native GCash or Maya integration out of the box, no built-in Xendit integration, no dedicated delivery partner app, and no native VAT 12% compliance for Philippine invoicing.
• Expensive themes and apps — Premium Shopify themes cost $250-$380 (₱14,000-₱21,500). Essential apps like multi-vendor marketplace, loyalty programs, and advanced SEO can add $100-$300/month (₱5,600-₱17,000/month) to your bill.
• No VAT 12% compliance — Shopify does not natively handle the Philippines' 12% Value Added Tax system with proper BIR-compliant invoicing. You need third-party tax apps and manual configuration for proper OR/SI issuance.

FlexiCommerce — The Best Shopify Alternative for the Philippines

FlexiCommerce is a complete SaaS ecommerce platform purpose-built for the Philippine market. It offers affordable monthly subscription plans, 500+ features, 3 mobile apps, and deep integrations with Philippine payment gateways and shipping providers — all at a fraction of what Shopify would cost.

Here is what makes FlexiCommerce stand out:

• Affordable subscription — Platform starting at just ₱1,499/month for the Starter plan (save 20% with annual billing at ₱1,199/mo). Hosting billed separately from ₱799/mo — includes SSL, CDN, backups, and updates.
• 0% commission — FlexiCommerce never takes a cut of your sales. You only pay payment gateway fees to Xendit (typically 2.5-3.5% per transaction).
• 3 mobile apps included — Customer App (iOS + Android), Seller/Vendor App, and Delivery Partner App — all included in your plan at no extra cost.
• Xendit built-in — Native integration with Xendit supporting GCash, Maya (formerly PayMaya), credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), bank transfer, direct debit (BPI, UnionBank), and more.
• Dedicated Delivery Partner App — Full-featured delivery partner app with real-time GPS tracking, route optimization, earning dashboard, and automated assignment — no third-party courier dependencies.
• VAT 12% compliant — Full tax invoicing with proper VAT calculation built into every order, compatible with BIR requirements for OR/SI.

FlexiCommerce vs Shopify — Feature Comparison

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two platforms across every major feature category:

3-Year Cost: FlexiCommerce vs Shopify

The real comparison comes when you look at the total cost of ownership over 3 years. Here is how the numbers stack up for a Philippine-based ecommerce business:

FlexiCommerce saves you over ₱1,930,000 in 3 years compared to Shopify. That is a staggering cost difference. The money you save can be reinvested into Facebook Ads, inventory, hiring staff, or expanding your product line. Even if you exclude the mobile app builder cost from Shopify's side, FlexiCommerce still saves you massively in 3 years.

Xendit vs Shopify Payments — Payment Gateway Comparison

Payment processing is critical for any Philippine ecommerce business. Filipino consumers have strong preferences for specific payment methods — particularly GCash and Maya, which together account for the majority of digital payments in the country. Let us compare the two payment solutions:

Xendit is the clear winner for Philippine businesses because it offers comprehensive support for the Filipino market. GCash alone has over 80 million registered users in the Philippines — if your payment gateway does not fully support GCash and Maya, you are losing customers. FlexiCommerce comes with Xendit pre-integrated, so all these payment methods work out of the box.

Mobile App: FlexiCommerce vs Shopify

The Philippines is a mobile-first country. With 76% of internet users accessing the web primarily through smartphones and Filipinos spending an average of 4+ hours daily on mobile, having a dedicated mobile app is not optional — it is essential for ecommerce success.

Here is how mobile app offerings compare:

Mobile apps deliver 3x higher conversion rates compared to mobile websites. Push notifications alone can drive 20-30% of your revenue. With FlexiCommerce, all three apps are published to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store under your own brand name and logo — your customers download your app, not a generic third-party app.

How Does FlexiCommerce Compare to Packworks and WooCommerce?

Shopify is not the only alternative in the Philippine market. Let us also compare FlexiCommerce with two other popular platforms — Packworks (a Philippine-built ecommerce solution) and WooCommerce (the WordPress plugin):

Packworks is a Philippine-built ecommerce solution that is popular among local D2C brands. It offers a solid storefront with local payment integrations, but it does not include mobile apps, multi-vendor marketplace capabilities, or the breadth of features that FlexiCommerce offers.

WooCommerce is the free WordPress ecommerce plugin used by millions worldwide. While it is technically free, the real costs are hidden — you need to pay for hosting (₱500-₱5,000/month for decent performance), premium themes (₱5,000-₱15,000), essential plugins ($50-$300/year each for subscriptions, SEO, security, backups), and a developer to set it all up and maintain it. WooCommerce also has well-known security vulnerabilities and can become slow as your product catalog grows. There are no mobile apps included — you would need to build custom apps or use expensive third-party solutions.

FlexiCommerce gives you everything in one package — your own website, 3 mobile apps, admin panel, Xendit payments, dedicated delivery partner app, and 500+ features. No plugin management, no security worries, no hidden costs. Platform subscription + hosting — simple and affordable.

Who Should Choose FlexiCommerce?

• Small and medium Filipino businesses looking for an affordable, all-in-one ecommerce solution that does not charge in US dollars.
• D2C brands that want their own website and mobile app instead of relying solely on Shopee or Lazada Philippines.
• Entrepreneurs and sari-sari store owners who want to go digital with an affordable, predictable monthly subscription instead of expensive USD-based platforms.
• Multi-vendor marketplace builders who need a platform with built-in vendor management, commission system, and seller apps.
• Businesses needing Philippine payment and delivery — Xendit (GCash, Maya, Cards) and a dedicated delivery partner app are built-in.
• WooCommerce users frustrated with plugin management, security vulnerabilities, and slow loading speeds who want a managed solution.
• Shopee and Lazada sellers who want to build their own brand presence with a standalone store and mobile app while maintaining marketplace listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

If you are running or starting an ecommerce business in the Philippines and you are looking for the best Shopify alternative, FlexiCommerce is the clear winner. Plans from just ₱1,499/mo, zero commission on sales, 3 mobile apps included, Xendit payment gateway built-in with GCash and Maya, dedicated delivery partner app, VAT 12% compliant invoicing, and 500+ features — all in one platform.

Stop paying Shopify's expensive monthly fees in USD. Stop losing 2% of every sale to platform commissions. Stop paying ₱28,000/month for a mobile app builder. Switch to FlexiCommerce and invest that money back into growing your Philippine ecommerce business — run more Facebook Ads, stock more inventory, hire more staff, or open more product lines.