Shopify vs. iPage (2023)

Written by: PJ Fancher

Edited by: Lillian Castro

Updated: May 15, 2023

PJ Fancher Hosting Expert

“We tested iPage & Shopify — The winner is iPage!”

In this tale of two web hosts, we’re diving into the details of two HostingAdvice favorites: Shopify and iPage. Shopify started in 2006 when co-founders Tobias Lütke and Scott Lake created a solution to sell their snowboards online. Since its humble beginnings, this host has grown into one of the most popular eCommerce platforms on the market. The folks at iPage started in 1998 and focused on powering small businesses with reliability and support. While we didn’t write a novel on each host like Charles Dickens wrote on the two cities, we did take some time to break down the pros and cons of each provider. Check out our comparison below.

Overall Rating

4.9/5.0 ★★★★★

36-Month Plan: $1.99/month »
24-Month Plan: $2.49/month »
12-Month Plan: $2.99/month »

Overall Rating

4.6/5.0 ★★★★★

Starter Plan: $5.00/month »
Basic Plan: $29.00/month »
Shopify Plan: $79.00/month »

Visit Shopify »

Advertiser Disclosure

Overall Hosting Comparison

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

With an excellent price-versus-performance tradeoff, iPage has plans starting at around $2 a month. The hosting company's shared offerings are hard to compete with, especially for folks that are new to web hosting and just need a simple site.

Aimed primarily at first-time site owners, iPage puts together an impressively deep feature set. Offering strong, custom site builder options, iPage brings what-you-see-is-what-you-get simplicity to the site-building experience.

If ecommerce platforms are your thing, an online store builder is also included. Don’t have a domain yet? Register one for free with iPage. Once you have a new site, what do you do with it? To kick-start promotion for your site, iPage gives you $200 of marketing credits to get you started on Google and Bing, giving your online presence the exposure that any site needs.

Additionally, iPage offers a full security suite to keep your site running without worry. Daily malware scans, spam scans, and constant network monitoring are just some of the features. Full technical support is also part of the package by way of email or 24/7 phone support with a promise to answer calls in two minutes or less.

From site-building tools and a free domain to a jump-start on your marketing efforts, iPage has put together a very impressive package for their price and they should absolutely be considered for first-time users.

Great hosting packages for first-timers
Drag-and-drop site builder included
FREE domain name registration and email accounts
24/7 support via phone, chat, and email tickets
38% OFF for HostingAdvice readers
Get started on iPage now.

Money Back Guarantee

30 days

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE (1 year)

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.6/5.0

Shopify is easily one of the more well-known ecommerce web builder platforms in the hosting industry. Plans are fully hosted, include a free site builder tool, and allow you to showcase an unlimited number of products with unlimited file storage as well.

Compared to other web hosts, Shopify is not going to offer you the same level of robustness in terms of technological offerings, but the company's ecommerce features are on point.

Online store building is Shopify's bread-and-butter service, and the company is darn good at it. First of all, the Shopify theme store features hundreds of free and premium theme options that are relatively easy for customers to manipulate. Dev-savvy folks can further customize their storefronts and themes via the Shopify API.

You can actually start building your online marketplace today — for free for three days — and select your plan later. The Shopify experts are on call and ready to help 24/7.

Once you've built your online store with Shopify, build your business by processing product transactions through a myriad of payment methods. Shopify users can sell via social media, by integrating a Buy Now button, or by using the Shopify POS system.

Serious ecommerce folks may even opt to purchase the retail package add-on, which includes a cash register, receipt printer, and barcode scanner.

All in all, Shopify offers everything you need to run an efficient and lucrative online business. The commerce-oriented features are many, and they only advance with each upgrade in service package. Also, you can buy or transfer your domain name, or park your online store at a free MyShopify.com subdomain.

If you're ecommerce-focused, trust Shopify for your online store building.

Sell via social media or hosted commerce platform
FREE website builder and hundreds of themes
Unlimited products and unlimited bandwidth
PayPal or Shopify point-of-sale systems
Advanced reporting and real-time shipping updates
Try Shopify FREE for three days.

Money Back Guarantee

3-Day FREE Trial

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE Subdomain

Cheap Hosting Comparison

Cheap Rating

★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

Whether you're a first-time website owner or a web veteran, iPage’s excellent hosting services and a fantastic list of extras make the brand one of the best values in web hosting.

Unlimited disk space, scalable bandwidth, and emails are just a part of what makes iPage’s shared hosting plan a great deal. The company offers very good suites of extras focusing on web hosting necessities like security, marketing, and support.

If you don’t yet have a site, iPage includes a free domain and website builder to get you rolling quickly. We especially love the web hosting company's inclusion of ecommerce templates and online shopping carts for the same low price.

Support is one factor that’s very important to us, as it should be to you. For iPage customer support, the hosting company has phone, email, and chat available 24/7.

For the DIY crowd, the company also has an extensive list of tutorials and helpful documents.

One of the very best budget web hosts out there, iPage offers great hosting features and server performance for a low price. If you are searching for a cheap, reliable web host, iPage should definitely be near the top of your list.

Easy setup and superb reliability since 1998
FREE domain and Google marketing included
Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and emails
FREE site builder and shopping cart
Get more than 38% off today (was $7.99/month)
Get started on iPage now.

Money Back Guarantee

30 days

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE (1 year)

Cheap Rating

★★★★★ 4.6/5.0

The great thing about Shopify is how the feature set centers around ecommerce, a focus of many shared hosting shoppers.

Shopify plans are fully hosted, but most of the company's plans are significantly more costly than a majority of the shared hosts we've come across.

The three-day free trial is key to Shopify's success, giving customers a chance to try out the platform before committing to such an expense.

If you're serious about building an online store, Shopify offers a superb range of plan options and feature additions to make successful stores happen within a reasonable budget. Plus, you can host your business at a complimentary MyShopify.com subdomain, or at a new or existing domain of your own.

All plans allow you to showcase an unlimited number of products, and you can sell them via Facebook, a Buy Now button, or the Shopify POS system.

Accept payments via Shopify Stripe and ask for help when you need it because the Shopify experts are available around the clock to help with anything from Shopify theme development to transaction issues.

As you're building your online marketplace, you have hundreds of customizable themes to choose from, and the more technically inclined user can manipulate themes via the Shopify API.

Shopify is great for online store building. It's a one-stop shop for building and hosting an online marketplace and should be considered as such. If you're looking for a super cheap shared hosting option, there are other providers to consider, but if you want a leading ecommerce platform, Shopify may be your winner.

Site builder with FREE and premium themes
Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and products
Easy-to-use dashboard for managing orders, shipping, and payments
Tons of features, including discount codes
FREE MyShopify.com subdomain or use your own
Try Shopify FREE for three days.

Money Back Guarantee

3-Day FREE Trial

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE Subdomain

Dedicated Hosting Comparison

Dedicated Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Dedicated Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Neither host currently offers this type of hosting. While we do not recommend choosing these hosts for this web hosting category, we do recommend our expert's top pick for 2023's Best Dedicated Hosting. See 2023's Best Dedicated Hosting »

VPS Hosting Comparison

VPS Rating

★★★★★ N/A

VPS Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Neither host currently offers this type of hosting. While we do not recommend choosing these hosts for this web hosting category, we do recommend our expert's top pick for 2023's Best VPS Hosting. See 2023's Best VPS Hosting »

WordPress Hosting Comparison

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

For those looking for an affordable and simple-to-navigate host for their WordPress site, definitely consider iPage. The iPage offer gives you a nice list of extras and provides a great alternative to shared hosting.

While not as robust and fast as more expensive options, iPage offers a great value in WordPress hosting. The company's platform has been designed to make page load speeds 2.5 times faster, with unlimited disk space, email accounts, and bandwidth.

Other niceties include a free domain name and SSL certificate. For those without a site design, iPage includes a number of curated WordPress themes for you to choose from. Each theme is tested for performance and usability.

In addition, the company includes many pre-installed plugins such as W3 Total Cache and Jetpack. Finally, SiteLock keeps your site secure and free of malware. 24/7 phone support is included on all packages in case you ever run into any issues.

One of our favorite low-budget web hosts out there, iPage offers great hosting features and server performance for a low price. If you are searching for a cheap, reliable web host, iPage should definitely fall towards the top of your list.

Unlimited storage and email accounts
FREE WordPress themes and plugins included
Expert WP support and automatic malware removal
Enhanced security via SiteLock and custom firewall
W3 Total Cache plugin pre-installed
Get started on iPage now.

Money Back Guarantee

30 days

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE (1 year)

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ 3.8/5.0

Although Shopify isn't your traditional web host, WordPress fans can take advantage of Shopify's ecommerce capabilities without redoing their online store. For just $5 per month, you can integrate a Shopify link into your existing WordPress blog.

The Shopify experts will generate a few lines of code for you and — voila — a stand-alone storefront is made for your site. Plus, you can customize via the Shopify API. All you have to do is add your unlimited number of products and your Shopify/WordPress online store is officially in business.

You benefit from all the easy payment processing solutions, including the Shopify Stripe Payment system, which accepts debit and credit cards.

If you decide to upgrade your Shopify plan, the USPS shipping discounts and ecommerce features advance with you; you can even get a free SSL certificate.

Shopify is a fine option for implementing top-notch ecommerce functionality into your existing WordPress website. It's not necessarily the most cost-conscious option, but for those who are serious about online store building, Shopify is certainly worth considering.

Add a Buy Now button to your WP site for $5/month
Easily copy and paste Shopify-generated link to sell unlimited products
Starter Plan boasts no-code pathway to start selling
100+ payment gateways accepted with secure checkout
Process transactions easily with Shopify Stripe Payments
Try Shopify FREE for three days.

Money Back Guarantee

3-Day FREE Trial

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE Subdomain

Site Builder Hosting Comparison

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

Do you want your website built today? If you answered "yes," you should look no further than iPage. In fact, it's possible for you to be online before you even finish reading this article.

Thanks to iPage's user-friendly interface, instant provisioning, and free domain name, you can have a live, attractive website in mere minutes. For those that have been around the web for a while, you may remember when it took a day to get your server online; thankfully those days are gone.

Your site is live the second you complete your order with iPage. A domain name is also included, so the ordeal of purchasing a domain name, setting name servers, and waiting for them to propagate is also extinct.

Once that's completed, you are taken to the incredibly user-friendly interface, where you can begin your site creation process.

Powered by their own proprietary builder, iPage makes it easy to have a professional-looking site created in minutes. It all starts with your choice of template — with hundreds of options available.

From there, you can customize color schemes, fonts, and sizes, and add your own pictures and videos. Adding forms for comments, RSVPs, or business contacts is just as simple. Before you know it, you have an attractive, functional website.

From the ease of use to the speed at which you are able to get a site live, iPage leaves us with little doubt as to why we've ranked the company near the top of our list of web hosts with site builder functionality.

An already incredible value, the company's 30-day money-back guarantee means that you can feel at ease knowing that iPage stands behind its product, and the team is confident you will be happy with their service.

Choice of Weebly or WebsiteBuilder by iPage
Mobile-optimized and easy-to-use setup wizards
100s of professionally designed themes
FREE online store, shopping cart, and blogging
Get 38% off your first month
Get started on iPage now.

Money Back Guarantee

30 days

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE (1 year)

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★ 4.5/5.0

Shopify is a fully hosted web building platform that specifically serves the ecommerce niche. All plans include a free site builder tool and you can browse the Shopify theme store for a design that most closely matches your brand.

Themes are fully customizable, with drag-and-drop elements or the Shopify API. Best of all, you can start building your store at no cost with Shopify's 3-day free trial.

Host your online store at a new or existing domain name, or take advantage of the free MyShopify.com subdomain the company provides. The Shopify experts have made it simple to display and sell an unlimited number of items online, and processing them is a snap.

The Shopify Stripe Payments system allows merchants to accept and process credit and debit transactions after customers make a purchase via Facebook, by clicking on a Buy Now button, or on other social media platforms.

Depending on which plan you sign up for, you can get advanced reporting, shipping, and shopping cart features as well. All plans include the option to entice customers with discount codes, too!

If you're shopping for a web builder to build an online store, look no further than Shopify. Build your business, build your brand, and boast an unlimited number of products with ease. Online store building is Shopify's specialty, and the team is available to help you any time of day.

Plans include a website builder with tons of Shopify themes
Get help with your name, logo, and online presence
Sell unlimited items via social media, a button, or POS
Developers can easily build on the platform via the API
Shopify experts available 24/7 to assist you
Try Shopify FREE for three days.

Money Back Guarantee

3-Day FREE Trial

Disk Space

Unlimited

Domain Name

FREE Subdomain

iPage vs. Shopify - Our Conclusion

PJ Fancher Hosting Expert

“We tested iPage & Shopify — The winner is iPage!”

As we close this chapter of our host comparison, we hope you learned something helpful. We love Shopify for its custom-tailored eCommerce solutions unmatched by your typical web host provider. But for a well-rounded hosting experience, iPage will exceed your expectations at a low monthly cost. As Charles Dickens said “In the best of times and in the worst of times, both Shopify and iPage will bring your website into a season of light”…or something like that.

Overall Rating

4.9/5.0 ★★★★★

Overall Rating

4.6/5.0 ★★★★★

Visit Shopify »

About The Author

PJ Fancher is a professional web developer with more than 20 years of experience. His background began with writing small web applications using Perl, PHP, and MySQL in 1998. He has well-rounded experience with all aspects of web development, from server and database configuration to scripting, styling, design, and SEO. Today he brings his passion for web development to the team at Digital Brands Inc., helping to develop unique, high-quality, highly-optimized websites. He is ready to share his extensive knowledge and experience with the world of web hosting.