ThriveCart is my favorite shopping cart platform for many reasons, but there are a few alternatives that you can’t ignore before making a final decision.
After testing multiple tools for clients and my own business, I think this post will be super beneficial to you since I’ll be sharing my first-hand experiences!
In this article, I’ll be sharing what to look for in a shopping cart tool, which platforms are worth considering for your business, and if they’re truly better than ThriveCart…
Let’s dive right into it!
Here's What We'll Cover...
Features to look for in a shopping cart platform
Integrations supported
When it comes to finding a shopping cart platform that fits your needs, it needs to integrate with your current marketing stack.
It would be very inconvenient to have to switch what you already use and like just because a tool doesn’t have the integrations necessary!
If Zapier is on the integration list (as it is for ThriveCart), then you’ll be good to go no matter which software your already using since that’s what it’s designed for.
Customization options
Having a platform where you can fully customize the order form and sales page is crucial.
Sales are made or lost on the order page, so you’ll want to have complete control over what your visitors see and don’t see!
This is the main reason people decide to use a shopping cart for their online business, so don’t let this be the downfall.
Affordability
Another huge factor is how affordable the software is. If you have to pay monthly, it can start to add up quickly.
That’s why I always try and find a tool with a lifetime offer or an annual discount, so I don’t have to pay a bunch out of pocket each month!
Nobody wants to overpay for anything, so it won’t be much different for a shopping cart platform.
Advanced reporting and analytics
Last on the list for shopping cart features you need is advanced reporting.
When businesses are running paid advertisements or paying for organic promotions, it’s important to track your ROI so you can make sure you are profitable!
Having the proper analytics to analyze your campaigns is a must-have, so be sure to consider this prior to making your final decision.
Which ThriveCart Alternatives You Should Consider
SamCart
First on the list is SamCart. Founded by Brian Moran and Scott Moran, their goal was to build a checkout platform that helps to increase conversions and maximize profits!
They use order bumps and 1-click up-sells to help increase the average order value, which is an awesome feature that most shopping cart platforms include.
SamCart also features innovative A/B testing, so you can become more profitable by testing different elements!
Similar to ThriveCart, they have integrations with any software you’d need to integrate them with. Whether it’s an autoresponder, funnel builder, or something out of the box – they have you covered.
I found SamCart to be quick to get setup, since they offer you high-converting checkout pages to customize and use to better fit your needs!
In addition to all of this, they have great customer support, affiliate management tools, and analytics to make sure you can properly track campaigns.
See our comparison between ThriveCart and SamCart here!
All in all, it’s a great tool to use!
The only downsides are you have to pay each month for their platform, and they lack certain payment gateways such as Skrill, Authorize.net and Apple Pay.
SamCart has three pricing options at the moment – $49/m, $99/m, or $199/m. You can see the differences by clicking the button below!
PayKickStart
Next up is a popular software called PayKickStart.
Founded in 2016 by Mark Thompson and Matt Callen, they’ve built an awesome tool that has processed over $500,000,000 in sales!
Just like ThriveCart, they help online businesses automate the back-end of their sales funnel so you can increase sales and revenue.
They do this by offering order bumps and 1 click up-sells, while integrating with your favorite autoresponder to nurture and convert more leads!
Similar to SamCart and ThriveCart, they integrate with most other softwares you’d ever use.
See our comparison between ThriveCart and PayKickStart here!
What I don’t like about PayKickStart? They don’t offer A/B Split Testing and it’s much harder to get setup.
I wouldn’t really recommend choosing PayKickStart if you’re a beginner, although it’s a solid option for more advanced users.
And if you’re considering choosing PayKickStart, they offer three pricing options currently – $29/m, $99/m, or $149/m.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is the last solution I’ll be covering today.
This is a super popular option for those who use WordPress, and for good reason!
WooCommerce is an e-commerce platform that is a plugin for WordPress, so you can create your store and sell anything you want.
Although ThriveCart is a shopping cart solution, WooCommerce is a complete e-commerce platform!
They allow you to customize each and every element of your store, including functionality and anything else you’d like to do.
WooCommerce requires you to purchase a domain name and web hosting, since you’ll be hosting the store on a WordPress site.
If you are looking to build your brand through Search Engine Optimization, this solution could be the perfect fit for you!
See our comparison between ThriveCart and WooCommerce here!
Like I said, this isn’t a shopping cart platform but it’s more of an all-in-one e-commerce solution.
So if that’s something you’re interested in, I’d recommend taking a look at WooCommerce. The clients I’ve used it for have been happy with their results!
Conclusion: Are these alternatives better than ThriveCart?
In my opinion, ThriveCart is a better option than the other platforms for various reasons.
Since coming around in 2016, they’ve grown into one of the most trusted shopping cart platforms around, for good reason!
It’s super simple to get started with ThriveCart – everything from their integrations to interface, it’s straight-forward and powerful.
If that wasn’t enough.. the special lifetime pricing will save you a ton of money in the long run. Instead of having to pay monthly, your setup for life with the insane lifetime deal they are currently offering!
And if you are set on not choosing ThriveCart, I’d consider going with a free trial from SamCart.
