I’ve been looking into website building toolkits and two have stood out: Framer and Shopify. They approach online presence for business in different ways, with their own pros and cons.
Shopify has been around for ages in ecommerce, while Framer has been growing with its AI powered tools and super user friendly interface.
I’ll be comparing these two to help business owners decide which one is best for them. Let’s get into the features and capabilities of Framer and Shopify and see how they compare.
My Verdict
Framer is a user friendly website builder with AI and collaboration features. It has a built in content management system.
But I choose Shopify overall, it’s more flexible and I can create more types of sites – from simple portfolios to full blown online stores. Shopify’s got more capabilities so it’s the better choice for most users.
Shopify vs Framer AI: Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons of Shopify
Pros
- Comprehensive platform for online selling.
- Scales from small shops to enterprise businesses.
- Extensive app marketplace for added functionality.
- Built-in payment and shipping solutions.
- Reliable hosting with strong performance.
Cons
- Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments.
- Pricing is steep for higher-tier plans.
- Customization is limited without coding.
Pros and Cons of Framer AI
Pros
- Highly flexible for creative, visually stunning websites.
- AI-powered tools simplify design workflows.
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.
- Affordable with a free plan and scalable pricing.
- Perfect for freelancers, designers, and small teams.
Cons
- Limited scalability for large eCommerce.
- Fewer integrations compared to competitors.
- Traffic and visitor caps on lower plans.
Pricing for Shopify and Framer
Shopify Pricing
Shopify has a 3 day free trial then $1 for the first 3 months. They also have a $5/month “Starter” plan for processing transactions via links and social media.

The main Shopify plans are:
Basic Shopify: $39/month
- Website builder
- SSL certificates
- 2 staff accounts
- Marketing tools
- Payment processing
- Ecommerce
- 1000 inventory locations
Shopify: $105/month
- All Basic features
- Professional reports
- Global multi-channel selling
- 5 staff accounts
- Shipping discounts
Advanced: $399/month
- All Shopify features
- 15 staff accounts
- Gift cards
- Enhanced shipping discounts
- Import tax management
- Advanced reporting
For larger businesses Shopify Plus starts at $2,300/month and includes uptime guarantees, customization and API access.
I should mention that all Shopify plans have transaction fees which vary depending on the plan you choose.
Framer Pricing
Framer offers plans that for both personal projects and businesses.
Here’s the breakdown:
Framer AI Personal Plans

Free Plan
- Full access to advanced features (AI website creation, 10 CMS collections).
- Limitations: 1,000 visitors/month, no custom domain, and “Made in Framer” watermark.
- Ideal for learning or hobby projects.
Mini Plan: $5/site/month
- Removes the watermark and allows custom domains.
- Limited to 2 pages and no CMS collections.
- Best for one-page sites like portfolios or landing pages.
Basic Plan: $15/site/month
- 1,000 pages, 2 CMS collections, 10,000 visitors/month.
- Includes password protection and 500 form submissions.
- Perfect for small businesses or blogs with moderate traffic.
Pro Plan: $30/site/month
- 10,000 pages, 10 CMS collections, 200,000 visitors/month.
- Advanced features like staging environments and 2,500 form submissions.
- Great for larger sites with high traffic or complex needs.
Framer AI Business Plans

Framer offers business plans for companies needing advanced scalability and team collaboration.
Startup Plan: $75/site/month
- Pages: Up to 15,000.
- CMS Collections: 20 collections.
- Visitors: 50,000/month.
- Form Submissions: 5,000/month.
- Editors: Up to 6 ($40/editor).
- Version History: 90 days.
- Hosting: 50GB storage, 200GB bandwidth.
Ideal for small businesses and teams managing multiple projects.
Scaleup Plan: $150/site/month
- Pages: Up to 30,000.
- CMS Collections: 30 collections.
- Visitors: 100,000/month.
- Form Submissions: 10,000/month.
- Redirects: 500.
- Custom Proxy: Available for $350/month.
- Hosting: 100GB storage, 500GB bandwidth.
Best for high-traffic websites and complex projects.
Enterprise Plan: Custom Pricing
- Fully customizable based on specific business needs.
- Advanced limits, tools, and dedicated support.
Perfect for corporations requiring tailored solutions. at $18/month for the Basic plan which includes 5 editor accounts, cursor chat and version histories.
Shopify vs Framer: Main Features
Shopify’s Core Features
Shopify is a full ecommerce platform with many features. I found the website builder to be easy to use with many free and premium templates. You can create a logo or buy a domain name right within the platform.

For businesses Shopify’s commerce solutions are top notch. You can sell on your website, social media, marketplaces and even in person.
The platform supports physical and digital products with robust international sales features.
Payment processing is smooth, accepts credit cards to mobile wallets. Marketing tools are built-in including SEO and blog CMS. I like the social media and email marketing features and live chat.
Shopify Magic: AI-Powered Tools for Smarter Selling

Shopify Magic uses AI to streamline your eCommerce operations and help you sell more effectively.
- Product Descriptions: Instantly generate engaging, SEO-friendly descriptions for your products.
- Email Campaigns: Create compelling marketing emails tailored to your audience.
- Personalization: Use AI to recommend products and boost customer satisfaction.
From saving time to optimizing your store, Shopify Magic makes running an online business easier than ever. It’s AI working behind the scenes to drive your success.
Shopify excels at business management. You can see sales, orders and analytics in one place. The platform has:
- Inventory and order management
- Shopify fulfillment network
- Shipping tools
- Automation via Shopify Flow
The analytics and reporting is great. I can see business performance, customer segments and top products. Automated tax and VAT management is a nice bonus.
Framer’s Features
Framer is newer but has modern features with AI powered tools. It’s designed to bridge the gap between developers and designers.

The website design tools in Framer are easy to use. I can use drag-and-drop and beautiful templates to build a site fast. I can adjust layouts and import designs from Figma if needed.
Visuals are a highlight with Framer and I can add animations and scroll variants. I can create smooth transitions between pages and make it more user friendly.
Navigation is easy in Framer since pages are easy to connect and the built-in CMS is great for managing blogs, job listings and event schedules.
I like Framer’s localization features. I can adapt websites for different audiences with localized text and images.
AI Translation: Create Multilingual Websites with Framer

Framer’s AI Translation makes localizing your website effortless, helping you reach global audiences without compromising your brand’s message.
- Instant Localization: AI generates translated pages for multiple languages with accuracy and speed.
- Brand Consistency: Maintain your unique tone and style across every locale.
- Customizable: Adjust translations or exclude specific words to fit your audience’s needs.
Whether you’re targeting a single market or the entire globe, Framer’s AI ensures your content resonates everywhere. Powered by GPT-4 Turbo, it’s seamless, smart, and scalable.
Site management in Framer is full featured. I can:
- Track assets
- Collaborate on custom code
- Set project permissions
- Monitor changes
- Stage new pages
The plugin support especially for Figma apps helps me to streamline my workflow by importing designs and resources easily.
How Hard is Shopify and Framer to use?
Both Shopify and Framer are easy to use but I think Shopify is more simple and functional. I can set up an online store in minutes. The backend editor is easy to use even for a beginner.
Shopify’s strength is its entire ecosystem. I can:
- Customize site design and functionality
- Find step by step guides on their website
- Get help from Shopify Experts if needed
- Automate workflows with Shopify Flow
- Manage everything from one dashboard
- Analyze with built-in analytics
- Extend with one-click apps
Framer impresses me with AI website creation. I can build a site by just chatting with the AI. The drag-and-drop builder lets me make changes without coding.
Framer also has:
- Professional templates
- Step by step tutorials and videos
- Team collaboration
Both are easy to use but I think Shopify has more tools to build and run an online business. The app marketplace and e-commerce features gives it an edge if you want to sell products online.
Shopify or Framer?
Shopify and Framer have different strengths for website creation. I think Framer is great for those who want an affordable AI powered platform to build a standard website or portfolio. It’s easy to use for creators of all levels.
Shopify in my experience is best for ecommerce. It’s the platform for businesses who want to set up a robust online store. It supports omnichannel and international transactions for physical and digital products.
- Framer.ai: Best for standard websites and portfolios
- Shopify: Ideal for ecommerce and online stores
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