Comparison

Swell vs Shopify

Swell lands on Depends, and Shopify lands on Worth it.

Swell

Depends

Confidence: Medium

Buy only if you're a developer-backed brand that has genuinely outgrown Shopify's templates and will confirm pricing on a demo.

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Shopify

Worth it

Confidence: High

Buy it if you are serious about selling online . fastest setup, largest app ecosystem, top-rated by reviewers.

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Swell versus Shopify
Compare	Swell	Shopify
Verdict	Depends	Worth it
Best for	Developer-backed DTC brands	Serious DTC sellers
Who it's not for	Solo sellers wanting plug-and-play	Hobby sellers who can't stomach $39/mo plus fees
Privacy	No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.^⁸	Managed, hardened core platform . but recurring XSS CVEs and a third-party app breach affecting 4,180+ stores.
Support quality	No support reviews in evidence	No direct evidence in sources reviewed
Public sentiment	User feedback specific to is sparse and partially indistinguishable from same-name products like Swell CX.^⁴	Reviews praise fast setup and breadth, while merchants repeatedly complain about transaction fees, runaway app costs, and beginner overwhelm.¹⁵
Biggest gotcha	Four-plus same-name products (Swell CX, Energy, Rewards) pollute reviews and searches.¹⁰	Paid apps stack monthly on top of your plan; merchants call pricing 'out of control'

Pick Swell when

Developer-backed DTC brands
Teams outgrowing Shopify templates
Custom storefront builds

When Swell is not a fit

Solo sellers wanting plug-and-play
Anyone without developer resources
Small stores with simple catalogs
Buyers comparing the healthcare-review 'Swell CX'

Pick Shopify when

Serious DTC sellers
Non-technical founders
Online + in-person (POS) retail
Teams wanting a big app ecosystem

When Shopify is not a fit

Hobby sellers who can't stomach $39/mo plus fees
Developers wanting full code control . use WooCommerce
Anyone allergic to per-app subscription stacking
Tiny catalogs . a free storefront does the job

Sources

Swell pricing . officialswell.is
official
Swell pricing plans . help docsswell.is
official
Looking for a Shopify alternative? Try Swellswell.is
official
Swell.is Pricing . TrustRadiustrustradius.com
review
Shopify vs Swell comparison guideeasyappsecom.com
review
Swell ecommerce reviews . Software Advicesoftwareadvice.com
review
Swell reviews . AppSumoappsumo.com
review
Swell security & privacyswell.is
security
Swell product security pageswell.is
security
Swell CX (same-name product)swellcx.com
official
Yotpo acquires Swell Rewards (same-name product)yotpo.com
news
Shopify Review: Features, Pros and Cons - Forbes Advisorforbes.com
review
Shopify Review 2026: Is It the Best for Selling Online?websitebuilderexpert.com
review
Shopify Products | G2 Reviewsg2.com
review
Shopify Reviews | Trustpilottrustpilot.com
review
Shopify Pricing 2026 - Real Costs and Hidden Feessherocommerce.com
review