Shopify is a world-class product built for the US and global market. Ezy Cart is built for Jamaica. If you sell mainly to Jamaican customers in JMD, the differences below decide it.
Side by side
| Shopify | Ezy Cart |
|---|---|
| US-dollar monthly bill; Shopify Payments not available in Jamaica, so a ~2% surcharge on every sale via a third-party gateway | One flat J$9,500/month; 0% commission, no surcharge |
| Bank transfer and local gateways need workarounds or paid apps | Bank transfer with proof upload, Scotia, Fygaro, eZeePayments, COD — built in |
| No Knutsford Express at any price | Knutsford offices + per-parish zones + weight rates built in |
| GCT configured by hand; no zero-rated concept | GCT inclusive/exclusive, zero-rated products, tax on shipping |
| Email automation, reviews, waitlists are extra paid apps | Abandoned-cart, email sequences, reviews and waitlists included |
| Huge app ecosystem; support in a US/EU time zone | Fewer third-party apps; the developer, in Jamaica, on WhatsApp |
| You rent the platform; export and go anytime | You own your store and data; CSV + eBay import/export, full REST API |
The real cost, in JMD
Shopify’s sticker looks low, but once you add the ~2% Jamaica surcharge on every sale, the paid apps for features Ezy Cart includes, and a bill that moves with the exchange rate, the real cost climbs with your sales. Ezy Cart is a flat J$9,500/month no matter how much you sell. For a worked 12-month example at J$500k/month in sales, see the best Shopify alternative for Jamaica.
Which one fits you
Pick Shopify if you sell mainly to the US or overseas in USD, or you depend on a specific Shopify app or sales channel with no local equivalent. Pick Ezy Cart if you sell to Jamaican customers, in JMD, with local payments and delivery — you’ll pay less and fight the platform less. We’d rather tell you straight than oversell.
Moving over is free and takes about a week
Ezy Web Pro migrates your products, images and customers, rebuilds your store on Ezy Cart, sets up your gateway and delivery zones, and points your existing domain across. You don’t lose your catalogue or your web address.
Get your Shopify-to-Ezy-Cart quote
Tell us your store and we’ll map the switch — build from J$35,000, then J$9,500/month, no commission.
FAQ
Is Ezy Cart cheaper than Shopify in Jamaica?
For most Jamaican stores, yes once real costs are counted. Shopify adds a ~2% surcharge on every sale (no Shopify Payments here) plus paid apps and a US-dollar bill. Ezy Cart is one flat J$9,500/month with no commission.
Does Shopify have more features?
Shopify has a far bigger third-party app ecosystem. But the features a Jamaican store actually needs — bank transfer, Knutsford, GCT, email automation, reviews — are built into Ezy Cart, not bought as add-ons.
Can I move my Shopify store to Ezy Cart?
Yes — Ezy Web Pro migrates your products, images and customers and rebuilds on Ezy Cart, usually within a week. Your domain stays yours.