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Software · head to head

Ecwid vs Phorest

Ecwid logo

Ecwid

Software

Sell anywhere ecommerce platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phorest logo

Phorest

Software

Salon software that grows your business

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ecwid has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Ecwid the $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products; Phorest no price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling, Phorest covers Appointment booking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ecwid and Phorest actually diverge.

Attributes where Ecwid and Phorest differ
AttributeEcwidPhorest
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20092003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ecwid

  • Omnichannel selling
  • Product catalog
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Mobile app
  • API access

Only in Phorest

  • Appointment booking
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Reputation management
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ecwid

  • Adding a store to an existing website or social pagenot Phorest
  • Selling physical goods and digital downloads from one cataloguenot Phorest

Phorest

  • Salon and spa appointment booking with client recordsnot Ecwid
  • Marketing, memberships and staff management for beauty businessesnot Ecwid

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ecwid

  • The $5 a month Starter plan caps the catalogue at 10 products
  • Staff accounts start at the Business plan, and are limited to 2 until the Unlimited plan
  • Abandoned cart recovery requires the Business plan at $65 a month
  • In person selling through POS integration is Unlimited only, at $149 a month
  • The Venture plan at $35 a month still caps products at 100

Phorest

  • No price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • There is no free trial at all, which the company states plainly
  • The product is described as suited to 3 or more staff, so a solo operator is outside the intended range
  • The branded booking app requires the Ultimate plan, and two way SMS, memberships, lead management and the ads manager are all Elite only

Pricing, plan by plan

Ecwid

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 products
    • Basic storefront
    • Standard payment methods
  • Unlimited$99.08/month
    • Unlimited products
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support

Phorest

$99/month
  • Grow$99/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • POS
  • Elevate$179/month
    • Everything in Grow
    • Advanced marketing
    • Online booking
  • Innovate$299/month
    • Everything in Elevate
    • Multi-location
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Ecwid if

  • You need omnichannel selling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want product catalog.
Ecwid review

Choose Phorest if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want client management.
Phorest review

Questions people ask

Is Ecwid or Phorest better?
Neither clearly leads. Ecwid starts at Free and Phorest at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ecwid or Phorest?
Ecwid has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Ecwid and $99/month for Phorest.
Does Ecwid or Phorest run on more platforms?
Ecwid runs on Web. Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Ecwid for free?
Yes. Ecwid has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Phorest starts at $99/month.
What is Ecwid best used for?
Ecwid is most often used for adding a store to an existing website or social page, selling physical goods and digital downloads from one catalogue. Of those, adding a store to an existing website or social page and selling physical goods and digital downloads from one catalogue are not what Phorest is typically brought in for.
What can Ecwid do that Phorest cannot?
Ecwid covers Omnichannel selling, Product catalog, Payment processing, Inventory management. Phorest covers Appointment booking, Client management, Point of sale, Marketing automation.
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