6 Best Magento Alternatives for Cannabis Brands

Magento has long served as an enterprise-grade e-commerce solution, but cannabis brands face unique challenges that often demand more specialized platforms. From regulatory compliance requirements to payment processing complexities and product catalog flexibility, the cannabis industry needs e-commerce infrastructure built for adaptability. These six Magento alternatives offer cannabis brands powerful options ranging from API-first headless commerce platforms to budget-friendly solutions, each addressing the specific pain points of selling hemp-derived products online.

Key Takeaways

• Transaction fees significantly impact margins: Swell charges 0% transaction fees on external payment gateways, while Shopify charges 0.5-2%—on $250K annual revenue, that's $1,250-$5,000 savings
• Product variant flexibility varies dramatically: Swell offers unlimited variants with 4+ option types, BigCommerce caps at 600, and Shopify allows up to 2,048 variants with 3 options—critical for complex CBD product catalogs
• Native subscriptions eliminate app dependency: Platforms with built-in subscription billing save cannabis brands $600-$2,400 annually in third-party app costs while improving site performance
• Total cost matters more than sticker price: Magento's licensing starts at $22,000/year with initial development of $30,000-$60,000, while modern SaaS alternatives range from $3,948-$15,948
• Payment gateway availability determines viability: BigCommerce offers 65+ payment gateways including high-risk processors, while Shopify restricts CBD brands from using Shopify Payments

The global cannabis e-commerce market is projected to reach $134.4 billion by 2030, creating substantial opportunities for brands that choose the right platform foundation. With the CBD market alone expected to reach over $10 billion by 2025, selecting an e-commerce platform that handles compliance, payment processing, and complex product configurations is essential for sustainable growth.

1. Swell — API-First Platform with Zero Transaction Fees

Swell stands as the premier choice for cannabis brands seeking maximum flexibility without the overhead costs of enterprise platforms like Magento. Its API-first architecture enables custom compliance workflows for age verification, Certificate of Analysis (COA) management, and state-specific shipping restrictions—all without third-party app dependencies.

Key Features:

• Unlimited product variants with 4+ option types for complex CBD catalogs (multiple strengths, flavors, sizes, formats)
• Native subscription billing with flexible intervals, mixed carts, and automatic dunning
• Zero transaction fees on all external payment gateways across every pricing tier
• Support for 230 currencies, 170 languages for international expansion
• Custom data models for COA storage, batch tracking, and compliance documentation
• 50-70% faster page loads compared to app-dependent platforms

Pricing Structure:

• Starter: $29/month (up to $50K annual sales)
• Basic: $79/month (up to $250K annual sales)
• Standard: $299/month (up to $1M annual sales)
• Unlimited: $2,250/month (up to $5M annual sales)

Swell's API-first architecture proves invaluable for cannabis brands needing custom compliance solutions. The Velobici case study demonstrates this flexibility in action—the cycling brand generates 75% of revenue from bundles enabled by Swell's product system, while supporting 17 currencies for international sales.

For cannabis brands, this translates to building custom age gates, displaying lab results per product batch, and implementing state-specific shipping rules directly into the storefront without relying on third-party applications that increase costs and slow site performance.

2. BigCommerce — Explicit CBD Support with 65+ Payment Gateways

BigCommerce maintains a dedicated CBD solutions page, demonstrating clear platform commitment to the cannabis market. Its extensive payment gateway network addresses one of the most significant challenges cannabis brands face.

Key Features:

• 65+ payment gateways including high-risk processors (PayKings, NMI, Easy Pay Direct, PaymentCloud)
• Native B2B features with customer groups and wholesale pricing tiers
• 250+ custom fields for compliance data storage
• Zero transaction fees on all plans
• 600 variant cap per product
• 99.99% uptime SLA

Pricing Structure:

• Standard: $39/month (up to $50K annual sales)
• Plus: $105/month (up to $180K annual sales)
• Pro: $399/month (up to $400K annual sales)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

BigCommerce's strength lies in its payment gateway breadth. For cannabis brands struggling to find processors willing to work with hemp-derived products, having 65+ gateway options significantly increases the likelihood of finding a compatible solution. The platform's native B2B capabilities also serve wholesale operations without requiring additional apps.

3. Shopify — Fastest Time-to-Market with Largest App Ecosystem

Shopify offers cannabis brands the fastest path to launching an online store. The platform explicitly permits hemp-derived CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC.

Key Features:

• Over 10,000 apps for extended functionality
• Template-based setup requiring minimal technical resources
• Multi-channel selling across social media and marketplaces
• 24/7 support across all plans
• Up to 2,048 variants with 3 option types maximum
• Native social commerce integration

Pricing Structure:

• Basic: $19/month
• Grow: $49/month
• Advanced: $299/month
• Plus: $2,300/month for enterprise features

While Shopify offers speed and simplicity, cannabis brands should factor in transaction fees of 0.5-2% when using third-party payment processors—mandatory since Shopify Payments isn't available for CBD products. Subscription functionality requires apps costing $600-$2,400 annually. The 2,048 variant cap may also constrain brands with highly diverse product lines.

4. WooCommerce — Open-Source Flexibility for Budget-Conscious Brands

WooCommerce provides cannabis brands with open-source flexibility through the familiar WordPress ecosystem. The free plugin offers a low barrier to entry, though total costs accumulate through hosting, themes, and premium plugins.

Key Features:

• Free core plugin with WordPress integration
• Square (US) and Viva Payments (EU) accept CBD transactions
• Full control over code and hosting environment
• Extensive plugin ecosystem for extended functionality
• Flexible product variant handling
• Large community support network

Cost Considerations:

• Core plugin: Free
• Hosting: $50-200/month for cannabis-optimized managed hosting
• Essential plugins: $600-1,200 annually for subscriptions, security, and performance
• Total cost: $150-400/month including hosting, plugins, and maintenance

Year 1 TCO reaches $6,300-$14,600 when accounting for hosting, premium themes, plugins, and developer time. Ongoing maintenance requires constant plugin updates and security patches, consuming resources that could otherwise focus on growth.

5. Shift4Shop — Free Tier Option for Startups

Shift4Shop offers cannabis startups a unique proposition: a free e-commerce tier when using Shift4 payment processing. This approach significantly reduces initial costs for brands testing market viability.

Key Features:

• Free tier with Shift4 payment processing
• Built-in SEO tools
• Order management and inventory tracking
• Customer relationship management
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Basic reporting and analytics

Pricing Structure:

• Free tier: $0/month (transaction limits apply)
• End-to-End: $229/month (premium features)

For cannabis brands at the earliest stages—testing products, validating markets, or bootstrapping operations—Shift4Shop's free tier provides essential e-commerce functionality without monthly platform fees. The trade-off involves committing to Shift4's payment processing, which brands should verify supports their specific product types.

6. Square Online — Omnichannel Integration for Retail + Online

Square Online serves cannabis brands operating both retail locations and online stores, providing unified inventory management and integrated point-of-sale functionality.

Key Features:

• Integrated POS for retail and online unification
• Unified inventory management across channels (when configured properly)
• Square payment processing (supports approved CBD sales with restrictions)
• Simple setup and management
• Built-in marketing tools
• Social selling capabilities

Pricing Structure:

• Free tier available (transaction fees apply)
• Plus: ~$49/month (typical monthly pricing)
• Premium: ~$149/month (typical monthly pricing)

CBD merchants with physical retail presence benefit most from Square Online's omnichannel approach. The platform can sync inventory between in-store and online sales, reducing overselling risks and simplifying operations for multi-channel businesses.

Why Cannabis Brands Look Beyond Magento

Magento offers extensive customization capabilities, but the platform's total cost of ownership creates significant barriers for many cannabis operations.

Cost Considerations:

• Initial development: $30,000–$60,000
• Adobe Commerce licensing: ~$22,000+/year (GMV-based)
• Ongoing maintenance: 15–30% of development costs annually
• Required PHP/Magento developer expertise

Operational Challenges:

• Self-hosted infrastructure requires dedicated technical resources
• Security patches and updates fall on the merchant
• Extension costs for subscription functionality (~$1,000–$5,000+/year)
• Complex implementation timelines (4–8 months typical)

For cannabis brands generating under $5M annually, modern SaaS alternatives deliver comparable functionality at a fraction of Magento's total investment while providing faster time-to-market and reduced operational overhead.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Cannabis Business

Select Swell when you need:

• High-limit product variants for complex CBD catalogs
• Native subscription billing without app dependencies
• Custom compliance workflows via API
• International expansion with multi-currency support
• No platform transaction fees on external payment gateways

Select BigCommerce when you need:

• Maximum payment gateway options (65+)
• Native B2B/wholesale features
• Explicit platform CBD policy support
• Traditional SaaS with up to 99.99% uptime SLA (Enterprise)

Select Shopify when you need:

• Fast launch timelines
• Access to extensive app ecosystem
• Multi-channel social selling
• Minimal technical requirements

Select WooCommerce when you need:

• Lowest entry cost with existing WordPress skills
• Full code control and self-hosting
• Flexible payment processor selection
• Open-source customization potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What payment processors work with cannabis e-commerce platforms?

Payment processing remains the most significant challenge for cannabis brands. BigCommerce offers access to 65+ gateways including specialized high-risk processors like PayKings, NMI, and PaymentCloud. Swell integrates with 9+ CBD-friendly gateways including Authorize.Net and NMI. Square accepts CBD transactions on both WooCommerce and Square Online. Shopify requires third-party processors since Shopify Payments is unavailable for CBD products.

How do product variant limitations affect cannabis brands?

CBD products often require multiple variants—different strengths (250mg, 500mg, 1000mg), flavors, formats (tinctures, gummies, topicals), and sizes. Swell offers unlimited variants with 4+ option types, BigCommerce caps at 600 variants, and Shopify allows up to 2,048 variants with 3 options maximum. Brands with diverse catalogs should prioritize platforms without restrictive variant caps.

What compliance features should cannabis platforms include?

Essential compliance capabilities include age verification integration, Certificate of Analysis (COA) display per product batch, state-specific shipping restrictions, and detailed order documentation. API-first platforms like Swell enable custom compliance workflows built directly into storefronts. Traditional SaaS platforms typically require third-party apps for these features, adding cost and potential performance impact.

How do subscription capabilities compare across platforms?

Swell and BigCommerce include native subscription billing in their core platforms. Shopify and WooCommerce require third-party apps or plugins, typically costing $600-$2,400 annually. Native subscriptions provide better performance, simpler management, and lower total costs—particularly important for cannabis brands building recurring revenue through CBD subscription boxes or auto-replenishment programs.

What is the typical migration timeline from Magento?

Migration complexity varies by store size and customization level. Expect 2-4 months for Magento to Swell migrations, 1-2 months for BigCommerce or Shopify, and 1-3 months for WooCommerce. Key challenges include rebuilding custom extensions as API integrations, mapping product data structures, and maintaining SEO value through proper URL redirects. Most modern platforms offer migration assistance or dedicated onboarding support.