Platform Comparison

SHOPLINE vs. Boutir: A Comparison of Online Store Fees, Features, and Services

With the increasing number of online store platforms, the e-commerce landscape is constantly evolving. When expanding your online business, how do you choose a platform that is suitable for sustainable growth? In this article, we will compare two well-known platforms, SHOPLINE and Boutir.

Boutir is a one-stop video-centric online business platform, on which merchants can handle shop opening, daily operation, video shooting and even product-selling livestreams. It's also a phygital platform that helps shop owners bring physical shopping experience and a human touch to their online shops.	Founded in 2013, SHOPLINE is one of Asia’s largest and fastest growing commerce Software-as-a-service and solution providers. The SHOPLINE platform offers a rich ecosystem of technologies, resources and partners that empowers merchants to succeed.

Feature Comparison

Online Store Design

Templates	✅	✅
Return and Refund Policy	✅	✅
About Us	✅	✅
Brand Style Settings	✅	❌
Image Module	✅	❌
Video/ Shoppable video module	✅	❌
Header and footer templates	✅	❌
Separate settings for Mobile and Desktop	✅	❌
Customized CTAs	✅	❌

SHOPLINE offers a wide selection of basic templates that cover essential website features such as return and refund policies and an about us page. Merchants can easily create their online store by simply inputting their information.

Meanwhile, Boutir caters to businesses that prioritize their brand image by providing a unified visual design, including page backgrounds, price colors, and button styles, making it effortless to establish a unique brand style. It also allows customization of image modules and buttons, supporting links to different custom pages, product categories, or even external links, giving you the flexibility to adapt to various situations.

Multi-channel sales system (social media, communication system)

Import Products through Instagram	✅	✅
Import Instagram Reels	✅	❌
Create Shoppable video using IG Reels	✅	❌
Comment "+1" to add product to Cart	✅	✅
Facebook / Instagram Livestream Shopping Tool	✅	Upgrade to $19,988/year
All-in-one live streaming management platform	✅	Upgrade to $19,988/year
Livestream on Your Website	✅	❌
WhatsApp Order Status Notification	✅	✅

In terms of live selling, SHOPLINE supports Facebook and Instagram live streaming, but it requires an upgrade to a $19,988/year plan and does not support live streaming on the website. In recent years, with Meta's stricter policies, some merchants occasionally encounter account suspensions, leaving those who rely solely on Facebook or Instagram live streaming helpless. On the other hand, Boutir supports merchants in conducting live sales directly on their online stores, eliminating potential constraints from third-party platforms.

Additionally, due to changes in the Instagram algorithm, more merchants are creating short video content to increase exposure. Boutir takes it a step further by allowing you to directly create shopping videos using IG Reels, turning traffic into business revenue. These short video contents can be flexibly placed in different sections of your online store, including product description pages and the homepage, making it easier for customers to discover your great products!

Payment Function

Bind Credit Cards	✅	✅
Credit Cards Offer	✅	✅
Special Payment Method Offer	✅	❌

Just like Boutir, SHOPLINE offers storage and designated credit card benefits at all plan levels, giving merchants greater flexibility when promoting discounts.

However, SHOPLINE does not have the functionality to offer specific payment method benefits. Some merchants may be hesitant to bear additional costs for higher transaction fees, such as credit cards, which could deter consumers compared to charging additional fees. We recommend that merchants consider including transaction fees in their pricing and then offer discounts on other designated payment methods, such as PayMe, in the form of coupons. This not only makes consumers feel better, but also avoids decision-making barriers during the checkout process, thereby reducing the likelihood of abandoned orders.

Local Payment Solutions in Hong Kong

Visa、Mastercard	YedPay:  Domestic: 2.9%/ per transaction International: 3.5%/ per transaction	SHOPLINE Payments: Domestic: 2.99% + HK$ 2.35 / per transaction International: 3.8% + HK$ 2.35 / per transaction
Alipay, WeChat Pay (Business)	✅	✅
Bank Transfer	✅	✅
PayPal	✅	❌
Stripe	✅	❌
BoC Pay	✅	❌
PayMe for Business	✅	❌
FPS (Business）	✅	❌
Tap & Go	✅	❌
Octopus App for Business	✅	❌

SHOPLINE offers its own payment system called SHOPLINE Payments, allowing merchants to easily set up multiple payment methods, including credit cards, Alipay, and WeChat Pay.

On the other hand, Boutir collaborates with YedPay, which also allows merchants to support the same payment methods as SHOPLINE Payments, but with lower credit card transaction fees. However, SHOPLINE lacks a complete integration with certain payment methods like FPS and Octopus App for Business. Merchants using SHOPLINE must manually upload payment QR codes to their online stores, requiring customers to enter the amount and proceed with the transfer. After completing the payment, customers must upload a screenshot of the payment to the corresponding order in the system. Merchants then have to verify the screenshot to confirm the payment status, making the entire process time-consuming and burdensome for part-time merchants or artisans. In contrast, Boutir has seamless integration with its payment system partners, allowing customers to be redirected to the respective system when placing an order. For example, if a customer chooses to pay with PayMe, the screen will automatically switch to the PayMe app, and the customer only needs to confirm the payment to complete the order. Merchants using Boutir can directly view the corresponding payment status in the Boutir backend. This streamlined process eliminates the risk of incorrect amounts and difficult auditing, significantly reducing procedural and manpower costs.

Logistics

Custom Delivery Options	✅	✅
SF Express Integration (Pay by Shipper)	✅	✅
SF Express Integration (Pay by Consignee)	✅	✅
Hongkong Post Integration	✅	❌
ZTO Express Integration	✅	❌
alfred24 locker Integration	✅	❌
SF Express (Cold Chain) Integration	✅	❌
In-store Pickup	✅	✅

Boutir's automated feature allows merchants to seamlessly connect with multiple logistics providers, eliminating the need for individual account setup and paperwork. Streamlining the entire process, from generating and submitting shipping orders to scheduling doorstep pickups and automatically including package tracking codes, Boutir's automation simplifies the entire logistics process for online stores. Additionally, they offer exclusive options such as SF Express cold chain delivery and Hong Kong Post, providing customers with more choices for receiving their goods. This helps merchants deliver their products to local businesses, residential areas, smart lockers, pick-up points, convenience stores, or post offices. For businesses selling frozen meat or food items, they can even set up deliveries for dry goods and frozen products, catering to the diverse needs of different types of merchants.

On the other hand, SHOPLINE's logistics automation feature is not as comprehensive, as it only offers SF Express integration options. While it allows for customizing the logistics method, it requires manual filling out of shipping orders, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially for merchants with high order volumes.

Why choose Boutir over SHOPLINE?

In addition to excelling in the mentioned functionalities, Boutir offers a more comprehensive solution compared to SHOPLINE. Some essential features in SHOPLINE require businesses to upgrade to their highest-priced plan ($26,988/year) to access them. This can be a burden for budding entrepreneurs, especially when it comes to member grading systems and exclusive pricing. Furthermore, for physical retailers looking to expand their online presence and attract foot traffic through the option of online purchasing and in-store pickup, SHOPLINE also requires an upgrade to their $14,799/year plan. On the other hand, Boutir's "All-in-One Webshop Plan" ($4,488/year) already includes all these functionalities. Whether you're a novice entrepreneur, an IG/Facebook shop owner, or a physical store merchant, Boutir offers a comprehensive and cost-effective webshop management system that is truly the top choice.