Fed Up with Shopify? Here’s Why UK Sellers Are Switching to EKM in 2025

Fed up is probably putting it lightly if you’re running an online shop in the UK in 2025 and finding Shopify’s quirks wearing thin. Over recent months, I’ve watched an unmistakable trend in forums, professional groups, and client conversations: UK sellers, sometimes quietly and sometimes very vocally, are ditching Shopify for EKM. If you’re weighing up your next move, here’s what’s truly driving this shift. And why so many are saying EKM just gets British ecommerce in a way global-first rivals don’t.

Swifter Onboarding with Real Local Support

The difference hits you as soon as you start setting up. EKM’s onboarding isn’t just “localised”; it’s run by a team based right in the UK, who know their way around both the ecommerce world and the quirks of the British high street. There’s no routed tickets to overseas call centres or time zone juggling. When I’ve dealt with EKM setups for clients, the handover is personal and focused. They actually walk you through, not just leave you clinging to a knowledgebase or waiting for automated responses.

Shopify, for all its polish, can feel like you’re just another number. It’s built to serve everyone and sometimes that means serving no one in particular with precision. If you need someone who understands, say, how mixed VAT rates work, or the subtle differences in local courier integrations, EKM’s team are already clued in.

Transparent Pricing. No Hidden Surprises

If you’ve used Shopify, you might know that what starts as a reasonable plan can blimp out fast after tallying monthly fees for essential apps, sometimes even for things as basic as payment gateways and reporting tools. That’s a pain point I’ve run into. And so have many peers. EKM, by contrast, has a clear and upfront pricing structure. Sellers appreciate that crucial features come bundled as standard, without the monthly surprise add-ons sneaking onto invoices.

Based on the latest 2025 platform reviews, EKM guarantees you get what you pay for, with none of the sneaky upsell tactics. UK businesses especially value this honesty when planning for cash flow. Expenses are predictable, and so are the features that arrive with each tier.

UK Hosting & Full GDPR Compliance as Standard

Here’s an area where a UK base matters more than many retailers realise: EKM operates entirely from the UK, with all shop data hosted in UK data centres. In a post-Brexit world, GDPR isn’t just a buzzword. Data protection rules are exacting, and British consumers have grown wary of websites with ambiguous privacy and data-handling policies.

Shopify, by contrast, handles data globally. For UK sellers, that often means added paperwork and a “hope for the best” approach to privacy. EKM sellers I’ve supported have found it far more straightforward to demonstrate compliance to both customers and regulators, with fewer headaches and less reliance on third-party documentation.

Out-of-the-Box UK-Focused Features

One recurring grumble about Shopify is that it’s designed first and foremost for the North American market, and only later adapted for the rest of us. For example, region-specific payment solutions or delivery rules usually come as afterthoughts. In the UK, where things like Royal Mail, DPD, and PayPal UK are staples, having these integrations ready to roll is a big advantage.

EKM is built with UK payment gateways front and centre. British sellers want Klarna, Amazon Pay UK, or Sage Pay ready to run. There’s no faffing around with workarounds or “coming soon” promises. Reporting, too, is tuned to UK accounting expectations, making it a smoother process when year-end rolls around or when managing VAT.

Customer Experience Tools with Local Know-How

Beyond logins and payments, EKM offers customer-facing features refined for British shoppers. Customisable checkout flows, clear delivery options, and loyalty tools that meet local expectations. The support materials, how-to guides, and update cycles are all designed with the UK audience in mind. I’ve personally experienced how much time this saves for small teams, freeing people up from troubleshooting and letting them focus on what matters: selling.

Why Shopify’s Global-First Model Sometimes Gets in the Way

Here’s the blunt truth: Shopify is a global powerhouse, and that scale brings strengths. But every time it “improves” a feature for its massive US audience, UK sellers sometimes get left in the cold waiting for that same feature to work properly here. Updates can introduce confusing rules around tax, invoices, or legal compliance. As an advisor, I’ve seen more than a few British shops using Shopify have to rely on third-party apps just to get features that are standard on UK-centric platforms.

Shopify’s pace of change is relentless, but its roadmap isn’t tailored to local needs. For a British business looking for reliability, having a platform run, updated, and innovated in the UK brings a sense of stability that’s just hard to replicate from across the Atlantic.

The Weight of Community and Trust

Something that stood out during platform migrations: UK sellers feel heard by EKM’s team. Whether it’s feedback on feature requests or urgent technical issues, the communication loops tend to be shorter and the fixes more practical. The sense of being part of a network that understands the realities of UK ecommerce cannot be overstated.

Key Takeaways for British Sellers Weighing Their Options

Switching platforms is not a small move. It’s one of those decisions that has consequences for operations, customer experience, and your bottom line. Speaking from hands-on experience with both Shopify and EKM setups throughout 2024 and into this year, it’s clear why the momentum is shifting:

• Faster local support and resources from a team that actually understands UK ecommerce.
• Honest, easy-to-understand pricing. No more trying to decode hidden extras or wrestling with app fatigue.
• Data stays in the UK, simplifying GDPR compliance and customer trust.
• Native integration with UK payment systems and e-commerce staples.
• Genuine focus on British business needs, from VAT handling to local logistics.

If you’re considering your next step, weigh not only what your platform can do but also who’s on your side when you need help. The right fit for your business will be the one that gets your challenges, speaks your language, and offers support from people you might actually bump into at an industry event.

Ready for a fresh start with a platform that truly backs British sellers? Weigh your options carefully and don’t settle for a global one-size-fits-all approach. Your business. And your peace of mind. Deserve better.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to migrate from Shopify to EKM?

Most UK sellers who make the switch can expect a migration to take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity and size of their catalogue. EKM’s UK-based support team offers hands-on assistance throughout the process, making it less daunting than many expect.

Is EKM suitable for small and medium businesses, or just established retailers?

EKM caters to businesses across the spectrum, from new startups to established players. The platform’s flexible pricing tiers and included features make it accessible for smaller businesses, while larger operations benefit from dedicated account management and advanced tools.

Does EKM include all the features I need up front, or will I need extra paid add-ons?

One of EKM’s strengths is its bundled features approach. Payment integrations, reporting tools, GDPR compliance, and standard customer experience options are typically included in your base plan. Some advanced features may be available in higher tiers, but unexpected add-ons are far less common than with Shopify.

How does EKM ensure UK data protection laws are met?

All EKM stores are hosted in the UK, ensuring data residency requirements for British businesses are fulfilled. The platform is fully GDPR-compliant as of the latest 2025 standards, reducing the burden on retailers to interpret and manage complex international rules.

Are there any known drawbacks to choosing EKM over Shopify?

While EKM shines for UK-specific needs, Shopify still leads on internationalisation, theme options, and the availability of specialist third-party apps. Businesses focused on global growth strategies or looking for niche integrations not offered by EKM may want to consider how these priorities line up before switching. For purely UK-focused retailers, EKM’s advantages tend to outweigh these factors.

Optimising your ecommerce site architecture is crucial regardless of the platform you choose. Both EKM and Shopify offer tools to help with this, but EKM’s UK-centric approach often makes it easier for British businesses to implement best practices.

For those still weighing their options, consider how each platform aligns with your 2025 ecommerce SEO strategies. The right choice will depend on your specific business needs, target market, and growth plans.