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3DCart no longer exists under that name. Shift4 Payments bought 3dcart in November 2020 and relaunched it as Shift4Shop in January 2021. Today Shift4Shop offers a $0 End-to-End plan for US merchants who process payments through Shift4, plus paid plans from $29/month for everyone else.
Last updated: October 2026 · How we researched this: we checked Shift4Shop’s official plans page and Shift4’s press release about the 3dcart rebrand, reviewed third-party fee breakdowns, and compared the plans with Shopify.
Key takeaways
- 3DCart = Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart). Old 3dcart stores were moved to the new brand.
- The End-to-End plan is $0/month, but only for US merchants using Shift4 Payments (2.9% + $0.30 per card sale listed).
- Paid plans: Basic $29, Plus $79, Pro $229 per month (checked October 2026), with a 10% discount for paying yearly.
- Watch for extra costs: processor compliance fees, paid add-ons and premium themes.
- Outside the US, Shopify is usually the easier choice.
What happened to 3DCart?
3dcart was a long-running US shopping cart, popular with small businesses that wanted many built-in features. In November 2020 the payment company Shift4 Payments acquired it. On January 27, 2021, Shift4 announced the rebrand to Shift4Shop.
The business model changed too. Instead of earning mainly from store subscriptions, Shift4 earns from payment processing. That is why it can give the full platform away to merchants who use its payments.
Shift4Shop (3DCart) pricing in 2026
These figures come from the official Shift4Shop plans page (checked October 2026).
| Plan | Price/month | Staff users | Yearly sales limit | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End-to-End eCommerce | $0 | Unlimited | None listed | US merchants using Shift4 Payments |
| Basic Store | $29 | 2 | $100K | All |
| Plus Store | $79 | 5 | $250K | All |
| Pro Store | $229 | 15 | $1M | All |
The official page says the free plan is only for United States merchants. Some third-party sites mention a minimum monthly processing volume for the free plan; Shift4Shop’s plans page did not state one when we checked, so confirm this with sales before you sign up.
Hidden costs to check before signing up
- Card processing: the free plan uses Shift4 Payments, listed at 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction.
- Merchant account fees: read your Shift4 merchant agreement for compliance, inactivity or chargeback fees.
- Add-ons: some apps and services in the marketplace cost extra each month.
- Premium themes and custom design work.
- No refunds on subscription fees, according to the plans FAQ.
Shift4Shop features
Shift4Shop kept most of the 3dcart feature set, which was always its main selling point:
- Unlimited products on every plan.
- Built-in SEO tools, blog and mobile-friendly themes.
- Product variants, digital products and wholesale/B2B options.
- Abandoned cart emails, coupons, gift certificates and reviews.
- Shipping integrations with major carriers.
- Free SSL and, on the End-to-End plan, a free domain.
3DCart / Shift4Shop vs Shopify
| Factor | Shift4Shop | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | $0 (US + Shift4 Payments) or $29 | Basic, $39 monthly or $29/month yearly |
| Payment lock-in | Free plan requires Shift4 Payments | Extra 0.6–2% fee if you skip Shopify Payments |
| Built-in features | Very many | Fewer; apps fill gaps |
| Themes and app ecosystem | Smaller, dated in places | Very large |
| Global availability | Free plan US only | Most countries |
If you are outside the US or want a modern design with less effort, Shopify is the safer option. Read our Shopify review and check the current Shopify trial offers.
Shift4Shop pros and cons
Pros
- A genuinely $0 platform fee for qualifying US merchants.
- Rich built-in feature set from the 3dcart days.
- Unlimited products and good SEO controls.
Cons
- The free plan ties you to one payment processor.
- Not free outside the US.
- Themes and admin feel older than Shopify or Wix.
- Smaller app ecosystem and community.
Who should NOT use Shift4Shop?
- Merchants outside the United States who want the free plan.
- Stores that need PayPal or Stripe as their main card processor on a $0 plan.
- Brands that depend on trendy themes and many third-party apps.
Moving from old 3dcart to something else?
- Export products, customers and orders as CSV from your admin.
- Record your URL structure and set up 301 redirects on the new platform.
- Rebuild key pages and test checkout with a real order.
- Update your domain DNS only after testing.
Other options include UltraCart for subscription sellers and X-Cart for auto parts stores.
3DCart FAQ
Is 3dcart still in business?
Not under the 3dcart name. Shift4 Payments acquired 3dcart in November 2020 and renamed it Shift4Shop in January 2021. The platform still runs today as Shift4Shop.
Is Shift4Shop really free?
The End-to-End plan has no monthly fee for US merchants who use Shift4 Payments. You still pay card processing fees, listed at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Can merchants outside the US use Shift4Shop?
Yes, but not for free. Non-US merchants can choose the Basic, Plus or Pro plans, which cost $29, $79 and $229 per month.
Is Shift4Shop better than Shopify?
For US merchants happy to use Shift4 Payments, Shift4Shop can be cheaper. Shopify is easier to use, has far more apps and themes, and works well in most countries.
Final verdict
3DCart lives on as Shift4Shop. For US sellers who accept Shift4 as their processor, the $0 End-to-End plan is one of the best value deals in e-commerce. Everyone else should compare it carefully with Shopify before committing.
