Choosing an E-commerce Platform in Syria: 10 Questions to Ask (and Shopify Alternatives)
The Mtjry teamLast updated: 7 min read
How to choose an e-commerce platform for selling in Syria in 2026: local, regional and global platforms compared, why Shopify-style gateways don't cover Syrian wallets, and ten questions — local payments, the new Syrian pound, commission, free-plan limits, shipping, mobile, apps and support.
Key takeaways
- There's no single best platform for everyone; the best one supports the payments your customers use, prices in Syrian pounds, and takes no cut of your sales.
- Global platforms are powerful, but their built-in payment gateways don't cover Syrian wallets such as Sham Cash, Syriatel Cash or MTN Cash, and their pricing and support aren't built for the Syrian market.
- Syrian platforms fit the market better but differ a lot in free-plan limits and in what they offer beyond the online shop.
- Mtjry is a Syrian platform with local payments, no commission, merchant apps, and a path from an online store to running a whole shop — point of sale, inventory and accounting.
The kinds of platforms available to Syrian merchants
| Type | Strengths | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Syrian platforms | Built for the market: Syrian pounds, local wallets, delivery by governorate, Arabic support | Free-plan limits, features beyond the online store, and the platform's track record |
| Regional (Gulf, Egypt) platforms | Mature products with many features | Do they actually accept Syrian merchants? Do they support Syrian wallets and pounds? |
| Global platforms (Shopify and similar) | Huge app ecosystems | Built-in gateways don't cover Syrian wallets; pricing and support aren't aimed at Syria |
| WordPress + WooCommerce | Full flexibility and ownership | Hosting, security, updates and payment integration are all on you or a developer |
| Social media only | Free and instant | No stock tracking or orderly checkout — everything happens in messages |
Ten questions that decide it
- Local payments. Can customers pay cash on delivery (ideally with a deposit option), Sham Cash, Syriatel Cash, MTN Cash and money transfers?
- The new Syrian pound. Can you price in new pounds — and in dollars with a current exchange rate if you need to?
- Commission. Does the platform take a percentage of each sale? With Syrian margins, a fixed subscription is usually better.
- Free-plan limits. How many products and orders, and is electronic payment included? What happens when a trial ends — does the store close?
- Shipping. Can customers see the delivery fee for their governorate before ordering? Can you connect a delivery company?
- Arabic and mobile. Is the storefront right-to-left everywhere, fast on a phone, and quick to check out?
- Merchant app. Can you manage orders and stock from your phone, with an alert for every order?
- Room to grow. If you have or plan a physical shop, is there a point of sale, shared inventory and accounting?
- Where the money goes. Does it reach you directly, or does the platform collect it and pay out later?
- Support. Can you reach a person in Arabic on WhatsApp when something breaks before a big sale?
Can you use Shopify in Syria?
Even where signing up is possible, the gateways built into Shopify-style platforms don't include Syrian wallets — local methods can at best be added as manual payment instructions — and pricing, currency handling and support aren't designed around the Syrian market. That's why most merchants selling inside Syria choose a local platform.
How Mtjry answers these questions
| Question | On Mtjry |
|---|---|
| Local payments | Cash on delivery with an optional deposit, Sham Cash, Syriatel Cash, MTN Cash, money transfers |
| Syrian pound | Prices in Syrian pounds or dollars, multiple currencies, and prices by customer country on Pro |
| Commission | None on any plan — a fixed subscription only |
| Free plan | A real store with up to 10 products; stores don't close after the trial — they fall back to the free plan |
| Shipping | Rates by governorate and weight, free delivery above an amount, delivery-company integration with automatic waybills |
| Arabic and mobile | Arabic-first, right-to-left, built for phones; four ready themes with drag-to-arrange sections |
| Merchant app | Android and iPhone, with an alert for every order |
| Room to grow | Offline-capable point of sale, inventory and warehouses, automatic accounting — on Pro |
| Money | Goes straight to the merchant; the platform never holds it |
| Support | Direct WhatsApp support in Arabic from a Syrian team |
To be straightforward: if the most important thing for you is a free plan with unlimited products, compare free-plan limits carefully — Mtjry's free plan covers up to 10 products, and unlimited products start with Basic at $9.99 a month. If you want an online store, a point of sale, inventory and accounting in one place, that's what Mtjry was built for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best e-commerce platform in Syria?
The best one for most merchants supports cash on delivery and Syrian wallets (Sham Cash, Syriatel Cash, MTN Cash), prices in the new Syrian pound, takes no commission and handles delivery by governorate. Mtjry is a Syrian platform that does all of that and adds a point of sale, inventory and accounting for merchants with a physical shop.
Is there a Shopify alternative for Syria?
Yes — Syrian platforms built for the local market. Mtjry, for example, offers Arabic storefronts, local wallets and cash on delivery, delivery by governorate and merchant apps, with a free plan and no commission on sales.
Does Mtjry take a commission on sales?
No. Merchants pay a fixed plan — free, Basic at $9.99 a month or Pro at $14.90 a month — and customer payments go directly to the merchant.
Is Mtjry in English?
The dashboard, the storefronts and support are in Arabic, since they're built for Syrian merchants and shoppers. These English pages summarise the platform for English readers.