SitesPlaced vs SmartBiz —
David vs Goliath?
Amazon's SmartBiz helps small businesses sell online with Amazon's infrastructure. SitesPlaced is built specifically for Instagram DM sellers. Here's how they compare.
SitesPlaced is better than Amazon SmartBiz for Instagram DM sellers because it offers WhatsApp checkout, 0% commission, your own branded store, and a full order management dashboard — all for ₹39/month. SmartBiz is built for the Amazon marketplace; SitesPlaced is purpose-built for Instagram-to-WhatsApp selling.
⚡ TL;DR
SmartBiz is great if you want to sell on Amazon's marketplace. But if you sell through Instagram DMs, it's the wrong tool. SitesPlaced is purpose-built for DM sellers — WhatsApp checkout, order tracking in a dashboard (not Amazon Seller Central), PDF invoicing with your business name, and lead generation. Zero commission. Your brand, your store, your customers.
What is Amazon SmartBiz and who is it for?
Amazon SmartBiz (formerly Amazon Easy) is Amazon's initiative to help small businesses and local sellers get online. It provides an Amazon-powered storefront, product listings, and integration with Amazon's logistics and payment infrastructure.
SmartBiz is powerful but it's designed for Amazon marketplace sellers, not Instagram DM sellers. Key limitations for DM sellers:
- • No WhatsApp checkout — customers buy through Amazon, not your DMs
- • Amazon branding everywhere — it's an Amazon store, not your brand
- • Amazon fees — referral fees, closing fees, FBA fees eat into margins
- • No DM workflow — not designed for order-via-DM businesses
- • Complex setup — GTIN, HSN codes, Amazon policies to navigate
What is SitesPlaced and how is it different from SmartBiz?
SitesPlaced is a DM-first selling platform built for Indian Instagram sellers. It doesn't try to be Amazon. Instead, it gives you everything you need to run your DM business professionally:
- ✓Beautiful storefronts with your own branding and domain
- ✓WhatsApp checkout — customers send structured orders via WhatsApp
- ✓Order dashboard — track paid, pending, shipped, cancelled in one place
- ✓Inventory management — real-time stock tracking across all variants
- ✓PDF invoices with your business name and UPI/bank details
- ✓Lead generation forms to capture interested buyers
- ✓AI product descriptions to save time
- ✓Zero commission — flat ₹39/mo, that's it
How does SitesPlaced compare to SmartBiz feature by feature?
Should Instagram DM sellers use SitesPlaced or Amazon SmartBiz?
If you sell via Instagram DMs…
Your customers find you on Instagram, message you on WhatsApp, pay via UPI/COD. You need a tool that fits this workflow — not Amazon's.
SitesPlaced gives you a beautiful storefront link for your bio, WhatsApp checkout, and a dashboard to track everything. Your brand, not Amazon's.
If you want to sell on Amazon…
SmartBiz makes sense. It plugs into Amazon's marketplace, logistics, and payment system. But you're building on Amazon's platform, not your own.
Amazon owns the customer relationship. You're a supplier on their marketplace. With SitesPlaced, you own the customer — their name, address, order history, everything.
How much does SitesPlaced cost compared to Amazon SmartBiz?
SitesPlaced
Just ₹39/mo. Cancel anytime.
- ✓ 0% commission on every sale
- ✓ All features included in one plan
- ✓ Unlimited orders
- ✓ Your own branded storefront
- ✓ Cancel anytime
Example: 100 orders/mo × ₹500 avg = ₹50,000 revenue. You pay ₹39 flat. You keep ₹49,961.
Amazon SmartBiz
But Amazon takes a cut on every sale
- • Referral fee: 3–15% per sale (category-dependent)
- • Closing fee: ₹5–30 per item
- • FBA fees if using Amazon fulfillment
- • Payment processing included
- • Returns handling by Amazon
Example: 100 orders/mo × ₹500 avg = ₹50,000 revenue. After ~10% fees → you keep ~₹45,000. At scale, fees add up fast.
Why do Instagram sellers choose SitesPlaced over Amazon SmartBiz?
Your Brand, Not Amazon's
Your store has your name, your domain, your branding. Customers associate the experience with you — not a marketplace. Build loyalty that lasts.
WhatsApp-Native Checkout
Indian customers live on WhatsApp. SitesPlaced checkout feels natural — a structured WhatsApp message, not an Amazon checkout funnel. Perfect for COD and UPI.
Zero Commission Forever
Flat ₹39/mo. Sell ₹5,000 or ₹5,00,000 — same price. Amazon takes a percentage that grows with your success. SitesPlaced doesn't.
2-Minute Setup
Add products, share your link, start selling. No GTIN codes, no HSN numbers, no Amazon policy reviews. Built for speed.
Is SitesPlaced better than SmartBiz for Indian Instagram sellers?
Amazon SmartBiz is excellent for what it is — an onramp to the Amazon marketplace. But if you sell through Instagram DMs, it's like using a truck to deliver a letter. Too heavy, too complex, and you're paying Amazon for the privilege.
SitesPlaced is built for your exact workflow. Instagram → storefront link → WhatsApp order → dashboard tracking → invoice → delivered. No marketplace fees. No Amazon branding. No complexity. Just a clean tool for Indian DM sellers at ₹39/mo.
Try SitesPlaced — ₹39/mo →Frequently asked questions about SitesPlaced vs SmartBiz
Is SitesPlaced as reliable as Amazon SmartBiz?
SitesPlaced is hosted on Vercel's edge network with CDN caching — the same infrastructure used by companies like Notion and Loom. Your storefront loads fast globally. For payments, you handle them directly (UPI/COD) — no middleman.
Can I use SitesPlaced AND sell on Amazon?
Absolutely. Many sellers use SitesPlaced for their Instagram DM business and Amazon for marketplace sales. They solve different problems. SitesPlaced owns your DM customer relationships; Amazon owns its marketplace.
SmartBiz is free. Why should I pay ₹39/mo?
SmartBiz is 'free' but takes 3–15% on every sale plus closing fees. At 100 orders/month averaging ₹500, Amazon takes ₹5,000–7,500+. SitesPlaced charges ₹39 flat. You save money from day one — and keep your brand.
Does SitesPlaced handle shipping?
Currently, SitesPlaced tracks orders and generates invoices. You handle shipping yourself (or via your existing courier partner). Shipping integrations are on our roadmap and coming soon.
Can I use my own domain with SitesPlaced?
Yes! Point your domain to SitesPlaced, verify it in the dashboard, and your store goes live on your own branded URL. All stores also get a free subdomain at your-store.sitesplaced.com.