Choosing a suitable platform is perhaps the most important step that you do when executing an eCommerce business. Shopify and WooCommerce are two among the most popular eCommerce solutions with the strengths and weaknesses shown above. Therefore the question arises which of the two is better for your business? Whether you operate a small online store or a large retail chain, this article will help you in making the right choice.
Shopify and WooCommerce: Comparison
Shopify is a cloud SaaS that provides with everything that is necessary for successful online business launching and does not require additional software. From hosting and domain registration service up to the themes and even payments everything is smoothly interconnected to make sure that anyone can easily commence their journey.
WooCommerce on the other hand is a WordPress based plugin, which makes it one of the world’s most popular site building platforms. WooCommerce is an entirely versatile plugin that enables you to possess entire management over your store. For full site design, WooCommerce also enables you and you can also tap into the plugin and theme database as well.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Pricing
When it comes to price comparison, Shopify vs WooCommerce pricing is not very easy to compare because both have different pricing models.
Shopify has a rather simple pricing system for its products. It begins with the Basic plan, which costs $39 per month, while the Advanced plan costs $399/month. These prices include hosting, SSL, and customer support. Shopify also charges a transaction fee if you use a third-party payment gateway.
WooCommerce itself is a free plugin, but you’ll need to pay for website hosting, a domain, and an SSL certificate. Hosting costs can vary widely, starting around $10/month for basic shared hosting but can be more expensive for better performance or dedicated servers.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Ease of Use
Like with most other platforms Shopify is meant for ease of use for any user. It allows managing all aspects of hosting, upgrades, and protection, so you do not have to worry about it – just have a store. Its simplicity and WYSIWYG editor mean you don’t have to be a developer to launch your store and customize its look and feel with templates.
WooCommerce might be less beginner-friendly in comparison to other platforms because it works with WordPress. Unfortunately, you are on your own when it comes to hosting and security, which might need some coding skills at times. But the best thing is that there are unlimited WordPress plugins and themes with a highly customized store atmosphere.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Design and Customization
Shopify provides its users with a selection of professional templates all of which are responsive and suitable for enhancing sales. It has exquisite and easy to install themes that do not need much change to support great looks and make a beautiful store.
WooCommerce has a bit more flexibility as users will be given access to the WordPress themes and plugins. Some plugins and themes are developed by WooThemes, the same company behind WooCommerce, while others come from third parties The good news is that it is possible to change many aspects of these WooThemes to fit your branding needs.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Integrations
Shopify is created to assist users run their eCommerce store and it has all the necessary functionalities to run.
WooCommerce is a plugin and it is free but to use WooCommerce you will need a web host, a domain and SSL certificate.
Shopify Consultants vs WooCommerce Experts
If you want or need help, Shopify consultants are easily accessible through the Shopify Experts Market. There are experts, who have deep knowledge of how Shopify stores should be created, customized, and further optimized. However, similar to Shopify, WooCommerce also has an active and strong developer base, although consultants are most likely to be found on open support forums like WordPress.
Final Words
Shopify and Woocommerce comparison, which one is better solely depends on your plan and the technical knowledge you possess.
Shopify can be recommended to those clients who need an instant payment solution with almost no setup time. It is a proven platform that saves time and handles the setup processes on your behalf; therefore, suitable for small to medium enterprises.
Alternatively, if you have special requirements for site design and development, or simply wish to have more control over the WordPress site you are creating, the WooCommerce option is the more suitable. It offers a platform that can be easily modified and offers quite a number of plugin features more suited for users who already know WordPress.
