Helping You Break Down The Major Differences So You Can Figure Out Which Platform Is Best For Your eCommerce Business
You’ve decided on your product, you’re about to set up your online eCommerce website, and now lies the million-dollar question.
Shopify vs WooCommerce… Which one’s really best?
Well, the truth is, it depends.
There’s no doubt setting up your business’ website is going to be one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. That’s why choosing the right eCommerce platform that fits your business needs is crucial to your success.
In this blog, come with me as I explore how Shopify and WooCommerce compare in a battle of the eCommerce platforms. Delving into the main features of each platform so you don’t have to.
(Woo-hoo!)
So What’s The REAL difference?
While Shopify is said to power over 800,000 online stores, WooCommerce is said to be the plugin of choice for 93.7% of WordPress stores.
But they both have very different approaches.
WooCommerce is an eCommerce plugin that turns any WordPress website into a powerful online store. It’s an open-source platform, making it free to install and highly customisable.
Shopify is a little simpler.
It’s a fully hosted all-in-one commerce platform that cuts out the need for technical knowledge. You only need to buy one of their available packages and you can start monetising straight away.
1. Ease of Use
If you want a platform that cuts out the technical jargon, Shopify is the platform for you!
It takes care of the technical side and every aspect is included in your plan (such as hosting, security, domain, etc.) Plus, you don’t have to install or update any software either.
With WooCommerce, there’s a much steeper learning curve. And as it’s installed in WordPress, you need to source your own domain and hosting, plus consider other factors (like maintenance) that’ll need to be dealt with.
WINNER: Shopify
2. Cost of Running
Although Shopify is good if you want a simple website, the more complex you get, the more your monthly fees will increase. That’s why it’s more suited to smaller operations.
For more complex stores, WooCommerce is most likely a cheaper solution overall.
The software itself is free to install and with that, it’s highly customisable. Plus there’s a HUGE variety of extensions that are reasonably priced if you need them.
WINNER: WooCommerce
3. Versatility
Part of setting up an eCommerce website is making it look AMAZING!
When you buy a Shopify package, you have access to a directory of over 70 free and paid themes to choose from. Customising them is simple and it’s possible to do it without any help.
But if you want a design that’s never been seen before…
Then WooCommerce is where it’s AT.
Because WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, the sky’s your limit when it comes to customisation. And there are thousands of free and paid themes, that can be customised further with a bit of coding knowledge. Plus you can go the drag-and-drop builder route for an easier way to customise without needing to code.
WINNER: WooCommerce
4. Online Support
If you’re not techy, the amount of support available can be make or break.
Shopify is the most user-friendly of the two. It has 24/7 online support to walk you through any issues via phone, email, and live chat. Plus an enormous database of FAQs.
WooCommerce has free public assistance for individual plugins and features, and you can get dedicated support from plugin developers. However, this can make it harder to navigate and much more time-consuming.
WINNER: Shopify
5. Search Engine Optimisation
Both platforms will always help you make sure your products are appearing in front of the right people.
Shopify has a great range of SEO apps in its App Store and you can optimise your content when building your site.
But WooCommerce is much more powerful.
Because it’s part of a WordPress website, you have increased control and the ability to implement more complex SEO strategies. You’re able to install an SEO plugin (free or paid) specific to the job making it much more effective.
WINNER: WooCommerce
And there we go!
I hope this blog has been able to break down the five major differences I’ve found between Shopify vs WooCommerce.
If you’re thinking about setting up an eCommerce store with WooCommerce and need some friendly advice, then get in touch now. Or if you’re interested in creating a custom website, take a look at my WordPress designs to get some inspiration.
I’m a Canberra-based web developer who is always happy to help anyone who needs it!