Shopify and WooCommerce are two of the most popular e-commerce platforms available today. Both platforms offer a wide range of features, including payment processing, inventory management, and shipping integration. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that you should consider before choosing one.
Over my 15 years in retail, I’ve used both (alongside BigCommerce, Squarespace, and others…) and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you. I’ll be honest – Shopify has completely taken the lead…and for good reason. We always recommend ou clients go to Shopify before anything else…here’s why:
Shopify is a hosted platform, which means that you don’t need to worry about hosting or maintaining your website. Shopify offers a user-friendly interface that is easy to use, even for beginners. It also offers a wide range of themes and plugins that can help you customize your store. Shopify is a great option if you want a platform that is easy to use and requires minimal technical knowledge.
Shopify offers a range of themes and plugins that can help you customize your store. Shopify also offers a range of payment options, including Shopify Payments, which is a payment gateway that allows you to accept payments directly on your store.
PRICING:
When it comes to pricing, Shopify offers a range of plans that start at $29 per month. Shopify also charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction if you use a third-party payment gateway.
PROS:
1: Shopify practically never goes down. In the rare instance it does, they’re super quick to put it back up. It’s incredibly rare.
2: The apps are either free or incredibly affordable. You don’t need a ton of them unless you’re looking to expand SEO or other functionality on your site.
3: You can create a site easily if you don’t have the funds to invest into Shopify web design.
4: Their customer support is top notch.
5: Apps (vs plugins) NEVER get bugs. No need to update, either.
6: No tech knowledge needed.
CONS:
I honestly have none…..Shopify has covered all the bases from a designer & developer’s perspective.
WooCommerce is a self-hosted platform that requires you to have your own hosting and domain name. WooCommerce is built on top of WordPress, which means that it offers a lot of flexibility and customization options.
PRICING:
WooCommerce is free to use, but you will need to pay for hosting and a domain name. WooCommerce also charges a transaction fee if you use a third-party payment gateway. However, you’ll need a bajillion apps to make it work the way you want.
WooCommerce offers a range of plugins that can help you customize your store and also offers a range of payment options, including PayPal and Stripe.
PROS:
1: WooCommerce has been around for ages.
2: You can make anything happen.
CONS:
1: It’s incredibly confusing on the backend. Nothing is made with a retailer in mind and it’s incredibly clunky and dated.
2: You will need to hire a developer to make any changes. Most retailers will be totally overwhelmed.
3: If your site goes down, it’s your issue. Any plugins that aren’t updated or theme bugs (which happen OFTEN) will break your site.
4: Tech HEAVY.
Have questions? Comment below!
