In relation to building an online business, the best two choices that money can buy are WooCommerce and Shopify. Anyway, it might be complicated to decide which one is better for you if you are attempting to decide between these two platforms. Should you migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce or is there a reason to choose WooCommerce over Shopify? It appears that it is impossible to describe at least one platform as ideal. They usually include a wide range of impressive options as well as a set of limitations. The major point is to ensure that the platform you choose offers everything you require. There are several advantages and disadvantages of these variants that should be considered before venturing into the realm of eCommerce. What do they have to offer you in terms of functionality, security, eCommerce templates, and other aspects? Let us find out here and now.
Basics About Shopify
Tobias Lütke and Scott Lake established Shopify in 2006 as a full-service eCommerce solution. After creating an online store for snowboarding equipment, the creators decided to develop the platform itself. They were frustrated by the current eCommerce systems and chose to establish their own. Shopify includes multiple functions required to get started with an online store and take payments right away. You do not have to deal with the technical aspects of running an internet store because it is a hosted service. To cut a long story short, Shopify’s platform promotes usability.
These elements combine to make Shopify a fantastic choice for anybody looking to quickly launch an online store, Shopify is a wonderful alternative if you do not require complete control over your store.
Basics About WooCommerce
WooCommerce, on the other hand, is an open-source plugin that you install alongside the WordPress CMS. It is a result of the work of the WordPress developer, WooTheme. After this, it was bought by Automattic in 2015. If you are working with WordPress, you can install and configure WooCommerce like other plugins. If you do not possess a site, it is critical to use this CMS as the base of your online project. Unlike Shopify, you must acquire eCommerce hosting and pay for it. While WooCommerce may be operated on an in-house server, many shopkeepers choose separate web hosting services.
WooCommerce is more difficult to set up and maintain, but it also allows you more control over every part of your store. As a result, the platform is well-suited to highly specialized users with distinctive objectives.
Simplicity and Flexibility of Usage
Since WooCommerce is not a hosted platform, you must install, maintain upgrades, maintain backups, and ensure that your shop is safe. Its installation is challenging since you must first install WordPress. To install it, follow these steps:
- Get a WordPress domain name.
- Register for a hosting account.
- Install the WordPress CMS.
- Locate and set up the site using eCommerce templates.
After completing these steps, you may install the WooCommerce plugin. When you activate WooCommerce, the setup wizard appears. In general, you must complete five steps to launch your store.
The biggest attraction of Shopify is that it is a built-in online store, therefore practically everything is straightforward. Establishing and operating stores is a snap because of its user-friendly interface. To begin with Shopify:
- Go to Shopify.com.
- Sign up for an account.
- Follow the simple set-up instructions.
- Then begin selling.
Shopify is intended for all owners, including those with little coding experience. It clearly outperforms WooCommerce in terms of usability. WooCommerce is designed for techies and skilled web developers, whereas Shopify is designed for beginners with no technical knowledge.
Stock Management
WooCommerce is extremely adaptable, and the process of managing the inventory is no exception. Its users may generate inventory reports and make adjustments to product properties. Essentially, there are no restrictions on the number of variable goods you may build and manage. Nonetheless, you will require the support of third-party programs to maximize the efficiency of your store.
Shopify, like WooCommerce, gives businesses ultimate control over the inventory tracking system. You are free to monitor stock, get stock alerts, automate purchase orders, generate in-house revenue reports, and more. In addition to this, it is possible to upload single or buck goods, customers, purchases, and other info. You can complete this task manually or through CSV files. Shopify users may also make use of a multitude of inventory applications to help them operate their businesses smoothly.
SEO Aspect
WooCommerce’s benefit is that it is based on a specialized blogging platform. WooCommerce customers may utilize the WordPress editor to change:
- body text;
- basic URL redirections;
- meta descriptions;
- alt tags,
- and other page components to improve product pages.
Simultaneously, WooCommerce presents a variety of SEO plugins to help you enhance your business, with Yoast SEO being the most widely known.
Shopify, on the other hand, has certain SEO constraints. In truth, Shopify users cannot completely change their URLs. This is related to Shopify’s inflexible URL structure, and some elements of your store URLs cannot be changed. Furthermore, creating sub-categories on this system is tough. Nonetheless, Shopify includes all of the essential capabilities for SEO, and they are often pretty straightforward to utilize. SEO software for Shopify is also prominent for its ease of installation and use.
Payment Gateways
WooCommerce accepts payments via PayPal and Stripe, two well-known payment gateways. The majority of WooCommerce shops should be at ease with any of the solutions straight away. WooCommerce includes payment gateway compatibility for several regional and less common payment services. Your payment gateway or bank will only charge you transaction costs. WooCommerce will never charge you a portion of the transaction cost. Instead, the associated payment processors will. However, the rates vary from one service to the next.
You may pick from over 100 Payment Gateways on Shopify, but you must pay a transaction cost of 0,5-2% based on the monthly plan you choose. The transaction price will be lower if you choose a higher plan. Furthermore, the platform has its own payment processor, Shopify Payments, which is completely free and extremely simple to use. You no longer need to work with a third-party source and be authorized for a merchant account to send payments. When you finish configuring Shopify Payments, your earnings will be instantly linked with your sales data. Users may also utilize this payment channel to use Shopify’s expedited checkout button called Shop Pay.
Dropshipping
WooCommerce is a great alternative for dropshipping businesses. Drop shippers may use WooCommerce to pay for plugins that let them immediately import items, finish orders from their website, and more. The bulk of the applications do the same duties.
Shopify now provides integration applications for numerous prominent dropshipping markets. Dropified and Oberlo are two of the more well-known examples. You will substantially profit from Shopify’s comprehensive capabilities to expand your dropshipping business regardless of the software you use for your online store.
eCommerce Templates
There is a wealth of wonderful eCommerce templates to pick from. WooCommerce has been designed to function with nearly all themes on the market, which means that in most circumstances, you can use any WordPress theme and have it work with the platform.
Nowadays, Shopify provides a variety of eCommerce templates, some of which are free.
Moreover, each Shopify theme offers unique variants. Shopify themes are designed by a team of expert website designers and are typically sleek and clean while still being multi-functional and visually appealing.
Anyway, there are different additional resources where you buy and download eCommerce templates for a bunch of business niches.
Security
With WooCommerce, you are responsible for the majority of the security. In further detail, you will have to obtain your own SSL certificate, set your site security plugins, two-factor authentication, PCI compliance, and some other things to safeguard your site.
Shopify handles all upgrades and security concerns. This platform includes a free SSL certificate, which means that all data exchanged between you and your clients is secured. The Shopify system also operates on a Level 1 PCI-certified server, which is required to handle credit and debit card information.
Support
Considering WooCommerce is an open-source plugin, there is no authorized assistance for this platform. The official site, on the other hand, contains a variety of valuable tools like:
The official site, on the other hand, contains a variety of valuable tools like:
- video lessons;
- tutorials;
- knowledge base.
There are also a range of sites on the internet that discuss WooCommerce thoroughly. So, you are likely to discover answers to all of your queries there.
Shopify handles support since it supplies everything you require to establish an online store. Shopify offers live chat, phone calls, and email support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If help is not available, you can contact them via social media. Aside from that, they provide a comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials to address the most frequent concerns. As a result, you do not have to call their help for every other issue. You can also hire a Shopify specialist to assist you with shop setup or third-party extension integration.
Pricing
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plug-in that is open source. However, a domain name (around $12/year) and hosting ($5-$25 monthly) are required. WooCommerce costs may include extras such as WooCommerce eCommerce themes ($59), plugins and extensions (starting at $25 a piece), and development expenses. Of course, you may not require all of the features listed above, so the WooCommerce cost may fluctuate, but this will provide you with a fair concept of what to look into.
Shopify, on the other hand, being a hosted platform, provides the whole bundle for your store. Do not bother looking for a hosting or theme supplier because Shopify has them all (the best shopify themes). Of course, there are monthly and yearly options available. You can get familiar with them thanks to this article.
A Few Words in Conclusion
If you are debating between WooCommerce and Shopify, here is a brief rundown of them.
- If you want to rapidly build an online business, Shopify combines robust eCommerce tools with an easy setup procedure. It does not require any specialized technical knowledge, but it comes at a cost. You will not be ready to control the platform and must pay a fee on every sale.
- The WooCommerce plugin turns a WordPress website into a strong eCommerce platform. It claims to provide you supreme power over your business with a large ecosystem of plugins, extensions, and eCommerce templates. However, to function properly, you must select a reputable web host.
| WooCommerce | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Users | 1,300,000+ (according to BuiltWith) | 3,300,000+ (according to BuiltWith) |
| Number of eCommerce Templates | Unlimited number | Unlimited number |
| Installation Process | Very easy | Intermediate coding knowledge |
| Help and Support | Phone, chat, email, manuals, and a discussion forum. | A very engaged community (forums and blogs) with varying levels of support from developers. |
| SEO | Yes | Yes |
| CSV Catalog Import | Yes | Yes |
| Payment Gateways | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory Management | Yes | Yes |
| Trial Version | 14-day free trial. | It is a free plugin. |
| Sales Commissions | From 0,5 to 2% | No |
| Pricing | It is a free plugin. | Shopify Lite: $9 per monthBasic Shopify: $29 per monthShopify: $79 per monthAdvanced Shopify: $299 per month |
By the way, using our promo code “wpfox10”, you are free to purchase every website creation product (including Shopify themes and WooCommerce themes) at a discount. Thanks for reading!
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