Introduction
As with the high pace of flourishing digital markets, most marketers are trying to hold the best place on the internet. For that, they first require to build, manage and create an online store from which they can sell their goods and services.
As we know, there’s no such thing as “perfect” in any sense. Similarly, the two most commonly known platforms for building and creating online stores are – Shopify and WooCommerce. Each of them has its own pros and cons. You just have to make the right decision in choosing the one that fulfills most of your requirements!
In general terms, both WooCommerce and Shopify are popular e-commerce platforms that help to create fully functional online stores. Globally, there are more than 5 million users on both these platforms, and they have earned billions of dollars on an international level.
Here, we will state before you a comparative study of both these e-commerce platforms. Thus, you can choose for yourself which ones are better for your requirements!
Overview
About WooCommerce: WooCommerce, as we know, is a plugin highly in demand with WordPress users. It’s an open-source e-commerce platform that is the most powerful among many CMS (content management systems). Moreover, it helps you to run online with much feasibility. Therefore, you can customize the store as you like with the help of extensions that add several features to your store.
About Shopify: It’s an e-commerce platform that helps to create online stores related to any business. You don’t have to worry about technical knowledge and just pay for the package that’s more suitable for your business type. In addition, Shopify makes your work a lot easier as it includes hosting, security, domain, and other elements. Unlike WooCommerce, Shopify is not an open-source platform. Likewise, you first need to make the Payment and then work on it.
Comparative Outlook on WooCoomerce & Shopify
1. Price and Payment
As stated above, WooCommerce is an open-source platform, so you do not have to pay to use it. However, you may be required to pay for a domain, theme, hosting, and other necessary aspects. You can continue using the free trial if you wish, but it may also last for a certain time limit. All in all, if you want to add exciting features, you need to pay for them the same.
On the other hand, Shopify is a hosted platform where you can buy the full package of an online store you are willing to set up. Moreover, it’s a complete solution, and you do not have to bother with hosting theme, or other things to create an online store. Thus, you just have to pay for the plan first and then use the services of Shopify. Usually, a normal monthly package of Shopify will range from $29 to $2000.
2. Ease of Use
Most users trying to build an online store using e-commerce platforms are not developers. Thus, they require ease of use in order to work for their online store suitably. So, let’s see in Shopify vs. WooCommerce, which platform is user-friendly.
WooCommerce requires hosting from the user end. Alongside, there are a lot of things you have to do manually like – installation, updates, backups, and secure your store. However, though the process can be lengthy, it’s also easy as per the user experience.
Shopify comes with the advantage of having it all in one place. Thus, once you pay for the package that you choose, you do not have to do anything with much effort. More so, in both cases, you may need help either from a Shopify developer or a WordPress developer for WooCommerce.
3. Post and Blogs
As we know, every website needs content and a blog for it to rank on Google through the target searches. Similarly, posting a blog on WooCommerce or Shopify means that you are working as per the search engine algorithm.
While WooCommerce plugin of WordPress in itself is the most prominent CMS among all. Thus, you can improve, customize and change the default design of your site as per your content. Whereas on Shopify, you can add a blog with standard features. Also, you don’t have to put in much effort while creating a blog on Shopify, as it comes in handy with theme design and customization.
4. Page Speed
No matter how good and fascinating your products are, the buyer will shift to another seller if your online store takes time to open on the web. As per a recent study, it’s found that WooCommerce stores take more loading time in comparison with Shopify stores. Thus, it’s obvious to say that online stores on Shopify have a high page speed in comparison with WooCommerce.
5. Theme, Design & Template
The design and theme of WooCommerce are significant with the fact they appear just out of this world. Thousands of themes are available, and you can choose any as per your will. Moreover, there are no restrictions or limitations in the template and design of your online store using WooCommerce.
Whereas, on Shopify, you only get 73 options to choose from for the template that, too, most of them are paid. Though the themes on Shopify differ from one another on a completely different level, you do not get a handful of options to choose from. However, they are user-friendly, elegant looking, feature-rich, and created by professional website designers.
Conclusion:
Overall, both WooCommerce and Shopify are excellent in their field of work, and you can apply to any depending upon the business approach. Though many of you may find Shopify more compatible for its less work and time involvement, others may find it a bit expensive compared to WooCommerce. Hence, you can hire WordPress developers or Shopify developers in order to make your work more feasible!
