Shopify Vs WooCommerce

There are so many options available when it comes to setting up and creating an online store. There is the option to build a site from scratch using an ecommerce platform like Shopify or Magento, or you can use a plugin to make an existing site suitable for online sales. An example of this is a WordPress plugin called WooCommerce. In this comparison we are taking a look at Shopify Vs WooCommerce to help you decide which option is best suited to you and your business. 

Shopify

Shopify is an ecommerce software platform that allows businesses of all sizes, from startup to enterprise level to create a usable and scalable online store. IT has a variety of features making it possible for almost anyone to build an online store without the need for any coding knowledge. This is due to its range of customisable templates and easy to navigate user interface.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is slightly different from the other ecommerce softwares that we have discussed in previous articles including Shopify. It is an open source ecommerce plugin for WordPress. WooCommerce is designed for online merchants who use WordPress. It became popular soon after its launch due to its simplicity to use and install. 

Pros and Cons

Shopify Pros

• Simple to set up and use
• Secure and reliable
• Outstanding 24/7 customer support
• Responsive and fast
• Powerful tools and apps available
• Different payment options available

Shopify Cons

• Adding plugins can be complex 
• Some theme templates cost extra
• For every sale you make Shopify takes a cut

WooCommerce Pros

• Limitless customisation 
• Scalable
• Good value for money

WooCommerce Cons

• Not beginner friendly
• Coding knowledge is necessary to build the store you want

Shopify Vs WooCommerce: feature comparison

Store functionality

Shopify creators have taken the time to select themes that are responsible across all devices and fully functionable, this means they will work best with your store. Whilst WooCommerce have a larger range of themes and possibilities, their functionality can depend on how much additional work you put in as well as your technical abilities. If you are looking for a fully responsive theme across all devices, we recommend WooCommerce’s theme ‘storefront’. 

Payment system

When it comes to making sales and getting paid, the more payment options available means the more accessible your online store is to potential customers. Fortunately, both Shopify and WooCommerce have over 100 payment gateways. WooCommerce wins on this feature comparison though as unlike Shopify, it doesn’t charge you transaction fees.

Customisation

When it comes to customisation Shopify Vs WooCommerce both provide customisable themes that give your store a professional layout and feel. There are a number of themes to choose from in Shopify, a mixture of both paid and free themes are available. WooCommerce in contrast, whilst providing a large range of themes, the design looks depend on the hours you are willing to put in. 

Blogging

When it comes to ecommerce, you may be thinking that a blog is not necessary. We’re here to tell you it is necessary and you should never underestimate the power of blogging. Blogging provides you with the opportunity to target a number of different keywords that relate to your business and products. If you effectively optimise your blog posts with SEO and manage to rank well in search engines, you have a better chance of reaching more of your target audience. So, let’s compare Shopify Vs WooCommerce for blogging. Firstly, Shopify has a built-in blog feature which makes it easy to access and upload content to your blog. WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin and WordPress is renowned for being an effective blogging platform. This means that blogging is really easy with WooCommerce. 

Shopify Vs WooCommerce: Ease of use

If you are looking for an ecommerce platform that you can set up and use yourself without a developer, Shopify is best for you. WooCommerce is a far more technical platform where you will either need some coding knowledge or the assistance of a developer to use effectively. ALternatively, you will have to take time to learn how to use WooCommerce. Shopify on the other hand is easy to use for almost anyone as you don’t need coding knowledge to make the most out of it as it takes care of a lot of the technical aspects itself. You also won’t need to worry about installing, managing and updating software with Shopify nor will you have to worry about security. 

Shopify Vs WooCommerce: Cost

Shopify Cost

When it comes to costing Shopify it is important to remember that the price you pay varies based on the features and benefits your business needs. Generally speaking, the bigger your business, the more your plan will cost.

Shopify also offers a similar plugin style service to WooCommerce which allows you to add a Shopify Lite plan to an existing website. For example if you have already built a website on WordPress you can add Shopify Lite to make payment processing possible. 

Shopify Lite- $9, ad a buy button to any website and accept payments 

Basic Shopify– $29, best for startups and small businesses

Shopify– $79, best for growing businesses who sell both in person and online

Advanced Shopify– $229, best for scaling businesses

Shopify Plus– $2000+, best for higher volume businesses

You can trial Shopify for 14 days to work out whether Shopify is suitable for you. 

WooCommerce cost

To make the free plugin functional, it will cost you around $10 a month to cover the basic features. If you want to make the plugin more advanced it will cost an additional $200 a year roughly and for even larger scale WooCommerce sites, you can expect total annual costs upwards of $1000. 

It’s important to keep in mind that on top of your WooCommerce fees, you can expect to spend money on hosting, domain name, security and potential costs of transaction fees depending on sales volume. 

Overview 

Hopefully our Shopify Vs WooCommerce comparison has given you a better understanding of each platform and what they have to offer for your online business. To find out more about other ecommerce platforms available such as Wix, Magento, Squarespace or WordPress, head over to our blog where we talk in depth about each platform. If Shopify seems like the right platform for you, and you want to learn more about how a Shopify Partner can help you, do not hesitate to contact Our Digital Team.