Which is better? WooCommerce or Shopify?
If your company is thinking about expanding its existing e-commerce venture or starting a fresh e-commerce-based business, one of the first steps is comparing different e-commerce platforms. So, which platform is the best fit for you?
In this article, we’ll dive into a comparison of two of the world's most popular e-commerce platforms: WooCommerce and Shopify. We’ll explore their strengths, weaknesses, and which one might meet your needs right now.
Discover more about our custom e-commerce solutions: WooCommerce online stores.
WooCommerce in a nutshell:
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin that integrates with the WordPress content management system. It's been gaining traction globally and now powers about 28% of all online stores. (Source: BuiltWith – The Entire Internet). We recommend WooCommerce for growth-focused small to medium-sized businesses that prioritize content in their online stores.
Advantages of WooCommerce:
- Versatility: Ideal for selling both physical and digital goods, as well as services.
- Customization: You can extensively tailor a WooCommerce store to match your business’s unique needs, helping your store stand out.
- Scalability: It scales up smoothly as your business grows.
- Integration: Integrating WooCommerce with other systems like ERP, CRM, or accounting tools is straightforward.
- Cost-effectiveness: Developing a WooCommerce store is cost-effective, and skilled developers are readily available.
- Community Support: You'll find a wide range of domestic and international payment and shipping integrations ready to go. Being a WordPress plugin, WooCommerce benefits from the robust, open-source community and avoids locking you into a single vendor.
Challenges with WooCommerce:
- Advanced Customization Required: Out of the box, WooCommerce doesn’t support multiple inventory locations or multilingual setups, which might require significant customization for businesses targeting multiple markets. (But these features can be easily added with the help of professionally-built plugins!)
- Technical Knowledge Needed: It's similar to other lower-cost solutions in basic functionality; it only makes sense to use it if you can leverage its extensive customization options. Maintaining a WooCommerce site requires either technical skills or a partnership with a knowledgeable vendor.
- Limited Direct Support: Direct support from WooCommerce is limited, though there are numerous helpful forums online.
Shopify in a nutshell:
Founded in 2004 in Canada, Shopify offers an e-commerce platform that has rapidly expanded to claim nearly 21% of the global market share. (Source: BuiltWith – The Entire Internet)
Shopify makes it super easy for anyone to start an online store—it’s user-friendly, and setting up doesn’t require any coding skills if you use the pre-designed themes.
Advantages of Shopify:
- Ease of Use: Setting up a Shopify store is quick and straightforward, needing no tech skills.
- Support: It’s great for DIY entrepreneurs but there’s also professional support available if needed.
- Low Startup Cost: Starting costs are low, with plans ranging from $29 to $319 per month. Shopify offers a variety of stylish, responsive themes optimized for different devices.
- Included Customer Support: Customer support is included in your subscription.
Challenges with Shopify:
- Ongoing Costs: You'll pay not only for platform licenses but also a sales commission ranging from 0.5% to 2.5% plus additional fees for payment processing.
- Limited Customization: Customization is limited unless you’re willing to delve into coding. Many themes and plugins come with extra costs, averaging between $150 and $200 for themes and about $20 to $50 per month for plugins.
- Vendor Lock-In: By choosing Shopify, you’re buying into the ongoing development and vision of another company, which might not always align with your own business goals.
So, which one fits your needs?
The choice is straightforward: if you’re a solo entrepreneur looking to quickly set up a simple store, Shopify is ideal. If your business is larger, or if you plan to expand and need your e-commerce platform to evolve with you, WooCommerce is likely a better long-term investment. While Shopify is excellent for starting out, it might become limiting as you grow.
At Valve, we love building customised WooCommerce stores with growth-hungry companies. We’re experts in creating online sales machines that integrate tightly with your existing systems, saving you time, money and giving your customers the best buying experience possible.
Feeling like you’re out-growing Shopify? If your store is currently on Shopify and you’re looking for something more scaleable and flexible, we can help you smoothly transition to WooCommerce.
Think a WooCommerce store might be in your future? Get in touch and let’s talk shop.
