As it turns out, choosing the best platform for your eCommerce website can be pretty challenging. Both WooCommerce and Shopify can be the perfect solutions for you. But which is the best for you, which is easier to use? Which is more feature-rich? If you are torn between choosing WooCommerce vs. Shopify, this is a suitable space for you. We have mentioned the pros and cons of both platforms, highlighting their fundamental differences and providing an articulate summary in the end. So let’s move ahead and explore!
WooCommerce vs. Shopify: Pros & Cons
SHOPIFY
Shopify is often described as an all-in-one eCommerce solution. It includes numerous functions to create an online store where you can list your products. It lets you accept payments and manage your inventory, all from a single platform. It’s more of a ‘hands-off’ approach where you don’t have to worry about web hosting, security, caching, and other technical aspects of managing an eCommerce store.
Pros
- Fixed pricing
- Access to thousands of apps to extend your store
- Plentiful themes
- Incorporates web hosting, security, and other backroom functions
- Require minimal time to launch your store
- Simple dropshipping
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Customization limitations
- Lesser control over your eCommerce website
- Monthly subscription costs
WOOCOMMERCE
It is an open-source eCommerce plugin built for WordPress – the most popular website builder globally, powering 43% of all websites. It allows you to leverage WordPress and use it to run an online store. Unlike Shopify, it follows a ‘hands-on’ approach where you can customize various aspects of your store as you wish. The open-source nature of WooCommerce offers you the freedom to add custom extensions and tap into the code to access different functionalities. In addition, it lets you run your eCommerce business in conjunction with a WordPress blog.
Pros
- Offer complete customization
- Offer controlled scalability
- Simple to configure on WordPress
- The WooCommerce plugin is free
- Endless themes and plugins
- Allow plugin creation
Cons
- Technically complex
- Expensive due to hosting, themes, and plugins
- Self-hosting responsibility
- No live support
Significant differences between WooCommerce vs. Shopify
| Features | WooCommerce | Shopify |
| Pricing | Free to download, but comes with additional costs for hosting, domain, security, additional plugins & themes | Starts at $29 per month |
| No. of Products | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Web Hosting | Not included | Included |
| Security | Requires you to download plugins to configure security | Offers PCI compliance and fraud analysis |
| SSL Certificate | Not included | Included free with all plans |
| Customization | Complete customization and control | Limited customization |
| File Storage | Depends on your web host | Unlimited file storage |
| Live Support | No live support | Phone, live chat, email, and Twitter support |
| Extensions/Apps | Third-party extensions are available for customization | Apps are available for download |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | Available through extensions | Available as a standard feature |
| Multiple Language Support | Available through extensions | Available as a standard feature |
| WordPress Compatibility | Built to work with WordPress | Offers a WordPress plugin for $9 per month |
Conclusion: Who’s the ultimate winner?
Both WooCommerce vs. Shopify are viable solutions for any eCommerce business. However, it all boils down to your preferences, skills, and business requirements when choosing one.
Shopify is easier to use and doesn’t require you to know the technical aspects. In addition, you don’t have to install anything to get your website up and running in no time. The disadvantage of Shopify is that it limits your customization options and requires you to pay a monthly subscription fee which will increase over time.
WooCommerce is open-source and gives you granular control over your eCommerce site. It costs a lot lower to start an online store with WooCommerce, but you will need to be good at handling technical aspects.
In a nutshell, Shopify is for those who need a website up live in a short time with limited technological know-how and anyone who prefers 24/7 support. And WooCommerce is for those who want to build a large-scale website with lots of personalization and want control over the site’s design and hosting.
PS: At Nivara, we help you migrate from one platform to another as and when desired. We are a digital eCommerce agency helping clients all around the globe.