WooCommerce vs Shopify: What’s better for your online store?

It all comes down to customization…

September 12, 2020|byCarter|inAdvice, Research, Strategy, Website

When building an online store, there are a lot of options to consider. But if you ask us, there’s really only two worth considering: the Shopify platform or the WooCommerce plugin for WordPress.

But why the two? It would definitely be simpler if we had a one-size-fits-all solution for every business. But just like people, businesses are all different and they have different needs and excel in different ways.

If you’re hoping to find out if your store is more of a “WooCommerce”-type or a “Shopify”-type, you’ve come to the right place!

Pros and Cons

Cost

+ Free! (some optional plugins may have a pro-version requiring payment)

Customization

+ Open source; Fully customizable
+ Virtually infinite number of plugins and addons able to extend and expand functionality; perfect for niche stores
— Requires some technical skill and knowledge to set up

Stability & Support

+ Large community of web developers able to offer support in forums
— Requires manual updates
— Can experience plugin conflicts in rare instances or if mismanaged
— You have to set up your own hosting before use

Integration

+ Integrates easily with all major payment processors (but requires setup)
+ Integrates with many website services and allows for the construction of a larger website beyond the store

Cost

— Requires a minimum monthly payment

Customization

— Limited to pre-fabricated themes, styles, and official plugins
+ Simple and easy to use out-of-the-box

Stability & Support

+ Official Shopify support readily available
+ All updates are handled by the service, no conflicts or errors
+ They take care of hosting for you

Integration

+ Integrates easily with all major payment processors (no setup required!)
— Limited support for site content beyond the store

What do we recommend for you?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you decide whether to use Shopify or WooCommerce.

Purple = WooCommerce | Green = Shopify

Do you prefer in-depth customization or simplicity and ease of use?
Do you have a large number of products? If so, would you prefer to add them manually or in bulk*?
*Bulk import plugins for WooCommerce can be a lifesaver, but adding products individually can be tedious if you’ve got a lot to sell.
Will your store use any special features/functions or will it function like a standard online store?
Will your site be used for more than just a store? (Blogging, calendars/events, resources, galleries, etc)

Of course, these questions are rather limited in scope, so I’m sure you still have questions. But never fear! We’d be happy to talk to you about your specific needs and suggest a solution that will work for you. In fact, we might just be the folks you’re looking for to build your whole website! Just contact us, why don’t ya?