Before we begin our in-depth comparison of the two most popular eCommerce platforms on the web, it’s important that we cover the basics and highlight what makes these platforms stand out.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce solution that makes it easy for you to create an online store, accept payments, and manage your inventory all from a single platform.
With Shopify, you don’t need to worry about the technical aspects of running an eCommerce site like web hosting, security, caching, and so on.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is an open source eCommerce plugin built for WordPress. It allows you to take advantage of the most powerful content management system (CMS) and use it to run an online store.
WordPress is the most popular website builder on the planet powering 43% of all websites, and what many don’t know is that WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce platform (yes, even more popular than Shopify).
Due to the open source nature of WooCommerce, you can customize every aspect of your store and easily add custom extensions.
The decision to choose between the two platforms depends entirely on your needs and skill level.
WooCommerce vs Shopify: Which Ecommerce Platform Is Better?
Shopify and WooCommerce are powerful platforms to launch your eCommerce store. It really comes down to your personal skills and preferences.
Shopify is much easier to use. You don’t need to install anything and you can get started quickly. Payments are easier to set up and they have clear pricing plans.
The downside of Shopify is that you don’t have full control over everything. Your costs can be high due to transaction fees, add-ons and integrations. Your upgrade options are limited to individual plans, and you can’t manage costs on a pay-as-you-grow basis.
WooCommerce is open source and gives you complete control over your website. Starting an online store with WooCommerce costs a lot less, especially with these WooCommerce hosting companies.
The downside is that you will have to maintain the software. It comes with some kind of learning curve. However, millions of beginners are already using it, and they quickly pass the learning stage.
If you are looking for a cost-effective solution and want to have complete control over your online store, then WooCommerce is the best platform for you.
If you want something completely hassle-free with infinite scalability, then Shopify is the best platform for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shopify vs WooCommerce
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Shopify and WooCommerce that users have asked us.
1. How is WooCommerce different from Shopify?
Shopify provides platform as a service. They provide software and website hosting for your online store and take care of backup, security and maintenance.
On the other hand, WooCommerce is its own e-commerce platform. You will need a WooCommerce hosting account and a domain name and you will manage your online store on your own.
Both platforms allow you to easily sell products online, receive payments through PCI-compliant third-party payment gateways, and manage inventory.
2. Which one is more popular Shopify vs WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is the world’s most popular e-commerce platform. According to Builtwith, WooCommerce is used by 28% of the top 1 million websites, followed by Shopify at 20%.
WooCommerce runs on top of WordPress, which is the most popular website builder in its own right, powering over 43% of all websites on the internet.
3. Can I use Shopify with WordPress?
You can use Shopify Lite with WordPress by installing the Shopify Buy Now button. This implementation will redirect users to the Shopify cart to complete the checkout.
However, its implementation will be a bit more complex and may not provide the best user experience. If you are using WordPress then there are plugins like WPForms that allow you to accept payments online without installing a shopping cart plugin like WooCommerce.
4. What are the alternatives to Shopify and WooCommerce?
Shopify and WooCommerce are two of the leading eCommerce platforms on the market.
Ecommerce services that offer platforms as a service like Shopify include BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, and more. WordPress plugins that you can use as an alternative to WooCommerce include MemberPress, WP Forms, Easy Digital Downloads, and more.
5. Which e-commerce platform is more flexible?
WooCommerce offers more flexibility with a larger library of extensions. It runs on top of WordPress, so it can be used for blogging and a business website at the same time. Works with all email platforms like Constant Contact, Mailchimp and more. You can easily optimize your website with an SEO plugin like All in One SEO or Yoast SEO.
You also get more WooCommerce themes from the free WordPress.org theme store. More importantly, you can easily use conversion boosting and abandoned cart recovery tools.
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