When it comes to setting up an online store, two platforms often come to mind: WordPress with WooCommerce and Shopify. Both offer powerful features, ease of use, and a variety of customization options.
However, the best choice for your eCommerce needs depends on several factors. In this post, we’ll compare WordPress eCommerce (WooCommerce) and Shopify, and explain why WooCommerce on WordPress is ultimately the better solution for most businesses.
Ease of Use
WordPress with WooCommerce:
- Setup: Setting up a WooCommerce store on WordPress requires a bit of initial effort, including choosing a hosting provider, installing WordPress and customising a theme, and then adding the WooCommerce plugin. However, the process is straightforward, and we take care of all of that for you – our versatile themes allow for fast & easy set up.
- Customization: WooCommerce offers extensive customization options. With thousands of themes and plugins available, you can tailor your store to meet specific needs – both for now, and for any unforeseen needs that may arise down the track..
- Management: Managing a WooCommerce store is user-friendly, especially for those already familiar with WordPress, but even if you aren’t – it is easy to get to know. The interface is intuitive, and the plugin integrates seamlessly with the WordPress dashboard.
Shopify:
- Setup: Shopify is known for its simplicity. It offers an all-in-one solution with hosting included, making setup quick and easy. You can have your store up and running in minutes.
- Customization: While Shopify provides a range of themes and apps, its customization options are more limited compared to WordPress. Advanced customizations often require knowledge of Shopify’s Liquid coding language which can become both limiting, and costly.
- Management: Shopify’s user interface is clean and easy to navigate. It’s designed to be simple for users without technical expertise, but this simplicity can sometimes limit flexibility.
Cost
WordPress with WooCommerce:
- Initial Costs: WooCommerce itself is free, but for your new website you will need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you may choose to use.
- Ongoing Costs: Costs can vary depending on your hosting plan and any additional services or plugins you opt for. However, WooCommerce is very cost-effective, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, and Envy Design hosting plans are significantly cheaper than Shopify. Our hosting plans start from $27.50+GST a month – with a 10% discount for annual payment.
- Transaction Fees: WooCommerce does not charge transaction fees, though you will still need to pay any fees associated with your chosen payment gateway – generally Stripe – you can see Stripe pricing here.
Shopify:
- Initial Costs: Shopify has a range of pricing plans starting from US$29 (roughly NZ$47) per month. Higher-tier plans offer more features.
- Ongoing Costs: In addition to the monthly subscription, you may need to pay for premium themes and apps to extend your store’s functionality. If you need to integrate with third party apps, these too can become quite expensive.
- Transaction Fees: Shopify charges transaction fees on sales unless you use Shopify Payments. These fees can add up, particularly for high-volume stores.
Flexibility and Scalability
WordPress with WooCommerce:
- Flexibility: WooCommerce is highly flexible, allowing you to add virtually any feature or functionality through plugins. It integrates with numerous third-party services and offers extensive customization options.
- Scalability: WooCommerce can scale with your business. It does requires more active management of your hosting environment, which we can manage easily on your behalf. With the right hosting plan, WooCommerce can handle large traffic volumes and complex product catalogues.
Shopify:
- Flexibility: While Shopify offers a range of apps to extend functionality, it is more limited in customization compared to WooCommerce. Customizations are often confined to what is available in the Shopify App Store.
- Scalability: Shopify handles all hosting and technical aspects, making it easy to scale without worrying about server management. However, this convenience comes at the cost of reduced flexibility.
SEO and Marketing
WordPress with WooCommerce:
- SEO: WooCommerce, combined with WordPress’s powerful SEO capabilities, provides excellent control over your SEO strategy. We use the plugin Yoast SEO, which can further enhance your store’s visibility.
- Marketing: WordPress offers a plethora of marketing plugins and tools, from email marketing integrations to social media plugins, providing comprehensive solutions for all your marketing needs.
Shopify:
- SEO: Shopify has good built-in SEO features, but it lacks the depth and flexibility offered by WordPress plugins. Customizing your SEO strategy on Shopify can be more challenging.
- Marketing: Shopify offers various marketing tools and integrations, but many advanced features are only available through paid apps.
Conclusion
While both WooCommerce on WordPress and Shopify have their merits, WooCommerce emerges as the better solution for most businesses due to its flexibility, customization options, and cost-effectiveness.
WooCommerce’s ability to integrate with a wide range of plugins and services, combined with WordPress’s powerful SEO and marketing capabilities, makes it a robust platform for businesses looking to build a unique and scalable online store.
By choosing WooCommerce on WordPress, you gain full control over your eCommerce site, ensuring it can grow and adapt alongside your business. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, WooCommerce provides the tools and flexibility needed to create a successful online store.