Shopify VS WooCommerce - The Debate Continues

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If you are going to open an online store, the choice of platform is important. Among many available options, Shopify and WooCommerce stand at the top. They’re both amazing, but they are built to meet different needs.

Here is a simple breakdown to help you decide.

How Popular Are They?

WooCommerce powers about 39% of all online stores across the world. It’s popular because it works with WordPress, which is the biggest content management system out there. This makes it an attractive choice for people already familiar with WordPress.
In fact, Shopify powers about 28% of all the e-commerce websites in 2024 and is considered the most used e-commerce platform in the world. People like Shopify just because it’s easy and does everything out of the box. If you want a platform that is just plug and play for you, you might actually want to check out Shopify.

Shopify is intuitive, hosting, security, and updates are all built into the platform. You pick a theme, configure it, and in no time, you are off selling. You don’t have to have any technical skills at all, Shopify manages it behind the scenes. Their customer support is there 24/7 also if you get stuck in something. WooCommerce is a bit more complex. It’s a plugin for WordPress, so you’ll need to set up hosting and security yourself. While this offers more control, it can be overwhelming for beginners. WooCommerce is better for people who don’t mind getting hands-on or already have experience with WordPress.

What About Costs?

The Basic Shopify plan is priced at £25 per month, and that gets you hosting, security, and support. You’ll more than likely need to add on top for premium apps and themes, and probably transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments, which means the more costly option when it comes down to scaling shops. Woo Commerce is free to install, but it’s not completely free to use. You’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and other optional features like premium themes or extensions. For small businesses, WooCommerce might be cheaper initially. However, as your store grows, these individual costs can add up.

Shopify provides ready-to-use, user-friendly themes that also look professional. Shopify can be your go to choice if you want to start quickly. However, Shopify does not offer much in terms of customizability when compared to WooCommerce. It supports thousands of WordPress themes. Almost anything can be modified to suit your brand. For this reason, WooCommerce is ideal for companies wanting a custom store design. This comes at the cost of requiring more effort and some technical expertise.

Payment Options

Shopify supports many payment gateways, but it charges extra fees if you use anything other than Shopify Payments. This can cut into your profits if you prefer to use another payment processor.

WooCommerce doesn’t charge extra fees for payment gateways. It integrates with lots of payment options, giving you more flexibility without extra costs. This is great for businesses looking to offer a variety of payment methods.

Shopify is best for beginners or businesses that want a simple, all-in-one platform that works out of the box. WooCommerce is better for those who need full control, flexibility, and customisation options. Both platforms are great, so it really depends on your priorities and how much effort you’re willing to put into your store.

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