Shopify and WooCommerce: Decoding the Best Fit for Your Online Store

Introduction – WooCommerce and Shopify

E-commerce portals are top-rated sites among users who are planning to purchase goods and services over the internet. E-Commerce sites are majorly used for different types such as Business-to-business, Mobile Commerce, Customer-to-business, business-to-consumer, and the list goddess goes on. There are mainly two popular eCommerce development channels. One is Shopify, and the other is WooCommerce.

Talking about WooCommerce, it is an open-source, customizable eCommerce plugin built on WordPress. It has a powerful Content Management System (CMS) that is used to operate an online store. The open-source nature of this plugin allows customization in all aspects of the store.

Similarly, Shopify is also a leading eCommerce platform that enables businesses of all sizes to establish their store online and sell their products & services. This all-in-one platform can also handle inventory, payments along with other technical aspects of the website like Security, web hosting, caching, etc.

Both the platforms serve their purpose significantly; however, choosing one depends upon your skills and need. Some of the significant differences between Shopify and WooCommerce.

1. DEVELOPMENT TIME OF WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

This aspect emphasizes how quickly the online store is built.

WooCommerce:

If you are not in a rush to instantly attain massive sales, you may incline towards WooCommerce. It allows you to bring out your creativity, unlike Shopify. Although the process is time-consuming, you can make this website entirely yours with creative controls.

Shopify:

This is a better option if you are not having any technical skills and are beginning from scratch. Shopify lets you build your online smoothly and quickly. It has a less manual process, unlike WooCommerce. There are in-built themes you can choose from and even edit them.

2. SALES FEATURES OF BOTH WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

Both the platforms have advanced sales features to run a small business online. Some features are included as standard in each platform, but a few are add-ons.

WooCommerce:

• It does not include the ‘Abandoned cart recovery’ option.
• It has integration with multi-channels for selling like eBay, Facebook, Amazon, and Instagram. Here, only Facebook is free to install; the rest will cost you $79.
• It offers a seamless shipping experience, even to sell internationally.

Shopify:

• It has an ‘Abandoned cart recovery’ feature to gently remind customers with an email to complete their sales order by filling out the details again.
• It gives free integration with multi-channels for further selling, unlike WooCommerce.
• Shopify works extraordinary to make shipping a success by collaborating with DHL Express, Canada Post, USPS, and UPS, saving you time and effort to arrange your own courier.
• Shopify offers extra built-in features like Unlimited products, Over 100 payment options, Discount Codes, Website & Blog, etc.

3. DESIGN & THEMES OF WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

For any website, its design & theme are most essential to lure customers.

WooCommerce:

There are unlimited designs and themes to choose from in WooCommerce. Even you can click on ‘Themeforest’ to a giant gallery of around 48,308 website themes and templates. You must be technically competent enough to edit and customize the theme as per your needs.

Shopify:

Presently, there are around 72 template options provided by Shopify, and 10 out of them are free. There are specific variations in each theme. The most significant advantage is that all the templates are mobile-friendly already.

4. EASE OF USE WITH WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

Since all the business owners are not developers or web designers. Thus, such platforms must ensure their user-friendliness to make them easier to use.

WooCommerce:

Since it is not a subscription-based and a hosted platform like Shopify, a few things need to be managed like installing WooCommerce, Handling updates, Security of the store, and keeping backups. Establishing WooCommerce could be a complex procedure, as you require WordPress in the beginning. Further, get a domain name, register for a hosting account, install WordPress and its theme.

Shopify:

In Shopify, almost all things are intuitive as it is a built-in online store. At first, visit shopify.com, register yourself, and then go through the setup instructions, then ready to sell. Those with zero coding knowledge can also easily install Shopify and follow easy steps to build everything up.

5. ADD-ONS & AMP INTEGRATIONS IN WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

Third-party tools like lead generation tools, outreach services, email marketing software, analytics tool, etc., are required to grow the online store.

WooCommerce:

Since it is a plugin of WordPress, the user gets access to 55,000 free WordPress plugins and other paid ones. There are comparatively more add-ons and integrations offered by WooCommerce than Shopify. WooCommerce is a lot easier to personalize as per the needs.

Shopify:

It has a robust app store, where you can purchase third-party add-ons for the Shopify store. They have apps for lead generation, discounts, SEO, product reviews, countdowns, etc. It comes along with both paid and free apps.

6. SEO FOR WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

To get your site visible in the top search engine result pages, SEO is important. Both WooCommerce and Shopify are competitive enough to manage SEO undertakings.

WooCommerce:

It is developed using code that is optimized for SEO. Moreover, it gives access to WordPress’s massive range of plugins for excellent SEO services, unlike Shopify. Also, there are more helpful SEO prompts and guides to help in the longer run.

Shopify:

It also has a wide range of SEO plugins to offer from the app store. You can add basic SEO information in the titles and descriptions of pages, images, and products.

7. SECURITY BY WOOCOMMERCE AND SHOPIFY

High-level Security is a priority for eCommerce sites because you deal with payment processes and carry their confidential data.

WooCommerce:

• Since it operates with WordPress, thus the actual plugin does not accompany built-in Security. Therefore, any sort of security issue must be controlled by your hosting provider or yourself.
• WooCommerce does not come with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate. You can get it from your hosting provider while the time of signing up for a hosting plan.
• PCL-DSS, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, helps your site accept credit card payments with legal regulations. However, WooCommerce does not comply with PCL-DSS automatically, unlike Shopify. You need to follow specific steps to set it up.

Shopify:

• Since it is a hosted eCommerce platform, it takes care of the security breaches on its own and prevents hacking.
• There is a built-in SSL in Shopify that helps secure customer’s payment information, makes the site safer to browse, and enhances the online store’s SEO as Google prefers SSL complied sites first.
• Again, Shopify is ultimately PCL-DSS complied, and you can run with debit and credit card payment processes from the beginning.

Conclusion

Overall, both the eCommerce platforms serve the needs of the client of any business size. Both have solutions available for any sort of problem. Also, Shopify is costlier than WooCommerce. However, it depends upon you what you are looking for. Go with Shopify; if you are not a technical expert, you need 24/7 support for Security and sleek templates. Else, choose WooCommerce, if you want to reach tremendous regions with a large-scale online store if you are technically competent and passionate about personalization.