Woocommerce vs Shopify: Ultimate Ecommerce Platform
Updated on November 3, 2022 in Ecommerce by Nishant Shrimali
An eCommerce platform makes a lot of difference. It decides what skills you need to run it, the number of team members you need, and the scalability you can get.
Woocommerce vs Shopify is the top two competitors as a beginner eCommerce platform. Both their eco-systems are built around non-techy people. So choosing one among them can really be difficult.
In this guide, I am sharing an end-to-end guide on Woocommerce vs Shopify. Without taking any more time, let us get started by learning about them.
Here’s everything that we are going to discuss:
About: Woocommerce vs Shopify
Learning about both, Woocommerce vs Shopify is really important for an eCommerce platform. Here is a quick introduction to both these platforms.
Shopify
Shopify is a full-fledged eCommerce platform that you can use to build and scale your eCommerce from scratch. It is a platform built to start an eCommerce for people who don’t have any technical background.
That is why the whole UI, the apps and the feature focuses on ease of use from a beginner’s point of view.
Woocommerce
Woocommerce is a free WordPress plugin that you can install and turn any website into an eCommerce. It adds in various eCommerce features like the ability to add products, create a checkout gateway, track sales, and more.
While there are advanced features as well, the base plan (free plan) provides a lot of features for free that otherwise, you’ll have to pay for.
Ease Of Use
Woocommerce vs Shopify both are focused on ease of use. Woocommerce integrates with your WordPress website, whereas Shopify is designed for running an eCommerce store with ease.
Let us have a better look to know what’s best for you.
Shopify
While Shopify is a powerful eCommerce platform, it is the not easiest one. There are still some hurdles that you might come across every now and then. But non the less you’ll overcome them.
In addition to that, there are a lot of limitations in terms of features and customization in Shopify. And some point, during advancing your eCommerce, you’ll need some technical assistance.
Woocommerce
Woocommerce is by far the easiest tool to integrate and use. And since it runs on WordPress, you are able to access other WordPress features as well.
It is easy to add new functionalities with advanced plugins and customize the store with tools like Elementor.
Overall, the whole experience is extremely user-friendly and one hardly faces any hurdle or dead-end when using WordPress.
Themes & Plugins
Themes and plugins are an essential part of setting up our online store. They are a quick and easy way to skip development and get the work done easily and quickly. Woocommerce vs Shopify, both feature the following options.
Shopify
Shopify being an eCommerce dedicated platform offers 8 free themes and 74 paid themes to choose from. You’ll further find multiple styles within each theme you choose (depending on the theme). You can edit these themes to a certain level and get started with your eCommerce in about a day.
To further help you around with other marketing, automation, and tracking, you can use plugins from the vast library of the Shopify app store. Not just Shopify, you’ll even find many third-party apps that easily integrate and work smoothly with Shopify.
Woocommerce
As we discussed, Woocommerce itself is a WordPress plugin. That means you have the ability to turn a WordPress website/theme into an eCommerce.
That being said, there are 49 eCommerce dedicated themes on WordPress that you use as well.
Along with the various free and paid Woocommerce themes, you’ll see that there are almost all kinds of plugins that you can install and use on your WordPress. Hence giving you complete control and customization for your eCommerce.
Customer Experience
While we are talking about how you can manage and run your store, it is essential that we also see from the customer’s point of view. Woocommerce vs Shopify is both a great platform, but when we dive into details – here are a few things you should know:
Shopify
Shopify is fast. While the difference is in milliseconds, it is worth knowing that on average Shopify web pages loads at 309 milliseconds. The speed can be the content, theme, plugins, etc. But overall, Shopify is a little faster and that contributes to a better customer experience.
Woocommerce
Woocommerce speed depends on the hosting you choose. Because the Shopify plan includes the domain and hosting as well, the speed can be – more or less – the same.
Where for Woocommerce, the speed will depend on a lot of other factors like the hosting provider, type of hosting, location, and more.
Marketing & CMS
CMS stands for Content Management System. It is a feature that allows you to manage blogs online. While Woocommerce vs Shopify is mostly about eCommerce, blogs and marketing features will play a huge role in reaching your right audience.
Shopify
While you’ll find a lot of other marketing Apps for Shopify, one of the most common complaints that store owners have is the lack of CMS ability. Compared to Woocommerce, Shopify is really hard to post blog posts and run content marketing campaigns on Shopify.
Woocommerce
Woocommerce is leading here with a huge margin. WordPress is among the best CMS and when Woocommerce integrates, it gives your eCommerce ease of managing your blog posts and content.
Along with that, you’ll find various tools as well for other marketing activities just like on Shopify.
Final Pick
Choosing between Woocommerce and Shopify can be tough. The fact that they both are among the best eCommerce platform makes the decision even harder. But here’s a simple conclusion for you.
Shopify is the most powerful eCommerce platform to start and scale an eCommerce store. So if you are looking to just sell products online Shopify will be great. On the other hand, if you are running a blog site (or are planning to integrate blogs) WordPress will be a good fit.
Woocommerce vs Shopify, both are user-friendly eCommerce platforms for beginners. Your pick will mostly depend on the way you want to approach blogging in your content marketing strategy.
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