Shopify and WooCommerce are two of the most popular ecommerce platforms for business owners.
Here’s what you need to know about each of them, and how they compare in order to make an informed decision about which one is best for your store.
WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce plugin while Shopify is a Software as a Service (SaaS) eCommerce platform.
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin which helps you to run your own ecommerce store. It requires a self-hosted WordPress site.
After installing WooCommerce on a WordPress website you can configure a variety of other free add-ons from the WordPress plugins directory, but once you’ve done so, there’s no need to pay any monthly fees (other than web hosting fees and payment gateway fees).
WooCommerce clearly has more online community support because of being open source.
WooCommerce is highly customisable and easy to use.
If you already have a WordPress website with good content, WooCommerce is probably the best fit for your business.
Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform that allows you to set up an online store and start selling quickly without the need of any technical knowledge. When you sign up for Shopify, they provide a built-in payment gateway and hosting. You can take payments by credit card (via Stripe) or Paypal.
Shopify becomes your storefront, fulfillment center, and payment gateway. Shopify has the apps you need for marketing, shipping, customer service, and more.
These two platforms are the most popular of their types, and have been around for a while. They both have pros and cons, but getting started on one is much easier than the other. Not everyone has the same needs, so both Shopify and WooCommerce can work for your business. Whether you use one or the other, or both will depend on the type of products you sell, and how many products you need to sell to generate a profit.
WordPress & WooCommerce has a great community, but Shopify has a better hosting infrastructure.
Using WordPress and WooCommerce will give you way more control over your site.
All software are different, and each has it’s own niche. Shopify might be great if you have a store where you’ll be selling physical products. If you’re selling downloads or information, WooCommerce might be a better option. There isn’t a “best” option for everyone by default.
You should pick an ecommerce platform that’s easy for you to use and has the features you need. If you’re just starting out, keep it simple with something like WooCommerce or if you’re planning to launch a high-end brand or business, then Shopify would probably be a better fit.