Skip to main content

WooCommerce Vs Shopify – Which eCommerce Platform is Better?

Looking to build an online store for your business? WooCommerce and Shopify are two of the most popular eCommerce platforms on the web and each option has its own pros and cons.

WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress. You can customise almost every aspect of your online store and even build custom extensions. Shopify is a proprietary website builder that’s ideal for those who want to build their own websites.

In this post, we compare these top eCommerce platforms on some critical aspects so you can make an informed choice.

WooCommerce Vs Shopify – Cost

With Shopify, building a website is super easy. Choose a plan according to your needs and you’re all set. The more features you need, the higher the monthly subscription fee you pay. Shopify offers its own payments solution but the payment processing fees are on the higher side.

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin. All you need are a domain name, hosting, SSL certificate and a web design agency and you are all set. Unlike Shopify, WooCommerce does not charge a fee on your transactions, which is a huge perk.

With many web designers offering affordable WooCommerce website design solutions, and an array of free extensions and plugins to choose from, WooCommerce is a better choice in terms of cost.

WooCommerce Vs Shopify – Customisation

You’ll find a range of stylish themes on both platforms. With Shopify, you get over 60 paid and free themes. Even if you count the variations, you are limited to about 100 design options.

With WooCommerce, on the other hand, the options are almost endless. What’s more, your web designer can customise the look and feel of your website to suit your brand, target audience and your requirements.

When it comes to design and customisation, WooCommerce is a clear winner.

WooCommerce Vs Shopify – Control Over Your Site

Given that WooCommerce is self-hosted, it offers you a lot more control and ownership over your site and data. Put simply, with WooCommerce, you control pretty much everything. Should you want to change your hosting service, domain provider or a payment processor, you can easily do so. You can take the website code and data wherever you move.

With Shopify though, you can’t move your website if you choose to move away from Shopify. This means you get access to their features only as long as you are paying their subscription fees. Moreover, you don’t have complete control over your data either.

WooCommerce is a clear winner when it comes to controlling your site and data.

WooCommerce Vs Shopify – SEO

You want a platform that can help bring in more traffic to your website. After all, your eCommerce store is of no use if your target audience can’t find it.

When it comes to SEO, both platforms are equally good. Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer integrations and apps that help improve your store’s SEO. Yoast, an SEO plugin for WordPress is easy to use and offers excellent support. Meanwhile, Shopify offers an array of SEO plugins but the free plugin, SEO Booster is an excellent choice.

Conclusion

When it comes to WooCommerce vs Shopfiy, it all boils down to choosing a platform that suits your requirements. If you are looking for complete ownership and flexibility, there’s nothing better than WooCommerce. If you prefer simplicity, Shopify is for you.

Contact Torquay Web Design to discuss your eCommerce project.