The great debate! WordPress vs Shopify – which is better?

You’ve probably considered several eCommerce platforms before starting an online business, with WordPress and Shopify being the most popular.

The WordPress eCommerce solution, WooCommerce, makes sense if you already have a WordPress website, but if you don’t, a Shopify solution could be a great option for getting up and running quickly.

Let’s dig a little deeper…

What is WordPress?

There are two different versions of WordPress available:

1. Hosted WordPress is similar to Shopify, being a SaaS tool. For a monthly or annual fee, you get access to a broad range of features that let you build and maintain a simple blog, website and/or eCommerce site – wordpress.com
2. Self-hosted WordPress is a piece of software that you download from wordpress.org and then install on your own web server. It is open source, which means the code behind it is freely available and can be modified. As a result, WordPress-based sites can be highly customized. With the right website developer or by installing the right plugins, it can be adapted to meet the requirements of almost any web design project.

What is WordPress geared towards?

WordPress is the perfect choice if you are looking for versatility!

WordPress is a content management system that can be used to create any type of website. The possibilities are endless – and with an eCommerce plugin like WooCommerce, you can add a variety of online sales capabilities to your news and media website, your influencer blog, your educational portal and more.

The capabilities of WordPress when paired with WooCommerce:

• Turn any existing WordPress blog or website into an online store.
• Create an online store with a robust, fully-featured blog that can be used by one or more contributors.
• Sell both physical items that ship and digital goods that can be downloaded.
• Provide dropshipping and print-on-demand services.
• Offer memberships or access to a members-only educational portal.
• Take reservations, sell tickets online, and market events.

The cons of WordPress when paired with WooCommerce:

• It’s not suitable for beginners
• It requires frequent updates and maintenance

Develop your website with WordPress if:

• You have some form of coding knowledge
• You have the budget to pay for a developer’s help
• You want to create something more than just an eCommerce store
• You want total control over your site’s customization

*Note: A third of all websites on the internet are built with WordPress.

What is Shopify?

As previously mentioned, Shopify is a SaaS tool that has been specifically designed to allow merchants to build and launch their own online stores.

It provides a range of templates (‘themes’) that can be customized to meet individual businesses’ branding requirements, and it allows both physical and digital goods to be sold.

One of the key ideas behind Shopify is to let users without any technical or design skills create a store themselves, so you don’t need any coding knowledge to use the platform. However, Shopify does allow you to edit the HTML and CSS of your website, which means that those who do have coding skills will be able to customize their stores more extensively.

Because Shopify is a ‘hosted’ solution, everything runs on Shopify’s servers. So, you don’t need to worry about buying web hosting or installing software anywhere.

What is Shopify geared towards?

Shopify is known as a “dedicated e-commerce platform,” which means its focus is supporting your online sales. Everything about the Shopify platform is designed to help businesses efficiently run an e-commerce business.

The capabilities of Shopify:

• Quick-start online store design wizard.
• Built-in payments via Shopify Payments.
• Built-in shipping label printing with shipping discounts.
• Inventory, product data and collection management tools.
• Social selling on Facebook Shops and Instagram.
• Built-in marketing tools for Facebook ads, email and abandoned cart recovery.
• In-person and in-store sales using Shopify POS.
• 24/7 customer service to help you get set up or troubleshoot issues.

The cons of Shopify:

• High transaction fees
• Customization limitations
• Lacks an Email hosting facility

Develop your website with Shopify if:

• You have limited technical knowledge and want to create your own online store
• You want to keep good track of your budget
• You value convenience

In Conclusion

Both Shopify and WordPress for eCommerce have their own advantages and disadvantages.

While Shopify is one of the best eCommerce website builders that offer excellent support to help you with the technical stuff, WooCommerce is a better choice for those who already have WordPress-powered websites.

The final decision comes down to your specific needs and requirements.

Looking for someone to bounce ideas off and to chat more about your options? Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or message us on either Whatsapp or Email. 👋