The e-commerce business is booming thanks to the growing number of online shopping. With that said, there are two main e-commerce platforms competing for dominance, which has left many people wondering which is better for their online stores. Shopify has been aggressive enough to grow its fortunes in recent years, but don’t rule out WooCommerce yet.
On average, both platforms are almost equal in terms of customer support, ease of use, and sales features. However, they differ in terms of charges, where Shopify charges a subscription fee, and WooCommerce is open source.
That’s not all, as you still need to know how the two compare, the features that make them great e-commerce platforms, and the areas that they can improve, which you will learn if you read on.
Which one is Better? WooCommerce or Shopify
Opening an online store is a great way to build your existing business or start one. Before you start looking for clients, you need to develop a stable, attractive, and secure online store where clients can buy what you’re selling.
The easiest way to do this is by using an e-commerce platform. Although there are countless e-commerce platforms you can choose from, WooCommerce and Shopify are the only standouts. However, a lot of people find it hard to choose between the two, and that’s why this article will review both of them.
For educational purposes, this review will look at the following aspects of each e-commerce platform:
- Ease of use
- Sales features
- Plugins and integration
- Design and themes
- Transaction fees and payment options
How easy is it to use WooCommerce and Shopify?
Although it gets easier to navigate both platforms once you get used to them, the main focus is how beginner-friendly they are and the required learning curve. Shopify takes this spot as you’ll find it relatively easier to use. The pages are also easier to amend, making it perfect for beginners.
On the other hand, WooCommerce requires a bit of a learning curve, which includes setting up pages, listing products, and updating product catalogues. WooCommerce might get a bit complicated for beginners, but that doesn’t mean it’s not manageable.
How do the Sales Features Compare?
Both have great sales features, but Shopify has the edge over WooCommerce on aspects like:
- Abandoned cart recovery – this feature helps a seller to recover all the abandoned offers without filling in the details again. WooCommerce doesn’t have this feature.
- Shipping – offering to ship is a standard requirement for any online store, and both platforms help with this. However, Shopify has partnered with Canada Post, UPS, USPS, and DHL Express.
- Multichannel selling – both platforms allow you to list and sell your products on places like Amazon, Facebook, and eBay. The difference is that WooCommerce charges you $79 to use these external stores, while Shopify is free.
What about Plugins and Integration?
WooCommerce performs exceptionally in terms of plugins compared to Shopify. WooCommerce has a range of plugins available that helps to improve its functionality and give it additional features. Shopify has more room to improve in this section, but it does have some decent plugins for a beginner’s store.
How do WooCommerce and Shopify Compare in terms of Design and Themes?
Shopify has invested heavily in themes, giving your store a sleek look. You can also alter the code to customize the store to your liking. Although WooCommerce allows for the same, the themes are not up to Shopify’s level.
Transaction Fees and Payment Options
WooCommerce takes this round since there are no transaction fees included. On the other hand, Shopify charges unless you’re using Shopify Payments. On the upside, both platforms support numerous payment options such as:
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Credit/debit cards
- Stripe
- Square
The Verdict
WooCommerce and Shopify are great platforms for building and maintaining an online store. They’re miles ahead of any platform in many ways. However, Shopify seems to have the edge over WooCommerce in several areas, such as design and themes. It also does well in ease of use of sales features. However, WooCommerce makes up for its shortcomings by not including any transaction fees and plugins. The bottom line is, both platforms are perfect for anyone wishing to start an online store.
Outro
No matter which platform you choose for your online store, you still need to learn how to use it and how to tap to its full potential. Both platforms can easily support small and large online stores, and they’re secure enough to sell your products globally. View our portfolio of e-commerce websites.
