WooCommerce and Shopify are both popular options when it comes to selecting an ecommerce platform for online stores. An online store’s appearance and function matter just as much as they would if it were a brick and mortar. For example, an abandoned cart recovery on both Shopify or WooCommerce would be the equivalent of someone setting aside items in a store because they left their credit card at home.
Luckily, online store business owners can take advantage of abandoned cart recovery, free templates, free themes, and advanced features through both WooCommerce and Shopify.
If both options benefit an online store, then you may be wondering which hosting provider to choose. To help you decide, we’ve created the ultimate guide to help you select between WooCommerce and Shopify.
What is an Ecommerce Platform?
To understand which platform can benefit your ecommerce store the most it is important to first understand what ecommerce is and which ecommerce platforms are available.
Ecommerce platforms are web hosting sites that enable ecommerce businesses to exist. They are great for online stores looking to present their shop and goods with more than just listings.
Searching for an Ecommerce Site
The ecommerce site you decide to use is important as well. This is where you’ll lay out your products and present your company to customers. For most shoppers, it may be their first impression.
When you’re searching for the platform to use for your ecommerce website, make sure to keep in mind things such as premium theme options. Minor details like this can go overlooked. If you’ve done your search for an ecommerce site and but are still wondering about WooCommerce vs. Shopify features, continue reading.
WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: The Key Points of WooCommerce Vs. Shopify
Both Shopify and WooCommerce can help ecommerce stores thrive. They are both dedicated ecommerce platforms for web hosting, meaning an ecommerce website where goods and services are offered.
A WooCommerce Store
The WooCommerce site allows you to sell online with a customizable
A Shopify Store
Shopify sites are already connected to ecommerce stores, making it easier to start a Shopify store. Shopify users don’t need to add plugins unless they choose to. Shopify’s app store is available for even basic Shopify shops to get the most out of their ecommerce store.
An Ecommerce Platform Connected to WordPress
If you are still wondering — WooCommerce Vs. Shopify or Shopify Vs. WooCommerce — then here’s a WooCommerce comparison.
The Woocommerce Website
A WooCommerce store is a store that can connect to any WordPress site. Your access to WooCommerce can be found where your managed WordPress hosting is. This gives you easy access to both the WordPress website and WooCommerce.
How to Get WooCommerce
To get access to WooCommerce, you can make a free WordPress. If you already have a WordPress account, you’ll have to search through the WordPress plugin and install it onto your WordPress blog or WordPress sites.
Details about WordPress
WordPress is another website that allows you to create an online store. While WordPress sites are accessible on a browser, you can also install WordPress as an App or directly onto your computer for better access.
WooCommerce Features
As mentioned, a WooCommerce store can connect to a WordPress site. If you choose WooCommerce for your ecommerce platform, you will have to get WordPress. If you already have it then here are WooCommerce store details that can help WooCommerce users.
WooCommerce Payments
WooCommerce offers several payment selections to customers when you sell them goods. This is a great way to give consumers various options. WooCommerce payments will be received through WooCommerce pos, allowing you to accept credit card payments, bank transfers, checks, and cash.
WooCommerce Management
WooCommerce also gives you access to a dashboard. It offers this option as a place where you can take care of your online store. This is helpful for WooCommerce users who want to manage their ecommerce business. It allows you to track shipping.
Customizing your WooCommerce Store
Like Shopify, WooCommerce allows you to customize your store. WooCommerce offers a variety of themes to choose from — these can help you make your online store one like no other. The themes work similarly to WordPress themes.
WooCommerce Themes
While WooCommerce has templates readily available, similarly to WordPress, WooCommerce has premium themes available for purchase. You can also create or customize the WooCommerce theme to match your WordPress theme.
A Dedicated Ecommerce Platform
Shopify is a
Shopify Sites
Shopify offers online stores to bring businesses alive. Shopify is available for any business. However, Shopify users must pay to use the ecommerce platform.
What’s a Shopify Plan?
Since ecommerce might look different for all online stores, Shopify offers an alternative plan based on differing individual needs.
Shopify Basic
Shopify basic is best for those with new ecommerce businesses. It’ll allow those new to online stores to still have a limited presence. This allows the new ecommerce owners to focus on customer service, their services and learn while not becoming overwhelmed.
Shopify Lite
If you are looking at Shopify pricing, this is the middle ground for Shopify plans. While you receive exposure options, it is still not as advanced as if you have been operating an ecommerce business for a while. If you have prior experience with an online business or have used a platform but now want a website, this could be a great option that will allow you to transition and grow a business online.
Advanced Shopify
An advanced Shopify account is best for businesses that require advanced reporting. In other words, if you have high success with your products, meaning a good amount of orders are coming in, then you may want to consider this option.
Your Shopify Store
A Shopify store is a great way to sell goods. But beyond that, you can also use the online store to schedule appointments, collect memberships, set up consultations, place digital products, classes, and more.
Shopify Payments
Due to the wide variety of things that Shopify users can offer, Shopify payments also vary. Shopify payment options include credit cards, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and more.
This makes it convenient for business owners when they want to sell a product.
WooCommerce Vs. Shopify
Now that the basics of both ecommerce platforms are out of the way. Here’s a final comparison of WooCommerce vs. Shopify.
Shopify’s Features
An online site where you can access all features is a wonderful addition. Being able to pick your own Shopify plan, like Shopify Lite, along with Shopify’s app store or a Shopify pos, make for a superior user experience.
WooCommerce Features
Unlike Shopify, WooCommerce has an advantage — being a part of WordPress. WordPress is free to place an online store on. It also gives you many options for WordPress plugins, such as WooCommerce. WooCommerce themes can also be created to match your WordPress site.
Ecommerce Platform Tips
If you already have an ecommerce platform that you use or are just looking to continue to learn how to use ecommerce platforms, here are a few helpful tips.
Free SSL Certificate
Website owners should obtain an SSL certificate. This is essentially a secure connection to your online store.
An SSL certificate isn’t difficult to obtain. Shopify offers this for its users, and WooCommerce will accept an SSL certificate that is
Other Ecommerce Platforms
Ecwid is another option that allows you to sell online for free. That’s right, there are other options for your ecommerce store that won’t cost you a penny.
While you may already have a platform, you can integrate Ecwid to sell from anywhere — Amazon, social media sites like Instagram or Facebook, and more. But if you don’t have a platform, you can quickly add images, a
Before you fixate on Shopify vs. WooCommerce, know that those aren’t the only ecommerce options available to you. A WooCommerce vs. Shopify comparison may keep you tied up for a while, but it is your online store, so you should go with what is the best platform for you.
It’s Your Online Store
When comparing Shopify to WooCommerce, or vice versa, it’s important to remember what your ecommerce store is all about.
A WooCommerce store might be a better choice if you have a
WooCommerce vs. Shopify
You can spend hours comparing WooCommerce and Shopify. These two ecommerce platforms both have tons to offer but what ultimately matters is finding the right fit for you.
Or take advantage of Ecwid by signing up and trying Ecwid for free. What have you got to lose?
