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Shopify Vs. Woocommerce- Make the Right Choice

Shopify Vs. Woocommerce- Make the Right Choice

To create a successful eCommerce website, you need a platform that helps you build your online store, add products, encrypt your customers’ data, manage orders, and, most importantly, platform that loads super fast. 

This guide breaks down the differences between Shopify vs. WooCommerce as eCommerce platforms. Which one is better? Well, that’s for you to decide. We have listed the key differences between the two eCommerce platforms, and you can decide which one is the best for your individual eCommerce needs.

According to Statista.com, as of July 2022,

 “WooCommerce was the leading e-commerce software platform worldwide in 2022. It has a market share of 36.68 percent.”

But don’t rush to opt for the WooCommerce platform for your eCommerce store just yet. First, let’s learn about the two eCommerce platforms and their pros and cons. 

What is Shopify? 

What is Shopify? 

Shopify is an all-in-one platform. Today over 3.9 million live websites are using this as their eCommerce platform. The great thing about Shopify is that it has everything you need: all the tools and features to set up your online store in less than 24 hours. You can accept payments and manage your inventory from a single platform. Shopify offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it easy for even non-tech-savvy users to set up and manage their online store. This means you don’t require technical expertise to manage web hosting, security, caching, etc. 

How to Get Started With Shopify? 

To start with Shopify, you will get a 14-day trial from the platform. Next, you have to register a domain name for your store. If you plan to do dropshipping with Shopify, create or import products. The following steps will be to choose a Shopify theme and set up payment gateways and shipping. The final step will be to drive traffic and start selling. 

What is WooCommerce?

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce plugin built for WordPress. Hence to use WooCommerce, you must initially install WordPress (which is also free to use). As stated above, WooCommerce will be the leading software platform in 2022. It is more popular than Shopify.

How to Get Started With WooCommerce?

The first step to starting a WooCommerce store is to set up a domain and web hosting server. Then install WordPress, followed by installing the WooCommerce plugin. The next step is to choose a theme and install and customize it. After this, set up WooCommerce features like payment gateways and shipping. The next step will be to import and create products, followed by the final step to drive traffic and sell online. 

Ecommerce Platform Comparisons

Shopify vs. WooCommerce

ShopifyWooCommerce
Hostinghosted eCommerce platformA self-hosted platform that requires users to set up and manage their own website and hosting.
Pricing Plan (Monthly)$29, $79, $299Free
Theme & Design VarietyLimited free themesA large variety of themes and custom designs.
Customer Support
Ease of UseSimple and Reliable. It can be used by non-tech-savvy people easily.Requires some technical knowledge to manage a website.
CustomizationLimitedLarge
PluginsOver 1200 free and paid apps.There are over 55,000 plugins. Hence letting you create custom websites without any hassle.

B2B eCommerce Platform

Both WooCommerce and Shopify are popular eCommerce platforms that can be used for B2B eCommerce. However, they have some key differences that may make one more suitable for your business than the other. WooCommerce allows you to add eCommerce functionality to your existing WordPress website. It is freely available for anyone to use and customize. This can be beneficial if you have the technical skills or resources to customize the platform to meet your specific needs. Shopify, on the other hand, is a fully-hosted eCommerce platform. This means that you don’t need to have a website in place to use it, and all of the hosting and maintenance are taken care of by Shopify. This can be a big advantage if you don’t have the technical skills or resources to manage your own website.

One key difference between the two eCommerce platforms is the number of available apps and integrations. Shopify has a much larger app store, with hundreds of apps and integrations available to help you add new features to your online store. WooCommerce has a smaller selection of available apps, but it does integrate seamlessly with the WordPress ecosystem, so you can use any WordPress plugin on your WooCommerce store.

Overall, the choice between Shopify vs. WooCommerce as the best B2B eCommerce platform will depend on your specific needs and resources. If you already have a WordPress website and are comfortable with the technical aspects of running an online store, WooCommerce may be the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a fully-hosted solution that is easy to set up and manage, Shopify may be a better fit for your business.

Best eCommerce Platform for Startups

Both Shopify and WooCommerce are good options to consider for startups. They both have a lot of features and tools to help you build and manage an online store, and they both have strong communities of users and developers who can provide support and guidance.

One key difference between the two platforms, Shopify vs. WooCommerce, is the level of control and flexibility they offer. WooCommerce is an open-source platform, which means that it is freely available for anyone to use and customize. This can be beneficial if you have the technical skills or resources to customize the platform to meet your specific needs. However, it also means that you will be responsible for managing and maintaining your own website, which can be a significant undertaking for a startup.

Shopify, on the other hand, is a fully-hosted platform. This means that all of the hosting and maintenance is taken care of by Shopify, which can be a big advantage if you don’t have the technical skills or resources to manage your own website. However, it also means that you will have less control over the platform and may be limited in the ways you can customize it to meet your specific needs.

Overall, the best eCommerce platform for a startup will depend on your specific needs and resources. If you have the technical skills and resources to manage your own website, WooCommerce may be the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a fully-hosted solution that is easy to set up and manage, Shopify may be a better fit for your startup.

Inventory Management 

Both Shopify and WooCommerce have built-in inventory management features that can help you track and manage your stock levels. However, they have some key differences in terms of the specific features and tools they offer for inventory management.

Shopify Inventory Management

Shopify’s inventory management features allow you to track stock levels for your products, set low stock alerts to notify you when stock is running low and manage multiple locations and warehouses. You can also set up automatic inventory updates when an order is placed so your stock levels are always accurate. Additionally, Shopify offers integrations with a range of inventory management apps that can provide even more advanced features and tools.

WooCommerce Inventory Management

WooCommerce’s inventory management features are similar, but the platform does not offer as many advanced features and tools. You can track stock levels for your products, set low stock alerts, and manage multiple locations, but WooCommerce does not offer automatic inventory updates or as many inventory management apps and integrations.

Overall, both Shopify and WooCommerce have strong inventory management features, but Shopify offers a more comprehensive set of tools and integrations. If you’re looking for a platform with advanced inventory management features, Shopify may be the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a more basic set of features, WooCommerce may be a good option to consider.

Shopify Integrations vs. WooCommerce Integrations

One key difference between Shopify vs. WooCommerce is the number and types of available integrations. Shopify has a much larger selection of available integrations, with hundreds of apps and plugins available in the Shopify App Store. These integrations can help you add new features to your online stores, such as marketing and email tools, accounting and finance tools, and customer service tools.

WooCommerce also has a selection of available integrations, but it is not as comprehensive as Shopify’s. WooCommerce integrates seamlessly with the WordPress ecosystem, so you can use any WordPress plugin on your WooCommerce store. This can be a big advantage if you already use WordPress for your website, as you can easily add eCommerce functionality to your existing site. However, it does mean that the number and types of available integrations may be more limited than on Shopify.

Overall, if you’re looking for a platform with a wide range of available integrations, Shopify may be the better choice. However, if you already use WordPress and are looking for a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing site, WooCommerce may be a good option to consider.

Dropshipping With Shopify

Shopify is a popular eCommerce platform that can be used for dropshipping. This eCommerce platform makes it easy to set up and manage a dropshipping store. The platform offers a range of tools and features specifically designed for dropshipping, including the ability to easily add and manage products from multiple suppliers, automate order processing and tracking, and integrate with popular dropshipping apps and services. Additionally, Shopify has a large and active community of users and developers who can provide support and guidance on dropshipping with the platform. You can find a wide range of tutorials, guides, and forums online where you can learn more about how to set up and run a successful dropshipping store on Shopify. Overall, Shopify is a better platform for dropshipping than WooCommerce. It offers a range of tools and features specifically designed for this kind of eCommerce. Shopify may be worth considering for people interested in starting a dropshipping business.

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

Hopefully, this guide, Shopify vs. WooCommerce will help you choose the best eCommerce platform for your work. Both platforms have differences and are suitable for different types of businesses. For example, Shopify is better if you want to start a startup in less than 24 hours with the least hassle. However, if you want full control over your business or you want something to be customized, then WooCommerce is the right choice for you. For example, there is a company that sells corporate gift boxes that wants its customers to buy multiple gift boxes and have each delivered to different customer addresses. In this case, WooCommerce is a better choice as Shopify doesn’t have the functionalities by default. WooCommerce, in this case, will be easier to customize, and there will be more choices of plugins available that can provide you with the functionality you require. 

Want to start your own eCommerce store? Or perhaps migrate your scaling business to another eCommerce platform? Look no further. Tekglide is a web development agency in Chicago, U.S.A., that offers affordable web development solutions. Whether you want to set up your own eCommerce store or you are looking to migrate to another platform, our specialists are here to guide you to make the right choice.