When you’re just starting out in the world of eCommerce, it can be difficult to know where to start.
From setting up the best website to creating engaging online content and getting the right delivery and returns policy in place, there’s more to online trading than meets the eye.
One of the first decisions that must be made, however, is the platform you’ll use to host your eCommerce website. From Magento to BigCommerce and ShopWired to Etsy, there are lots of different platforms out there to choose from, each with their own individual advantages and disadvantages.
With that in mind, we’re going to take a look at two of the most popular eCommerce platforms, WooCommerce and Shopify, to help you decide which is best for your business.
What’s the difference?
Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce platform that manages all aspects of your business and hosts your site for you. It operates your entire business from one single platform and deals with everything from marketing to payments and shipping.
WooCommerce is an open source eCommerce plugin built for WordPress, allowing you to turn your site on this content management system into an online shop, with lots of extensions available to create your required site.
So, which is best for your business?
Cost
One of the primary factors you’re likely to base your decision on is the cost involved in each platform and, on this basis, Shopify comes out on top.
Although the WooCommerce plugin itself is free, you then have to pay for the additional costs that go along with creating an online shop, such as hosting, an SSL certificate, and a top-level domain, which all quickly adds up.
On the other hand, you can get a basic Shopify package for $29, which includes everything you’ll need.
Ease of Use
Another important factor to consider is the ease of use that comes with each platform, especially if you’re just starting out in the world of eCommerce and are a little unsure of how it all works.
We spoke to Liquid Bubble, a web design specialist who creates Shopify sites, who said: “For entrepreneurs who are just dipping their toes into the water, Shopify is a great choice as it’s extremely easy to use.
“Because the platform is fully hosted, this means you don’t need to install, manage or update software or worry about any security or compatibility issues. It’s also got a step by step process to designing and customising your site, with an easy drag and drop interface.
“However, you will have to use Shopify’s own designs, which can restrict your control over your site.
“On the other hand, if you’ve got more experience, then WooCommerce would be the best option. Although it’s slightly more difficult to get the hang of, you’re rewarded with much more flexibility with design and full control over your site.”
Scalability
Finally, one of the key things to think about when choosing the right platform for your business is its potential for scalability, to ensure that your site can grow at the same pace as your business.
With Shopify, scaling up your site is as easy as upgrading your plan, going from the basic package to Shopify Plus. The platform infrastructure will handle all of the growth and you won’t have to worry about it all, although you will end up spending more.
WooCommerce, however, is much more difficult to scale up without some real technical know-how. As a self-hosted platform, you would be responsible for maintaining updates, upgrading your servers, and managing your resources should your business grow beyond your site’s original needs.
For more of a detailed breakdown of these differences, check out this post by WP Beginner.
