WooCommerce and Shopify are currently two of the biggest ecommerce platforms available. However, given that they’re both stellar options, choosing between them can be tough. Siding with the wrong one might negatively affect your income and site performance at a later date.
In this article, we will explore the differences between these two solutions, and explain in detail why you might choose one over the other.
WordPress or Shopify?
WordPress is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) that can be extended to support ecommerce through third-party plugins. This means you have full control over the sales process, and the resulting data you capture. However, while WordPress doesn’t come with ecommerce functionality out of the box, there are robust free options for adding it.
On the other hand, Shopify is an ecommerce-specific, subscription-based CMS. Because it’s a third-party service, your site and its data are in Shopify’s hands – meaning you’re limited only to the access and services they offer.
Choosing to use WooCommerce or Shopify is a matter of understanding the features that come with each, and deciding which one better suits your unique needs. In the following sections, we’ll identify what those features are, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.
WooCommerce vs. Shopify
WooCommerce is one of the most popular plugins for adding ecommerce functionality to WordPress. If you’re already a WordPress user, you simply need to install the plugin, run through the setup options, and in most cases begin selling.
Using WooCommerce means you have almost full control over how your ecommerce store operates. If you’re missing a certain feature, there are many additional extensions you can download either for a small yearly cost, r for free in some cases. However, it’s important to only add the functionality you need rather than going overboard, as too many features could overwhelm users and cause your budget to spiral.
To summarize, WooCommerce:
- Provides a free ecommerce solution for WordPress users
- Offers flexibility, and is customizable to your needs
- Keeps you in control of your own data
- Puts you in charge of designing the customer’s sales experience
Shopify, on the other hand, is a third-party service rather than a dedicated WordPress plugin. In other words, you pay a monthly subscription fee (along with a small fee per sale) to access to Shopify’s services. You receive a website specific to your store, along with additional features depending on the tier you opt for.
Some of the prominent features offered by Shopify include their point of sale systems, social media integration, gift cards, and more. To scale up (i.e. to add more functionality and features), you simply upgrade. However, once you end your subscription, you’ll lose access to your site – including potentially all of the data you’ve captured.
To recap, Shopify:
- Provides a managed ecommerce service, meaning you don’t have to worry about infrastructure or software configuration
- Offers a professionally-designed sales experience
- Enables you to pick and choose features based on the package level you need
- Handles charges for shipping costs (as well as per-state taxes) automatically
Before making your decision, let’s review each solution by re-summarizing their strengths and weaknesses side by side.
First up, we have WooCommerce. This solution enables you to own and control your data by building on top of WordPress, which is open-source software. You can almost completely control all aspects of your store – in many cases for free – while also using whatever hosting company you like.
However, this also means you’re in charge of configuring your ecommerce store from the ground up. You’ll need to constantly monitor your site to ensure everything is always running smoothly, and make sure that the functionality you implement is within your budget.Second, we have Shopify. It simplifies the process of selling online by bundling together hosting, ecommerce capability, and a whole host of other features for a monthly price. While you’re arguably going to pay more than WooCommerce at the base level, it should be easier to budget for.
Second, we have Shopify. It simplifies the process of selling online by bundling together hosting, eCommerce capability, and a whole host of other features for a monthly price. While you’re arguably going to pay more than WooCommerce at the base level, it should be easier to budget for.
However, the major downside is that the data you capture isn’t strictly yours, despite your outlay. This means quitting the platform could result in a loss of control over your data, along with your store as a whole.
Overall, neither WooCommerce nor Shopify are necessarily the better ecommerce solution. Your situation, needs, resources, budget, and goals will dictate which platform you opt for. If you need full control over your store, WooCommerce is probably the right choice. However, if you want a robust, yet mostly hands-off ecommerce solution with managed hosting, Shopify is a strong contender.
WooCommerce to Shopify
If you currently use WooCommerce but are considering moving to Shopify, the switch is easier than you think. For a start, you don’t need to manually migrate your entire ecommerce store. Shopify offers a migration tool called the Woo Importer. It’s free for the first twenty products, with prices ranging from $10-$100 for a full migration beyond that.To use the importer, you must first generate a WooCommerce API key. Next, visit the Woo Importer app page. After clicking the green Get button, you will be able to enter your WooCommerce information and follow the prompts to complete the import. From there, you can follow the usual steps that come with selling on a Shopify site.
To use the importer, you must first generate a WooCommerce API key. Next, visit the Woo Importer app page. After clicking the green Get button, you will be able to enter your WooCommerce information and follow the prompts to complete the import. From there, you can follow the usual steps that come with selling on a Shopify site.
As we’ve discussed, the lack of control is one of the major downsides of using Shopify. However, when you use WooCommerce, choosing a reliable host that can deliver on performance, speed, and security is crucial for offering an excellent user experience and generating more sales.
WP Engine is a leader in strong and stable, managed WordPress hosting. You’ll receive a free SSL certificate with every plan, along with round-the-clock chat support and site staging to help you work on your ecommerce store before you go live.
What’s more, WP Engine uses PHP 7, which offers greater performance and resource optimization than its predecessors, and includes speed reports to help you optimize your site further. On higher-tiered plans, you’ll also get access to a free Content Delivery Network (CDN) to help keep your site speedy.