WooCommerce vs. Shopify: Which is the Best Ecommerce Platform in 2022?

While no one platform is perfect, there are many benefits of WooCommerce and advantages of using Shopify. What makes them ideal for you is the distinguishing features that set them apart and what you are looking for from leading online store solutions.

Each platform will have its limitations and advantages over the other. When it comes to Shopify vs WooCommerce, you need to be aware of all the pros and cons of each before making a decision.

Key Talking Points:

WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce plugin that was created specifically for WordPress websites. Its purpose is to assist in converting WordPress-hosted websites into online stores, thereby enabling merchants to conduct eCommerce.

WooCommerce's features include unrestricted customisation, built-in blogging, and the ability to embed products and the checkout process into a wide range of web pages. Because it is an open-source plugin, WooCommerce is highly flexible and can be customised to a great extent, making it an excellent choice for online merchants who want greater control over the appearance and feel of their online store.

What are the benefits of WooCommerce, and what are the WooCommerce features you can expect from the software? While there is no doubt WooCommerce has various benefits, some of the best WooCommerce features are;

Endless Customisation

One massive appeal of WooCommerce is that it is infinitely customisable. As it is an open-source software, WooCommerce for WordPress means that you can make as many customisations as you wish to your website to get the right look and layout for your online store. The WooCommerce Wizard aids changes to the site without the need to understand how to code - if you do, however, this is a significant advantage.

As your store will be hosted on WordPress, alongside the WooCommerce plugin, you can use the many plugins available in the WordPress catalogue to customise your website and individual site pages, store, and blog.

WooCommerce Is an Open-Source Plugin

An open-source plugin is designed by an active community of knowledgeable and passionate people. Within this community, you can find help and support for your plugin and benefit from their innovation and growth, and it is applied to new updates.

On top of this, WooCommerce has 592 extensions specifically designed for ecommerce, and users can take advantage of the repertoire of WordPress plugins available, both free and paid for.

Amazing Integration Capabilities

When syncing your shop with Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms such as Facebook, you can rely on WooCommerce to deliver results. You can manage your channels directly from your WordPress dashboard using free extensions that have been certified by the platform for this purpose. Unfortunately, Google Shopping isn't included in this compilation.

SEO Friendly

WooCommerce is built for WordPress, so by design it is automatically SEO friendly. SEO is a vital part of your store's digital marketing, so you can rely on WooCommerce to develop the goods for SEO.

Users of WooCommerce can optimise product pages by modifying the body content, fundamental URL redirections, meta descriptions, alt tags, and other page elements, among other things. To assist with this, WooCommerce provides a plethora of SEO plugins that can be used to optimise your store, with Yoast SEO being the most well-known of these.

Discover how Omnisity is delivering an optimised multi-channel marketing approach to increase The Skinsmith's brand salience.

Shopify is an ecommerce platform that allows you to set up an online store easily without any technical knowledge.

Shopify is one of the more popular eCommerce platforms, thanks to its user-friendly interface. One of the many advantages of using Shopify is that setting up your online store with no technical knowledge can get you up and running swiftly.

Shopify is designed to be as simple as possible in terms of functionality. It also includes a large number of template options. These templates make it possible to quickly and easily launch a website of any complexity with minimal effort. With Shopify, you don't have to be concerned about the aspects of your website that are critical to its continued operation. The platform provides everything you need to start and manage your online business. If you are looking for an easy way to get your store up and running without having to find a website host or buy a domain name or learn complicated CSS and HTML, Shopify can be the right option for you.

 

Now that you know what Shopify is, you need to know some Shopify features and benefits to fully assess Shopify against WooCommerce elements. Shopify has many benefits, including;

Simple, Quick Set-Up

Stores on Shopify are simple to set up and operate because they are built on an easy-to-use platform. It is the most suitable option for those seeking a comprehensive solution that does not require them to be involved in the technical aspects of developing and hosting an online store. This difference between Shopify and WooCommerce is something you should be aware of. Launching a website is made possible by the platform, including all necessary software and hosting. The administration interface is intuitive and user-friendly, and the user interface is also visually appealing.

Mobile-Friendly

With more people shopping via mobile devices, being mobile responsive is vital for an online store. When it comes to Shopify features and benefits, being mobile responsive is something all store owners should be mindful of. Regardless of how users view your store, it will be user-friendly and intuitive right off the bat.

Affordable Solution for New Ecommerce Businesses

Shopify has a range of payment options allowing you to choose the level of service you require. Prices range from £24 to £259 per month, and as with anything, the more you pay, the more Shopify features and benefits you unlock. However, for new businesses, the lower end of the pricing scale allows new enterprises to get up and running for minimal cost or technical know-how.

 

Despite the benefits of Shopify, it does have its limitations and features that aren't as desirable.

Enforced Transaction Fees

For every transaction you have via Shopify, you will be subject to a transaction fee. This can vary from 0.5% to 2% of the total sale. The percentage you pay is primarily based on the plan you opt for. For example, if you opt for the £259 per month plan, you will pay 0.5% on transactions, while users with the £24 plan can expect to pay up to 2% of the sale. This can have a massive impact on your pricing structure and your profits.

Costly Apps

Shopify has a wealth of different apps and integrations, currently just short of 5,900. These are made up of free and paid-for apps. The more paid-for apps you use, the more your store will cost you to set up and customise the way you want it.

For example, for some apps, you can use them for free up to a certain number of users or sales. After this, you will need to upgrade to the premium plans, which will incur an additional monthly subscription on top of your Shopify plan.

Poor CMS

Shopify is an eCommerce site first and a content management system, or CMS, second. While it has the potential to have a great CMS integration, without a plugin, it falls short.

Users can manage sales, orders and payments and reorder as and when required with the right apps and features, but its limited functions can make it awkward to use and needs some effort to fully allow you to get all the data you need to run your online stores.

Shopify vs WooCommerce, what is best? As more businesses set up online stores, having the right solution for your needs is vital; this means assessing the benefits of WooCommerce and the advantages of Shopify to make a more informed decision on what eCommerce solution is right for you. Whilst Shopify offers some great benefits for green online businesses, the greater capacity of WooCommerce enables online businesses the space they need to truly flourish.

 

Discover how Omnisity can help you maximise online sales by clicking here or by getting in touch and speaking with a member of our experienced team today on 01384 294 444 or by sending an email to [email protected].

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