The world-changing and crazy increase has been seen in retail business going online. Creating e-stores is a must-have for all retail companies. Thanks to platforms like Shopify and WordPress, making your online store is now easier than ever.
If you’ve ever considered launching your own online business, you’ve thought about the required tools. And while there are several eCommerce platforms on the market, Shopify and WordPress remain the most prominent.
Shopify is a dedicated eCommerce platform that helps you build your online store. It hosts your site and gives you all the tools you need. In contrast, WordPress is an open-source platform. You need to host your site and install plugins like WooCommerce for eCommerce tools.
Feature Comparison
Which one to choose for your business, Shopify or WordPress? To know this answer, you must complete an analysis of your resources and the result you want. Let’s have a look at points to keep in consideration while deciding:
Coding knowledge:
You don’t need any coding or technical knowledge to use Shopify. However, You need technical expertise to set up and manage your hosting using WordPress; it means working your hosting (a self-hosted platform). As it offers minimal maintenance support, you must rely on online forums for solutions.
Plugins:
With Shopify, it’s easy to start an online store, so all the tools you need are right at your fingertips. Unlike Shopify, WordPress doesn’t come set up for eCommerce, but there are some great plugins you can install to start selling online. With so many WordPress plugins and theme options, you can add any features or functionalities to your website. There are practically no limits!
Customization:
WordPress has Extremely customizable design, features, and functionalities. You get full access to WordPress codes so you can use and customize any pre-made themes and designs. However, Shopify is customizable—it just has some hard-to-ignore limitations. If you want to unlock additional features, you’ll have to work on your coding because otherwise, it will remain locked.
Budget-friendly:
Cost is one of the most important factors when deciding to invest in anything, and deciding between Shopify and WordPress is no different.Shopify gives you several subscription plans to choose one based on your needs. But it’s a fixed investment that includes all you need per your store requirements. WordPress is open-source and free to use; you can benefit from the knowledge of a vast community of users and developers. However, you may need to pay different fees for Hosting, Plugins, and support.
Mobile friendly:
Shopify offers few pre-design templates, and most importantly, these are all mobile responsive, meaning your site’s layout will adapt automatically to fit different screen sizes when people are browsing on their mobile or tablet. When it comes to WordPress, it offers over 1,000 themes dedicated to eCommerce. However, not all are mobile responsive, and the ones not designed by WordPress itself may clash with the platform when updates roll around.
Payment gateways:
There are more than 100 different payment gateways on Shopify, including all the big ones: PayPal, Stripe, Square, Amazon Pay, and Apple Pay. It also has its payment gateway – Shopify Payments – which can process orders in most major currencies. Choosing Shopify Payments means you won’t have to pay a transaction fee. With the other payment gateways, you can expect charges of between 0.5% to 2% per transaction, depending on the Shopify pricing plan.
You can access payment options for WordPress through its plugins. WooCommerce, Ecwid, and WP eCommerce cover the most significant gateways, and you won’t be charged anything more on top of the fees they charge.
Security:
Shopify and WordPress will each update themselves regularly. The update will happen automatically when using Shopify and will not affect you. However, this is something you’ll need to keep an eye on if you’re using WordPress.
The main WordPress software, themes, and plugins can all update at different times, and if you are not using a theme or plugin built by WordPress itself, it is possible to lose track of updates.
Conclusion
Shopify is an e-commerce site builder that makes it possible for anyone to set up an online store without needing to be an expert in coding.
This makes Shopify a good option for beginners and startups with limited time. On the other hand, WordPress takes longer and requires more effort. The ability to code unlocks a greater level of customization, making WordPress an ideal platform for ambitious and tech-savvy sellers.
If you are still wondering which one to choose, contact our expert to set up your Shopify store or a WordPress eCommerce store.