Comparing WooCommerce vs. Shopify: Which Is the Best eCommerce Platform in 2024?
- WooCommerce and Shopify are amazing eCommerce platforms, but they have differences that you should be aware of to help you decide between them.
- Shopify is generally great for beginners with no technical knowledge or business that don’t have a lot of resources to spend on technical talent.
- WooCommerce is great for those who desire more control over aspects such as customization and are technically ready to implement and manage the platform.
In this Article
Millions of eCommerce websites in the world are powered by either Shopify or WooCommerce. For perspective, it is estimated that out of the top 1 million websites globally in terms of visitors, about 300,000 are eCommerce websites. Of the eCommerce websites, WooCommerce has a market share of 29% while Shopify takes 19%. Magento comes next with 8%. But for purposes of this blog, we’re focussing on WooCommerce vs Shopify.
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What is Shopify?
Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows businesses to create and manage their online stores. It provides a range of tools and features to help businesses sell products and services online, including customizable website templates, payment processing, inventory management, marketing, and analytics tools.
The Shopify platform is used by businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, and has become a popular eCommerce platform for businesses looking to quickly launch an online store without the need for extensive technical knowledge or resources.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a free and open-source eCommerce platform that allows businesses and individuals to create online stores to sell their products and services. It is a plugin for WordPress, which means it can be integrated easily into a WordPress website.
With WordPress and WooCommerce, you can easily manage your products, payments, shipping, and taxes, and it also provides a range of features such as inventory management, product variations, discount codes, and customizable checkout pages.
WooCommerce is highly customizable and offers a variety of extensions and WooCommerce themes to enhance the functionality and appearance of your online store.
WooCommerce vs Shopify
In comparing Shopify and WooCommerce, the goal is to help you make a decision on what platform is best for you, specifically. It’s less about which is better than the other.
But for isolated instances where one platform has a clear edge over another, we’ve pointed it out and why.
We look at 20 comparative parameters in total, each carefully brought out to make sure we capture what is most important for a typical business.
1. WooCommerce and Shopify on ease of use
Shopify is generally easier to use than WooCommerce, particularly for non-technical users or small businesses with no resources to hire technical talent. This is because Shopify is a hosted platform, meaning that all the technical aspects of running an online store are handled for you. It takes care of server management, security, software updates, and backups, so you don’t have to worry about these things.
WooCommerce, on the other hand, is a self-hosted platform, which means you’ll need to manage your own hosting, security, and software updates. While WooCommerce does provide documentation and resources to help you set up your online store, it can be more complicated and time-consuming than using Shopify.
However, if you are technically endowed or have enough resources to hire technical talent, then you should still have no big challenges using WooCommerce. Just that Shopify is much easier for those who don’t have deep technical skills or resources.
2. Difference Between WooCommerce and Shopify on inventory management
WooCommerce allows you to manage your inventory by setting stock levels for each product. You can also track inventory and get low-stock notifications. However, it doesn’t have an integrated inventory management system, which means that you’ll need to use a third-party plugin or tool to manage your inventory.
This should not be a challenge as there are several third-party inventory management plugins available for official WooCommerce. These plugins can help you track stock levels, manage orders, and sync inventory across multiple sales channels, much like the capabilities offered by Shopify Plus for enterprise-level businesses.
Shopify has a built-in inventory management system that makes it easy to manage stock levels and track inventory. You can set stock levels for each product and receive low-stock notifications. You can also track inventory across multiple sales channels, such as your online store, social media, and marketplaces.
Shopify also has several inventory management apps available in its app store.
3. WooCommerce Store vs Shopify on themes and design options
Studies have shown that 94% of first impressions are in fact related to design. It means that many customers first-time visitors to your channels will judge your brand based on design. This shows how important this item is for eCommerce success, so you want to ensure you are getting it right.
WooCommerce provides a range of design options and themes, including free and premium options. However, WooCommerce doesn’t have a dedicated theme store like Shopify, and the quality of themes can vary widely.
To get the most out of WooCommerce’s design options, you’ll likely need to have some design or coding experience, as customizing your store’s design may require some technical knowledge.
Shopify on the other hand has a dedicated theme store with free and paid themes to choose from. The Shopify themes are designed to be user-friendly and customizable, with a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to easily change the look and feel.
In addition to the official theme store, Shopify also has a large marketplace for third-party themes, which provides even more options.
4. WooCommerce vs Shopify eCommerce Platform on Sales features
WooCommerce offers a range of sales features, including product variations, coupons, and discounts. It also integrates with various marketing tools, such as email marketing and social media marketing.
However, for some advanced sales features, such as abandoned cart recovery and upselling, WooCommerce requires the use of third-party plugins, which can be an added cost.
Shopify has a robust set of sales features built into the platform, including abandoned cart recovery, upselling, product variations, coupons, and discounts.
5. Woocommerce vs Shopify on Integrations
WooCommerce provides integrations with various plugins and extensions, which are mostly free or have low-cost options. And because WooCommerce is open-source, it has a large community of developers creating new integrations and updating existing ones. However, some integrations may require more technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
Many of Shopify’s integrations are built into the Shopify platform, making them easier to set up and maintain. Shopify also has its own app store with additional integrations available, but some of these may come with additional costs.
6. WooCommerce or Shopify eCommerce Store on Marketing tools
WooCommerce offers a range of marketing tools through various plugins and extensions. These tools include options for social media marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing, and more. Social media marketing plugins like Hootsuite and Social Rabbit allow users to automate their social media presence, while email marketing plugin like Sendinblue and alternatives such as Omnisend offer tools for creating email campaigns and automating email sequences. Additionally, WooCommerce offers a range of affiliate marketing plugins like ReferralCandy and AffiliateWP, which allow users to create and manage affiliate programs to drive more sales, demonstrating how WooCommerce comes with built-in solutions for affiliate marketing.
Shopify also offers a range of built-in marketing tools to help users promote their online stores, including social media advertising, email marketing, and customer engagement, including the ability to send automated emails based on customer behavior. They also offer access to a range of marketing apps in their app store, including options for SMS marketing, referral programs, and loyalty programs, showcasing how Shopify makes it easier to engage with customers.
WooCommerce may be a better choice for those looking for a wider range of third-party marketing tools.
7. Shopify or WooCommerce on Payment options
WooCommerce offers several payment gateways that can be added through plugins or extensions. Popular options include PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and Amazon Pay. WooCommerce does not charge transaction fees for WooCommerce payments made through third-party gateways, but the payment gateway or processor may charge fees.
Shopify also offers a variety of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Shopify Payments is only available as the default payment gateway for all stores, but users can add third-party gateways. Shopify charges transaction fees for payments made through third-party gateways, on top of any fees charged by the payment gateway or processor, which is a significant consideration for businesses choosing Shopify.
WooCommerce can be a better option for sellers who want more control over their payment processing and are willing to manage their own merchant accounts. This can be especially beneficial for high-volume sellers who want to negotiate lower processing rates and avoid platform transaction fees.
8. WooCommerce vs Shopify SEO
WordPress is known for its strong search engine optimization capabilities, meaning WooCommerce then allows for more control over SEO elements such as metadata, demonstrating that WooCommerce is a free plugin that integrates seamlessly with WordPress. meta descriptions, URLs, and site structure, which are very important for optimizing SEO. Additionally, WooCommerce is open-source, which means that users can customize their code to make their store more SEO-friendly. For example, you can optimize your code for faster load times, which can improve search engine rankings. WooCommerce also enjoys a range of SEO popular plugins, such as Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack.
However, Shopify has made significant improvements to its SEO features in recent years and offers a range of SEO-friendly features such as customizable titles and meta descriptions, canonical tags, and automatic sitemap generation. It can also be integrated with Google analytics, and also has its own analytics tools.
9. WooCommerce vs Shopify on Migration
Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer migration tools and services to help users switch platforms.
With WooCommerce, you have complete control over your website’s files and database, making it relatively easy to migrate to a new host or platform. There is an import/export tool that allows you to export data and import it into your WooCommerce store.
Shopify, on the other hand, does not give direct access to your website’s files and database. However, they offer a migration tool called “Migration Pro ‑ Store Importer” that allows users to import their data from another eCommerce platform into Shopify. The tool supports the migration of products, customers, and orders, among other data. Additionally, Shopify has a network of migration partners who can assist users with the migration process.
10. Costs
For WooCommerce, you only need to pay for hosting and domain registration, which can cost anywhere from a few dollars a month to several hundred dollars a month, depending on the hosting provider and the level of service required. WooCommerce also offers a wide range of free and paid extensions that can add additional functionality to the platform, such as payment gateways, shipping options, and marketing tools.
Shopify plans, on the other hand, offer a range of pricing plans, from basic Shopify plans to Shopify advanced plans, depending on needs. The basic plan of Shopify pricing starts at $29 per month, which includes hosting, domain registration, and a range of basic features. The advanced Shopify plan can cost up to $299 per month and includes additional features such as advanced reporting and third-party calculated shipping rates. Shopify also offers a range of paid apps and themes that can be used to customize the platform further.
If you require a simple eCommerce website with basic features, WooCommerce may be the more cost-effective option.
11. WooCoomerce Customer Support & Shopify Help Centre
WooCommerce offers a range of support options, including a knowledge base, documentation, community forum, and ticket-based support.
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support provided by Shopify experts through live chat, email, and phone. They also have an extensive knowledge base and community forums where you can find resourceful answers to common questions.
Comparatively, Shopify’s 24/7 support availability and the ability to contact support via multiple channels is a significant advantage over WooCommerce.
12. Customizability
For WooCommerce, you can use WordPress themes and plugins to customize your store, and you can also write your own custom code to modify the site’s behavior. WooCommerce also provides a REST API, which allows you to integrate your store with external applications and services.
Shopify provides you with less control over the underlying code and infrastructure. However, Shopify does offer a range of customization options, including a drag-and-drop visual editor, customizable themes, and an app store that provides additional functionality.
WooCommerce is therefore more customizable than Shopify, particularly for users with technical knowledge. For users without technical knowledge, Shopify may be a better option.
13. Storage
For WooCommerce, the amount of storage available is determined by your WooCommerce hosting plan. You can choose WooCommerce a hosting plan with enough storage to meet your needs, and you can also add more storage space as needed by upgrading the plan.
Shopify, on the other hand, provides unlimited storage for all plans, including the basic plan.
Additionally, with WooCommerce, you can host your store with a range of hosting providers which offers a range of optimized hosting solutions for WooCommerce stores. These hosting solutions are designed to provide maximum uptime, speed and scalability, making them ideal for WooCommerce stores. Shopify, on the other hand, does not offer this level of flexibility and may not be suitable for large stores that require scalability.
14. Platform model
WooCommerce is an open-source platform, while Shopify is a closed platform. This means that the source code for WooCommerce is freely available, and anyone can modify and distribute it. In contrast, the source code for Shopify is proprietary and owned by Shopify Inc.
The open-source nature of WooCommerce means that it has a large community of developers and users contributing to its development, making it a robust platform to build an online store. This means that bugs are often found and fixed quickly, and new features and plugins are constantly being added.
On the other hand, the closed nature of Shopify has its own advantages. Because Shopify is a closed platform, it is highly secure and reliable. The platform is managed by Shopify, and they are responsible for all updates and maintenance. This means that you don’t need to worry about managing your hosting environment or ensuring that your software is up-to-date.
Furthermore, Shopify has a strict app review process, which ensures that all apps on the platform are secure and reliable.
15. Blogging
Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer blogging capabilities, allowing you to create and publish blog posts on your online store. What are the key differences?
Since WooCommerce is built on top of WordPress, it offers robust blogging capabilities, including a powerful and easy-to-use blogging interface, support for categories and tags, and the ability to schedule posts in advance. It also allows you to customize your blog’s design and layout using WordPress themes and plugins, giving you a high level of flexibility and control.
Shopify’s blogging capabilities are more limited than WooCommerce’s. The blogging system includes basic features such as the ability to create and publish posts, categorize posts, and add tags. The blogging interface is less user-friendly and less flexible than WooCommerce’s, and it does not offer the same level of customization options.
That’s to say WooCommerce’s blogging capabilities are superior to Shopify’s, giving it an edge over Shopify if you intend to prioritize blogging as a key component of your online store’s content marketing strategy. However, if you only plan to use blogging as a secondary feature and do not require extensive customization or advanced functionality, then Shopify’s blogging capabilities may be sufficient.
16. Dropshipping
Both WooCommerce and Shopify support dropshipping, which is a fulfillment method where a third-party supplier ships products directly to customers on behalf of the merchant.
WooCommerce does not offer built-in dropshipping features, but it is compatible with a variety of dropshipping plugins and WooCommerce extensions that allow you to easily import products from dropshipping suppliers and automatically forward orders to your suppliers for fulfillment. Some of the most popular WooCommerce dropshipping plugins include AliDropship, Dropified, and Oberlo.
Shopify, on the other hand, offers built-in dropshipping features through its Shopify Dropshipping app. This app allows you to browse and import products from a variety of dropshipping suppliers, and it automatically forwards orders to your suppliers for fulfillment. It also offers integration with Oberlo, one of the most popular dropshipping apps on the market.
Overall, Shopify’s dropshipping capabilities dwarf WooCommerce, especially for non-technical users who will have to do additional setup and configuration. So, if dropshipping is a key part of your fulfillment strategy, then Shopify may be the better choice.
17. Performance
Store performance is a crucial factor to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform, as it can have a significant impact on customer experience and conversion rates. Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer good website performance, but there are some differences between the two platforms.
The performance of stores built on Woocommerce is largely dependent on the quality of hosting that you choose. And while WooCommerce can be run on a variety of hosting environments, the platform itself is optimized for WordPress hosting.
The performance of Shopify stores is managed by Shopify’s own infrastructure. Shopify is optimized for eCommerce performance and uses a content delivery network (CDN) to improve website speed and performance. Shopify also offers a range of built-in features to optimize performance, including image optimization and caching.
Therefore, Shopify’s fully hosted platform and built-in performance features give it a slight edge in this area. However, with proper hosting and optimization, WooCommerce can also deliver excellent performance.
18. Security
Security is a critical aspect of any eCommerce platform, as it involves the protection of sensitive data and financial transactions. Luckily, both WooCommerce and Shopify prioritize security – safe for a few variations:
WooCommerce users are responsible for maintaining their stores’ security. This includes choosing a secure hosting provider, keeping WordPress and plugins up-to-date, and implementing security measures such as SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular backups. WooCommerce also offers a range of security plugins and extensions that can be used to enhance security, underscoring that WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin designed for ecommerce.
Shopify manages the security aspect. It uses HTTPS encryption and PCI compliance to ensure that customer data and financial transactions are secure. Shopify also offers features such as fraud analysis and chargeback protection to help prevent fraudulent transactions.
19. Scalability
Shopify is better in scalability because it is a fully hosted platform that is designed to handle high traffic and transaction volumes. Shopify takes care of the technical aspects of hosting and maintenance, which means you can focus on growing your business without worrying about scalability issues.
While WooCommerce can also be scaled with the right hosting and optimization, it requires more technical knowledge and effort to achieve scalability.
20. Best for (use cases)
Here are some examples of best use cases where WooCommerce may be a better fit:
- Small to medium-sized businesses that are looking for a more affordable eCommerce solution with a high level of flexibility and customization.
- Businesses that are already using WordPress sites for their website and want to integrate eCommerce functionality seamlessly.
- Businesses that require a high level of control over their website’s design and functionality, and have sufficient technical expertise.
- Businesses that want to integrate their eCommerce store with WordPress plugin and third-party tools.
Examples of use cases where Shopify may be a better fit:
- Businesses that are looking for an easy-to-use, all-in-one eCommerce solution that requires minimal technical knowledge.
- Businesses that want to launch their eCommerce store fast, without worrying about technical setup or maintenance.
- Businesses that are looking for a platform with built-in features such as inventory management, shipping, and payment processing.
- Businesses that want to take advantage of the robust Shopify app store to enhance their store’s functionality and features.
Key Takeaway
WooCommerce provides greater control and customization options, making it ideal for businesses with a high level of technical expertise and require advanced customizations.
WooCommerce also offers a wide range of payment gateways to choose from, allowing businesses to accept payments from customers across the world. This feature is especially useful for businesses with a global presence. Furthermore, WooCommerce is open-source, meaning businesses can access the code to customize their store as they please. This makes WooCommerce the perfect choice for businesses that require advanced customizations.
On the other hand, Shopify offers a more streamlined and user-friendly approach, making it an excellent choice for businesses prioritizing ease of use and quick setup minus too much technical work.
With this in mind, Shopify is the clear winner for businesses that have limited technical knowledge and may be intimidated by the complexity of WooCommerce. Shopify’s easy setup and intuitive design make it an attractive option for those who want to launch their business quickly. Additionally, Shopify’s wide range of features and integrations offer businesses the flexibility to customize their eCommerce store for their specific needs. This makes Shopify an ideal choice for those who want to create a professional and functional eCommerce store without the need for intensive technical knowledge.
Catsy PIM and DAM is an essential tool for both WooCommerce and Shopify.
Using direct API, you can easily organize and prepare your product content and assets in Catsy then push them to multiple Shopify stores.
If you choose to go with WooCommerce, Catsy has out-of-box export templates to efficiently map attributes to WooCommerce format and export assets in the required specs.
Save time and speed to market to either channel with Catsy DAM Software & PIM Software! Book a demo today.
WooCommerce is considered to be a more cost-effective option compared to Shopify. This is because WooCommerce is free to use and open-source, which means you don’t have to pay any monthly subscription fees. However, you will need to pay for web hosting, a domain name, and an SSL certificate, which can vary in cost. Additionally, you may need to purchase premium plugins or themes for additional functionality or customization, which can add to the cost. On the other hand, Shopify has a monthly subscription fee, which starts at $29 per month and goes up to $299 per month for the most advanced plan. Shopify also has additional charges applied across different features and services. Ultimately, it comes down to your budget and business needs, but WooCommerce is generally the more cost-effective option and it offers a money-back guarantee.
Shopify is generally considered to be easier to use than WooCommerce, especially for beginners or those who are not technically inclined. Shopify is an all-in-one platform that provides a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop tools to create an online store quickly without requiring any technical knowledge. Shopify also takes care of hosting, security, and maintenance for you, which means you don’t have to worry about technical aspects. Additionally, Shopify offers excellent customer support, including 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support, which can be helpful for beginners who may have questions or need assistance.
WooCommerce, on the other hand, is a plugin for WordPress that requires some technical expertise to set up and maintain. While it offers more customization options and flexibility than Shopify, it also requires more technical knowledge to get started. You’ll need a fresh installation of WordPress, set up web hosting, and the WooCommerce plugin, which can be daunting for beginners. However, if you have experience with WordPress or want more control over your online store’s design and functionality, WooCommerce may be a better choice.
Shopify may be a better choice over WooCommerce for those who value ease of use, as Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and takes care of hosting, security, and maintenance for you. While WooCommerce offers more customization options and flexibility, it requires more technical knowledge to get started and maintain.
You should use WooCommerce over Shopify if you want complete control over your online store’s design and functionality. WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress, which is a highly customizable platform that offers a wide range of design options and plugins to enhance your online store’s functionality. Additionally, WooCommerce is free and open-source, which means you don’t have to pay any monthly subscription fees. However, you’ll need to pay for web hosting, a domain name, an SSL certificate, and any plugins or integrations that require payment.
A good platform should be easy to set up and use, scalable to accommodate growth and provide robust security features. It should also offer a wide range of payment gateways and shipping options, as well as integrations with other tools such as email marketing, social media, and analytics. Another critical factor is excellent customer support, including a knowledge base, documentation, and responsive support.
