Shopify Vs WooCommerce – What you need to know

Shopify & WooCommerce are two popular e-commerce platforms for setting up and managing an online store. This article will provide an overview of the key differences between Shopify and WooCommerce, including pricing, ease of use, customisation, features, & scalability. By understanding these differences, you can make an informed decision on which platform is best for your business needs.

WooCommerce and Shopify are both popular e-commerce platforms that offer a range of features for setting up and managing an online store. Here are some additional factors to consider when comparing the two:

1. Pricing: WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress, you will need to pay for web hosting, SSL (HTTPS), and any additional plugins or themes.

Shopify offers a monthly subscription fee that includes hosting, security, and support, however, most of the additional development comes within plugins within their app store which are either paid on a monthly or annual basis https://apps.shopify.com/

2. Ease of Use: Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and easy setup, while WooCommerce requires a little more knowledge and skills to set up and manage.

3. Customisation: WooCommerce is highly customisable, as it is built on WordPress, which is an open-source platform that allows for more flexibility and customisation options. WooCommerce allows customisation throughout the platform, including product pages, custom forms, navigation, checkout & payment pages.
One main feature is a 1-page checkout that can be customised in WooCommerce, which is great for user experience and boosts overall conversion rates.

Shopify offers a range of online plugins through their apps store, however, they can be non-customisable in nature & you need to work with what the app provides which can be a limitation to some e-commerce stores. 

4. Features: Both platforms offer a wide range of features, including product management, payment processing, shipping options, and marketing tools. However, Shopify may offer more built-in features, while WooCommerce may require additional plugins or extensions for some features. Most of Shopify’s additional functionality is paid for on a monthly or annual basis & again, some of these apps are 'out of the box' solutions, which don't suit all e-commerce stores.

5. Updates: WooCommerce requires its plugins and version to be updated on a 3 to 4-monthly basis, which usually takes around 2 hours of development time depending on the number of installed apps. This allows for any enhancements and security updates & is very important to keep the website secure.

6. Scalability: Both platforms can scale with your business as it grows, but WooCommerce may require additional technical knowledge and management to handle large-scale operations.
We have found it to be easier to scale on an open-source environment as there are more options and custom development that can be done.

Ultimately, the choice between WooCommerce and Shopify depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you prefer more control over your online store and have the skills to manage it, WooCommerce will be a better choice. If you want a user-friendly platform that is more app-driven with less customisation and requires less knowledge, Shopify may be a better fit.