WordPress and Shopify are the two most popular website builders in the world. While there are countless other options, these two platforms have both made their mark on the industry, dominating this arena to the point where most people know of them by name alone.
Many people ask this question because they want to get an opinion from someone who has used both. It’s not always easy to determine which platform will be best for your business, especially when it comes to deciding what website platform you should use. There are pros and cons for each site, so in order to figure out which one will work best for you, there are a few factors that need to be considered.
If you’re looking to build your first online store, you might be asking yourself which platform you should choose, WordPress or Shopify? Before you do anything else, start by reading our ultimate comparison guide between these two leading eCommerce solutions. Then make your decision based on your unique situation.
We go over the pros and cons of each eCommerce platform
If you want an easy-to-setup eCommerce platform, then you should go with Shopify. It takes just a few minutes to setup a store, where as the equivalent process in WordPress would take at least 45 minutes of research and customization. You can also get your store up-and-running much quicker with no coding experience needed because it includes multiple integrations to other apps that make it easy to launch your storefront right away (even Facebook!). However, the template for building websites with Shopify is limited, which can be frustrating for creatives who need more flexibility.
We compare the best eCommerce platforms with your business goals in mind
As you may know, both WordPress and Shopify are considered to be powerful eCommerce platforms that can help you take your business to the next level. In this post, we want to show you how they stack up against each other when it comes to several important features.
Why WordPress?
WordPress is an easy-to-use content management system (CMS) with blogging and website tools. One of the most popular blogging platforms on the web, it’s a simple yet powerful way to publish content for your site or blog. Install the free software on your web server, create a username and password, then log in to start building your site. Add content to pages, update text on your blog posts, customize templates…even add images from Flickr or YouTube.
Why Shopify?
Shopify has been a game changer for entrepreneurs looking to launch an online store. One of the things that set it apart from other e-commerce platforms is its intuitive user interface, robust analytics, and fast growth. We couldn’t help but mention these specific advantages in more detail below:
Advantage of wordpress?
Both are great platforms for building websites, but one of the biggest differences you’ll notice is that WordPress is free. For a small business or startup, this can be appealing, but it may not offer all the features that you need in order to grow. With some plugins (aka extensions), you can add all sorts of features to your website, from analytics to SEO optimization. The downside is that unless you are a professional web developer/designer yourself, customizing any plugins might be difficult and time-consuming.
With Shopify, on the other hand, it’s easy to customize any part of your site without needing an expert touch.
Shopify Advantage
Shopify’s integration with major platforms like Facebook and Twitter give it an edge over other online storefronts. It also offers 3rd party payment processors, which is helpful for local or international retailers who need to accept payments in different currencies. The platform integrates seamlessly with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal, Skrill, Stripe and more. Plus, it provides one-click processing so you don’t have to manually enter credit card details during checkout.
Which one is fast?
Shopify uses a different platform called Liquid, which is designed to run fast. If you’re not already familiar with Liquid, it’s a lot like Ruby on Rails (Rails for short). This can be an advantage because your developers will know that language if they’re also familiar with Ruby. It can also be easier for developers to find freelancers who are familiar with these languages. In terms of speed, Liquid outperforms WordPress by optimizing the execution of code.
Pricing
WordPress is a free open-source content management system (CMS) that offers easy customization, full control over content, unlimited bandwidth, an intuitive interface for novice users, a large community to find help with most any problem you might have and many more features. Shopify is a feature-rich ecommerce website builder in which stores can be created quickly from scratch with the help of templates or from pre-existing themes. Custom design services are also available for an additional fee.
Not only do you need to consider which platform will be the most compatible with your design, but it’s also important to note that as of today, WordPress is free. This means that you won’t have any upfront costs before launching your business. On the other hand, Shopify requires an initial cost for those who are looking for a more customized approach.
Which one is customer friendly?
Shopify is quite intuitive, easy to get started with, and comes with all the necessary features to have a successful e-commerce store. It has a lot of helpful features like one-click integration with channels such as Facebook Messenger for conversions via chatbots. On the other hand, WordPress also does well in terms of user friendliness but takes some time getting used to it. Unlike many other e-commerce platforms that make use of a drag-and-drop editor, WordPress relies heavily on coding.
Regardless of whether you choose WordPress or Shopify, we recommend using WooCommerce (WordPress) or Shopify for setting up an online store. These plugins are specifically designed to work with each platform and will make things easier from start to finish.
The bottom line
Shopify is known for being more expensive than WooCommerce, but it’s better for high-end e-commerce websites because of the advanced features.WordPress is also a great option if you want to build your own website from scratch, with more freedom and options to adjust it as you see fit. If you’re just starting a small online store or blog, WooCommerce may be your best bet.
Ultimately, it comes down to your goals. Will you be building a retail site or something else? If you want to sell physical products, then Shopify might be the best bet. But if you want to focus on blogging and promoting your business online, then WordPress is the way to go. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding what fits your needs best.