If you have an eCommerce website for your business, then it’s likely that you’ve heard of both WooCommerce and Shopify. In this blog, we’re going to explain the benefits of using WooCommerce over Shopify.
Before you have a new website for your business, it’s vital that you take time to consider your options. A website is built on a CMS (content management system), and many are available with different features.
We work with WordPress websites as we believe they offer the most benefits to our clients.
What is an eCommerce website?
If you’re new to the world of business, then it’s good to familiarise yourself with some of the terms. One term you will likely come across is eCommerce, although it might not be relevant to your business.
If your business sells products, then you might need to look into having an eCommerce website, especially if you’re hoping to create a successful online store. An eCommerce website will allow you to sell products online without needing a third party.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a fantastic plugin that can be used alongside WordPress websites. This plugin allows you to turn a simple WordPress website into an online shop so you can easily sell your products online.
You are required to have a new or existing WordPress website to use this plugin. WordPress powers 43.6% of all sites hosted on the internet, so you can be confident in your choice.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a cloud-based eCommerce platform where users pay monthly fees to sell their products online.
What are the benefits of choosing WooCommerce over Shopify?
Customisation options
WooCommerce offers many more options for customisation of your WordPress website. WordPress has long been praised for offering many options for custom designs or template-driven websites. The best option for you depends on any design ideas you have for your site. Our developers are experts in all websites, including custom-built options.
WordPress offers nearly 60,000 website plugins, which can help users achieve their desired functionality. Shopify’s app store is slightly more limited.
Added costs
When it comes to using WooCommerce, there are minimal additional costs. You will only need to pay for the website, which you may already have, and the hosting. While WooCommerce itself is free, in addition to hosting, you may incur costs for premium themes and certain plugins. These costs can vary based on your specific needs and choices.
In contrast, Shopify requires a monthly subscription based on the plan you choose with them. You may also be required to pay transaction fees, which can be challenging for small businesses or those just starting out.
All websites need to be hosted on a server in order to be accessible. It’s crucial that you choose a reliable hosting provider.
At Complete, we use green web hosting, which is more efficient and supports the environment. When you choose to host your website with us, you can give users a better experience and boost your brand image by supporting the environment. We can support you with all aspects of eCommerce hosting.
Website ownership & control for your eCommerce business
When you choose a WordPress site with a WooCommerce store, you have full control to do whatever you wish with your website. You also maintain control over data. The WooCommerce inventory management tool helps business owners track and manage stock easily, making it a great eCommerce store option.
Flexibility for payment gateway integrations
If you’re looking for a flexible eCommerce platform, then WooCommerce is a great option. You can use a wide range of plugins to customise products and more. You are also able to integrate different payment gateways easily. Be aware that companies such as PayPal and Stripe may charge processing fees.
Shopify users can process online store transactions for free using Shopify Payments, but transaction fees will apply if they use a third-party payment gateway.
Search engine optimisation capabilities
WordPress and WooCommerce offer better SEO functionality, giving you the full ability to optimise every aspect of your website. SEO is vital if you want to appear on the search engines. WordPress also allows users to install SEO plugins to help guide them on optimisation techniques. A WordPress/WooCommerce plugin that is great for SEO is Yoast SEO. This is a free WordPress plugin, but a paid option is also available.
A Shopify store offers some SEO capabilities, but WordPress plugins allow for increased SEO support.
Ultimately, WooCommerce is a reliable, dedicated eCommerce platform that allows you to use your online store with ease. We hope this blog has been helpful on WooCommerce vs Shopify, which are two popular eCommerce platforms. It’s crucial that you choose the right eCommerce platform for you.
Do you need a new website with an eCommerce store for your business? We can help. Our developers have the skills and experience to create stunning, user-friendly websites. Take a look at some of our recent projects.
Contact us today so we can make your ideas a reality.