CALL/TEXT: 647-689-7895
July 23, 2020

Shopify vs WordPress for Ecommerce in 2022

Shopify and WordPress(WooCommerce) are two of the most popular choices for business owners looking to start selling products & services online. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of both these platforms to help you decide on an E-commerce solution for your business.

File:WordPress logo.svg - Wikimedia Commons

WordPress:

Pros:

  • Hosting Flexibility:You can choose hosting plans which range from ($2.95 USD/month(BLUEHOST) or a higher-end hosting solution WpEngine($30 USD/month)
  • SEO advantage : you have the ability to edit URL patterns, and keyword focus using plugins such as Yoast SEO and All in One Pack
  • More theme options:WordPress is Open Source, this allows web designers to freely develop new themes for the platform(Free & Paid Options) Check out ThemeForest to browse premium themes specifically for your niche.
  • Open Source: If you are more tech-savvy, open source is always a plus as this gives you the flexibility to develop custom functionality to satisfy any use case in your business.

Cons:

  • Required to sign up for a third-party payment processor(Stripe): WordPress does not provide a payment gateway solution out of the box which does affect new store owners with more decisions to make if their main goal is to start selling as soon as possible. Shopify offers “Shopify Payments” to its customers.
  • Less Secure (Need to set up an SSL certificate): If you are not up to date with basic web security as a business, this would require the help of a developer or agency to get security plugins such as Wordfence Security and to set up an SSL certificate(which is required to accept any payment transaction on your website)

File:Shopify logo 2018.svg - Wikimedia Commons

Shopify:

Pros:

  • Security: Shopify handles the hosting which means they’re able to manage the server security and provide SSL certificates which will allow business owners to get their website started faster
  • Easier to set up without the help of a developer: Shopify was built for E-commerce, so the dashboard is more user friendly for first-time website owners compared to WordPress which is a blogging solution.
  • Payment Gateway included : Shopify Payments is included directly in the Shopify dashboard. You also have the ability to add alternative payments such as Stripe and Paypal. This allows businesses to quickly start receiving payments and keeps payment handling within the Shopify ecosystem.
  • Support : Shopify offers personal support to subscribers whereas, with WordPress, you would need to rely directly on forums.

Cons:

  • Apps within Shopify are usually subscription-based, which can add up fairly quickly along with the Shopify monthly subscription. If you are looking to build an E-commerce store cheaply, WordPress would be a more cost-effective solution
  • Does not allow customizations on Checkout Page: The basic Shopify Plan and Plus Plans do not allow access to the checkout functionality. Only on the advance plan($299/month), would you get the ability to edit the code on your checkout page. This is a con for those looking to have complete control over the entire functionality of their website
  • Tiered Subscription pricing: Pricing starts at $29/month to get started, but as you require more functionality the plans increase from $79/month and $299/month.

When to use Shopify:

Looking to quickly set up a basic e-commerce with little customization and you have low technical ability with building websites

When to use WordPress-WooCommerce:

When you’d like more flexibility and the ability to build a custom eCommerce store functionalities and you have technical ability in handling website development.

If you’d like help with setting up your first or new eCommerce website for your business, visit our homepage here.

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram