WordPress or Shopify – Which Platform is Better

When it comes to building an online store, Shopify and WordPress are two top contenders. Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce solution designed for quick and easy setup, while WordPress offers extensive customisation options through its content management system (CRM) and various plugins. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, so the best choice depends on your specific business needs and technical expertise.

Shopify for E-commerce: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• User-Friendly: Shopify requires no technical skills to set up, making it accessible for beginners.
• Quick Setup: The bulk upload feature and comprehensive dashboard allow you to start selling quickly.
• Design Options: With over 70 responsive themes designed by Shopify, you can create a professional-looking store.
• Essential Features: Shopify includes basic tools for selling and scaling your online business.
• Payment Gateways: Supports over 100 payment gateways, including an in-house option, providing flexibility for transactions.
• SEO Optimisation: Built-in SEO features help optimize your store for better search engine ranking.
• Maintenance: Shopify handles updates and security, saving you time and effort.
• 24/7 Support: Access to human support via email, chat, phone, and a customer forum ensures help is always available.
• Transaction Fees: No transaction fees when using Shopify Payments.

Cons:

• Content Management: Limited compared to WordPress, which may restrict some advanced content needs.
• Product Limits: Imposes arbitrary limits on product types and options, which could be a drawback for diverse inventories.

WordPress for E-commerce: Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Customisation: WordPress offers extensive customisation options, ideal for those with technical skills.
• Theme Variety: Thousands of free and paid themes are available, allowing for diverse design choices.
• Content Management: More feature-rich compared to Shopify, making it suitable for content-heavy websites.
• No Limits: No imposed limits on products or content, offering greater flexibility.
• Plugin Options: A vast array of plugins provide additional functionality to enhance your store.

Cons:

• Complex Setup: Requires more time and effort to set up, including the installation of e-commerce plugins.
• Maintenance: Ongoing monitoring and updating of hosting, WordPress, and plugins are necessary.
• SEO Costs: Requires a paid SEO plugin for advanced optimisation.
• Support: No dedicated human support, though extensive free tutorials and tips are available.

A Quick Look at Shopify vs. WordPress

Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that provides everything from an online shop builder to domains and hosting. It also features an integrated point-of-sale (POS) system, allowing you to sync online and in-person sales with built-in inventory and order management.

WordPress, on the other hand, is a powerful content management system that allows for extensive customisation through plugins or manual coding. This flexibility makes it ideal for businesses looking to create a unique shopping experience and manage large content libraries.

Transaction Fees

Both Shopify and WordPress charge a fee of 2% plus 25p for online credit card transactions. For in-person transactions, Shopify charges 2.7%, while WordPress charges 2.6% plus around 8p. For high-priced items, WordPress may offer more cost-effective transaction fees.

Unlimited Products

Both platforms allow you to upload unlimited products. Shopify also provides the option to turn off inventory tracking for non-physical products, such as digital files. WordPress does not limit the number of products but offers up to 50GB of storage, expandable to 200GB.

Storage

Shopify provides unlimited storage and bandwidth, ideal for large image files and extensive product listings, though it limits the max file size to 20MB. WordPress offers up to 50GB of storage, with the option to expand to 200GB.

Integrations

Shopify boasts over 8,000 apps, including marketplace integrations, social media connections, and design customizations. WordPress with WooCommerce offers 820 specific e-commerce extensions, alongside nearly 60,000 plugins for broader site customization.

Customer Support

Both platforms offer 24/7 live chat and email support. Shopify includes these features on all plans, while WordPress provides email support starting with the Starter plan and live chat with the Explorer plan and higher.

Cost Comparison (Accurate April 2024)

• WordPress: Plans range from £3 to £51 per month. For serious businesses, the £36 per month Entrepreneur plan is recommended. Cheaper plans may require additional plugins for full functionality.
• Shopify: Starts at £19 per month, with the popular £49 per month Shopify plan. The Advanced plan, with more features, costs £259 per month. Shopify also have apps which work like plugins

Customer Reviews and Reputation

• Shopify: Holds 1.6 stars on Trustpilot, with common complaints about billing issues and customer service.
• WordPress: Slightly better at 2.1 stars on Trustpilot, with issues related to account suspensions.

Both Shopify and WordPress offer powerful solutions for building an online store, but they cater to different needs:

Shopify is best for businesses that:

• Want to get up and running quickly.
• Prefer an all-in-one solution.
• Are not well-versed in web design.

WordPress is best for businesses that:

• Desire extensive customisation.
• Have the time and skills to install plugins and manage site maintenance.
• Handle large content libraries.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Platform

1. What is my budget for setting up and maintaining the website?
2. Do I have technical skills or access to a developer for customisation?
3. How important is quick setup and ease of use for my business?
4. Do I need advanced content management features?
5. How many products do I plan to sell, and what is their nature (physical, digital)?
6. What are my storage needs for product images and files?
7. What level of customer support will I need?
8. What are the transaction fee implications for my expected sales volume?
9. Do I plan to integrate with other online marketplaces or social media platforms?
10. How crucial is SEO for my business growth?

By answering these questions, you can better determine whether Shopify or WordPress aligns with your e-commerce goals and requirements.

 

At Sixtwo we help client decide which platform is best for meeting their requirements and budget.