Whether you’ve committed to creating an ecommerce shop or you’re scoping out your options, choosing the right ecommerce platform is a big step. Every platform does the same job (help you sell resources on your website), but the user experience and cost of each can vary wildly. To help you make the right choice, I’m comparing WooCommerce vs. Shopify.

WooCommerce vs. Shopify? Which should you choose? Pin to Save!

Pros and Cons of Shopify

Shopify might be one of the most well-known ecommerce platforms, which is why so many people turn to them first. But I wouldn’t recommend Shopify for everyone.

The Pros of Shopify

#1 User-friendly Interface – Creating an ecommerce shop with Shopify is pretty easy. They walk you through adding products and setting up your store.

#2 Lots of Apps – Shopify makes integration pretty easy through their apps. This can lessen your manual workload and make it simple to sell across platforms.

#3 24/7 Customer Support – Enough said, right? If something goes wrong with your shop, their customer service team is there to help.

The Cons of Shopify

#1 Fees with Shopify – The cost of using Shopify can quickly add up. You pay monthly fees with Shopify, along with transaction fees. The base plan is $29 and has limited customization and add-ons.

#2 Built Through Their Platform – You can’t actually create your ecommerce site on your site. You must sell through Shopify’s platform. While you can add products to your WordPress site, it’s been known to suffer from glitches.

#3 SEO Capabilities – There are some limitations when it comes to Shopify’s SEO, such as the inability to fully customize your URLs. This can hurt your ability to be found online.

The Pros and Cons of WooCommerce

Personally, WooCommerce is my favorite ecommerce platform to use. When I make the WooCommerce vs. Shopify comparison below, you’ll understand why!

The Pros of WooCommerce

#1 Add it to Your Website – With WooCommerce, you can add your ecommerce site straight onto your website. That means no third-party platform or unreliable integrations.

#2 Plugins Galore – WooCommerce offers a ton of plugins that can help you customize your shop and enhance your customer experience. Plus, many of them are free or have a one-time fee.

#3 Customization – When you put WooCommerce vs. Shopify side-by-side, WooCommerce is the clear winner when it comes to customization. I’ve been able to create amazing sites for my clients with loyalty programs and user-friendly search bars with this platform.

#4 No Monthly Fees –  Ditch the monthly fee and simply pay transaction fees with each purchase.

The Cons of WooCommerce

#1 Customer Support More Limited – While they have customer support, it’s not a 24/7 chat situation. Instead, you can submit a tech ticket or use their online forum.

#2 You Control Security – Because WooCommerce is hosted through your site, you’re responsible for protecting it against spam or malware. (Need help with site security? Join Worry-Free Maintenance.)

#3 More Technical to Set Up – There is a bit more involved in setting up a WooCommerce store. However, you don’t have to go at it alone or spend hours searching online.

I created Settin’ Up Shop, a course to guide you through creating a WooCommerce shop on your WordPress site! This course includes written and video tutorials that take you from publishing your first product to launching your online store.

Join Settin’ Up Shop