Shopify vs. WordPress: Which is Best for E-commerce
The world of e-commerce is booming, and aspiring entrepreneurs face a crucial decision: which platform to build their online store on? Two giants stand out: Shopify and WordPress. Shopify is a closed-source, hosted website builder and e-commerce platform, whereas WordPress is an open-source, self-hosted content management system (CMS) with e-commerce functionality added through plugins like WooCommerce. Let’s delve into the key differences to help you pick the perfect match for your business.
Set Up and Ease of Use
Shopify is simple to set up and use, with an intuitive interface and many features as standard, including security, search engine optimization (SEO), and analytics tools. WordPress, on the other hand, is more of a blank canvas that requires third-party plugins for many functions.
E-commerce
Shopify is entirely dedicated to commerce, with an all-in-one, out-of-the-box commerce solution that includes an e-commerce website builder, inventory and order management tools, and integrations with online sales channels. WordPress does not come with e-commerce functionality, therefore there is a need to install and manage an e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce.
Payment Gateways
Shopify integrates seamlessly with over 100 payment gateways, including its own Shopify Payments. WooCommerce also integrates with over 75 payment gateways, including its own WooCommerce Payments.
Apps and Plugins
Shopify has its own app store with over 6,000 apps to choose from. WordPress has over 50,000 plugins, but many of them can be difficult to manage if you can’t code.
Pricing and Value
Shopify has three main plans to choose from: Basic Shopify for $39/month, Shopify for $105/month, and Shopify Advanced for $399/month. The cost of a WordPress e-commerce website varies dramatically depending on your custom setup, but Shopify likely provides a far cheaper and more streamlined offer.
Customer Support
Shopify provides unlimited 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone, as well as an extensive help center and active community forums. WordPress does not offer support directly, so you will need to find help on community forums or pay for support from a specialist WordPress developer.
Dropshipping
Both Shopify and WordPress provide a host of dropshipping apps, including AliExpress Dropshipping and print-on-demand dropshipping apps like Printful and Printify ¹.
Final Thoughts
Shopify and WordPress are both incredible platforms, but Shopify is the best choice if you want to focus on building and growing a business. Shopify has everything you need to start and scale a business out-of-the-box, and you won’t have to spend valuable time and energy managing hosting, security, and essential e-commerce integrations. If you are an experienced web developer who wants complete control over every aspect of your website, then WordPress and the WooCommerce plugin may be the way to go.
