Introduction
Shopify and WooCommerce are both popular e-commerce platforms that can be used to create an online store. The two tools are powering more than 800 000 online stores. However, let’s see the main differences, answer some of the frequently asked questions, and help you choose what’s better for your store as a creator.
Main differences between Shopify and WooCommerce
Shopify is a subscription-based platform, which means you have to pay a monthly fee to use it. This fee includes hosting, customer support, and access to a range of tools and features that can help you manage and grow your online store.
WooCommerce, on the other hand, is a free plugin that you can use with WordPress to add e-commerce functionality to your website. This means you will need to have a WordPress website and find a hosting provider before you can use WooCommerce.
One of the main advantages of Shopify is that it is a turnkey solution, which means you can set up your online store quickly and easily without needing to have any technical expertise. WooCommerce, on the other hand, may require some technical knowledge to set up and manage, especially if you want to customize it or add advanced features.
Another key difference between the two is the range of available features and tools. Shopify offers a wide range of tools and features out of the box, including payment gateway integrations, inventory management, and shipping tools. WooCommerce, on the other hand, is more flexible and customizable, but you may need to add additional plugins or custom code to get the same level of functionality as Shopify.
In terms of pricing, Shopify's subscription fees start at $29 per month, and you can choose from different plans depending on your needs. WooCommerce is free to use, but you will need to pay for hosting and any additional plugins or features you want to add.
Overall, the main difference between Shopify and WooCommerce is that Shopify is a subscription-based platform that offers a turnkey solution for creating an online store, while WooCommerce is a free plugin that you can use with WordPress to add e-commerce functionality to your website. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the right choice for you will depend on your specific needs and goals.
FAQs
Which platform is more scalable?
WooCommerce is more scalable in the long run because you have ultimate control over and customization of your site. However, it may be more costly than Shopify. Shopify is extremely scalable, with a choice of plans and apps to push growth, but is more structured in its features.
Which platform has better apps?
WooCommerce has a wider range of plugins than Shopify, which have all been designed by web developers. In comparison, Shopify has 1,200 apps in its App Store.
Can you migrate websites between each other?
Yes! You can migrate your site from WooCommerce to Shopify, and vice versa. While switching may not be ideal, it’s not impossible – you can even automate the entire process, which will help you to avoid headaches.
Can you use any of them for free?
You can try Shopify for free for 14 days, but then you’ll need to sign up to a paid plan. WooCommerce is free, but you will still spend money on hosting, security, domains, and more – so make sure you budget for whichever you choose.
Do I have to pay for hosting?
Since WooCommerce runs through WordPress, which is a self-hosted platform, you will have to pay for hosting separately. If you’re looking for a web hosting provider, check out our hosting comparison chart here. With Shopify, your site is hosted for you, so there’s nothing to sort out.
Time to choose
Should I use Shopify?
Shopify is perfect for someone that doesn’t have the most knowledge about building a website and needs a website up and running quickly. Their sleek templates are very easy to customize. Another great thing about using Shopify is that you can rely on their 24/7 support.
Should I use WooCommerce?
Using WooCommerce is suitable if you’re ready to invest more time into your passion project with a lot of personalization. If you have the more technical knowledge and you want greater control over the design of your website, WooCommerce is the way to go. That should also be your choice if you plan to build a large-scale online store that’s set up for successfully selling in multiple regions.
What’s great about Shopify and WooCommerce, is that both can be easily integrated into your Fangage platform. You can easily link them to your Fangage website to sell products easily, allowing your fans to buy any product from your store directly. Thousands of creators have already chosen Fangage to create their community platform, engage, and monetize their audience, bring extra traffic to their stores, and sell more products. You can also use gated content to offer limited & members-only discounts for your store.
