If you’re using your WordPress website to create an online storefront, then you have probably been looking at a few different platforms to use—namely WooCommerce and Shopify.
Here are five reasons why you should use WordPress and WooCommerce together instead of Shopify:
Cost
First off, let’s start with something pretty basic—the cost of both. The bottom line is that WooCommerce is a better option because it’s free. Shopify requires you to choose a monthly pricing plan, which is money up front. And then, depending on the plan you choose, they also charge you fees between 0.5% and 2.0% on all transactions. A $100 order, for example, could cost you $2 in fees.
This may not seem like much, but when you start adding it up, it’s a lot of potential money off of your bottom line. You can get the same functions (and in many cases better functionality) with WooCommerce and you can get it for free.
Design
One of the things people love about Shopify is the many storefront themes that come with the platform. However, the best of these have an additional cost (as much as $180) and since there aren’t that many, store owners sometimes complain that their store looks just like someone else’s store. That said, there are still multiple customization options that allow you to personalize your look.
On WooCommerce, however, design is wide open. If you can install a theme from WordPress, then you can use it as your store’s design. Additionally, if you have any inclinations to design your own theme and template, you can do just that and it will integrate with WooCommerce; but you have to be willing to do some work to get this set up.
Content
One of the other perks with WooCommerce is that it integrates perfectly with WordPress to allow you to create content for your website. This means that you can blog and create articles to draw in potential customers; they can then order products on your e-commerce site.
With Shopify, you don’t have this option. It is simply an e-commerce platform with no blogging side to help draw in your clientele.
Flexibility
Another thing that definitely draws people into WooCommerce is the flexibility it affords you.
In fact, the Shopify apps that are available are vastly outnumbered by those of WooCommerce. This means that you can customize your site so that it doesn’t look like everyone else’s storefront.
Shopify also uses their own proprietary programming language while WooCommerce uses the more universal PHP. That means that WooCommerce can have additional content created on an as-needed basis while that won’t really happen with Shopify.
Ownership
One other advantage that comes with WooCommerce is that you actually have full ownership of your website and can run it as you wish. With Shopify, you are provided a URL, but ultimately you can only do what Shopify allows you to do with the site.
On WooCommerce, your input is unlimited since you have total ownership of everything. This may be a lot of responsibility for some people, but it also means that ultimately you have more control of your store, your message, and your product with WooCommerce.
If you are looking to set up an e-commerce website, then WooCommerce is a perfect fit for your needs. With a low price point and a great deal more flexibility, it can handle almost anything you require of it.
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