If you’re running an ecommerce business, you’re likely always looking for ways to improve your operations. 

Choosing the right ecommerce platform can be the difference between a well-oiled, profitable machine and a whole slew of headaches and problems. 

Regarding ecommerce platforms, two big names dominate the conversation: WooCommerce and Shopify.

Both of these popular ecommerce platforms have earned their reputations and have a lot to offer. But which one is the right fit for your business? This article will pit WooCommerce against Shopify and see which platform comes out on top.

We’ll be comparing them across a range of criteria, including:

• Pricing
• Ease of use
• Templates & themes
• Apps & plugins
• Integrations
• SEO
• Web hosting
• Payment gateways
• Advanced plans
• Inventory management
• Dropshipping
• Security
• Support

By the end of this article, you should know which platform better suits your needs and business. We’ve got to cover in this post, so let’s get stuck right in!

WooCommerce vs Shopify: Quick comparison

This can be a brief summary of all the points you’ll elaborate on below. Want it to be an actual table so you can use this comparison table as a model. So each of the comparison points, a sentence to summarise each platform, then a verdict for each.

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that turns any WordPress site into an online store. 

Note: In a recent post, we discussed why WordPress is so desirable for ecommerce and the best WordPress themes for online stores. Check that out if these terms are new to you.

2.3 million ecommerce stores worldwide use WooCommerce as their ecommerce platform. It’s free to use and very flexible. However, since you’re working with an open platform like WordPress, it requires more tinkering than a plug-and-play solution like Shopify.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform that powers around 800,000 online stores. One of its selling points is that it’s extremely easy to use, even if you’re not tech-savvy. 

Additionally, it’s a complete, one-stop-shop ecommerce platform that helps you create, manage and grow your business.

A helpful analogy is to think of Shopify as Apple and WooCommerce as Android. The former is very approachable while lacking some of the customization features of the latter.

Everything — your website, your hosting, sales, and inventory — is all in one convenient Shopify dashboard. But that comes at a cost of customizability. You may run into something that you simply cannot do on Shopify because of its closed systems.

WooCommerce vs Shopify: 13 factors to consider

Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of both WooCommerce and Shopify, let’s go a little more granular and compare their features side-by-side across 13 different categories.

Pricing

In the world of ecommerce, every penny counts. Staying within budget while choosing a platform that meets your needs is paramount. Let’s examine the pricing details of WooCommerce and Shopify to determine which platform offers the better deal.

WooCommerce pricing

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress. However, it’s important to note that running a WooCommerce store does come with its own set of costs. You, as the webmaster, must purchase your own domain, hosting, and security plugins.

Here’s a potential cost breakdown for a store using WooCommerce with Bluehost hosting:

• Hosting: $24.95/month (Standard Plan)
• Theme: $60 (one-time)
• Security: $50/year
• Domain: $15/year
• Extension fees: $60/year for a popular payment gateway
• Transaction fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per payment (an additional 1% if you are outside the US)

Annual Total (excluding transaction fees): $378.40/year

This setup allows a great deal of flexibility, giving you control over your budget as you can shop around for hosting and themes that align with your budget.

Shopify pricing

Shopify offers set pricing plans that range from $29 to $299 per month. Here’s a hypothetical cost breakdown for a store using the basic Shopify plan with some additional features:

• Basic Shopify Plan: $29/month
• Premium Theme: $180 (one-time)
• Third-Party Apps: $40/month (average)
• Transaction fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per payment

Shopify’s pricing plans are designed to be transparent, with many essential features, like hosting and security, bundled into the monthly fee. But if you want premium themes and additional apps, expect a higher bill.

Annual Total (excluding transaction fees): $828/year

The winner: WooCommerce

When it comes to pure value for money, WooCommerce takes the gold. The flexibility of WooCommerce’s pricing structure is its standout feature—it’s highly modular and allows you to choose what you need without paying for all the things you don’t.

It may not seem like a huge differential over the course of a few months, but if you want a long-term business, these savings will add up fast.

However, it’s important to consider the convenience factor. Shopify’s set pricing, though higher at face value, offers a simplicity that can be attractive, especially for those who prefer knowing their costs upfront and not having to manage various components separately.

For international sellers, it’s also worth noting the extra 1% transaction fee on WooCommerce if you are outside the US, which could tip the scales depending on your sales volume.

Ease of use

When it comes to setting up an online store, ease of use should be a top priority (especially for non-technical folks).

WooCommerce ease of use

WooCommerce is a powerful WordPress plugin that turns your website into a fully functional online store. If you’re already a WordPress user, you’ll find WooCommerce integrates seamlessly with your site.

However, for those who aren’t as familiar with WordPress, the setup might feel like assembling a piece of furniture with a vague instruction manual. You have all the parts (and endless customization options), but putting them together might take some time and patience.

From a user’s perspective, one might liken WooCommerce to Android: you have full control, you own the system, and it’s quite customizable – but it may take a good bit of tinkering to get it “just right.”

Shopify ease of use

On the other side, we have Shopify – the platform that prides itself on being one of the most user-friendly options out there. Imagine walking into a pre-furnished, stylish apartment where everything is set up for you, right down to the last detail – that’s Shopify.

Shopify holds your hand through every step of the onboarding process, from getting signed up to adding products and building your site.

Everything is intuitive, with a massive library of 3rd-party apps that are simple to install and easy to use.

Continuing the analogy, Shopify could be seen as the Apple of the eCcommerce world. It’s sleek, efficient, and generally a safer choice for those who are not tech-savvy.

However, much like Apple’s ubiquitous smartphone, customization options can be pretty limited, and you’re locked down within Shopify’s ecosystem.

The winner: Shopify

When it comes down to pure ease of use, especially for those without a deep technical background, Shopify takes the cake. It’s the friendly tour guide, holding your hand through the process, making sure you don’t get lost in the land of codes and plugins.

For someone just dipping their toes into the ecommerce pool, the basic Shopify plan acts as a gentle introduction without overwhelming new sellers with choices and settings.

It allows sellers to focus more on their products and less on the technical aspects of store setup, making it a particularly strong option for newcomers to the ecommerce scene.

Templates & themes

When it comes to building a visually stunning online store, the design and themes you choose play a critical role.

Let’s delve into how Shopify and WooCommerce fare in this aspect, focusing on variety, aesthetics, responsiveness, and customization capabilities.

WooCommerce templates & themes

WooCommerce offers a wide variety of themes, which includes its default theme, Storefront. Storefront is fully mobile-responsive, offering a clean and fresh layout.

WooCommerce has a respectable collection of templates available for purchase. For example, ThemeForest alone features over 1,000 specific ecommerce themes for WooCommerce users to explore.

However, since there isn’t an official curated theme store like Shopify, the professional feel of WooCommerce themes can vary significantly.

The aesthetic of your store on WooCommerce often depends on the effort and technical skills you invest, giving you significant control but possibly requiring more time commitment.

Shopify templates & themes

There’s no getting around it; Shopify themes just look good, and it does so right out of the box.

Shopify provides over 100 templates, ranging from free to premium, with the latter starting from $140 and reaching upwards of $350.

Despite the price tag, these themes are a valuable investment for your store. Shopify’s themes are highly polished, and they are designed specifically to enhance ecommerce sites.

Adding a new theme to your Shopify store is straightforward, and the platform guides you to focus on your products and categories immediately—a feature that is highly appreciated.

Furthermore, Shopify’s increasing focus on omnichannel design capabilities has been notably exceptional, as it allows sellers to market items on different channels seamlessly through one dashboard.

The winner: Shopify

Shopify takes the crown in this category. Its themes are not only visually stunning but are also purposefully designed to help sellers succeed in the ecommerce space. Shopify’s approach is more curated, and the platform’s creators have meticulously selected themes that they believe will work best for different kinds of stores.

Moreover, the ease of setting up a theme on Shopify and the clean approach to building a site—where the builder doesn’t overload you with stock images and text—is a clear advantage, allowing for a focused and efficient design process.

This commitment to user experience and quality design positions Shopify as the leader in this category, making it an excellent choice for sellers prioritizing aesthetics and a seamless design process.

Apps & plugins

Here’s the reality: whatever ecommerce solution you choose will not operate exactly how you need it to right out of the box.

Most experienced ecommerce sellers will tell you that their online business lives and dies on the shoulders of 3rd-party plugins to help extend the platform’s functionality.

Let’s dig into how Shopify and WooCommerce stack up in this department.

Shopify’s apps

Shopify boasts a well-organized and comprehensive App Store where you can find over 4,000 apps to extend the functionality of your store.

From marketing and sales to inventory management, there’s likely an app for nearly everything you can think of.

While many of Shopify’s apps are free, the most powerful (and business-critical) ones come with a monthly fee, which can add up over time. The Shopify App Store is known for its user-friendly interface and the high-quality standard it maintains for its apps, ensuring security and functionality.

Want to know which apps we recommend? Here’s a list of our favorite Shopify Apps to get started.

WooCommerce’s plugins

WooCommerce, being a WordPress plugin itself, has the advantage of tapping into the vast WordPress ecosystem. There are tens of thousands of plugins available—both free and premium—that allow you to customize and extend your store in virtually limitless ways.

From SEO tools to payment gateways, WooCommerce plugins can accommodate just about any business process you could possibly imagine.

However, due to this vast number, the quality of plugins can vary significantly, and it often requires a more discerning eye to choose the best and most reliable options.

The winner: It’s a tie

Choosing a winner in this category depends on your priorities: simplicity and curated quality or expansive options with a hands-on approach.

Shopify’s App Store offers a streamlined, user-friendly experience with a curated selection of high-quality Shopify apps that are generally easy to install and manage.

In contrast, WooCommerce, with its expansive plugin repository, offers unparalleled flexibility and customization, but it may require more technical know-how and time spent sifting through options to find the best fit for your store.

In addition to WordPress plugins, WooCommerce also has the WooCommerce Extension Store, a proprietary library of extensions built exclusively for the platform.

Plus, it’s not uncommon for certain plugins in the WordPress ecosystem to interfere with one another and “break” your site, a headache you may not be equipped to deal with.

With Shopify, you get a more controlled environment, which is excellent for those who want simplicity and are willing to pay for it.

With WooCommerce, you get vast, open terrain that is ripe for customization and experimentation, but it might require a more adventurous spirit and some technical elbow grease.

Integrations

One of the greatest strengths of an ecommerce platform lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate with various third-party tools and services.

These integrations can streamline operations, amplify marketing efforts, and enhance the customer experience. In the battle of WooCommerce vs. Shopify, how do these platforms fare regarding integrations?

Shopify integrations

Shopify has positioned itself as an integration powerhouse, providing merchants with connections to various third-party tools and services right out of the box.

Whether you’re looking to integrate with top-tier email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, harness the power of dropshipping with Zendrop, or tap into the world of social commerce through Facebook and Instagram integrations, Shopify has you covered.

Its robust API and user-friendly interface make integrating third-party tools a breeze, even for those without much technical know-how. However, some integrations might come with additional monthly fees, so it’s essential to factor that into your budget.

WooCommerce integrations

Being built on WordPress, WooCommerce inherits a universe teeming with integration possibilities. The vast WordPress ecosystem is replete with plugins designed to work harmoniously with WooCommerce, offering integrations with virtually any service you can think of.

Need to integrate your store with a CRM like HubSpot or an accounting tool like QuickBooks? There’s a plugin for that.

While the sheer volume of available integrations can be a boon, it also means you might have to comb through multiple options to find the best fit. And, as with any open-source solution, there’s a varying quality among these integrations.

The winner: WooCommerce

While both platforms offer impressive integration capabilities, WooCommerce edges out Shopify because of the sheer volume and flexibility of integrations it offers.

WooCommerce allows you to piece together your perfect ecommerce toolkit, ensuring every aspect of your business works in harmony.

Shopify does offer an extensive range of high-quality integrations, but the open-source nature of WooCommerce combined with the vast WordPress ecosystem places it a step ahead for merchants seeking unparalleled integration capabilities.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Strong SEO can be the make-or-break factor for your online store, especially if you want to build a sustainable brand.

It’s vital to choose a platform that supports your SEO efforts and helps you rank high on search engines.

Both Shopify and WooCommerce are built with SEO in mind, but they offer different sets of features and tools. Let’s take a closer look at each.

WooCommerce SEO

WooCommerce runs on WordPress, which is renowned for its SEO-friendliness. With access to powerful SEO plugins (many of which are now available on Shopify’s App Store), users have granular control over every SEO aspect of their store, from meta descriptions and titles to structured data and sitemaps.

The open-source nature of WordPress allows for extensive customization, enabling shop owners to fine-tune their SEO strategy down to the smallest detail.

User experience also plays a significant role in SEO. WooCommerce allows full control over your site’s design, which means you can optimize the user experience to improve both on-site time and bounce rate, important factors for SEO.

However, this may require a level of technical know-how that not everyone possesses.

Shopify SEO

Shopify, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined and user-friendly approach to SEO. Basic Shopify plan users and up have access to essential SEO features, such as customizable headlines, meta descriptions, and URLs, and the platform automatically generates sitemaps (more on that in a second).

Shopify’s themes are also designed to be SEO-friendly and quick to load, which is a significant factor in search rankings.

However, many SEOs will tell you it lacks the depth and customization that WooCommerce offers. For example, as of this article, Shopify injects certain strings into your URLs (such as the mandatory ‘products’ string) that you can’t change.

Many believe that the slug of your URL is a ranking factor, so not having complete control over this may be a dealbreaker to SEO perfectionists.

Also, you can’t edit your sitemap.xml file since they’re generated automatically, meaning you may be stuck with some technical SEO issues that simply cannot be fixed on the Shopify platform.

The winner: WooCommerce (by a hair)

While both platforms are built with SEO in mind and offer a range of features to help your store rank well on search engines, WooCommerce comes out on top in this category.

Its integration with WordPress, which is arguably the best content management system for SEO, provides an unparalleled depth of customization and optimization capabilities.

With WooCommerce, merchants have access to a wider range of SEO plugins and can exercise full control over every aspect of their site’s SEO, making it a strong choice for those with specific and advanced SEO needs.

Web hosting

Web hosting is the backbone of any ecommerce platform, ensuring that your online store remains accessible, fast, and secure.

It’s critical to understand the hosting solutions each platform provides because it can significantly impact performance, scalability, and overall user experience.

WooCommerce web hosting

WooCommerce operates on the WordPress platform, which means you’re on the hook to provide your own web hosting. While this may feel a bit intimidating (and it is one extra step), it’s not as hard as it sounds and also gives store owners the flexibility to choose their hosting provider.

There are numerous hosting solutions tailored for WooCommerce, like SiteGround, Bluehost, and Hostinger. Each has its unique offerings regarding speed, security, and scalability.

But this comes with added responsibilities that not all store owners may want.

Site owners must manage and maintain their hosting, including backups, security updates, and scalability. This can be a double-edged sword: while there’s potential for high customization, there’s also a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with web hosting.

Shopify web hosting

Shopify, in contrast, offers an all-in-one solution. Every Shopify store is hosted on Shopify’s servers, and this hosting is included in the monthly fee. This means that store owners don’t need to worry about choosing a hosting provider, backups, or security updates; Shopify handles everything.

Furthermore, Shopify’s hosting is optimized for performance. With a Content Delivery Network (CDN) built-in, Shopify stores tend to load quickly, regardless of where the customer is located.

Their infrastructure also scales automatically during traffic spikes, ensuring smooth performance during sales or promotional events. This streamlined approach is great for those who want to focus on their store without the technical overhead of hosting management.

The winner: Shopify

While WooCommerce provides the flexibility to tailor hosting to specific needs, it also demands a deeper understanding of web hosting mechanics and the tasks associated with it. Shopify’s all-in-one, hassle-free hosting solution is a boon for merchants who want to concentrate solely on growing their business without delving into the nitty-gritty of web hosting.

Payment gateways

Accepting payments securely and conveniently is a paramount concern for any ecommerce store. Both WooCommerce and Shopify provide a range of options for payment gateways, but the approach they take and the breadth of their offerings are quite distinct.

Let’s compare how each platform stacks up when it comes to facilitating transactions through payment gateways.

WooCommerce payment gateways

WooCommerce, being an open-source platform, offers extensive flexibility when it comes to payment gateways. It supports a wide range of both standard and lesser-known gateways through extensions.

Popular options like PayPal, Stripe, and Square are easily integrated, but so are many local and specialized gateways. This advantage is significant for store owners targeting specific regions or countries with preferred local payment methods.

Furthermore, WooCommerce does not charge any additional fees for using third-party gateways. The transaction fees are set by the gateway or your bank, and WooCommerce doesn’t take a cut.

However, the setup might require a bit more hands-on work, as each gateway has its own separate plugin that must be installed and configured.

Shopify payment gateways

Shopify, on the other hand, makes payment processing very straightforward with its own integrated payment solution: Shopify Payments. It’s powered by Stripe but is more seamless and directly integrated into the platform.

With Shopify Payments, the setup is quick, and there are no transaction fees.

However, if you prefer to use a third-party payment gateway, Shopify supports a range of options, much like WooCommerce.

The catch here is that Shopify does impose additional transaction fees if you use a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments. These fees can range from 0.5% to 2% per transaction, depending on your Shopify plan, which can add up for stores with high-volume sales.

The winner: WooCommerce (by a hair)

WooCommerce comes out ahead in this category due to its wide selection of payment gateways and absence of additional transaction fees, regardless of the payment solution chosen.

This freedom allows store owners to pick the most cost-effective and appropriate gateway for their market without worrying about incurring additional costs.

Shopify’s solution is more streamlined and perhaps easier for beginners, but the added fees when using third-party gateways can be a significant factor for many businesses.

Advanced plans

For businesses with a larger scale, both in terms of products and traffic, advanced plans are a critical consideration.

These plans offer more features, better performance, and often superior support. Let’s delve into the advanced plans that Shopify and WooCommerce offer and compare what you get with each.

WooCommerce advanced plans

With WooCommerce being a free, open-source platform, there isn’t a traditional “advanced plan.” However, scaling a WooCommerce store typically involves choosing a more robust hosting plan.

Top-tier managed WordPress hosting solutions like WP Engine and Kinsta offer advanced features like higher performance, dedicated support, enhanced security, and additional ecommerce tools.

The costs can range from $30 to several hundred dollars per month, depending on your provider and needs.

Additionally, WooCommerce store owners may choose to invest in premium plugins and themes that further extend functionality.

From advanced SEO tools to complex product options and memberships, the possibilities are almost endless, but these extensions often come with individual price tags.

Shopify advanced plans

Shopify’s advanced plans are more straightforward, with two key offerings: ‘Basic Shopify’ at $79/month and the aptly-named ‘Advanced Shopify Plan’ at $299/month.

These plans offer lower credit card rates, lower fees on external payment gateways, more staff accounts, and advanced features such as third-party calculated shipping rates and advanced report builder.

For even larger enterprises, Shopify offers ‘Shopify Plus,’ a fully hosted, customizable, and scalable solution. Shopify Plus is tailored for high-volume merchants and starts at around $2,000/month. It provides features like automation, dedicated support, and an extensive array of additional tools and integrations.

The winner: It depends

For merchants that require a lot of customizations and complete control over their store, WooCommerce might be the better choice, as it offers unlimited flexibility and scalability depending on how much you are willing to manage and optimize your hosting environment.

The costs can be controlled, and with the right setup, you can achieve a highly-performing store.

On the other hand, Shopify provides a more predictable, hands-off experience with its advanced plans. The pricing is clear, and you get a comprehensive, high-performance solution that is easy to scale without worrying about the technicalities.

For businesses looking for powerful features without the need to manage server performance and security, Shopify’s advanced plans can be a strong, albeit more costly, solution.

Inventory management

Inventory management is the backbone of any ecommerce operation, helping to track products, manage stock levels, and organize product listings. For growing businesses, effective inventory management is essential.

Let’s take a look at how WooCommerce and Shopify stack up when it comes to managing your store’s inventory.

WooCommerce inventory management

WooCommerce, being built on top of WordPress, gives you detailed control over your inventory. It allows for manual inventory management where you can set stock levels, backorder settings, and stock status for each product.

You also have the option to hide out-of-stock items and receive low-stock notifications.

For more advanced inventory needs, WooCommerce can be extended with plugins. There are numerous third-party options, like SkuVault Core and Linnworks, that can offer advanced features such as multi-warehouse management, bulk stock editing, and detailed stock reports.

These plugins vary in price, but they offer the flexibility to create a highly tailored inventory management system.

Shopify inventory management

Shopify provides robust, built-in inventory management features, even on its basic plans. The platform allows for easy tracking of stock levels, setting low-stock alerts, and configuring whether products can be sold when they’re out of stock.

Shopify also provides a centralized view of inventory across all your sales channels, which is a huge benefit for sellers using omnichannel strategies.

For sellers with more intricate needs, Shopify’s app store offers a variety of inventory management apps. Some notable options include Zendrop for dropshipping, and SkuVault Core for multichannel inventory management.

These apps seamlessly integrate with Shopify, making it easy to extend functionality as your business grows.

The winner: Shopify

While both platforms offer solid inventory management capabilities, Shopify takes the edge in this category. Its built-in features are comprehensive and user-friendly, suitable for both small businesses and rapidly scaling operations.

The centralized view of inventory across multiple sales channels is particularly noteworthy, providing a level of simplicity and cohesiveness that can save sellers significant time and effort.

WooCommerce is highly flexible and can be extended to match or even surpass Shopify’s capabilities, but it often requires additional plugins and a bit more hands-on management.

For users who are comfortable with a more DIY approach and who value extreme customization, WooCommerce remains a strong option.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping has become a popular ecommerce model that allows store owners to sell products without handling them physically.

It’s a golden ticket for entrepreneurs looking to start a business with less capital and risk involved. Here’s how WooCommerce and Shopify support your dropshipping ambitions.

WooCommerce dropshipping

WooCommerce, operating on the versatile WordPress platform, allows you to integrate various dropshipping plugins.

One popular option is AliDropship, which is designed to simplify the process of sourcing products from AliExpress. Other notable options include Dropified and the official WooCommerce Dropshipping plugin.

These plugins can automate the process of importing products, adjusting pricing rules, and routing orders to suppliers.

Because WooCommerce is open-source and not tied to any one dropshipping model, you are free to establish relationships with any supplier and aren’t bound to specific marketplaces.

This freedom can be fantastic but also requires more effort in establishing and maintaining supplier relationships.

Shopify dropshipping

Shopify is often regarded as a powerhouse for dropshipping, largely due to its seamless integration with Oberlo, a Shopify-owned app.

However, as of this writing, Shopify has officially discontinued support of Oberlo and instead recommends users migrate to DSers for dropshipping.

DSers is specifically designed for dropshipping and allows store owners to easily import products from suppliers directly into their Shopify store and ship directly to their customers – in only a few clicks.

Shopify’s app store also features a host of other dropshipping apps, like Spocket and Modalyst, which let you source products from various parts of the world. These apps are designed to be user-friendly, with features like automatic order fulfillment and real-time inventory tracking.

The winner: Shopify

Shopify takes the crown in dropshipping, mainly due to the seamless integration of DSers and a wide array of other user-friendly dropshipping apps. The platform is structured to be plug-and-play, making it incredibly easy for anyone, regardless of technical skill, to start a dropshipping business.

While WooCommerce also supports dropshipping, it often involves a bit more setup and hands-on management. Its open-source nature provides freedom and flexibility, but that might come with a steeper learning curve, especially for those who are new to ecommerce or aren’t tech-savvy.

Security

Customers need to know their data is safe when they’re shopping on your site, and you, as a business owner, need the assurance that your online store is fortified against attacks.

Let’s see how WooCommerce and Shopify measure up when it comes to keeping your store secure.

WooCommerce security

WooCommerce operates on WordPress, meaning its security is partially in your hands. This platform requires you to take an active role in maintaining your site’s security.

You’ll need to manage updates, SSL certificates, and set up additional security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri. Web hosting choice also plays a critical role; some hosts provide better security features than others.

The advantage here is flexibility—you can customize your security setup as you see fit. However, this requires more technical knowledge and active maintenance, which could be daunting for some users.

Shopify security

Shopify takes a more hands-off approach for the store owner regarding security. As a hosted platform, Shopify takes care of hosting and maintaining the software for you.

It provides a Level 1 PCI DSS-compliant checkout system automatically and also issues free SSL certificates for all stores on its platform.

With Shopify, security updates are applied automatically, and the platform has its own team of security experts monitoring the sites 24/7.

This approach reduces the burden on the store owner and ensures that security is tight and up-to-date without requiring input from the user.

The winner: Shopify

Shopify shines brightly in the security category, offering robust, all-inclusive security features that are maintained by dedicated professionals.

Its PCI-DSS compliance, free SSL certificates, and round-the-clock monitoring provide peace of mind for store owners, knowing that security is handled by the platform itself.

Customer support

Whether it’s a technical glitch or a question about a feature, responsive and effective customer support can be a lifesaver.

Let’s delve into the support options provided by WooCommerce and Shopify and see who takes the lead.

WooCommerce support

WooCommerce is an open-source plugin, and that comes with a more DIY approach to support. The WooCommerce website offers extensive documentation, including tutorials, guides, and FAQs that users can refer to for help.

Additionally, there is a large community of developers and users who contribute to support forums where questions can be asked and answered.

For direct, personalized support, options may be more limited and can depend on your hosting provider and the plugins you have installed. Some premium plugins and themes offer dedicated support as part of their package, but this can vary widely.

Shopify support

Shopify, on the other hand, provides 24/7 access to a dedicated support team via email, live chat, and phone.

This is a massive advantage for store owners who want the assurance of professional help at any time of day or night.

In addition to this, Shopify offers an extensive knowledge base, community forums, and tutorials through its Shopify Academy.

Shopify’s support extends to assisting with various issues, from technical glitches to advice on using features to best optimize your store.

The responsiveness and availability of Shopify’s support are often highlighted as a key advantage by its users.

The winner: Shopify

When it comes to customer support, Shopify emerges as the clear winner. With 24/7 access to a dedicated team of support professionals via multiple channels, store owners can get immediate and expert help whenever needed.

This level of support is a significant advantage for business owners, especially those new to e-commerce, who may require frequent assistance as they set up and grow their stores.

While WooCommerce also has strong community support and extensive documentation, its more self-reliant model may not suit everyone, especially those without a technical background or those who desire immediate, direct support.

WooCommerce vs. Shopify: The verdict

The great thing about competition in the marketplace is that we, the consumer, always win. Either of these platforms could probably work for your business, and any disadvantages would be negligible. 

That said, minor inconveniences can compound into major roadblocks, so making the right choice in the beginning is your best bet.

Shopify: Best for sales-focused businesses who don’t fiddle with tech

Shopify is great for entrepreneurs who want to launch an ecommerce store quickly and without any hassle.

Shopify takes care of all the technical aspects of setting up and running your store so you can focus on making sales and growing your business.

WooCommerce: Best for ecommerce stores that need more versatility

While WordPress is not a dedicated ecommerce platform like Shopify, it’s still possible to turn your WordPress website into a successful online store using the WooCommerce plugin. 

The advantage of this approach is that you get all the versatility of WordPress to build any kind of website you want while also getting access to powerful ecommerce features.

Plus, if content publishing is part of your business strategy, there’s no better platform than WordPress.

On the flip side, you may have to diagnose tech problems on your own, which can get stressful when sales and revenue are on the line. 

So, which one should you use?

Bear in mind that both platforms discussed above have multiple strengths and are capable of building an ecommerce store. 

If you are just starting out, want to keep costs low, and you’re willing to learn some web development fundamentals, then we’d recommend WordPress + WooCommerce.

On the other hand, if you’ve got capital on hand and don’t ever want to touch a line of code, Shopify is a great way to get a professional-looking store spun up quickly. 

Of course, there are other factors to consider when choosing an ecommerce platform. But, hopefully, you now have a better idea of which one is right for your business.

WooCommerce vs Shopify: How do they compare on G2?

G2 is a trusted platform for real-time and unbiased user reviews. Let’s examine what users say about WooCommerce and Shopify on G2, focusing on their ease of use, customization, pricing, support, and other key factors.

Shopify reviews on G2

Users highlight Shopify as a user-friendly ecommerce platform that benefits small businesses and developers. Here are some notable points:

Pros:

• Users praise Shopify for its ease of use, allowing small business owners to effectively manage their stores.
• The platform is noted for its robust security and privacy features.
• It is deemed a good platform for developers, offering functionalities for integration with web applications.

Cons:

• Users point out the limitations in Shopify’s customization options, with developers having limited access to modify certain store aspects.
• Some functions are exclusive to Shopify Plus, which comes at a substantial cost ($2500 per month), making it prohibitive for many businesses.
• Users mention unexpected changes implemented by Shopify’s team without backward compatibility, causing disruptions.

WooCommerce reviews on G2

WooCommerce receives high marks for flexibility and deep integration capabilities with other tools. Let’s take a closer look:

Pros:

• Reviewers appreciate WooCommerce’s straightforward options for creating both physical and digital products.
• They value the platform’s integration capabilities with various tools, including CRMs, email marketing platforms, and inventory management systems.
• Users appreciate WooCommerce’s ability to transform a WordPress website into a cost-effective online store, praising its open-source nature, which, when combined with a capable webmaster, allows for significant customization.

Cons:

• While generally satisfied, users desire more robust analytics options within WooCommerce.
• Some users point out that while WooCommerce is free, many essential features require purchasing additional plugins, which they referred to as a “freemium” model.

Integrate WooCommerce and Shopify with Linnworks

Online stores need the power of a top-notch inventory management system to keep track of products, optimize stock levels and avoid overselling. 

Linnworks is the perfect solution for ecommerce businesses of all sizes.

We offer features like real-time inventory sync, barcode labels and scanning, purchase order management, and much, much more. Plus, our team can help you with one-on-one support and advice.

Linnworks integrates with both WooCommerce and Shopify, as well as other popular platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and BigCommerce. 

So, when it comes to trusting the management of your inventory, customers, and sales to a platform, Linnworks is the best solution for Shopify and WordPress stores alike.

Contact us today or request a demo to see how we can help you take your ecommerce business to the next level.