Starting an online e-commerce store opens a gateway for untapped customers. This makes it crucial for businesses to identify an eCommerce platform that fulfils all criteria and fits their store needs.

When we start looking for answers, the two leading options that stand neck-to-neck are WooCommerce and Shopify. On one side, we have WooCommerce, which thrives28.19% of all the online stores. Shopify, on the other hand, has over 1.75 million sellers as of now in 2021.

Both these eCommerce platforms are contrasting and offer unique services.

We have compared WooCommerce and Shopify on some crucial parameters, including platform hosting, setting up flexibility, payment options, customization, and price.

This will let you analyze which platform will best suit your business needs.

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: Ecommerce comparison

Factors to consider before going forward with either of WooCommerce or Shopify are-

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: Hosted Vs. Self-Hosted

Although the two, WooCommerce and Shopify, enable users to host their store online, one is open-source, and the other is hosted.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a self-hosted WordPress plugin. You can install this eCommerce plugin into this website content management system (CMS) and launch your online store within minutes. The platform is fully customizable and allows users to build their eCommerce store however they want.,

While working on WooCommerce is absolutely free. Users just have to pay monthly or yearly charges for hosting their store on WordPress. Being an open-source platform, it gives you the utmost flexibility to build a unique online e-store from scratch.

Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform where sellers can launch their online stores. It offers Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) where even beginners with no technical knowledge feel comfortable selling their items. The platform limits users to entirely customize their store and offers 70+ professional themes to choose from.

This hosted solution allows users to sell physical and digital products, services and consultations, memberships, rentals, and many more. Shopify is a vast platform that has recorded over 58 million visits in 2020. It has an easy-to-use interface with specialized services bifurcated into various plans.

Who wins?

Being a self-hosted platform, WooCommerce offers much more flexibility in building your online store than Shopify. If you are comfortable with WordPress codes, this would be a breeze. However, doing such intricate changes would require technical knowledge.

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: Setting Up an Online Store

The process to set up an online store differs in both WooCommerce and Shopify. One of them might look more accessible for you than another.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, thus requires a channel that integrates it into the content management system. Before you get started on your online store, you have to follow some specific steps-

• Find a web hosting platform
• Purchase a hosting plan
• Download WordPress
• Search and install WooCommerce theme
• Set up your WooCommerce store

If you are just starting and do not have an existing WordPress site, it might seem a little chaotic, but everything will fall into place as you continue to learn.

Before downloading WordPress, take ample time looking for a good web hosting platform. You will either find WordPress already installed or can do it manually.

Various web hosting sites serve WordPress and WooCommerce as one of their packages with some additional useful tools to enhance their performance.

You can run WooCommerce either from the WordPress repository or navigate through plugins from your WordPress site.

This will launch a wizard that contains basic questions relating to your store. However, this is optional, but we recommend filling out the details and enabling some key settings related to payment processors, shipping options, and add-ons.

Once done, start by setting up your store and adding products.

Shopify

Unlike WooCommerce, Shopify does not require much of effort. You can set up your online store by creating a Shopify account and configuring the information needed to process the request.

If you are doing this for the first time, Shopify would ask you some basic questions relating to your products and payment address.

After you have logged in, you can start adding products, configure shipping, set up POS, customize your store, specify prices, and many more.

Who wins?

Setting up an e-commerce store is exceptionally different on both platforms. If you are comfortable with WordPress and have integrated WooCommerce before, then this should be a no-brainer. In contrast, Shopify is simple and easy to configure and set up online stores.

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: Payment Configuration

While launching an online store, you would want to offer various payment solutions to your customers. Thus, choosing an eCommerce platform that allows you to add specific payment options is crucial.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce offers multiple payment options including, Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, Direct Bank Transfers (DBT), Cash on Delivery (COD), and many others. However, you can integrate additional payment configurations through your WordPress dashboard.

To do so, you can navigate through WooCommerce “extensions” store. Collaborating with external extensions would allow you to add specific payment methods for your online store.

Having such an option is a painless solution for customers to shop from your business. Although, it works on a pay-to-play theory which can get fairly expensive.

Shopify

Shopify also offers varied payment options. Customers can pay using their credit cards through a third-party provider or Shopify payments. They also promote settlement through Apple pay, Amazon Pay, and PayPal.

When integrating third-party providers with Shopify, the platform will inform you of the availability and the procedure to configure the payment option. This will include the charges of specific payment processors and other crucial information that might affect your decision-making.

Like WooCommerce, Shopify also includes a list of alternative payment gateways. You can integrate local currency depending upon where your business resides and where your customer might be available.

Another payment option that Shopify accepts is cryptocurrency. To allow these, you can integrate the following payment providers from your admin dashboard-

• net
• GoCoin
• BitPay
• Coinbase Commerce

This integration will allow you to accept 300+ cryptocurrencies, including Litecoin, Etherum, and Bitcoin.

Who wins?

Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer basic payment options, including Stripe and PayPal. However, WooCommerce is the best if you want to integrate specific payment options through extensions. In contrast, Shopify is a lot more flexible than WooCommerce. You can incorporate varied alternative payment options, including local currency and crypto.

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: Customization

To add a touch of “you” to the store, you need some incredible customization options. It will allow you to add unique styles and features that make you stand out from others.

WooCommerce

Customization is the specialty of WooCommerce. Being a WordPress plugin, you can transform your e-commerce platform into anything you imagine. Besides, WordPress itself provides thousands of distinctive themes and plugins to enhance the beauty of your online store.

WooCommerce not just allows you to customize the color or size of the elements in your e-commerce website; it also enables code tweaking. This means you can either hire a developer or change the basics of the store yourself.

If you are thinking of modifying the CSS or Stylesheet of a theme, going for a child theme to save customizations would benefit.

A child theme is a sub-theme in WordPress which copies all the changes made in the parent theme. This way, the parent theme does not lose the previous modifications. Many themes already have a pre-installed child theme that can be installed and activated as and when required.

Shopify

Unlike WooCommerce, Shopify does not offer deep-routed customization but provides something far more than that. It includes an app library that has over 70+ themes that are ready to work on.

Shaping your online store with Shopify is easier than WooCommerce. You navigate through various themes, select the one for you and start adding information. Most elements on the interface are customizable, which lets you change the font, style, color, and animation of the icons.

Shopify lets you customize themes, products, discounts, checkouts, and payments. The platform allows you to automatically push your entire collection on over 20 platforms, including your POS, social media channels, mobile apps, and wholesale.

Who wins?

Customization is the selling point of WooCommerce. Being open-source, you can integrate any feature into your e-commerce store. Shopify lacks here; it offers limited customization options that fall short in front of WooCommerce.

 However, if you aren’t into technical font and simply want to launch your online store, Shopify can be a better option.

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify: Cost

The pricing is a game-changer when deciding which e-commerce platform you would prefer between WooCommerce and Shopify.

You can check out this table to get an exact idea of what you might be paying on both these platforms-

Who wins?

If we calculate the gross amount paid on both platforms, then WooCommerce is the clear winner. Here, you just have to pay for the hosting fees, and your online store is up. Also, due to its yearly payments, it costs much less than Shopify. However, if you don’t opt for paid themes and go with the free ones, it can cut additional costs.

Wrapping Up

Selecting the right platform between WooCommerce and Shopify is not a cakewalk. Both platforms have their pros and cons. If you go with WooCommerce, you will find more flexibility and cost-cutting to set up your store.

About Shopify, launching your store is not much of a hassle. You get various free and paid themes that can be integrated and customized. If you are just starting in the e-commerce world, then Shopify would be a preferred option.

Both WooCommerce and Shopify allow you to automate your online store and manage a routine business through POS integration. This will enable faster order fulfillment time and let you incorporate wholesale, retail, and e-commerce store under one thread.

24SevenCommerce is a global leader and offers integration-as-a-service. It aims to make e-commerce accessible to the smallest retailer. We have helped hundreds of sellers contemporize their e-commerce channel with POS.

So, what are you waiting for?

Contact 24SevenCommerce to leverage e-commerce POS integration and open up an additional channel of revenue.