Shopify vs WordPress: Advantages and disadvantages of both e-commerce

Creating e-commerce has been the goal of thousands of companies and ventures since the outbreak of the pandemic, in 2020. Due to confinement, many transactions began to be made from the Internet, so businesses had to find a way to market their products and services digitally. Shopify and WordPress were two of the most used platforms for these purposes.

Let's start from the most basic: an e-commerce or online store is a platform that allows you to sell and buy products digitally, with a built-in payment gateway and inventory management options, as well as shipment tracking.

Now, when choosing the e-commerce platform where you will host your business, you must consider a series of characteristics. For example, the platform must be reliable and secure, easy to use for you and your buyers, and the online store configuration simple.

Table of Contents

• Shopify vs WordPress: What should a good platform offer?
• Advantages of creating your e-commerce in Shopify
• Advantages of creating your e-commerce in WordPress

Shopify vs WordPress: What should a good platform offer?

Before getting into the matter, we will talk in general about what a good e-commerce platform should offer so that you follow that standard when evaluating options.

• Navigation within the e-commerce platform must be user-friendly. Shopify and WordPress are determined to be easy to use from day 1, with a short learning curve.
• If the platform supports video playback it is an interesting plus, since this can increase customer conversions.
• There are systems that allow customers to leave product reviews, this is a positive aspect as it builds trust in users who enter your website.
• The frequently asked questions section will generate a good user experience since it will clarify the most immediate doubts.
• The order tracking option is very valuable since it allows the user to have a clear expectation of when their product will arrive.
• Both Shopify and WordPress strive to provide a good mobile user experience, which is why their versions for mobile devices are optimized.

These are just some of the most useful and demanded features in e-commerce. Now yes, we will talk specifically about Shopify and WordPress, so that you can evaluate which one best suits your business.

Advantages of creating your e-commerce in Shopify

Shopify was conceived so that entrepreneurs could create an online store easily and without having to know technology or programming. That was the initial concept of this platform but, years later, it became the most powerful and robust option to create an e-commerce business.

Absolutely all of Shopify's tools are aimed at engaging customers, increasing conversions, and easily managing the day-to-day running of a business.

One of the attractions of Shopify is that it adapts to the stage or context of your business or venture. You may:

• Create an online store from scratch on Shopify
• Create the digital version of your physical store
• Migrating your current e-business to the Shopify platform

Whatever your situation, Shopify always ends up offering an option that fits your business need.

• There are three price levels that adjust to the level of your business, investing just enough for the needs you have.
• The higher the subscription level, the lower the charges for each transaction from your customers.
• Shopify does not charge a setup fee for any of the plans.
• According to an article in Entrepreneur magazine, Shopify is a much more customizable and scalable option.
• Shopify offers personalized attention 24/7 to assist companies in case of any inconvenience.
• E-commerces built on Shopify are optimized for mobile devices.
• There are 160 themes available to customize your online store, so each company can achieve its own identity.
• Shopify has 1,500 features available.
• With the SEO and marketing tools it offers, you can position your brand and digital store better and faster.

Disadvantages

• It's a third-party service, so you can never be in full control of the code or the platform.
• Some features may require an extra payment.
• If you are a small business, transaction fees may be too high for you.

Who is Shopify for?

Actually, any kind of business or venture can create its e-commerce on Shopify. There are no limitations of any kind, since both small and incipient businesses, as well as large companies, have an opportunity.

Advantages of creating your e-commerce in WordPress

Although we associate WordPress with personal blogs and digital magazines, the truth is that it is also a platform that allows you to create online stores. It offers tools to manage products, process payments in a single click and even makes it possible to easily create subscriptions to a portal.

One of the main attractions of the WordPress environment is that it offers thousands of plugins, between free and paid, that serve to further customize your platform and the service you provide to your clients.

• It is multilanguage, you can create your e-commerce in several languages in WordPress and reach more audiences.
• Wordpress can generate a professional email associated with your e-commerce.
• By hosting your online store on WordPress, you will be able to receive payments through PayPal.
• Users can import content to WordPress e-commerce, from their old platform. No data will be lost.
• WordPress is compatible with SEO, which will help in the positioning of your online store in search engines.
• The interface is easy to use for both the administrator and the end customer.
• With WordPress, you will be able to start your e-commerce quickly since it has numerous templates available to put together a quick and functional design.
• It can integrate with multiple payment gateways.
• Security updates are frequent, so WordPress is a secure platform.

Disadvantages

• Customization is limited, so you have to check if WordPress will meet your present and future needs.
• By installing many plugins, the site can become heavy.
• It is open source, so vulnerabilities may arise.

Who is WordPress for?

This is an ideal option for bloggers who need to accept occasional payments, donations or subscriptions. It is also useful for small businesses that need a platform to market their products. Likewise, WordPress offers a modality called "E-commerce Experience", aimed at companies that wish to expand their businesses.

Do you need advice to create your virtual store? At Rootstack, we have +10 years creating digital solutions for global companies. Contact us!

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