lukasz
Today, you’re about to dive deep into one of the most debated topics in the e-commerce community: WooCommerce vs. Shopify.
But here’s the twist:
Instead of giving you a generic comparison between these two, I went down the Reddit rabbit hole.
This way, I was able to read all the unfiltered opinions and summarize everything you need to know in this article.
In fact:
Drawing insights from Subreddits like r/ecommerce, r/Entrepreneur, and many niche subs, helped me to gather all the information you need to know.
WooCommerce vs. Shopify, What’s better for you? One thing is for sure, after reading this article you’ll have an easy time deciding.
Introduction to eCommerce Platforms
Choosing the right e-commerce platform isn’t just a step in setting up your online store. It’s THE step.
So, why is this choice so critical?
Imagine having a physical store in the perfect location, but the payment counter keeps crashing, the products are all over the place, and everyone just wants to leave your store because it’s confusing.
You can’t really start a business that way, can you?
And it’s the same for your e-commerce platform. It’s your store’s foundation where you can handle inventory management, SEO, and customer reviews.
It’s where your customers should experience a seamless and enjoyable shopping process and it’s the place where you display all your products. Everything needs to work.
And in today’s digital world, most people typically lean towards either WooCommerce or Shopify for their e-commerce dreams. So, next I’ll show you which one is the better choice for you.
WooCommerce vs. Shopify According To Reddit
To answer this question, let me present you Reddit’s opinion first. Here are the most upvoted answers from many different Subreddits.
So, according to Reddit’s opinion, WooCommerce is the better choice if you like customization and control. It’s like building a house brick by brick. Shopify is the better choice if you’re seeking an all-in-one platform with a straightforward setup. It’s like moving into a furnished apartment.
But that’s not it. That guide would not be complete if we stopped here.
Let’s go over the most important features.
The Setup
The major difference between these two platforms is that Shopify is a standalone e-commerce platform. WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin. Even though WordPress and WooCommerce are both free, you have to buy hosting in order to use them.
However, let’s talk about the cost in a second.
Setting up WooCommerce may take you some time, depending on your WordPress skillset. You have to install WordPress, choose a theme, and install the WooCommerce plugin.
And then?
You’re the captain. You need to update your plugins, set up WooCommerce, and secure your site. All by yourself. Sounds like a handful, I know. But trust me, there’re some solid YouTube videos that’ll walk you through every twist and turn, making you feel less like a newbie and more like an e-commerce maestro.
Shopify on the other hand can shine in this aspect, no doubt. With everything under one roof, the setup is a breeze. Shopify is a hosted e-commerce Platform.
This means all you have to do is sign up, pick a theme, and add products. Your store’s up before you can even finish scrolling through your morning newsfeed.
But setting up your platform is not everything. Let’s look at the next important aspect. The price.
The Price
As you already know the WooCommerce plugin is free. WordPress is free as well.
So, what do you have to pay?
Technically, if you just need the basics: just the hosting.
Hosting though available as low as $5/per month is crucial for your store.
Don’t skimp on quality. Choose a premium hosting provider. You’ll get a premium hosting provider for approx. $20/$25 per month. But this way you’ll get top speed, uptime, security and support. These things are crucial. For instance, let’s take uptime.
Imagine a physical store suddenly closing its doors during peak shopping hours. Downtime in the digital realm is the same. Premium hosts guarantee higher uptime, ensuring your store is always open for business. If you want to check out some good hosting companies, make sure to read my article about the best WordPress hoster according to Reddit.
Now, what about other costs?
It depends. Let me explain.
Your WooCommerce Theme
You can easily use a free WooCommerce theme in the beginning. Some of them are decent. But as your online store will grow, you’ll probably want more at some point. Premium themes are the way to go.
Why?
Well, first off, they bring a unique and sleek design to your online shop, giving your store a distinctive look. But it’s even more than that.
Premium themes often come packed with additional features. Your users will love them. Faster loading times or more customization options like like product carousels, testimonials, or featured products.
But again, it’s not something you have to buy. You can start your WooCommerce journey with a simple hosting package, and for everything else, you can rely on the free versions.
Shopify Price
Shopify takes a more straightforward approach. You pay more but everything is ready to work.
A beginner Shopify account is $39 per month. But for a lot of feature you’ll have to pay later on.
So, in total, Shopify is more expensive.
The Domain
When diving into the e-commerce world, one of the many perks of Shopify is its all-inclusive approach, especially when it comes to domains.
Unlike WooCommerce, where you’ll need to purchase your desired name, and then configure it to your site, Shopify simplifies this process immensely.
Every Shopify plan offers you a complimentary myshopify.com subdomain. Although this is great for beginners, you should still get your own domain name. The good news is that Shopify offers an integrated domain purchase and setup right away. So, no connecting your domain to your hosting package. Just pick it and buy it.
The all-under-one-roof approach makes the process seamless and user-friendly. At least, when you’re not techy. But it’s more about connectin the domain, the price is pretty much the same for both platforms.
The Customization
WooCommerce gets a lot of praise because of its customization options.
Picture a mega mall of plugins. Endless aisles filled with tools for everything you can imagine. Shopify on the other hand? An exclusive collection of tools. They do work, but you’re bound to their service.
Let me show you an example: The payment gateways.
With WooCommerce? Choose whatever you like. You can use the built-in features or add everything you need from PayPal to Stripe. With Shopify, you have to use Shopify payments.
Shopify decides how much you pay for a transaction instead of you picking the payment processor that suits you best. And this is the case with lots of features. You want to add something to your store with Shopify? You have to check if it’s available and for how much.
With WooCommerce, it’s available and chances are high that it’s free.
SEO
Optimizing your store for search engines is a must.
Why?
If you manage to get high rankings, you’ll be able to get free traffic from organic searches. This means more sales.
So, the question is: which platform takes the crown in terms of SEO? Shopify or WooCommerce?
Since this is a Reddit post, I get that you’d appreciate a straight answer. However, the truth is that in terms of SEO, you can do great with both, though WooCommerce has a slight advantage. Shopify is a closed system, meaning there’s only so much you can do in terms of SEO optimization.
While you can handle the basics of SEO without missing a beat, more advanced techniques might be a but challenging.
Both Shopify and WooCommerce have earned a good reputations among SEO Experts.
Conclusion
That’s it. I hope this guide gave you a good insight. Now you know what’s better according to Reddit. Shopify or WooCommerce. good luck with your online shop.
Helpful Links:
Reddit Post “WooCommerce vs Shopify”