Creating an e-commerce site is a crucial step for any company looking to sell its products online. Very often, entrepreneurs and agencies turn to two solutions: Shopify and WordPress with WooCommerce. Each of these platforms has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between the two depends on your needs and the specifics of each project.
You need an agency to create your e-commerce site in the Basque Country? Whether you're based in Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz or Bayonne, our Digital64 web agency can help you choose between these two e-commerce solutions. We've put together this guide showing the major differences between Shopify and WordPress (WooCommerce), to help you make the best choice for the creation of your online store.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a Canadian platform launched in 2006. It's not an open-source platform like Magento, Prestashop or WooCommerce. It's a hosted solution (SaaS - Software as a Service) accessible via a monthly subscription. This solution makes it quick and easy to create an e-commerce site to sell your products and/or services.
Here are just a few of the advantages of a hosted solution like Shopify:
- The platform evolves faster than traditional open-source solutions.
- Creating a store, even a customized one, is quicker and often less expensive with web agencies.
- You don't have to worry about hosting, maintenance or security (we'll go into more detail on these aspects later).
The benefits of Shopify
-Ease of use: Shopify is renowned for its ease of use. Even without technical skills, you'll be able to manage your e-commerce site with ease.
What's more, when you choose this option, you'll benefit from Shopify Shopify training training so you can get to grips with your e-commerce site quickly. If you're looking for an agency to to create your Shopify in Biarritz, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll be happy to guide you towards the solution best suited to your business.
-Hosting included: Shopify takes care of hosting your site and SSL certificate, which means you don't have to worry about maintenance, nor do you need to subscribe to additional web hosting.
-24/7 support: Customer support is available 24/7 with live chat.
-Security: Shopify ensures your site's security, including PCI compliance for online payments.
-Multiple integrations: Shopify offers numerous applications and integrations to enhance the functionality of your online store. You'll be able to integrate a loyalty program, add an SEO management application or get help from an application that resizes all your photos with a click.
The disadvantages of Shopify
-Monthly cost: Shopify works with a monthly subscription that starts at $36/month and can vary depending on the features you want and the paid plugins you want to add. You'll also need to factor in the cost of your chosen theme (from €0 to €350 on average).
-Transaction fees: In addition to credit card fees, Shopify charges a transaction fee for each sale.
-Limited customization: Although Shopify is flexible, customization options can be limited compared to WordPress. In fact, despite the many theme and plugin options, certain functionalities depend on Shopify and its evolution.
When should I use Shopify?
-Beginning entrepreneurs: Shopify is ideal for those launching their first online store without a solid technical background. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive support make it easy to get your store up and running quickly, and you'll be up and running in no time once you've created your e-commerce site.
-Urgent projects: If you need to set up an online store quickly, Shopify offers pre-designed themes and simplified configuration for a quick launch.
Merchants with one or more physical store(s): Shopify store owners can also make in-store sales through their integrated application. Shopify POS application for points of sale. If you have both an online store and a physical store, your inventory is synchronized, allowing you to manage stock in all your stores from a single account and via any device.
Discover 2 examples of our Shopify websites
What is WooCommerce (WordPress)?
WooCommerce is a plugin that transforms your WordPress site into an online store. As its name suggests, it was created and launched by WooThemes in 2011, before being acquired by Automattic in 2015.
As an open source solution, WooCommerce is free to use. However, you'll need to purchase a domain name and web hosting, and if necessary, hire a web agency to develop your e-commerce site.
This platform offers great flexibility, allowing you to customize your site andadd extra functionality thanks to a wide range of available extensions.
The benefits of WooCommerce
-Flexibility: WordPress is extremely flexible and customizable, which means you can create a completely customized e-commerce site and have it evolve according to your expectations, with total control over the functionalities of your e-commerce site.
-Low initial cost: WordPress is open-source and free, so even if you have to budget for hosting and some plugins, Woocommerce will cost you less in monthly fees.
-Large community: WordPress has a vast community of developers and designers who can help you customize your site.
-SEO-friendly: WordPress is renowned for its SEO capabilities, which can help your site rank higher on search engines.
The disadvantages of WooCommerce
Learning curve: WordPress with Woocommerce can be more complex to get to grips with, especially if you don't have any technical skills.
In this case, don't hesitate to sign up for our website creation training. If you're looking to create an e-commerce site in Biarritz, our agency can arrange a meeting in the area to help you choose the option best suited to your project.
-Maintenance: You'll need to manage hosting, security updates and backups yourself. Don't worry, there are plenty of plugins for this, and we'll be happy to advise you on web hosting too.
-Additional costs: Although the software is free, the costs of plugins, themes and web hosting can add up.
-Limited support: Unlike Shopify, WordPress doesn't offer 24/7 support. You'll have to rely on forums and third-party developers. Some paid themes offer support in the form of online tickets.
When should you use WooCommerce?
-Existing WordPress sites: If you already have a WordPress site and want to add e-commerce functionality, WooCommerce is the most logical option. Don't hesitate to call on one of our experts to create your WordPress site in Bayonne. We'll be happy to advise you based on your project and budget.
-Advanced customization needs: For those with exacting design or feature requirements, WordPress with WooCommerce offers exceptional flexibility.
Summary of our Shopify VS WordPress (WooCommerce) comparison
Our opinion
The choice between Shopify and WooCommerce depends on your specific needs, your level of technical expertise and your budget. Shopify is perfect for those looking for a fast, turnkey solution with ongoing support and ease of use. Shopify is increasingly becoming a safe bet on the market. It's a more stable and scalable solution than WordPress, which means you canavoid certain technical problems.
It is therefore, in our opinion, more suitable for those starting out today, even if the costs may be higher. However, WooCommerce, which is open source via WordPress, is ideal for those who want total control and in-depth customization of their e-commerce site. We often recommend it to our B2B customers who need an e-commerce site with advanced functionality.
At Digital64, we offer e-commerce website creation adapted to your needs, whether on Shopify or WordPress. Whether you're in Biarritz or Bayonne, our team is here to help you make your online project a success.
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Contact us to discuss what we can recommend for your company.