The eCommerce sector has been evolving at a rapid pace in recent times. The retail e-commerce sale was about USD 5.2 trillion in 2021. Moreover, it is likely to reach USD 8.1 trillion by the end of 2026. 

Yes, that’s true! It speaks volumes about the growing demand for the eCommerce sector. If you have plans to start an eCommerce business, you may be wondering which platform to use to create your online store.

Currently popular are WordPress and Shopify. Getting confused between Shopify and WordPress is quite common. It can be a tough task to select between the two. 

In this article, you will explore everything about Shopify and WordPress to help you make the right choice. Let’s dive in!

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a popular platform designed to help merchants create and launch their online stores. It makes it possible to sell both digital and physical goods online with ease. Moreover, Shopify can provide you with plenty of templates to cater to the unique needs of your eCommerce store.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is basically an open-source content management system that lets users host and build websites. The template and plugin architecture allow you to conveniently customize your website to fit the objectives of your business.

Reasons to Choose Shopify Over WordPress

Shopify is the ultimate solution for creating eCommerce stores. If you are still wondering why to use Shopify, consider the most convincing reasons outlined below.

• Shopify helps manage web hosting for your business.
• The eCommerce platform has a dedicated team of professionals who can deliver quick assistance.
• The setup guide is easy to follow and allows you to get your online shop up and running in much less time.
• Users do not require proficiency in codes to develop a beautiful eCommerce store.
• Buying a domain through the Shopify platform is simple and easy.
• Shopify simplifies the process of selling products on other platforms, like Amazon.

Reasons to Select WordPress Over Shopify

WordPress is one of the most popular web development platforms. Below are a few reasons why you should consider choosing WordPress over Shopify.

• The WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is exclusively dedicated to building excellent eCommerce sites.
• WordPress offers thousands of unique plugins for easy customization of eCommerce stores.
• The platforms allow easy translation of your sites into several languages to grow your reach.
• WordPress can boost the search engine rankings for relevant keywords.
• WordPress lets users set up many sites under a single account. 
• The eCommerce platform makes it easier to optimize costs by providing you and the hosting provider with complete control over the plugins to use and host.

A Detailed Comparison of Shopify and WordPress

Now that you have a basic idea about Shopify and WordPress, it is time to compare the two in greater detail. Let’s explore the different aspects.

• Ease of use

In order to use Shopify, you do not require any prior technical knowledge. It lets you create your online store and customize it without using a single line of code. 

All you need to do is start by providing the platform with a few details about your current position. Then you can head to the dashboard of Shopify and manage your online store easily.

Moreover, adding products is also pretty simple on Shopify. You have the flexibility to add them individually or in bulk. From uploading the products to adding their descriptions and prices, everything is hassle-free.

On the other hand, WordPress may seem to be a little complex. To use the platform, you need to have at least a basic knowledge of coding. However, WordPress also has a centralized dashboard that makes the management of products easier. You can also add products and create content in a hassle-free manner.

• Web hosting

Before building an eCommerce website, choosing a reliable web hosting solution is vital. Wondering how it works? Well, to make the content of your online store available online, you need to store all the data and files somewhere safe. 

That is where the web hosts come into the picture. They make your content readily accessible to your target audience, safely, and faster.

When it comes to web hosting, Shopify is fully hosted. That means the platform takes on the responsibility of storing all your files. So, you do not have to worry about finding and choosing a hosting provider.

However, that is not the case with WordPress. If you are using WordPress, you will have to select a hosting platform. The benefit here is that you can enjoy greater control over the server environment.

But you will have to pay an additional fee for the hosting service. Based on your requirements, you can select the right hosting plan. 

• Build time

When building an online store, Shopify proves to be a quicker option. The eCommerce builder is specifically designed to create eCommerce websites. 

However, the setup time for WordPress is a little longer. This is mainly due to two reasons. First, WordPress is more technical compared to Shopify. Moreover, you need to install additional plugins to build an online store.

Second, you will also have to take care of things like domain names, web hosting, and more. So, it demands more time than Shopify.

• Storefront design

Both WordPress and Shopify enable users to build custom storefronts with the use of premade themes. Shopify has over 140 themes to select from. The best part is that each of the themes is ready to use right after the installation. 

All you need to do is change the texts and replace the existing ones with content that best describes your brand. So, it is possible to make your storefront ready in just a few hours.

WordPress also comes with a theme library consisting of thousands of free themes. So, customizing the design of your online store is pretty simple. Moreover, WooCommerce also has the option to filter the available WordPress themes and select the ones specifically meant for your e-commerce stores.

• E-commerce features and tools

In order to build an eCommerce website, having access to the right features and tools is crucial. While Shopify comes with in-house eCommerce tools, WordPress relies on multiple third-party plugins for its eCommerce features.

Some of the prominent features available on Shopify are multi-channel integration, abandoned cart recovery, and discount codes. On the other hand, the most popular plugins that WordPress uses to deliver eCommerce features include Ecwid and WooCommerce. So, you can expect features like guest checkouts, product ratings ,and reviews, a shipping calculator, saving favorite products, and creating an effective product development strategy.

• SEO capabilities

To rank higher on the search engine result page and attract more organic traffic, SEO matters a lot. Therefore, when deciding between Shopify and WordPress, evaluating the SEO capabilities of both is vital. 

In terms of on-page SEO, both WordPress and Shopify have excellent capabilities. The platforms allow users to easily write custom title tags, optimize content by adding relevant keywords, add alt texts, and manage internal links. However, when it comes to technical SEO, WordPress offers better control than Shopify. Also, Yoast SEO and ALL-in-One- SEO plugins for WordPress are the most popular to improve search engine rankings among users.

For instance, WordPress lets users select the hosting provider of their own choice. Moreover, you can edit the configuration files and write custom codes to ensure faster loading of your online store.

• Payment options

If you want to develop a high-performing online store and drive more traffic, having a variety of payment options is crucial. It ensures the optimum convenience for customers. Shopify supports over 100 payment gateways. The most popular options supported include Amazon Pay, PayPal, Square, Stripe, and more.

Moreover, the platform also offers its own payment gateway, which is Shopify Payments. The best thing about this gateway is that you do not have to pay any additional transaction fees. 

WordPress also offers a vast range of payment options to its users. However, it provides payment options through third-party plugins like WP eCommerce, Ecwid, and WooCommerce. 

• Multiple sites

The WordPress platform lets you create multiple online shops within just one account. Its multisite feature makes this possible. 

However, you will not find such a feature in the case of Shopify. So, if you want to create more than one shop, you will have to create different accounts on Shopify.

• Pricing

Cost is another important deciding factor. The cost of using Shopify for your online store development will vary based on the subscription plan you choose. It starts at $29 to $299 per month offering various services.

However, WordPress is completely free to use and proves to be a cost-effective option. But in the latter case, you will have to bear the web hosting cost. 

• Customer support

Shopify offers various customer support channels to its users. You can find answers to your queries through support chat and by engaging in community discussion.

However, as WordPress is an open-source platform, you cannot expect the same level of support as that of Shopify. However, the platform has an active online forum where you can find all your answers easily.

Winding Up

Both Shopify and WordPress are considered to be goliaths in the eCommerce web development space. However, the right choice will depend on the specific requirements of your business.

For instance, if you have an idea of how to code and want to build an online store in a budget-friendly manner, WordPress can be an ideal choice. On the other hand, if you have limited technical knowledge and value convenience, it is best to use Shopify. So, decide the unique goals of your business and choose the right platform for eCommerce site development. 

Author:Harikrishna KundariyaHarikrishna Kundariya is the Co-founder, Director, & Marketer of eSparkBiz Technologies – an excellent Software Development Company. Also, a notable IoT, ChatBot & Blockchain-savvy Developer. His 12+ years of profound experience enables him to create Digital Innovations for Startups & large Enterprises alike based on futuristic technologies like IoT, Artificial Intelligence, DevOps, and ChatBot. Adopting a modern yet extremely flexible leadership approach, he believes in building businesses & lasting bonds with his clients in the process.