Shopify or WooCommerce, Which Has Better Design Options for eCommerce?

Between WooCommerce and Shopify, picking the best Ecommerce platform isn’t always easy. However, if you know the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms, you’ll be able to make a smart choice conveniently! Shopify or WooCommerce, which has better design options for eCommerce?

Which Has Better Design Options for eCommerce: Shopify or WooCommerce?

There has never been a better opportunity to open an online store with global eCommerce sales tremendously surpassing $4.28 trillion! Shopify and WooCommerce are among the most prevalent and widely-used eCommerce website builders on the market.

Both WooCommerce and Shopify have a plethora of features and design options for eCommerce. They be the best choice for you to develop an eCommerce site.

The best part is that you can do it all by yourself, without the assistance of expert designers and/or developers. So, let’s compare Shopify and WooCommerce to find which is the best.

Major Differences Between Shopify & WooCommerce?

Whether you choose WooCommerce or Shopify will boil down to a few core differences and design options for eCommerce. Let’s discuss a few here!

Type of Software

WooCommerce is a self-hosted eCommerce software. Your Shopify store can be completely set up and running in a matter of minutes, but you won’t get as granular control over your site as with WooCommerce. 

On the other hand, Shopify is a one-stop eCommerce solution that includes everything you need to get started online.

Technical Aspects

If you want an all-inclusive package for your online store that will get you up and running quickly and has a ton of fantastic features and applications, Shopify is the right solution for you. However, choose WooCommerce if you already have a WordPress website and don’t mind exerting greater control over your store.

You must understand how to manage your site’s technical aspects and maintain it security.

Shopify vs WooCommerce – Themes & Designs

Themes and design options for eCommerce encompass the basic framework for building your Ecommerce platform. They will include the look, feel, eCommerce features, and configuration options for your website store.

Shopify Themes

Out of over 100, there are ten completely free Shopify themes you can benefit from. Every Shopify theme has its own versions and offers a wide range of color choices. They offer a clean, fashionable appearance that is ideal for contemporary and innovative websites.

Doesn’t matter which field your business operates in. Whether you are selling mugs, custom jackets, or any other products, Shopify has a relevant theme for everybody. 

Sections can be hidden in the theme editor without being removed from your store’s front end. By doing so, you’ll be able to start sections for the next releases and eliminate the requirement for theme repetition. 

WooCommerce Themes

WooCommerce is a plugin acquired by Automatic and made by WooThemes developers. What it does is provide you the ability to sell things and services online. 

However, the design options for eCommerce are up to your present or future WordPress theme. In most circumstances, you can choose any WordPress theme you want and have it work with WooCommerce.

With WooCommerce, a variety of themes are available for your Storefront store. The majority of the kid themes cost $39 each. If you’re a developer, they provide a $399 bundle that includes all of the themes in the collection.

Payment Gateways of Shopify & WooCommerce

WooCommerce is compatible with all major payment gateways, including PayPal, Square, Authorize.Net, and Stripe. 

Shopify has its own payment gateway that does not need to be configured. Some payment gateways are more popular in certain geographic areas. 

For the Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify plans, this cost is 2 percent, 1 percent, or 0.5 percent, respectively. Because of this, if you choose Shopify, you might want to think about using their payment gateway.

WooCommerce also includes a separate payment gateway, which is more expensive. However, there are no charges associated with accessing external gateways. It implies that your bank or your preferred gateway will solely bill you for transaction costs.

Ease of Launching an Online Store

Shopify manages a large portion of the technical unequivocally necessary to build an online store because it is a hosted eCommerce platform. You may register for an account, pick a theme, then either buy a domain or sync an already registered one. 

You may begin collecting credit card payments right now if you’re utilizing the Shopify Payments gateway. Moreover, if you don’t currently have a WordPress website, you’ll need to create one if you want to use WooCommerce. 

A domain name and site hosting are also requirements. The great news is that WooCommerce offers a convenient setup wizard that will help you with the majority of the initial setup. There is a high learning curve, though, and that much is clear.

Market Share of Shopify & WooCommerce

WooCommerce and Shopify are two of the world’s largest eCommerce marketplaces and both have the potential to provide a good Ecommerce experience. When we look at the most popular one million eCommerce sites, Shopify is used by 21% of them. In comparison, only 27% trust WooCommerce to fuel their online business.

WooCommerce powers over five million online websites, whereas Shopify operates over three million. While Shopify is a stand-alone solution, WooCommerce is inextricably linked to the most widely used CMS. If you have already built a website on WordPress, WooCommerce becomes an even more appealing alternative.

The Price Difference Between Shopify & WooCommerce

The two Ecommerce platforms are quite different. When comparing the price remember the old adage, “you get what you pay for”.

Shopify Price

Shopify provides the entire package for your online store as a hosted platform. Prices for this start at $29 per month and are available in monthly and yearly plans. 

The pinnacle of enterprise or high-volume enterprises is Shopify Plus. To get a feel for this platform, take advantage of Shopify’s 14-day free trial.

WooCommerce Price

WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin; thus, using it is free. However, you’ll need a website domain name and hosting service ($5–$25 a month). 

You can cite well-known companies like Bluehost or Cloudways. However, the free trials with the hosting service are often not extendable. Get two months of free WooCommerce hosting from Cloudway if you want to try out the service before making a decision.

The cost of operating an online store on WooCommerce is the same as that of operating one on Shopify. You will have to pay some additional costs like name, hosting, and further extension add-ons. Overall, WooCommerce is the more affordable option because the program is free.

Shopify & WooCommerce Design Options for eCommerce

Both WooCommerce and Shopify have their pros and cons. You can choose a marketplace based on the nature of your business, budget, and goals you want to achieve. 

In a nutshell, a current WordPress website may be upgraded with WooCommerce to become a potent eCommerce platform. Shopify requires no specialized technical skills and combines sophisticated features with a simple setup procedure. However, for it to run well, you must pick a reputable web host.

Author Bio: Filip Nikoloski is Partnership Specialist at Printify, a transparent print-on-demand and drop shipping platform designed to help online merchants make more money in a simple and easy way.