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WordPress vs. Shopify: Which One to Choose in 2023?
Meta description: Exploring both Shopify and WordPress for your online store? We will look at the pros and cons of both platforms to help you make the right decision.
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E-commerce sales are predicted to reach $8.5 trillion by 2025.
And thanks to platforms like Shopify and WordPress, creating your own e-commerce website has turned into a cakewalk. The catch? Both platforms offer plenty of functionalities, which can get confusing if you don't know the details.
In this article, we will compare both these e-commerce platforms so that you can build an e-commerce site that not only looks good but sells great.
WordPress vs. Shopify: Overall Review
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Shopify is a fully hosted e-commerce platform that:
- Offers everything you need to create and run an online store and get sales
- Provides a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, payment processing, and built-in features like inventory management and shipping options
- Has a robust app store that allows you to add additional features and functionality to your store
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WordPress, on the other hand, is a content management system (CMS) that:
- Can be used for creating websites of all kinds, including e-commerce sites
- Does not offer built-in e-commerce features, but it can be extended with plugins like WooCommerce to create an online store
- Gives user more control over the design and functionality of the e-commerce site but requires more technical expertise
WordPress vs. Shopify: Set Up and Ease of Use
| WordPress |
Shopify |
- Set up: Setting up a WordPress site requires more technical expertise as it involves:
- Installing and configuring a content management system (CMS)
- Choosing a hosting provider
Note: Many hosting providers offer one-click installs for WordPress, which can simplify the setup process. |
- Set up: Setting up a Shopify store is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise. Users can:
- Choose from a range of pre-designed templates and customize the design and functionality of the site using Shopify's drag-and-drop editor
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- Ease of use: Once set up, it is relatively easy to use, with a user-friendly dashboard and a wide range of plugins and themes available to customize the site's design and functionality.
Note: You need to have some technical knowledge to manage plugins and troubleshoot issues that arise. |
- Ease of use: Shopify offers a range of built-in features for managing products, orders, and payments, which makes it easier for users to manage their online store without needing any technical expertise.
Note: If you want more advanced customization options, you may need to hire a developer or learn some coding skills. |
The verdict
WordPress is more flexible and versatile but requires more technical expertise to set up and manage. Shopify is designed specifically for e-commerce and is easier to set up and use but is less flexible for customization options.
WordPress vs. Shopify: Designs and Themes
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Shopify offers 11 free themes and 109 paid themes that cost from $180 to $350. You can also find over 1600+ Shopify themes and templates by third-party developers from Theme Forest:
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Advantages of Shopify designs and themes:
- They are sales-ready and mobile-responsive
- The theme editor is intuitive, simple, and straightforward
- Users don't need coding/technical knowledge to get a personalized look and feel
- The platform offers 24x7 support
WordPress offers over 10,000 themes that you can choose from:
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WordPress themes require:
- Tweaking and editing the layout to get the desired results
- Basic coding skill to get the site functioning properly, or you can hire an experienced WordPress web designer
- Users to reach to third-party theme developers if they stuck with the theme designing
The verdict
If you are primarily focused on e-commerce, Shopify wins. If you want more flexibility in terms of design and functionality, WordPress may be the way to go.
WordPress vs. Shopify: Customer Support and Dropshipping
| WordPress |
Shopify |
- Dropshipping: The platform offers a host of dropshipping apps such as AliExpress Dropshipping, print-on-demand shipping apps, etc.
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- Dropshipping: The tool comes in-built with dropshipping features such as a built-in inventory management system, automatic order fulfillment, and integrations with popular dropshipping apps
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- Customer support: WordPress doesn't provide support directly. But you can find help on:
- Community forums
- Specialist websites
- YouTube
- Specialist WordPress developer
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- Customer support: The platform offers a wide range of customer support options such chat, email, phone, help center, and active community forums
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The verdict: From a dropshipping perspective, Shopify may be the better option due to its specific features for dropshipping and ease of use. However, if you are already familiar with WordPress and prefer to use it for your website, then WooCommerce may be a good choice for you. Ultimately, the decision will depend on your requirements.
WordPress vs. Shopify: Pricing & Value
Shopify offers three pricing plans:
- Basic Shopify: $39/month
- Shopify: $105/month
- Shopify Advanced: $399/month
Shopify's basic plan is great as it helps you get started with an e-commerce website easily and offers functionalities such as inventory and order management features, POS system, and more. You can also try the platform's free trial to get a better sense of its working.
WordPress cost depends on your custom setup
You may need to purchase a domain name (about $10–$50 a year), hosting provider (between $3–$200 a month), theme (anywhere between $0–$200), plugins (costing between $0–$1,000), security ($50–$500 a month), and finally, developer fees (ranging between $0–$1,000 (a one-off cost)).
Which One Is Right for You?
WordPress and Shopify are both popular platforms for building websites. However, they have different strengths and weaknesses.
| WordPress |
Shopify |
| Is a flexible, open-source platform that can be used to create a wide variety of websites, including blogs, business sites, e-commerce sites, and more. |
Is a fully hosted e-commerce platform that's designed specifically for online stores. |
| Advantages:
- Flexibility: This open-source platform can be used to create a wide range of websites, including blogs, business sites, and e-commerce sites.
- Customizability: It offers a wide range of themes and plugins that allow you to customize the look and functionality of your site.
- SEO: WordPress is built with SEO in mind and offers a range of plugins to help improve your site's search engine rankings.
- Cost: WordPress itself is free to use, and there are many free and low-cost themes and plugins available.
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Advantages:
- Ease of use: The platform is easy to set up and use, even for those without web development experience.
- E-commerce features: Users get a user-friendly interface, built-in payment processing, and a wide range of e-commerce features, such as inventory management and shipping tools.
- Support: Shopify offers 24/7 support to help you with any issues you may encounter.
- Hosting: It includes hosting, which simplifies the process of setting up and running an online store.
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| Disadvantages:
- Learning curve: It can be challenging to set up and use, especially for those without web development experience.
- Maintenance: Because WordPress is open-source, users need to maintain security and functionality themselves.
- Hosting: It requires a separate hosting account, which can add to the cost of running a website.
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Disadvantages:
- Cost: Shopify charges a monthly fee, which can add up over time.
- Customization: While Shopify does offer some customization options, it can be more challenging to customize your site compared to WordPress. Plus, you're limited to using the themes and plugins provided by Shopify.
- SEO: Shopify's SEO capabilities are not as robust as those of WordPress.
- Flexibility: Shopify is primarily designed for e-commerce and may not be the best choice if you want to create a more complex website that includes non-e-commerce features.
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The takeaway
Overall, if you're looking to build a general-purpose website that's highly customizable, WordPress is for you. However, if you're looking to build an e-commerce site and want a streamlined, all-in-one solution, Shopify is a better alternative.
The Final Verdict: Should You Invest in Shopify or WordPress?
Long story short, both Shopify and WordPress have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between the two depends on your specific needs and level of expertise.
If you're looking for an all-in-one e-commerce solution with less technical requirements, Shopify is a better alternative. However, if you have more technical knowledge and want more control over your e-commerce site, WordPress with a plugin like WooCommerce might be worth considering.
Read Next: How to Use WordPress Plugins