WordPress is a renowned CMS platform while Shopify is exclusively built for hosting e-commerce stores. WordPress is highly customisable and Shopify excels in its product management facility and the list goes on for both. If you are planning to build an e-commerce store and are confused about which one to choose between these two well-regarded platforms. By the end of this blog on WordPress vs Shopify, you will be educated enough to choose the right platform for you.
A] Introduction to WordPress
Released in May 2003, WordPress is an online content management system that allows users to create and manage associated elements of their websites, including content, design parameters and much more. It is an open-source platform that was primarily built for hosting blogs. Later on, a host of website types started using WordPress CMS to create and manage their website content. It includes E-commerce, news, business, and much more. WordPress is known for its plugin library utilised to add functionality within the WordPress website without altering the core codes.
B] Introduction to Shopify
Launched in June 2006, Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows sellers to list and sell their products online. Whether it is small businesses, SMEs or DTC (direct-to-consumer) operations, Shopify offers a seamless ground for in-person and online sales. It offers an array of tools and features to customise and centralise all sales processes within a single window dashboard. Its robust e-commerce tools, intuitive user interface and comprehensive support stand out Shopify as the most preferred e-commerce platform.
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C] Shopify vs. WordPress: An Overview
| WordPress | Shopify | |
| Nature of Platform | WordPress is an open-source CMS platform built for hosting various website types. | Shopify is a fully-hosted SaaS application that is exclusively built for e-commerce purposes. |
| Ease of Use | WordPress is comparatively complex in terms of ease of use. | Shopify excels in ease of use. |
| Customisation | It offers tons of customisation options. | Shopify offers limited customisation possibilities. |
| Product Management | Comparatively complex product management features | Lots of product management features with straightforward implementation. |
| SEO-friendly | Highly SEO-friendly | No integrated SEO tools. Limited product SEO optimisation possibilities |
| Security | Users are responsible for their website security. | Built-in security mechanism; Shopify is responsible for store security. |
| Support | No dedicated support. Forum and community-based support. | Personalised support |
D] WordPress vs. Shopify for E-commerce: Head-to-Head Comparison
1. Nature of Platform
WordPress is an open-source and flexible content management system that is used for hosting various blog types, including e-commerce. It has a plugin, called Woocommerce, that lets WordPress users build an online store to list their products and sell them online.
Shopify, on the other hand, is a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) that allows users to create, customise, and manage their online stores built on Shopify. Unlike WordPress, Shopify is solely designed for e-commerce purposes. Shopify is also for those users who have an existing customer base and are searching for a platform for their product listing and selling.
Winner- It’s a tie!
2. Ease of Use
When comparing WordPress vs Shopify for e-commerce, WordPress may be complicated for beginner or novice coders planning to build an online store on WordPress. Since it is a content management system, it doesn’t offer any built-in facility for e-commerce.
Shopify is primarily built for e-commerce where every tool and feature is parallel-aligned for fulfilling the ecommerce goals. Its intuitive design, easy-to-navigate interface and comprehensible setup hierarchy stand out and make it one of the sought-after e-commerce platforms.
Winner- Shopify
3. Customisation
When weighing Shopify vs WordPress, WordPress offers tons of customisation for e-commerce websites. Be it a theme, product design, cart, alignment position or layout, every aspect of the store can be customised as per the owner’s desire. However, WordPress customisation may exhaust you due to subtle technical and alignment intricacies. To cope, you can hire a WordPress developer in India. They are qualified to build your online store however you want from scratch.
Shopify, on the flip side, only offers customisation options for their themes. With Shopify, you can customise every aspect of their theme as per your desire or requirements. The theme customisation option involves theme editor setting, adding or removing theme content, and finally previewing your changes. In addition, Shopify also lets you add custom HTML or CSS code within their themes.
Winner- WordPress
4. Product Management Intuitiveness
WordPress offers WooCommerce or other e-commerce plugins to efficiently handle product management, such as stock status, backorders, stock quantity, tax status, and much more. However, some users find difficulty in managing their products using WordPress e-commerce plugins.
On the flip side, Shopify offers intuitive tools and features to manage users’ products efficiently. It offers an extensive range of conveniences for product management, including adding stocks, managing inventory, order management, order fulfilment, and much more.
Winner- Shopify
5. SEO & Marketing Suitability
WordPress offers a vast array of SEO and marketing tools. The sheer number of available plugins has exploded, increasing by a staggering 228.551% since 2019. SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, RankMath, and All-in-one SEO are the top downloaded plugins. These plugins help WordPress users optimise blogs and e-commerce stores as per the SEO best practices. Marketing plugins like Woocommerce Mailchimp, HubSpot, and AffiliateWP are available to promote your store online.
Shopify outstrips WordPress in marketing suitability as it allows social media, blogs, and other community-based forums to integrate. Users can sell their products with the help of these platforms. However, Shopify neither has third-party SEO plugins nor in-built SEO tools to implement SEO best practices into their store content or products.
Winner- WordPress
6. Security
WordPress is a self-hosted CMS platform that allows users to look after their security concerns by themself. However, hosting providers are also responsible for security till the server ends. For website security, users are solely responsible. Various free and paid security plugins are available to counter the WordPress website’s security concerns.
Shopify, on the other hand, is a fully hosted platform that takes the initiative to look after the Store’s security concerns without user intervention. With Shopify, you simply build your online, drive traffic, and start selling your listed products without worrying about cyber security threats.
Winner- Shopify
7. Support
WordPress is an open-source CMS platform, eliminating the possibility of direct or dedicated support. However, various forums and communities are available to resolve your general or technical issues related to WordPress. In addition, paid plugins also provide dedicated support within their expertise or service range.
When comparing WordPress e-commerce vs Shopify, Shopify bundles the entire online store’s needs in a single package, including support. With Shopify, users get personalised support from their technical teams promptly, eliminating the need to circle forums and online communities.
Winner- Shopify
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Final Verdict
So, here we are. We have gone through the differences between WordPress and Shopify and found both platforms are widely suitable for hosting an e-commerce store. If you ask ‘’which platform should I use Shopify or WordPress’’? The answer will depend on your store sizes or customisation needs. If you are into small or SME businesses, opt for Shopify, or if you have a high product base, opting for WordPress would be a wise choice.
However, whether you choose WordPress or Shopify for your online store building, it requires a sufficient amount of time and effort to build an enticing store that captivates your customers and encourages them to buy your products. A highly experienced developer can help you eliminate these tedious building processes while offering an online store that stands out. So, if you are planning to build an online store, hire a freelance web developer in India and let them build your dream store online. Contact us today with your requirements.
