Shopify vs WooCommerce: which one for your store?

What is the main difference?

Shopify is a hosted platform: Shopify runs the servers, the checkout, security and updates, and you pay a monthly plan. WooCommerce is a free, open source plugin that turns a WordPress site into a store on hosting you choose and look after.

How do Shopify and WooCommerce compare?

• Set up: Shopify is faster to launch. WooCommerce needs hosting, WordPress and the plugin set up first
• Running: Shopify handles hosting, security and updates. With WooCommerce they are your job or your developer's
• Checkout: Shopify's checkout is fast and trusted by shoppers. WooCommerce checkout depends on your theme and plugins
• Control: WooCommerce gives full access to the code and the server. Shopify limits some deep changes
• Content: WooCommerce sits inside WordPress, which is strong for blogs and content heavy sites
• Cost: WooCommerce is free; hosting, premium extensions and upkeep are paid. Shopify charges a monthly plan, set by country, plus card fees and app fees

When is Shopify the better choice?

• You want to sell within weeks and spend your time on products, not servers
• Your team should run the store day to day without a developer
• You expect traffic peaks from launches, drops or sales

When is WooCommerce the better choice?

• Your business already runs on WordPress with a lot of content
• You need deep custom changes to how the store works
• You have a developer or team to keep the site updated and secure

What do we recommend at Enthros?

For most brands, Shopify. It costs less to run once upkeep is counted, and the team can manage it alone. We also move stores from WooCommerce to Shopify, with products, customers, orders and redirects. A custom designed Shopify store at Enthros starts at $450 and takes 3 to 5 weeks.