Starting an online store requires choosing the right eCommerce platform. Shopify is a leading choice, but competitors like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Wix also offer powerful features. Which one is best for your business? This guide compares Shopify with other eCommerce platforms based on ease of use, pricing, features, scalability, and more to help you make an informed decision.
1. Ease of Use: Which Platform is Beginner-Friendly?
Shopify: User-Friendly and No Coding Required
Shopify is built for beginners, allowing users to set up an online store without coding. With a simple drag-and-drop editor, ready-to-use themes, and an intuitive dashboard, Shopify makes launching and managing a store easy. It handles hosting, security, and updates, letting you focus on sales and marketing.
WooCommerce: Requires WordPress Knowledge
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that turns your site into an eCommerce store. While it’s highly customizable, it requires knowledge of WordPress, hosting setup, and plugins. If you’re comfortable with WordPress, WooCommerce offers greater control, but it’s not as beginner-friendly as Shopify.
BigCommerce: Feature-Rich but a Steeper Learning Curve
BigCommerce offers more built-in tools than Shopify but can be overwhelming for beginners. The dashboard is more complex, making it better suited for medium to large businesses rather than startups.
Wix: Easy to Use but Limited for eCommerce
Wix is a website builder with eCommerce functionality. While it’s easy to use with its drag-and-drop system, it lacks Shopify’s advanced eCommerce tools, making it better for small businesses rather than large-scale online stores.
Winner: Shopify – It provides the best balance between ease of use and powerful features.
2. Pricing & Costs: Which Offers Better Value?
Shopify Pricing
Shopify offers three main plans:
-
Basic Shopify – $29/month
-
Shopify Plan – $79/month
-
Advanced Shopify – $299/month
All plans include hosting, SSL security, customer support, and built-in eCommerce features. Shopify also offers a free trial to test its platform.
WooCommerce Pricing
WooCommerce is free but requires hosting, domain registration, security, and paid plugins. Typical costs include:
-
Hosting: $5–$30/month
-
Premium themes: $50–$100 (one-time fee)
-
Plugins for SEO, payments, and marketing: Varies
The costs can add up, making WooCommerce potentially more expensive than Shopify over time.
BigCommerce Pricing
-
Standard Plan – $39/month
-
Plus Plan – $105/month
-
Pro Plan – $399/month
BigCommerce is slightly more expensive than Shopify and charges extra fees for exceeding certain revenue limits.
Wix Pricing
Wix eCommerce plans start at $27/month, but it lacks the advanced eCommerce tools Shopify offers.
Winner: Shopify – While WooCommerce seems cheaper initially, Shopify provides more value with its all-in-one pricing structure.
3. Features & Customization: Which Platform Offers More?
Shopify: Powerful eCommerce Tools & App Store
Shopify provides:
100+ professional themes
✅ Mobile optimization
✅ 6,000+ apps for additional functionality
✅ SEO, marketing, and analytics tools
✅ Multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram)
WooCommerce: Highly Customizable but Needs Plugins
WooCommerce allows complete customization, but you’ll need multiple plugins for payment gateways, SEO, and marketing.
BigCommerce: Built-in Features but Fewer Apps
BigCommerce has strong built-in features, but its app marketplace is smaller compared to Shopify.
Wix: Basic eCommerce Tools
Wix offers basic online store features but lacks multi-channel integration and advanced SEO tools.
Winner: Shopify – Offers the most built-in eCommerce features and integrations.
4. Payment & Transaction Fees: Which One Saves You More?
Shopify Payment Fees
-
Shopify supports 100+ payment gateways but charges 2% transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments.
WooCommerce Payment Fees
-
No additional transaction fees, but you need to set up Stripe, PayPal, or other payment gateways separately.
BigCommerce Payment Fees
-
No extra fees, but fewer payment gateway options compared to Shopify.
Wix Payment Fees
-
Limited payment options and charges higher transaction fees than Shopify.
Winner: WooCommerce – No extra fees, but Shopify is better for an all-in-one solution.
5. Scalability & Performance: Which Platform Grows with Your Business?
-
Shopify can handle high traffic and large product catalogs without slowing down.
-
WooCommerce scalability depends on hosting providers (which may require server upgrades).
-
BigCommerce is great for enterprises but may be too complex for small businesses.
-
Wix is best for small businesses and struggles with large-scale eCommerce.
6. Customer Support & Security: Who Takes Care of Your Store?
When running an online store, reliable customer support and security are essential. Shopify stands out by offering 24/7 support through live chat, email, and phone, ensuring merchants get assistance whenever needed.
It also provides built-in security features, including SSL certification, fraud detection, and automatic updates, which make it a hassle-free platform.
WooCommerce, on the other hand, does not have a dedicated support team. Since it is a WordPress plugin, users rely on community forums, hosting providers, or third-party developers for troubleshooting.
Security is also the user’s responsibility, requiring additional plugins and manual updates to ensure safety.
BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support similar to Shopify but lacks the extensive community and resources Shopify provides. It includes built-in security but requires merchants to stay on top of updates. Wix provides customer support through live chat and email, but its security features are basic compared to Shopify.
Shopify wins in this category because of its responsive customer support team and strong security features that automatically protect store owners from threats.
Final Verdict: Which Platform Should You Choose?
Choosing the right eCommerce platform depends on your business needs. Shopify is the best choice for most merchants because it offers a user-friendly interface, built-in sales tools, scalability, and excellent support.
It provides a seamless experience from store setup to managing operations without requiring technical expertise.
For a hassle-free, scalable, and feature-rich solution, Shopify is the best option. It enables businesses to grow effortlessly while providing the flexibility needed to customize and optimize their stores. Plus, you can create a Shopify store for just $1/month for the first 3 months!
If you’re looking for professional Shopify development, ArhamCommerce is the perfect solution. Whether you need store setup, custom themes, or app development, our expert team is ready to help you succeed.
Get started with ArhamCommerce today and build a powerful Shopify store that drives sales!
