6 Reasons to choose WordPress over Shopify for your online store

Launching an online store has never been easier or more convenient! With platforms like Shopify and WordPress, starting a business or selling products online is now within everyone's reach.

While Shopify may be an ideal solution for some, at WHC we're big fans of WordPress and believe the future belongs to open source.

• What exactly is Shopify?
• What about WordPress?
• 1. Unmatched flexibility and customization
• 2. Affordability
• 3. Site control
• 4. Search engine optimization (SEO)
• 5. WooCommerce: a must-have plug-in
• 6. A dynamic ecosystem
• Why do some people choose Shopify?
• Launching my online store: where do I start?

What exactly is Shopify?

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that stands out due to its all-in-one solution for creating an online store. Renowned for its ease of use, Shopify makes it straightforward for even the most novice users to manage their online business. Its user-friendly interface and streamlined inventory and order management have won the hearts of users worldwide. However, this simplicity comes with a relatively high monthly fee - $51 CAD for only the basic package - and very limited flexibility and customization.

What about WordPress?

WordPress, on the other hand, offers a virtually unlimited level of flexibility with its vast array of themes and plugins. It's an unrivaled CMS (content management system) for website creation, and its open source software also offers a complete solution for online businesses. Thanks to a wide range of features, WordPress is super adaptable to users’ needs: whether you want to create a showcase site, a blog, a portfolio or an online store, WordPress offers comprehensive options at a much lower price.

Here are the main reasons why so many Canadians choose WordPress to set up their business and sell online.

1. Unmatched flexibility and customization

WordPress, along with its WooCommerce plugin, offers almost unlimited flexibility and customization. Unlike Shopify, which is much more prescriptive, WordPress lets you create an online store that matches your vision exactly. This freedom to customize every aspect of your site is one of the main reasons why many people prefer WordPress.

2. Affordability

When launching a business or an online store, financial resources are often limited. WordPress stands out thanks to its many options and low cost. When it comes to Shopify, the basic package requires a substantial up-front investment of CA$51 per month. Not to mention the fact that Shopify may charge a transaction fee every time you make a sale, as well as charge for adding certain features.

With WordPress, there are obviously hosting and domain name fees, but they're much lower and you'll have control over these costs. Everything else, however, can be 100% free if your needs are basic and you're the least bit tech-savvy. You always have the option of investing in premium features, but in most cases, your online store won’t cost you more than a hundred dollars a year. What's more, WordPress offers unlimited scalability, adapting to the growth of your business with no hidden costs.

3. Site control

One of the major advantages of WordPress is the absolute control it gives users over both the site and its content. In the event of a hosting problem, simply contact the webhost to resolve the issue. You also have the final say on your site's performance and security solutions: you choose the options that really meet your needs.

Shopify, on the other hand, offers a turnkey solution and hosts everything on its own servers. This can be very beneficial in several ways, but also means that you lose control over a number of technical aspects. Obviously, the choice is based on individual preferences and needs in terms of site control and management.

4. Search engine optimization (SEO)

If you value search engine optimization (and you should!), WordPress may be for you, as it outperforms Shopify when it comes to SEO. Unlike Shopify, WordPress offers built-in features specifically designed to optimize content. A free tool like Yoast SEO will allow you to fine-tune every detail, in addition to giving you SEO performance scores and suggestions for improving content. What's more, you'll have full access to the source code, so you can optimize everything to your heart's content. Shopify, on the other hand, offers solutions that allow you to modify title tags, meta descriptions and so on.

5. WooCommerce: a must-have plug-in

If you choose WordPress as your e-commerce platform, you'll want to integrate the popular WooCommerce plugin into your site! Offering a free basic version, WooCommerce will make the process of creating your store a lot simpler. Although some premium features require an investment, you can design a very viable store using only the basic version.

How to start selling? Simply create product listings and link to a payment processing system like PayPal or Stripe, and you're ready to go! Then you can add a number of features to enhance the shopping experience. WooCommerce is flexible, scalable and easy to use.

6. A dynamic ecosystem

The rich WordPress ecosystem, which includes a vast community and some of the most active forums, also offers an inexhaustible reservoir of resources and plugins. Whether you're looking for advanced e-commerce functionality, social networking integrations or analytics tools, WordPress offers a solution thanks to its vast repertoire of plugins. This diversity contrasts sharply with Shopify, where options can sometimes seem limited, confining users to a rather rigid framework.

Why do some people choose Shopify?

If you're a novice WordPress user, you're bound to hit a few snags. Unlike Shopify, WordPress requires a steeper learning curve. Although WordPress is versatile and relatively easy to use once you get the hang of it, it is more complex than its competitor. Despite the array of external resources available free of charge, the lack of WordPress tech support can become frustrating. For those looking for the benefit of an all-in-one, integrated solution, and willing to pay for ease of use, Shopify is the more suitable option.

Launching my online store: where do I start?

As you can see, the choice of WordPress or Shopify will depend on your needs and comfort level. However, if customization and flexibility for your store are a priority, then WordPress, along with WooCommerce, is the ideal solution – one you certainly won't regret!

In short, WordPress is the Swiss army knife of the web!

If this article has cemented your decision to launch your store using WordPress, the next step is to choose a hosting plan and domain name. You can start creating your site and showcasing your products today!