If your company is considering expanding its existing e-commerce business or planning a new e-commerce-based venture, comparing e-commerce platforms is a crucial step – which option would be the best fit for your situation?
In this article, we’ll compare two of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms, WooCommerce and Shopify. What are their pros and cons, and which one best suits your current needs?
Learn more about our online stores at Valve: WooCommerce Online Stores
WooCommerce in a Nutshell
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin that integrates with the WordPress content management system. WooCommerce’s popularity has also grown in Finland, and it covers about a fifth of all online stores world-wide[1].
We believe WooCommerce is best suited for growth-oriented SMEs and content-driven online stores. Typically, WooCommerce is a solution for companies that already have a WordPress-based website and want to add e-commerce functionality or other e-commerce-like features (such as a request-for-quote cart).
WooCommerce Pros:
- Works well for selling both physical and digital products, as well as services.
- Highly customizable and can be tailored almost limitlessly to fit a company’s specific needs, allowing you to create a unique e-commerce experience.
- Scales easily with business growth.
- Easily integrates with other systems and tools, such as ERP, CRM, or accounting systems, with many ready-made connectors available from third-party providers.
- Cost-effective to develop*, and professional WordPress agencies make it relatively easy to find skilled developers.
- Offers nearly all Finnish (and many international) payment and delivery integrations.
- As an open-source plugin for WordPress, there is no vendor lock-in, and many developers are available.
- No licensing fees for platform development due to its open-source nature.
- Integrates seamlessly with WordPress websites, creating a unified appearance for the e-commerce site and the main website.
*Read more about pricing: What Does a WooCommerce Online Store Cost?
WooCommerce Cons:
- Does not natively support multiple inventory locations, customer-specific catalogs or pricing, multilingual setups, or complex discount logic. These features require customization (via plugins or programming) to meet the needs of global sales and logistics.
- Basic functionality does not differ significantly from cheaper off-the-shelf solutions, so it’s better suited when specific customizations are planned.
- Limited direct support from WooCommerce itself, though helpful support forums exist online. Fortunately, the WordPress community is one of the world’s largest, and Finland also has a welcoming and open WordPress community for assistance.
Shopify in a Nutshell
Shopify, founded in Canada in 2004, provides a SaaS-based e-commerce platform. It has gained significant market share and now powers about a quarter of all online stores globally [1, 2].
Shopify allows anyone to easily set up an online store, requiring no coding knowledge if using pre-built themes. However, for most businesses, some level of customization is needed to meet unique business and communication needs.
With Shopify, you don’t need to worry about hosting or downloading anything, as everything is offered as a service.
Shopify is ideal for do-it-yourself entrepreneurs looking to quickly launch an e-commerce store and create a professional online presence. Companies testing new business models or market demand can also benefit from Shopify’s agility.
In recent years, Shopify has developed features that appeal to larger businesses, gradually becoming a competitor to WooCommerce.
Shopify Pros:
- Quick and easy setup for e-commerce if extensive customizations and integrations are not required.
- Shopify expertise is now available from several professional digital agencies in Finland.
- Intuitive to use; adding products and editing content is straightforward.
- SaaS licensing fees are reasonable, ranging from $69 to $2,500 per month.
- Offers several domestic and international payment and delivery options (e.g., Posti, Shipit).
- POS solutions are available for brick-and-mortar businesses.
- Customer support is included in the license fee and readily available.
Shopify Cons:
- In addition to licensing fees and paid features, Shopify charges a transaction fee of 0.5–2% on sales, plus potential payment processor fees. This can be costly for larger businesses.
- As a proprietary platform, you are tied to Shopify’s development vision and features. Certain functionalities might become unavailable over time.
- Limited integration options compared to more robust solutions like WooCommerce. ERP, PIM, or CRM integrations often need to be developed from scratch.
- A shortage of Shopify developers in Finland poses a risk. While its popularity is growing, there are relatively few established Shopify implementations for larger businesses locally.
Which E-Commerce Platform Suits Your Needs Best?
For DIY entrepreneurs, Shopify is the easiest path. It’s also ideal for quickly testing the market for a new business model with minimal costs.
For larger businesses looking for a scalable, long-term solution that grows and evolves with their needs, WooCommerce is likely the better investment, paying off in the long run. Shopify’s limitations tend to surface as store size and complexity grow.
While Shopify works well initially, WooCommerce offers greater flexibility and scalability, making it a better choice for businesses aiming for significant growth. Shopify’s transaction fees may also become unsustainable, depending on your business volume.
Other options, such as Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) and customized platforms, are also worth considering for businesses with specific requirements.
Navigating the e-commerce platform landscape can be challenging for beginners. We recommend finding a knowledgeable partner to objectively assess your business needs and guide you toward the right solution.
If you want to discuss your needs and get insight into what would be the best solution for you, contact us or schedule a meeting with one of our experts.
Sources:
- BuiltWith – eCommerce Usage Distribution on the Entire Internet
- Shopify.com
