Choosing between WooCommerce and Shopify is the biggest dilemma for many entrepreneurs looking to launch an ecommerce website in Dubai. Of course, both these platforms are immensely popular. Shopify powers over 4.6 million websites, while WooCommerce has a massive 38.76% market share, which is higher than Shopify’s 23.43%.
We’ve built hundreds of online stores for our clients, but what makes Pixabell the top ecommerce website development service is that we understand both WooCommerce and Shopify are good products. So, we need to choose the one that best suits a particular type of ecommerce business.
Key Highlights
- Shopify is easier to set up but less flexible.
- WooCommerce offers more control and customization.
- Shopify costs more as you scale.
- WooCommerce needs manual setup and security.
- Shopify is better for quick dropshipping setups.
- WooCommerce works best if you already have a WordPress site.
- WooCommerce makes for a better business building tool than Shopify
How is Shopify different from WooCommerce for building online stores?
Shopify is a hosted SaaS solution, meaning it takes care of hosting, security, and maintenance for you. You don’t need much technical expertise to set up an online store using Shopify. In even simpler terms, it’s a standalone service from which you can sell stuff online.
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that gives more customization and control, but you’ll have to manage hosting and security separately. So, if you already have a business website developed in WordPress, and already hosted, your natural choice should be WooCommerce.
This alone might be enough for you to make a decision. But if you haven’t started anything yet, there are a lot more things to consider.
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper in the long run?
The main deciding factor for most small businesses is the setup and running costs, and both Shopify and WooCommerce differ here drastically. To be honest, you shouldn’t base your decision on price alone, and see what works for you.
Shopify:
Subscription plans: Basic Shopify starts at $29/month. It’s best for solopreneurs and small businesses to get started. But for scaling up, you’ll need Advanced Shopify which costs up to $299/ month. What you’ll get for this extra price is advanced reporting and lower transaction fees.
Additional costs: Premium themes can cost between $100 and $300. Apps from the Shopify App Store may also have monthly fees.
WooCommerce:
Core platform: WooCommerce is free to install as a WordPress plugin.
Additional costs: Web hosting can range from $5 to $50/month. There are also some premium themes and plugins here.
Yes, WooCommerce is cheaper, but you need a WordPress website first inorder to use WooCommerce. Also, what you save on money with WooCommerce, you spend on developing the website, securing it, customizing, designing, and optimizing it for speed.
Shopify is like that all-in-one solution, albeit at a higher price tag. But WooCommerce is the easy choice if you already have a website for your business. And these days, all businesses in Dubai need a website, so if you don’t have the initial budget for one, choose Shopify. But if you understand the pressing need for a business website, choose WooCommerce.
WooCommerce gives you more design flexibility than Shopify
Since WooCommerce is integrated directly into WordPress, you’ll get a ton of customization options like themes and page builders like Elementor or Divi. You can even add custom CSS, A/B testing layouts, and advanced animations.
Shopify also has a range of themes, and while you can customize some of them, there is no access to advanced code editing unless you opt for the higher-tier plans.
Which is better for dropshipping? Shopify or WooCommerce?
If you have a dropshipping business, you wouldn’t have to keep inventory, and instead transfer customer orders to a third-party supplier who ships the products directly. So, dropshipping needs a seamless integration with suppliers and efficient order management.
Shopify excels here with robust support for popular dropshipping apps like DSers and Spocket. WooCommerce also supports dropshipping with plugins like AliDropship and Printful. But you’ll have to deal with plugin updates and more hands-on management.
So, if you’re looking for an easy way to do dropshipping, Shopify is the better choice.
Dubai Ecommerce website that makes scaling business easier
Shopify has a powerful infrastructure and backend that easily supports higher traffic and sales volume. WooCommerce also offers scalability, but needs proactive management.
But when you scale your business, you’ll want to invest more in building a brand. And unless you’re an influencer with your name being the brand, you’ll want a customizable website, a color palette, tone, and brand guidelines.
And with all that, you’ll also get the resources of a dedicated web development team. So, something as customizable as WooCommerce makes more sense.
What do Dubai web developers suggest for building an ecommerce store?
E-commerce website development is our forte, and based on our experience, we would suggest Shopify only if you’re a solopreneur or a small business with very limited resources and no access to a web developer.
But for anyone who is interested in building a brand and scaling their business, we recommend that you invest the time, money, and effort in a dedicated business website, and add an online store to it with the WooCommerce plugin.
Build your Dubai Ecommerce website with Pixabell
If you’re looking to start a high-converting online store in Dubai, we’ll help you choose the right ecommerce website development tool, be it Shopify or WooCommerce and build it for you along with a premium business website.
FAQs
- Can I migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify without losing SEO rankings?
Yes, use 301 redirects and update your sitemap.
- Can WooCommerce handle large product catalogs?
It can, but it needs strong hosting and optimization.
- Are there limitations to Shopify’s checkout customization?
Yes, full customization needs the Shopify Plus plan.
- Can I integrate local payment gateways in Dubai with WooCommerce?
Yes, using plugins or custom integrations.
