AMZ Seller Financing   •   November 26, 2018

E-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, Magento, Woocommerce, have become a very popular alternative for online sellers. More and more people are turning to e-commerce platforms, because they are relatively easy to use and have a lot of features.

There are so many e-commerce platforms out there, and many more will be created in the years to come because online sales are growing rapidly. But there is one problem a lot of online sellers face: which platform to choose?

If you’re just starting out, or have little to no experience with e-commerce platforms, the choices might seem a bit overwhelming. Every platform kind of looks the same, offering similar things. That is why we want to help you out.

In this article, we will cover the three most popular e-commerce platforms, Shopify, Magento, Woocommerce, focusing on their features as well as pros and cons. Once you read through, you will have enough information to make your pick.

Mind you, all three of these (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce) are great for online sellers, and you basically won’t make a mistake choosing any of them. But there are a couple of things that should be pointed out for each of them. Let’s dive in! 

Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce: Which One Is Right for You?

1. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, and the name itself has become synonymous with online selling. Many people still don’t realize that Shopify is just one of many platforms of this kind.

There is a reason why Shopify has become so popular. It’s very easy to use, and all you have to do is create your seller account, choose one of the free themes, make a few customization adjustments and that’s it.

Most users agree that Shopify’s interface is very intuitive, which is one of the reasons this platform is so popular. So, when it comes to user interface, Shopify is definitely the leader in the field.

Also, this platform is great for both professional online sellers and those who are just starting out. Professional sellers love the fact that Shopify has a lot of options, while fresh beginners enjoy the simplicity and intuitiveness of design.

Shopify’s Features

• Over one hundred themes
• Mobile-friendly stores
• Site analytics
• 24/7 support

Shopify’s Pros

• Free hosting
• SEO-friendly
• 14-day trial

Shopify’s Cons

• Not free (pricing plans from $9 – $179 per month)
• Credit card fees are from 2.4% to 2.9% per transaction
• There are only three default products attributes

2. Magento

Magento is also a very popular e-commerce platform, but what some users find problematic is the interface design. It’s not that complicated. But it’s definitely more complicated than Shopify and that’s what some users find hard to accept.

So, if you’re unfamiliar with e-commerce platforms, or don’t have a lot of experience with them, have this in mind.

Magento’s interface could have been done much better, for sure, but the platform still has a lot to offer. There are plenty of features for creating a complex business store, and you can really make something valuable with Magento.

There are two options for you, Magento Community, which is a free open source, and Magento Enterprise, which has a lot of features, good technical support, hundreds of extensions, and a lot more.

Of course, there are plenty of templates and unlimited product attributes, and it’s available across all devices, from iPads to Androids.

Magento’s Features    

• Customizable design
• Responsive platform structure
• Email marketing reminder
• Integrated content management system

Magento’s Pros

• A lot of content and useful information
• A lot of options for each category
• Free demo

Magento’s Cons

• Interface not very user-friendly
• The premium option is very expensive ($15,000 per year)
• User support is often not very reliable

3. WooCommerce

Finally, there’s Woocommerce. What’s interesting is that a lot of people haven’t even heard about this platform, but there’s a simple explanation for this.

This e-commerce platform will probably best suit those people who are using WordPress for their business. If you are using a WordPress website, then all you have to do is install WooCommerce and you’re ready to go.

However, if you don’t have your own website, then you will have to start from scratch and build your website first. So, technically speaking, WooCommerce is a WordPress plug-in, not a separate e-commerce platform.

Most users agree WooCommerce is relatively easy to use, because you can customize everything via its dashboard. There are a lot of useful features and it’s very user-friendly.

WooCommerce’s Features

• Available from the WP-admin
• Reports on store performance
• Free to use
• Offers plenty of free and paid themes

WooCommerce’s Pros

• Easy to download and use
• It’s an open-source community
• Offers a lot of useful resources for you to use

WooCommerce’s Cons

• The plug-in is free, but it doesn’t include free hosting (that’s paid separately)

So, there you go. Which of these do you think is best suited for you and your business? Shopify? Magento? WooCommerce? Why? Why not? Feel free to share your opinion with us.