Should I migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify?

Whether you’re about to open a new online store, or you’ve been running yours for a while, you’ll know how much time, effort and dedication it takes to set everything up.

There are many different platforms available to help, with WooCommerce being one of the most popular.

If you’re currently using WooCommerce, you might be wondering if it’s still meeting your needs.

As another popular e-commerce platform, you’ve most likely heard of Shopify and might be wondering if it can serve your business better.

In this post, our experts at Paramount Digital explore the opportunities and challenges of these platforms, to help you decide once and for all if you should migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify.

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin made specifically for WordPress websites. 

It provides a wide range of features and functionalities – from product listings and payment processing to inventory management and shipping options – that allow you to transform your existing website into an online store.

Pros of WooCommerce

There are many reasons why businesses choose WooCommerce, including:

• Flexibility – Being an open-source plugin, you have total control over your store’s code and customisation options.
• Affordability – Aside from paying for website hosting and other add-ons, WooCommerce is free to use.
• SEO-friendliness – WooCommerce is built with search engine optimisation (SEO) in mind, helping your store rank higher on results pages.
• Community – There is a large community of developers and users over at WooCommerce who can offer support and advice whenever you may need it.

Cons of WooCommerce

Like all things, though, WooCommerce isn’t without its drawbacks. Just some of them include:

• Scalability – This platform may have difficulty handling the increased traffic and data that comes along with your store as it grows.
• Security – Again, being an open-source plugin, WooCommerce is more vulnerable to security breaches, putting your store at risk.
• Updates – Keeping your online store up to date with the latest version of WooCommerce and all its plugins can be time-consuming and, potentially, risky.
• Support – As we’ve mentioned, WooCommerce has a large community of users who can offer support and advice whenever you need it. However, being community-based in this way can be frustrating if you require immediate, expert assistance.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that allows you to create your own online store.

With a user-friendly interface and a range of fully customisable templates, it’s easy to set up and manage without extensive technical knowledge.

Pros of Shopify

• User friendly – Shopify is designed to be much more user-friendly than WooCommerce, and even those with little to no technical knowledge will be able to navigate the platform easily. Its drag-and-drop website builder, intuitive navigation and streamlined checkout process make creating and managing your online store super simple, whilst WooCommerce requires users to have a more in-depth understanding of web development and more time and effort for upkeep.

• Reliable – Being a standalone platform that’s designed specifically for ecommerce stores, you can expect unmatched reliability and uptime.
• Improved performance – Shopify is optimised for speed and performance, which can help massively when it comes to improving your store’s user experience.
• Enhanced support – With Shopify, you’ll have access to 24/7 customer support via phone, email or live chat.

Cons of Shopify

• Price – Beyond a 14-day free trial, Shopify offers five plans with prices starting at £5 per month for the starter plan and ranging to £259 per month for the advanced plan. Shopify also charges a variable fee plus a flat fee for using Shopify Payments, with the fee depending on the type of transaction.
• Customisation – Shopify offers an array of different themes and apps that allow you to customise your store, but you may have limited control over the code and functionality of your site. 

Why should I move from WooCommerce to Shopify?

If you’re looking for a more user-friendly platform, that grows with your store, allows for higher rankings and more conversions, and provides enhanced security and customer support, Shopify is definitely a no-brainer.

Offering an all-in-one platform that handles website hosting, security and technical updates – and removing the need for separate plugins and maintenance – switching from WooCommerce to Shopify can really help streamline your eCommerce experience.

Shopify’s intuitive interface, built-in features and round-the-clock customer support make it easier than ever to manage your online store. In addition to this, Shopify also provides more seamless integrations with payment gateways and shipping services, allowing you to focus solely on growing your business, rather than having to juggle the logistics along with everything else.

How do I go about migrating to Shopify?

There are several steps involved in migrating your WooCommerce site to Shopify – from thorough research and planning to testing and launching your complete Shopify store – and it’s important you follow them correctly to maintain your current search engine rankings.

Find out more about migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify without losing SEO rankings in our previous blog post, or contact our digital marketing experts for advice and support.

Need expert advice?

Choosing the right ecommerce platform to host your website plays a crucial role in the success of your business.

If you’re currently hosting with WooCommerce and want to learn more about the benefits of migrating to Shopify and need help making the switch, or you’re just starting out and struggling to choose between the two platforms, our Shopify SEO specialists are here and would be more than happy to help.

Give us a call today on 01744 747 474 or email us at marketing@paramountdigital.co.uk and we’ll be in touch to answer your questions!

Ready to migrate your online store from Magento to Shopify in style? Contact us by phone or email to get started!