Shopify VS Wix

Are you starting an eCommerce business and trying to decide between Shopify and Wix? Both platforms offer a range of benefits, but also have their drawbacks. Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of each platform.

First, let's take a look at Shopify.

Shopify eCommerce platform

Shopify is an eCommerce platform that caters specifically to eCommerce businesses.

This incredibly powerful eCommerce platform enables online store owners to sell online.

Furthermore, Shopify also allows offline sales through their Shopify POS (Point of Sale) integration and merchandise.

Merchants can benefit from this eCommerce platform greatly.

Shopify offers handy features such as website templates, payment processing, and inventory management. It also integrates with many third-party apps for added functionality.

Some of the top benefits of Shopify include:

• Easy to use interface
• Wide range of professional website templates (both free templates and paid templates)
• Built-in blog feature
• Multiple language and currency support
• Advanced SEO capabilities
• 24/7 customer support
• Mobile eCommerce capabilities
• Discount code creation
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Ability to sell on marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay

But, there are also some drawbacks to consider on Shopify:

• Transaction fees for external payment processors
• Limited customization options for website design
• Additional fees for added features and apps
• Higher pricing plans compared to some other eCommerce platforms
• Limited support for international selling outside of major marketplaces
• Now let's get into some important details when it comes to Shopify.

Shopify offers something called 'Shopify Payments'. What is this?

Shopify Payments

This is Shopify's very own payment service. It can be activated in the Shopify Dashboard. It is essentially like Stripe and works the same, only it has a different face and is called Shopify Payments.

It is well-integrated into the Shopify online store builder and is easy to incorporate. A simple activation will allow your online business to flourish with these lower transaction fees.

Furthermore, there are ample other payment gateways that Shopify accepts such as Stripe, Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay etc.

If you would like to learn and know more about Shopify Payments, take a read of our blog here.

Shopify POS

Shopify POS stands for 'Point of Sale'.

This is the side of Shopify that enables Shopify merchants to sell offline.

Merchants can choose between Shopify POS lite and Shopify POS pro.

Shopify POS lite is included in every Shopify plan. Shopify POS Pro comes at an additional monthly cost of $89 per location.

The Shopify POS app is easy to download and use. You can download it directly from the Shopify App store. You can use the QR below to download and test it for yourself!

Shopify themes – Create your dream online store

Shopify themes are pre-made designs for your eCommerce store. They're easy to use and come with built-in functionality, such as the ability to add products, customize your design, and manage your store's pages.

There are a wide range of Shopify themes to choose from, and you can preview them before you buy. There are some free templates available as well as some Shopify templates that need to be paid for.

To install a theme, simply click 'Install Theme' in your Shopify admin panel. You can then select the theme you want to use and start customizing it.

If you need help installing or customizing your Shopify theme, our team of experts is here to help.

Let us continue to talk about all that makes Shopify special, so we can make a fair comparison between Wix vs. Shopify as we proceed.

Shopify Pricing

For a good comparison, you need to understand the difference on Wix vs. Shopify pricing. There are 5 different Shopify plans that all come at a different price point, range of functionality and different levels of capabilities.

• Shopify Starter – $5 per month
• Basic Shopify – $29 per month
• Shopify – $79 per month
• Advanced Shopify – $299 per month
• Shopify Plus – starts at $2000 per month

Shopify Starter

is primarily for small entrepreneurs who would like to sell online over social media, email, Etsy – or any online portal for that matter. It's a quick and hassle-free way to get your products online.

Basic Shopify

The basic Shopify plan is the second least expensive option. It is ideal for a basic online store, for small businesses that have a more limited budget. It allows for a lot more functionality than the Shopify Starter plan, but is still rather confined in terms of range.

Shopify

Stepping it up a notch, we have the Shopify plan. This works well for businesses who are on the rise and need to scale up quickly. There are great features with this Shopify plan. It is ideal for Shopify users who want a more structured and reliable setup to their online stores.

Advanced Shopify

This Shopify plan comes with more advanced eCommerce features. It is ideal to build a very robust and highly functional Shopify store. You can build an excellent eCommerce site when you sign up for the Advanced Shopify plan. The features and flexibility that this plan offers will make selling online feel like a breeze.

Shopify Plus

This is the eCommerce solution of all eCommerce solutions. It is for large enterprises who need some seriously advanced eCommerce functionality. It ranks the highest in terms of how you can best create an eCommerce website, as it has the most eCommerce tools but this naturally, comes at the highest cost too. It is really only advised for companies who have a high yearly turnover or who expect serious traffic on their online store.

If you would like to learn more about the different Shopify plans, how much they each cost, what the pro's and con's are of each, please take a read of our blog 'Shopify Plans and Pricing' here to learn more.

Now, let's take a look at Wix.

Wix website builder

The battle is on. Let us see how Wix fares in the Wix vs. Shopify challenge.

Wix, on the other hand, offers a more generalized website building platform with eCommerce capabilities.

A Wix store is a website that sells products and services online. It's built using the Wix platform, which makes it easy to create a professional-looking website without needing any coding experience.

Wix stores come with a range of features, including the ability to add products, manage orders, and customize your design. You can also use Wix's eCommerce tools to sell products and services online.

If you're looking for an easy way to start selling online, a Wix store is a great option.

Some benefits of Wix include:

• Easy drag and drop website builder
• Wide range of templates for various industries
• Built-in blog feature
• Integration with multiple payment processors
• Mobile eCommerce capabilities
• Ability to sell products and services
• Discount codes
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Customer accounts and order management
• Multiple language support

However, there are also some drawbacks to keep in mind with Wix:

• Limited eCommerce functionalities compared to platforms like Shopify
• Additional fees for added features and apps
• Limited support for international selling
• No multi-currency support
• Advanced SEO capabilities require upgrades or third-party apps

Wix Pricing

Wix offers a range of pricing options, depending on your needs. The most basic Wix plan is free, and includes a website builder, online store, and free custom domain name.

If you need more features, Wix has a range of paid plans starting at $4,50 per month. These plans include access to advanced eCommerce features, SEO tools, and customer support.

Wix sites are helpful for the less experienced and those with a lower budget as they are easy to use, come with a wide range of features, and are perfect for those who don't have any coding experience.

Wix POS

Wix POS is a point-of-sale system that allows you to accept payments and manage your inventory. It's simple to use and lets you process transactions quickly and easily.

Wix POS also comes with a range of features, including the ability to create invoices, track sales and inventory, and manage customer data. You can also use Wix POS to run reports and track your business's performance.

If you're looking for a simple and easy-to-use point-of-sale system, Wix POS is a great option.

Wix Editor

Wix editor is a feature that allows you to easily make changes to your website's content and design. It's simple to use and lets you make changes in real-time, so you can see how your changes will look before you publish them.

The Wix editor comes with a range of features, including the ability to add text, images, and videos, create galleries and slideshows, and design your website's layout. You can also use the editor to add or edit pages, create forms, and manage your site's SEO settings.

Learn more about Wix Editor here.

Wix App Store

The Wix App store is filled with apps that you can download to enhance and customize your Wix online store.

There are numerous free apps that are available for Wix users to benefit from. See here for more free apps on their App Store.

Wix vs. Shopify direct comparison & differences

When it comes to a Wix website and that comparison between Wix vs. Shopify, there are some things to consider.

With Wix eCommerce, Wix users will be elated with the easy setup and drag and drop design function. However, when it comes to scaling or making more serious edits, Wix will unfortunately have a lot to improve upon in comparison to Shopify.

For instance, once you choose a Wix template and go live with it, you can no longer change between templates. A Shopify comparison will prove that on Shopify you can change which theme is live on your store, remove and update to a current theme you prefer. In short, there is a lot more design flexibility with Shopify from the ground up already.

Don't get us wrong, a Wix eCommerce site is incredible for businesses who are starting out, but they will inevitably face software limitations on this website builder.

When it comes to products – on Shopify you can have unlimited products vs. Wix where you can have only 5 products on the free plan, and then unlimited products on a paid plan.

Unlike Wix, Shopify allows its merchants to accept multiple payment methods.

With Shopify, Shopify users have access to a lot more apps than users on the Wix app market.

A Wix site unfortunately does not allow for marketing integration like Shopify. And we know how important marketing is in today's world, from social media integrations on Facebook, Instagram etc. to email marketing.

Analytics and reporting are areas where Wix falls short. This is an important part of information for any business owner who has an online store as it will provide vital bits regarding sales, abandoned carts, how long a customer stays on the website for etc.

One downside for Wix is that Google Analytics is not available on the free or Combo plans. This means that you will not be able to track the website traffic of your online store.

However, it is clear that both Shopify and Wix have their merchants in mind and at heart. Wix supports its users with 24/7 customer support, as does Shopify. They are both excellent eCommerce website builders. However, their target market is just different.

With Wix, you can get a relatively good website builder at a low price. You will not be able to customize much, but you will be online, ready to accept online payments.

Shopify offers more than Wix, as they cater to larger companies too. They have the internal structure and manpower to operate 5 different plans to 5 entirely different sized businesses and companies without a hitch. That goes to show how developed and advanced they are as an eCommerce platform.

Conclusion – So which is the better eCommerce platform?

For the success of your business, it is important that you choose and find the right eCommerce platform for your specific needs. It doesn't help to choose a Shopify Plus plan that starts at $2000 per month, if you do not make the revenue to cover that. Simultaneously, it does not make sense to go with an inexpensive Wix option where your website keeps crashing because you have too many online visitors to support that traffic.

It really depends on your specific eCommerce needs and goals. Shopify offers more comprehensive eCommerce features, but at a higher cost. Wix may be a better option for those on a tighter budget or with simpler eCommerce requirements.

Essentially, when it comes to choosing an eCommerce website builder, you need to ensure that you are going for the one that best suits your businesses needs.

Both Wix and Shopify are great eCommerce website builders.

Balancing that decision between Shopify vs. Wix is highly important.

So do your research and carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Good luck!