The success of Shopify and its seeming ease of use has made it almost the default for a lot of people who want to start an eCommerce website. While the platform does have many benefits, you should also know that it has many limitations and that there may be better options for you out there. One of them is WordPress.
Hosting your website on WordPress instead could give you many of the platform’s benefits of Shopify but without its downsides, and you should learn what the benefits of WordPress are before you rush to a hosted platform. Let’s take a look at why you should consider running your site on WordPress instead of Shopify.
You’ll Have More Creative Freedom
One of the biggest benefits of WordPress websites is that there are virtually no limits to what you can do with them. Shopify sites will not allow you to go as deep into the code and customise your site as much. Your site will always have to look like a Shopify site, and you will not be able to go as crazy with the design, which could be frustrating for you.
If you want something more original, consider the development of a WordPress website with the help of a professional. They will be able to build a website that will feel like your own, and you’ll be able to make site-wide changes just as fast as you would on Shopify by using alternative themes.
Easy to Manage
Managing a WordPress website is just as easy as managing a Shopify one. You have extensions like WooCommerce that will provide you with a clean interface so you can manage orders, and it’s just as user-friendly as any other hosted platform. So, don’t assume that managing your site will be more complicated.
It’s Much Cheaper
One of the things many people are surprised by when they use Shopify is how expensive it can get. Sure, their packages look nice when you first look at them, but that’s before you realise that every little extension and feature you want to add to your site will cost you money.
You could end up having to pay simply to improve your site’s SEO or manage returns. And the costs can make a huge difference at the end of the month, so this is another thing you’ll need to account for when looking at both options.
You’ll Have More Control Over Your Site’s Destiny
It’s important to realise that your site will remain on Shopify’s servers forever if you decide to build a website on the platform. This means that you could have issues if you want to sell your website later on or feel like you would be better served with a self-hosted solution.
Now that you know a bit more about the advantages that WordPress has over Shopify, you’ll be able to evaluate both options more accurately. Don’t hesitate to get as many opinions as possible from users of both, and take your expertise, future objectives, and budget into consideration before you make a decision.