Ecommerce Platforms Compared – Wix vs Shopify

In the battle of the ecommerce platforms, you either reign supreme or you come in a second best. In the world of online retail, being the best is the only way to cater to the largest customer database. Two of the largest platforms offering a gateway to e-commerce are- Wix and Shopify. In simple words, they’re your top online shop builders.

Unlike brick and mortar retail stores, online outlets need a lot of different complicated pieces of software and hardware to function in the best possible way. Who hasn’t had an experience with a horribly set up website? Well, if you’re a business owner looking to expand to the interwebs, then you don’t want to be that website.

Choosing a good ecommerce platform provider can mean the difference between a successful business or a flatlined one. So here’s a quick comparison between Wix and Shopify- to help you choose best.

Basics and Background

Now that we know the internet has penetrated so many users, setting up a website of your own is now easier than ever. It’s also now more profitable than ever- you’ll find many options to choose from when you set out to look for a company to help you with that. Here is where Wix and Shopify differ- they are all-inclusive ecommerce builders!

This means you don’t need the coding skills of a software developer to have a website up and running! Neither do you need the creative skills of a designer. Although there is a whole spectrum to choose from- these two companies fall on the end where they provide you everything you could need to have a website ready. And when it comes to your own website or page- there are no hard and fast rules. There is no objective or absolute best choice.

Specifically- between Shopify and Wix- one thing sets them apart more than anything else. While Shopify is specifically an ecommerce platform developer- Wix is a website builder that comes with ecommerce capability. Now, to know which one works for you, you need only try the free trial from both these providers and see. However, on a scale, this puts Shopify higher as an advanced and more effective tool, whereas Wix wins in the easy-to-use and modify department.

Points of Comparison

If this were making a comparison between two ecommerce platform providers, it would be easier. But Shopify’s target group are store owners looking for an online wing or some form of business development or extension online; whereas Wix just about targets everyone who ever thought of owning a website. Here are different ways the two can be compared-

Pricing

This is a lot like an apple and oranges situation- because on the face of things they couldn’t get simpler. Wix’s most expensive plan at 25 USD per month and Shopify’s cheapest plan at 29 USD per month- are both telling points. But the comparison at this point is slightly unfair.

Of course, you get more on Shopify’s cheapest plan, than you would on the most expensive one Wix has to offer. For a basic website- they both work, but it’s more about how many features, and which specific ones you need to fulfill your purpose of setting up a website.

User Compatibility and Experience

A standard that all webstore builders offer website developers is a zero curve in learning point. Meaning, they want to make the process of your dream website a reality- without you having to struggle to understand the whats and the hows. Onboarding is the process of getting a customer past the point of; ‘okay what do I do now?’.

In this department, Shopify and Wix both work slightly differently. Shopify has a fast and short sign-up to website launch process. At this point, customer support is focused on getting your website live as quickly as possible. But, there are features and technical options that need to be attended to and customized- and this might come off as daunting. These include offline inventory set up and platform for customized payments etc. These features also take up front and centre stage- as opposed to the website set up which comes second.

Wix is fast. For a basic website builder, you get a customizable and intuitive approach. But if you have a specific clear version in mind- the learning curve will be steep. Their general approach means that you’ll have to struggle to find the specific ecommerce features you’re looking for.

Ecommerce Features

There are some core features that make up an ecommerce store, specifically-

• A display and database of all products
• Shopping cart
• A checkout software/page
• A software for payment processing
• A database of all orders

If you have these down, you have an ecommerce store. Of course, now there are more customizations- with the options to sync your software with marketing function features or simply selling via Facebook messaging etc. Coupon codes and synchronization of inventories and orders are other very important feature lately. And this is still not all.

The more you want to expand and grow- the more options you’ll need. In this regard, Shopify reigns supreme amongst ecommerce platforms without doubt. They even have a specific app store that will link you and your business to any app you would like to enhance your store functionality. Wix will help you sell, but you’ll find it hard to fit in all of these ecommerce demands that might rise depending on your growth and outreach. It’s a no brainer for amateurs and those looking to test the waters with ecommerce. If you’re serious about your venture, however, SHopify is the best way forward.