Shopify vs WordPress | 9 Crucial Differences To Know in 2024

Having doubts about Shopify vs WordPress?

I get you! It’s a choice many people have doubts about. And I’m here to help you understand the differences, so you can make the choice that’s best for you!

You found the right page. I’ve built and analyzed over 300 websites built with Shopify and WordPress, and I’m here to share my experiences with you.

My work is supported by affiliate commissions. Learn more.

My name is Ralph de Groot. I’m the founder and author at My Codeless Website. Wake me up for a great web design!

Shopify vs WordPress at a glance

1. Two most popular website builders

Shopify and WordPress are the two top-rated website builders on the market. Combined, they have over 400 million websites up and running.

2. Aggressive feature releases

Both Shopify and WordPress have been releasing new features at the speed of light. It’s clear that they’re going head to head to become the most popular website builder. That being said, when one of them releases a popular feature, it won’t be long until the other releases it as well.

3. Main difference between Shopify and WordPress

In a nutshell, the main difference between Shopify and WordPress is that Shopify is designed to help people build their online stores while WordPress isn’t built for eCommerce.

If you want to transform your WordPress into an online store, there are excellent plugins out there to get you started selling online. I recommend WooCommerce for you to try! It’s fantastic and budget-friendly. Trust me. 

4. Incredible templates

WordPress has 8,000+ free themes, while Shopify has only 100 —both free and premium. That being said, I’m sure you’ll find a beautiful one with both of them!

5. Disadvantages Shopify ❌

• Monthly charges pile up  
• No email hosting provided 
• It doesn’t let users post blogs or vlogs (pure eCommerce only) 

6. Disadvantages WordPress ❌

• Requires technical knowledge to use 
• Only offers limited SEO optimizing features 
• It does not provide official support

Installing Shopify or WordPress is actually super easy! Just follow my steps, and you’ll have everything set up in less than 5 minutes. Pinky promise!

I split it up into 2 phases.

Phase 1 is for Shopify, and Phase 2 is for WordPress.

Phase 1 – How to Install Shopify

Step 1: Go to Shopify’s website and try their 14-day Free Trial.

Step 2: Start your free trial by answering the needed information.

Enter your email address, password, and preferred store name. Make sure to think of something catchy to the eyes! 

Step 3: Answer some questions about yourself and your business. 

Step 4: After answering the needed questions, you’ll be redirected to your own Shopify profile. 

Step 5: Add the items you want to sell.

Step 6: Make essential pages for your shop.

Step 7: Choose a theme and personalize your online store.

It’s time to unleash your hidden creativity! 

Step 8: Configure your shipping options.

Step 9: Set up your tax settings.

Step 10: Configure your payment system and rewards.

Step 11: Get your store ready for launch.

Step 12: Open your shop.

Congratulations! It’s time to sell!

Phase 2– How to Install WordPress

I recommend you to set up WordPress with the one-click install by Bluehost.

All you need to do is create a Bluehost account and click ‘install WordPress’.

It’s that easy. Let’s start!

Follow these 4 steps to set up your hosting account:

Step 1: Open the website of Bluehost and click ‘get started’

I arranged a nice 50% discount for your entire hosting plan.

Step 2: Select your hosting plan

Depending on how many websites you’re planning to host, you can select your plan. If you only need to build 1 website, you can select the cheapest one.

Step 3: Find an available domain name.

Here comes the fun part. Play around with the domain name checker and find one that’s available. Click ‘next’ if you found one.

Step 4: Enter your details and confirm the payment.

Now you’ve registered with Bluehost, it’s time to install WordPress. Luckily for you, this is the easiest part. Bluehost offers a one-click install for WordPress.

Here’s what you need to do:

In the control panel on your left side, click ‘My Sites’.

From here you can launch your WordPress website by clicking on ‘Create a site by WordPress.

That’s it. It’s dead easy.

Shopify Templates 

Millions of merchants are trying to expand their operations by using themes created by developers worldwide. The cool thing is, the Shopify Theme Store features over 500 paid and free eCommerce designs for you to explore on. In fact, they are made by well-known designers such as Pixel Union and Clean Themes. 

So… in the end, you’ll surely find one that fits your taste. Whoopee! 

If you’re looking for the best possible theme for your upcoming store, do not hesitate to check out what they offer. 

Check these examples first as a reference: 

Shopify Theme 1 – Dawn

Shopify Theme 2 – Giallo

Shopify Theme 3 – Impulse

Things you should know about Shopify Themes: 

• Shopify has over 100 pre-built themes—both free and premium, allowing you to customize and adjust your work to your liking.

• All Shopify themes are mobile-friendly, which increases your chances of converting on-the-go customers.

• A free Shopify theme is ideal for people who are just getting started selling online. However, in comparison to a premium theme, the layout of a free theme is relatively basic.

If you decide to use a premium template in the future, you may need to contact the developer who made it for assistance and inquiries.

So much trouble if you ask me when there are free themes to choose from. But then again, it’s your preference after all! 

WordPress Templates

Let’s continue with some amazing WordPress examples.

There’s a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to WordPress design language.

If you ask me for a good template example, I’d think of it as a theme recommendation. Pretty confusing, right?!

However, fear not. I’m here to make things clearer.

In WordPress terminology, a theme is the overall design of your website, whereas a template is used to determine the layout of a single page only. 

Overall, they both differ in the number of pages they affect. 

Nonetheless, here are a couple of WordPress theme examples for your reference:

WordPress Theme 1 –  Neve

WordPress Theme 2 – Hestia

Things you should know about WordPress Themes:

• WordPress has thousands of appealing themes, allowing you to customize and adjust your work to your liking.
• No need to worry yourself because WordPress themes are 100% responsive.

• Although most WordPress themes are free, it doesn’t mean that you can’t edit them the way you want. There are literally no limitations. You can customize the theme so that it precisely complements your content.

Winner:

It’s a tie! Both Shopify and WordPress offer templates that can make your mind blown. No matter how many choices they have, there’s one that’s perfect for what you need!

It’s tough to compare the user interface of Shopify and WordPress, as it’s highly dependent on personal preferences.

There will be tons of people who think that Shopify clearly has a better editor. But then again, others will say WordPress wins.

I’ll start comparing the two for you to see the difference: 

The Shopify editor compared to WordPress 

Shopify’s editor is a breeze for its users. Being the #1 eCommerce platform doesn’t prevent you from enjoying it to the fullest. 

Because the interface is comparable to a word document, you shouldn’t have any trouble entering information and images. Even if you do, there is always help available! 

The WordPress Editor compared to Shopify 

Unlike Shopify, WordPress can be a little complicated. Let me explain. 

To begin, you’ll need to know how to code to use the platform. 

The WordPress Editor revolutionizes the way you produce content by using blocks for all standard features like texts, headings, images, etc. Basically, it turns a single document into a group of separate elements with an explicit, straightforward structure. 

Sure, WordPress has a learning curve and can be challenging to use at times. 

However, it is the ideal CMS to construct tremendous and functioning websites without significant expenses and with virtually NO limitations.

Winner: 

It’s Shopify! WordPress’s editor has a learning curve, but you don’t have to master everything all at once. Take baby steps and then progress as your website grows!

Shopify 

Shopify provides a straightforward approach to building an online store without the hassle.

To get started, you just need to establish an account, select a theme, and add your products. 

WordPress, on the other hand, takes a little longer. You must first select a hosting (I personally recommend Bluehost), then install lots of themes and plugins to get started.

WordPress 

WordPress is for the more experienced as it involves coding, plugins, and extensions. The software as a whole necessitates a small amount of technical understanding, or at the very least, the ability to follow basic tutorials. 

Winner: 

Shopify all the way! No one can argue about this. Unlike WordPress, you do not need to know how to code or install any additional software to get started. Dead easy, even if you’re a rookie.

Can you use Shopify or WordPress for eCommerce?

Yes, actually, they’re both perfect for it. Let me show you why.

Let’s start with Shopify.

Is Shopify good for eCommerce?

I mean, come on! It’s already stated on the website that it’s “the platform commerce is built on!”

See? 

Without a doubt, Shopify is trusted by over a million of the world’s most successful enterprises to sell, deliver, and process payments anywhere. 

In fact, it has helped over 1,700,000 businesses in 175 countries earn more than $200 billion in sales. Terrific! 

WordPress

WordPress provides you with all of the tools you need to publish content and sell things from the same platform. You can successfully create a profitable online store and add more plugins to assist you in customizing products, attracting clients, and increasing sales.

With WordPress eCommerce, you can establish a stunning store that matches your needs. Your imagination is the only limit.

Winner: 

Honestly, it’s tough to provide a winner on this subject. 

As previously said, WordPress does not have an eCommerce tool, requiring you to utilize a third-party solution for you to sell. 

As a result, the type of eCommerce capability you’ll get depends on the plugins you choose. Who knows? Your chosen plugin may offer more than what Shopify can give you. 

After all, there are hundreds of eCommerce plugins to choose from. 

Both Shopify and WordPress have a lot of features. Honestly, I can’t think of any feature I would like to add to either one of them.

However, I can imagine you want to know more about what features are included. So here we go.

Shopify

Try Shopify for free and learn about all of the tools and services you’ll need to launch, manage, and improve your business. Check out these awesome features to see what Shopify is capable of:

• Online sales channels

Shopify allows you to sell online through a variety of channels. In fact, each channel is linked to it, allowing you to quickly monitor your goods, purchases, and customers across all platforms.

• Manual order creation

You can generate new orders and provide payment information directly from the Shopify admin. 10/10 for this feature! Very helpful in my opinion.

• Abandoned cart recovery

Customers who leave your store without finishing the checkout process are automatically emailed via abandoned checkout recovery (ACR). Go get that order!

• Finance reports

You can examine an overview of your sales, transactions, and pending sales data by using the financial summary.

• Unlimited bandwidth and online storage

You will not be billed based on the number of online visits to your store or the number of files or photos you upload.

WordPress

Now let’s continue with WordPress.

• Flexibility

You may use WordPress to build any style of website you desire. Themes and various plugins can be used to beautify and enhance your website. You can even create your own application.

• Widget Accessibility Mode

WordPress also includes a widget accessibility option that is hidden by default. This accessibility option allows you to add widgets without having to drag and drop them.

• Basic Image Editing Features

WordPress makes it simple to include images in your posts and pages with its basic image editing features.

• Extraordinary Publishing Tools

WordPress simplifies the management of your content. Feel free to make drafts, schedule publishing, and review post-revisions without worries.

• Intuitive Editor

WordPress’s editor is quick and easy to use, and it supports HTML and Markdown. They save your work every few seconds, ensuring that you never miss a word.

Winner:

Shopify or WordPress? No need to pick if you ask me. Both of them have excellent features that are beyond helpful to users.

Shopify comes out on top for sales-focused businesses looking for an easy-to-use automated e-commerce solution while WordPress is the undisputed champ when it comes to versatility.

Let’s talk about pricing. When comparing Shopify vs. WordPress, price is an essential factor to consider. So, which platform is less expensive and which gives more value?

Let’s take a closer look.

Shopify Pricing

When you use Shopify to build and maintain your online store, you’ll have access to sales channels, versatility, and many website features. The question is, how much does all of this charge you?

Shopify offers 4 main pricing options as of April 2024:

• Basic Shopify — $25 per month
• Shopify — $65 per month
• Advanced Shopify — $399 per month
• Plus — $2300 per month

Shopify’s plans are pricey compared to other eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce.  However, if you’re passionate about creating a successful online store, Shopify is a fantastic platform to help you get there.

WordPress Pricing

Compared to Shopify, WordPress is an open-source that anyone can use for free. However, you may end up spending on domain names,  themes, plugins, and hosting.

Average price for the following:

• Domain name – $15+
• Web Hosting – $2.95+ 
• WordPress Theme – Free or $89+
• Plugins – $70+

Winner:

Overall, Shopify is probably a bit more expensive. Its plans range from $25to $399 per month, and they contain everything you need. WordPress is free to use, but you must pay for hosting, themes, and plugins one by one.

I’m going to keep this short. Both of them are great for SEO. Let me explain why. 

Shopify 

Shopify has a fantastic set of  SEO features that search engines will love. All users will be able to update meta titles/descriptions, set 301 redirects, and alter page URLs, among other things! 

Furthermore, Shopify has various apps and add-ons that will assist you in optimizing your store to ensure its ranking on search engines. A few examples are SEO Doctor, Smart SEO, and SEO Suite. 

WordPress 

WordPress places importance on user experience. 

The good thing is, its themes and plugins work together to make websites presentable, user-friendly, and visually appealing.

As a result, visitors like the experience, and they stay longer on your page. Such great news! 

Today, Google seeks to recognize and promote websites that deliver an outstanding user experience. Luckily, WordPress can assist you in this endeavor.

Winner:

Shopify has better SEO tools than WordPress. Its SEO features are already built-in, and you can also install SEO-specific apps for more advanced functionality.

Shopify 

Shopify Email provides you with the resources you need to build your business, from pre-built layouts to tracking. With no prior experience required, you’ll appear to be an expert right away!

In addition, you can start with no charge at all! You can send up to 2,500 emails every month for free. Shopify makes it simple to get started with email marketing and will support you as you grow. 

WordPress

WordPress helps you establish and develop your online presence with a custom domain and personalized email address. 

To get started with the domain, sign up for a Bluehost account. This will allow you to do the one-click WordPress install, including your email.

If you need more help, you can contact their specialists via email or live chat for assistance. They will assist you with adding a site to your domain or updating your DNS data to make your vision a reality.

Winner:

It’s a close draw! Both of them are good for your email marketing needs. 

Here is a collection of my favorite Wordpress examples.

Definitely have a look at both these examples to better understand what’s possible with each site builder.

Shopify website example – https://packagefreeshop.com/

WordPress website example – https://modpizza.com/

Shopify

Shopify places great importance on customer service. They are available 24/7, and the reaction time is very quick, ensuring that you’re never left in the dark. You can contact them by phone, mail, or webchat. 

WordPress

Simply put, there is no official support for WordPress. You can discover what you’re looking for on the community forum but anticipate the answers to be hit-or-miss and occasionally buried in a sea of comments.

Winner:

100% Shopify! The amount of options to reach Shopify for assistance makes it the clear winner over WordPress.

In this Shopify vs. WordPress review, you can see that WordPress is undoubtedly a more proven and versatile platform than Shopify.

In fact, it has a considerably larger user base and a range of themes/apps to explore on.

However, there are situations when Shopify is the better option, particularly for young enterprises on a tight budget or those who lack web design expertise.

Overall, which one you choose is ultimately determined by your budget and ability level. Both options are good—the end.

Which is faster, Shopify or WordPress?

For me, it’s Shopify. Its web pages load in just 309 milliseconds, which is excellent as it is ideal for any website. As a result, it provides an amazing overall user experience due to its rapid response times.

Is Shopify better than WordPress?

It depends on various factors. Sometimes, WordPress is better, but most of the time, it’s Shopify.  If you’re new to website creation, I’d say that Shopify is the easier option.

Which is cheaper, Shopify or WordPress?

It depends on the setup you want. WordPress can be less expensive than Shopify if you are willing to use the free themes, plugins, and low-cost shared hosting.

If you want it to look more professional, it can be more costly because of the expenses. Choose wisely!