In the event you’re a web-based retailer proprietor, you’ll know the way vital it’s to have a web-based platform that meets your wants and helps your small business thrive. Whether or not you’re simply beginning your ecommerce journey or need to swap to a unique web site builder, it’s good to perform a little research earlier than attempting out a brand new platform.
On this article, we’ll evaluate two of the most well-liked ecommerce platforms—Wix and Shopify. You’ll discover details about prices, design choices, advertising options, and way more.
Let the battle of platforms start!
Wix vs. Shopify at a look
In the event you personal a web-based retailer, each Wix and Shopify will be just right for you, however there are nuances. Earlier than moving into the nitty-gritty particulars of our Wix vs. Shopify comparability, let’s take a fast take a look at every platform to see what sort of sellers these ecommerce websites are finest suited to.
What’s Wix?
Wix is a web-based platform that means that you can create knowledgeable web site shortly and with none technical information. Wix customers can add an ecommerce performance to their web sites and construct their very own on-line shops. Wix is simple to make use of and presents a ton of templates in your web site design. Because it’s a hosted platform, you gained’t have to fret about shopping for a website title or getting SSL encryption in your web site.
Supply: Wix
Who’s Wix finest for?
Wix is finest for creators whose most important objective is to construct a content-rich web site and showcase their work whereas doing ecommerce on the aspect. Because it wasn’t constructed initially as an ecommerce instrument, Wix is an extremely versatile platform for anybody wishing to have a web-based presence.
What’s Shopify?
Shopify is an ecommerce platform that enables customers to construct, handle, and scale their enterprise on-line. As a devoted ecommerce instrument, it presents highly effective gross sales options, many integration choices, and a powerful buyer help system for its customers.
Supply: Shopify
Who’s Shopify finest for?
Shopify is finest for people who find themselves genuinely keen about entrepreneurship and need to construct a worthwhile enterprise with a powerful model. If, for instance, you’re a dropshipping enterprise proprietor and also you’re searching for a platform in your best-selling print-on-demand merchandise, Shopify might be an ideal match for you.
Wix vs. Shopify: an in-depth comparability
Earlier than you select a brand new platform, it’s vital to outline your wants. What’s most vital for you? Is it pricing? A user-friendly interface? Perhaps you’re searching for nice advertising options to advertise your trending products. Realizing your must-haves will make it simpler so that you can select the best platform in your on-line retailer.
On this part, we’ll evaluate Wix and Shopify in seven classes: ease of use, prices, design options, apps and integrations, fee processing, buyer help choices, and advertising options.
Ease of use
The ecommerce web site you select ought to be intuitive and straightforward to make use of so that you simply don’t have to spend so much of time determining handle it. Each Wix and Shopify are a number of the most user-friendly platforms within the business, however every has its variations.
One key distinction is that Wix was created as an internet site builder that additionally presents ecommerce performance. Shopify, however, has all the time been a devoted ecommerce platform used for retailer constructing. You’ll get extra highly effective gross sales options with Shopify however a extra versatile website-building capability with Wix.
The Wix editor is a handy instrument that means that you can drag and drop parts into your web site with out having to change from the frontend to backend always. If you make a change, you’ll see what it appears like in real-time.
Shopify additionally presents a user-friendly retailer editor that doesn’t take too lengthy to get used to. It doesn’t have a drag-and-drop function, so that you’ll have to leap from the editor to your web site to see the adjustments. However in the event you’re a newbie, you may discover the Shopify web site builder simpler to navigate and fewer overwhelming than the Wix editor.
Wix or Shopify: who’s the winner?
On this spherical of Wix vs. Shopify, the winner is . . . everyone! This one is a tie—each platforms are beginner-friendly, and also you don’t want any tech information to get your retailer up and working.
Prices
When selecting a brand new platform, one of many first questions you’ll most likely have is: “How a lot will it price?” That’ll be particularly vital in the event you intention to promote dropshipping products with high-profit margins to construct a worthwhile on-line retailer. Pricing might be a key consider your determination, so let’s discover what sort of charges you’ll need to pay with Wix and Shopify.
Each Shopify and Wix provide brief free trials—you’ll get a 3-day free trial with Shopify and a 14-day free trial with Wix. Wix presents a free plan as effectively, however it has very restricted options. For instance, your web site could have Wix branding, and ecommerce performance gained’t be accessible.
If you wish to begin a Wix on-line retailer, you’ll need to improve to a paid plan. Wix presents three paid plans for ecommerce companies—Core ($27/month), Enterprise ($32/month), and Enterprise Elite ($159/month), in addition to a separate Enterprise plan. All plans embrace primary options, like a customized area, no Wix web site branding, and 24/7 buyer help.
Shopify additionally presents three plans for on-line companies: Fundamental, Shopify, and Superior. After finishing the free trial, you possibly can entry these Shopify plans for simply $1/month for the primary 3 months. Nevertheless, in comparison with Wix, these are pricier—Shopify Fundamental begins at $29/month, the Shopify plan is $79/month, and the Superior Shopify plan is $299/month.
Supply: Shopify
Whereas the plans you get on Shopify will include stronger gross sales options, Wix might be cheaper in the long term. Plus, Shopify will cost further transactional charges in the event you use different fee gateways than Shopify Funds. In contrast to Shopify, Wix doesn’t cost further charges for not utilizing its in-house fee system.
Wix or Shopify: who’s the winner?
On this spherical of Wix vs. Shopify, the winner is Wix. The plans Shopify presents have nice superior options and are a sensible choice for skilled enterprise house owners searching for scalability. Nevertheless, general, Wix pricing is extra inexpensive, and also you’ll get the most effective worth in your cash.
Web site design options
To make gross sales, your web site has to look skilled and engaging to prospects. Let’s check out the design choices each Wix and Shopify provide to see the way you’ll be capable to customise your ecommerce retailer.
Wix will provide you with plenty of flexibility in the case of web site design. It has 800+ free templates, all of that are mobile-friendly. Many patrons browse shops on their cell phones, so in case your web site isn’t adjustable for cellular, you could be shedding out on gross sales.
Supply: Wix
Nevertheless, the draw back is that not all Wix templates are constructed for ecommerce. The truth is, out of 800+ Wix themes, Wix presents solely 132 templates particularly meant for on-line shops.
The variety of themes Shopify presents is smaller—you’ll have entry to 12 free and 160 paid themes, however most themes include styling choices to provide you extra customization selections. The costs for the paid themes vary from $150 to $390. Whereas Shopify pricing for these themes is kind of excessive, it’s a one-time funding that may considerably improve the looks and performance of your Shopify retailer.
Supply: Shopify
A serious plus is that every one Shopify themes are created with ecommerce options in thoughts. These themes even have huge customization choices, both by putting in numerous Shopify apps or via coding when you have the mandatory know-how.
Wix or Shopify: who’s the winner?
In our view, Shopify takes this spherical. Shopify’s themes will provide you with extra customization choices and higher options to construct a strong on-line enterprise with the potential to develop. However if you wish to create a content-centric web site, you’ll most likely discover Wix extra helpful. On the finish of the day, it’s actually all the way down to your individual wants—that’s why it’s so vital to determine what you need earlier than selecting your platform.
Apps and integrations
It’s virtually inconceivable to run ecommerce shops on platforms like Shopify and Wix with out apps and integrations. These present vital options for your small business, like advertising instruments or fee gateways.
The Wix App retailer presents over 800 apps. Whereas most Wix apps aren’t ecommerce-specific, Wix does help integrations with the most well-liked third-party ecommerce instruments, together with Printful. In the event you plan to promote custom t-shirts or different attire, a printing supplier like Printful might be extraordinarily vital. Check out this guide in the event you’re new to dropshipping, and take a look at our tutorial on join your Wix retailer to your Printful account.
Supply: Wix
The Shopify App Retailer, however, presents a powerful 8000+ apps and integrations, all centered on ecommerce companies. This offers Shopify a significant benefit over the Wix App Market. With such a big selection, you’ll discover instruments that can assist you with social media advertising, Shopify web optimization (SEO), delivery, web site visitors evaluation, and extra. In brief—you title it, Shopify has it.
Like Wix, Shopify additionally integrates with Printful, permitting you to sync orders robotically. Right here’s a tutorial on join your Shopify retailer to Printful.
Wix or Shopify: who’s the winner?
Wix provides you entry to the integrations and apps you might want to create a strong web site. Nevertheless, a significant downside is that many of those aren’t ecommerce-specific.
Shopify presents extra choices to select from, and the instruments it supplies are all constructed particularly for on-line companies. For that reason, in the case of apps and integrations for on-line enterprise, Shopify is the clear winner.
Assist
The world of ecommerce isn’t excellent—you’re certain to come across issues and technical points. That’s why it’s vital to verify if the platform of your selection has good buyer help. buyer help system could have a number of communication channels and supply loads of sources for some primary troubleshooting.
Each Wix and Shopify have nice buyer help techniques in place. Wix presents 24/7 stay chat help, in addition to e-mail and cellphone help. The Wix Assist Middle is extremely detailed, too, with a user-friendly interface and useful screenshots. One other beneficial buyer help function is the Wix web site in-editor Assist part, which lets you seek for assist with out leaving the web site editor.
Moreover, in the event you’re battling something specifically and have further funds, you possibly can rent knowledgeable that can assist you with all issues Wix ecommerce.
Supply: Wix
You’ll discover most of the identical options with Shopify, with a couple of key variations. The Shopify web site presents 24/7 stay chat and 24/7 cellphone and e-mail help. Identical to Wix, it additionally has a really informative Assist Middle and on-line communities so that you can discover solutions to issues from different sellers.
Nevertheless, a draw back is that the Shopify Assist Middle isn’t as simple to navigate. Because it doesn’t use footage or screenshots, it’s not all the time simple to shortly discover what you want.
Supply: Shopify
Wix or Shopify: who’s the winner?
This isn’t a simple selection by any means, however Wix takes this spherical. Its sources are extra user-friendly and straightforward to observe. Plus, the web site in-editor Assist part is a superb instrument that helps you as you’re working, so that you don’t have to leap forwards and backwards from the Assist Middle. General, whereas Shopify has a stellar buyer help system, Wix takes the lead right here.
Fee processing
Opening on-line shops is all about getting cash, proper? So you need to be certain that your prospects pays in your merchandise simply, shortly, and safely. That’s why it’s vital that your platform integrates with the most well-liked fee processing techniques.
In the event you’re beginning a Wix enterprise, you’ll be capable to provide your prospects all the normal fee gateways—PayPal, Stripe, Sq., Klarna, or use its personal in-house fee system, Wix Funds.
A giant benefit with Wix is that there are not any further transaction charges in the event you select a fee processing system apart from Wix Funds. Plus, the Wix in-house fee system presents a further 40+ fee choices, together with Google Pay and Apple Pay. Yow will discover extra information about Wix fee choices here.
Supply: Wix
Shopify retailers have entry to over 100 fee processing techniques and its personal in-house system, Shopify Funds.
Utilizing a fee system apart from Shopify Funds means you’ll need to pay transaction charges. However Shopify comes with plenty of robust fee options that’ll make your life simpler. For instance, Shopify’s low cost system is extra superior—you possibly can provide reductions in percentages as an alternative of a particular sum of money, like Wix.
Shopify, not like Wix, additionally permits funds in a number of currencies, making enterprise simpler for sellers trying to develop globally.
Supply: Shopify
Final however not least, Shopify has a extra sturdy POS (point-of-sale) system than Wix. Even with the Fundamental Shopify plan, you possibly can entry a POS system with robust options that mean you can promote in particular person anyplace on the earth. In the meantime, Wix shops are restricted to the US and Canada solely.
Wix or Shopify: who’s the winner?
The Shopify ecommerce options give it a slight edge over Wix by way of fee techniques. Shopify’s low cost system is extra superior, the fee choices are extra versatile, and also you’ll have a neater time promoting internationally. All these benefits make Shopify the winner of this spherical.
Prepared, set, go!
Which is the most effective ecommerce platform? It relies upon completely in your wants. In the event you intention to construct a powerful on-line retailer that’ll develop into a big enterprise, the Shopify web site will provide you with extra options geared in direction of that objective.
Nevertheless, in the event you’re an artist or a author primarily centered on creating an internet site to showcase your work, with solely a secondary curiosity in promoting merchandise, Wix is the higher selection. It’ll provide a lot of the identical options as Shopify however with a spotlight which may align extra intently along with your targets.
In the event you want extra assist selecting a platform in your on-line enterprise or the rest ecommerce-related, take a look at the Printful Blog. Or, in the event you’re searching for fast tutorials and informative movies, ensure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Good luck along with your ecommerce journey!
