Which is Better for Ecommerce: Shopify or a Custom Website?

Shopify vs Custom Website, What is better? If you haven’t yet entered the eCommerce space then now might be the right time to get started. And if you are over the fence about whether to go for Shopify or have a personal website designed. Then this article is definitely for you.

E-commerce stores are practically exploding all over the place as a result of the expansion of e-commerce businesses. Despite the COVID pandemic having a significant negative impact on a number of industries, eCommerce has developed rapidly over time. Another piece of evidence is the over 150 percent rise in online retail orders in the US and Canada. E-commerce businesses will be present on every (virtual) corner by the year 2020. And since there are more e-commerce businesses, there are also many template websites available like Shopify.

If you run an online store or are thinking about starting one, you’ve probably heard of Shopify. This is undoubtedly one of the most famous eCommerce template websites. It’s also an excellent choice for an ecommerce all types of businesses, if you need to get up and running quickly or if your online store doesn’t require a lot of customization.

However, if your store has unique requirements or you want a website that can grow with your business as it evolves, a built-for-you, custom commerce solution is a fantastic option. In light of the discussion between Shopify vs custom-built websites that was just mentioned, we will help you decide which strategy to employ when running your online business in this piece.

What is an eCommerce Website? 

There is a big debate about Shopify vs Custom Website and which is better suited for eCommerce business. We will discuss that but before this let’s understand what an eCommerce website is.

An eCommerce website primarily assists customers in browsing and purchasing products online. The website will include a payment portal, order fulfilment services, and a list of your goods & services. E-commerce websites enable customers and businesses to purchase and sell to one another on a specific platform, much like a conventional physical retail store. However, the major distinction between e-commerce and physical commerce is that e-commerce transactions take place fully online as opposed to at a physical location.

E-commerce is the general term for online sales of products or services. E-commerce, in its most basic form, is the electronic transmission of money and data between two or more parties. Since its birth in the 1960s with electronic data interchange and the advent of online purchasing in the 1990s, this type of business has undergone significant evolution.

Due to consumers being able to shop from almost anywhere thanks to the proliferation of smartphones in recent years, e-commerce has seen tremendous growth. In fact, according to industry analysts, just mobile e-commerce will top $284 billion in 2020.

There have been numerous discussions on this topic comparing owning a website to using Shopify. Both have advantages and disadvantages, as well as numerous factors to consider before making a final decision. Shopify, on the other hand, is a favourite among online entrepreneurs because it allows you to create an e-commerce website in minutes without any coding knowledge.

Shopify vs Custom Website: The Key Difference

The primary objective of a website is where the two diverge most significantly.

Shopify is a SaaS product made to assist business owners in creating an online store. There are currently more than a million businesses developed on this wildly successful platform, according to its most recent Economic Impact Report. While with your own website, you can utilize it in the meantime to make sales, publish blogs, offer entertainment, etc.

So, which one is best for you and your company is the lingering question.

The choice between Shopify vs Custom websites continues to be an ongoing debate, and we recognize how challenging this inquiry can be. But don’t worry, we’ve put together some excellent information to assist you to choose if an off-the-shelf website or a solution that is specifically designed for you and your company will work best for you. To make it simpler for comparison, we will only concentrate on the eCommerce perspective to assist you in making a well-informed choice regarding the online business venture you have in front of you.

What is Shopify and How Does it Work? 

One of the most well-liked online store options available is Shopify. Its main advantage? You can easily create a useful online store with it for a very low cost. And I’m not talking about just any online retailer—I’m referring to a product of exceptional quality. something that functions and appears to have been made by a professional.

Owners of Shopify stores who want to increase sales on the platform want a top-notch Shopify search engine optimization (SEO) plan supported by cutting-edge technology. Your brand must be noticeable and distinguish itself from your rivals given the increase in online transactions, and SEO is the best way to do this.

First off, Shopify is more than just an online store. Shopify professionals refer to it as software-as-a-service, however, most people would recognize it as an online store builder or a point-of-sale (POS) for offline transactions (SaaS). It indicates that Shopify charges a price to its users to use its technology.

Shopify is a well-known eCommerce platform that has everything you could possibly want or need for your online store. With the help of an online editor embedded right into the safe eCommerce software, you can quickly and easily construct new pages for your eCommerce website, expand your customer base by including local language support and personalize online stores. More than 500,000 businesses in 175 countries are powered by this platform. For eCommerce business owners who want to maximize their online store, it is a one-stop shop. The greatest eCommerce platform is Shopify for a plethora of reasons.

By signing up with Shopify, customers can create an online store, manage inventory, handle payments, complete orders, and much more. Your online store’s style and feel (referred to as themes) can be customized, and tools (or applications) can be used to add functionality. You have two options for your Shopify site: you can either start from scratch or ask a Shopify agency to move your current site.

You can get set up quickly and start increasing your income with the assistance of Shopify professionals and Shopify SEO advice.

Best Shopify Features   

• Blog, online store, and website are all completely customizable
• Unlimited customer data, product inventory, and bandwidth
• Selling on emerging e-commerce platforms like Pinterest and Amazon
• Support for all widely used payment gateways
• Utilize third-party shipping software to automate your fulfillment process.
• 24/7 award-winning client assistance

Shopify Pricing

Shopify employs a tiered pricing structure. Three tiers are present. A month’s supply of the fundamental costs $29 dollars. The mid-range plan costs $79 per month, while the advanced plan costs $299. The more sophisticated Shopify tire has additional advantages such as lower transaction and card processing fees, more complex reporting capabilities, and employee accounts. To find out which one is best for your unique needs, compare the features and advantages that each offer. But keep in mind that because this is a monthly payment, you can wind up spending more money overall than with a solution that is specifically tailored to your needs. To learn why Shopify may cost more than you anticipate, see our post.

Is a Custom-built Website More Suitable for Your Business?  

While pre-made websites like Shopify may offer a little more comfort and convenience, personalized eCommerce solutions are incredibly configurable and offer all the possibilities you could possibly desire. Additionally, these configurable features enable your website to expand along with your company. You know, some companies just won’t function well with a template website for their Shopify store because as their company expands, so do their needs, sometimes to the point where they outgrow what a platform like Shopify can provide. A custom-built website, however, can simply adapt to your expanding business’s needs. In this manner, you are prepared for success right from the start.  

What does the process involve?

Custom websites typically take longer to complete than standard eCommerce platforms. This is because the process involves learning about the target market, marketing plan, functionality, and design of the website. Additionally, in order to completely administer your website, you must choose your own hosting company or use some third-party plugins. As a result, custom websites typically take longer to complete than standard eCommerce platforms.

Custom Solution Pricing

In contrast to a site built with Shopify, a custom website will cost much more. Depending on the

tools you’ll need, it could cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or more. The design, construction, and upkeep of the website will come at a cost. The additional work required will raise the expenses if order fulfillment, payment processing, and customer service are included.

It’s challenging to provide a precise price breakdown because the extent of customization your site will require will depend on the demands of your organization. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that while the initial setup cost of a tailored-for-you website may appear higher, a well-made, custom solution will be less expensive and will essentially pay for itself over time. Additionally, if your company qualifies for a custom-built website, it will boost sales and bring in more money for your company.

Shopify vs Custom Website: Which is Better?

• Starting up with ease

Starting with Shopify is easier for practically everyone than creating a store from scratch. While the same cannot be said about building your own custom site. With extensive feature offerings like, Easy Drag and Drop Features in Web Builder, 100+ payment gateways, mobile commerce compatibility, multiple languages endless bandwidth. Shopify enables its users to construct comprehensive websites without any prior understanding of website development. The reason for this is that Shopify handles all the technical aspects on their behalf. As a result, adopting Shopify expedites the process of creating a website and aids in the speedy launch of your store.

While on the other hand, starting one’s own commerce website would require extensive knowledge in coding, or you would need to hire a developer to do that for you.

• Availability of domains and hosting

With Shopify, businesses don’t have to bother about purchasing new domains or locating hosting companies. You can purchase a unique domain or get a free.myshopify.com one.  But when using a self-hosted solution to build your own store, you’ll need a web developer as well as hosting and domain services like ‘GoDaddy’.

• Content Management System platform

With the help of Shopify’s pre-built eCommerce templates, retailers may easily change the appearance of their stores at any moment. Additionally, it offers you a separate analytics dashboard that provides data you can use to guide any upcoming marketing plans.

Creating your own website is a great way to control your content and layout. However, you’ll need to think about installing a CMS (content management system) in order to manage everything. Additionally, you might need to install a plugin with eCommerce capabilities in order to give your online store the flexibility it needs.

• Website theme and design

Retailers can choose from a wide range of themes in the Shopify Theme Store to match the appearance of their ideal online presence. Themes for Shopify were naturally created with online shopping in mind. The vast majority of mobile-friendly, responsive, and speed-optimized site design are beneficial to sellers.

However, if you choose to build a bespoke store, it will take more time and effort to choose the right theme. Verify when studying whether it has respectable ratings, active users, and a flexible store design that can be tailored to your audience’s values.

Shopify vs Custom-built website– How do you know which one is right for your business?

Running an internet business involves much more than just setting up and maintaining an e-commerce website. Additionally, you’ll need to develop marketing channels and offer clients interesting content. The ability to design a website specifically for you and your needs sets custom solutions apart from pre-built websites like Shopify. So, if your online business requires:

• Particular demands
• Presents a unique product
• Focuses on a very particular market
• Then a site that is specifically designed for you will likely be advantageous.

While custom sites may require more time and effort, template options such as Shopify allow you to get your site up and running quickly and with greater ease. A built-for-you custom site, on the other hand, will provide you with far more functionality and options to help your business grow, making it an excellent long-term investment.

So, in this discussion of Shopify vs personal website, the final choice will rely on your company’s requirements. While Shopify is a fantastic platform that enables you to get started right away if you plan to list goods and services. You would need help from a seasoned web developer for the additional features required for your custom-made business website.

Final Thought

Shopify vs custom website solution continues to be the burning question that was hopefully answered in this comparison of Shopify vs. Custom-built Websites. While there is no right or incorrect answer because it all relies on your demands and business needs.

Shopify is undoubtedly the solution if you are new to the eCommerce industry and are looking for a simple way to open your online store as soon as possible. But a custom-built website store is a terrific option, nevertheless, if you’re an ambitious merchant seeking originality and freedom in customization in the long run. But keep in mind to look for a helpful platform that can aid in your eCommerce endeavors.

There is no right or wrong answer about whether Shopify is better than your own website.  But after all the Shopify vs personal website comparisons, at the end of the day, only you are the one to make the right choice for your business. But, if you still feel perplexed or overwhelmed by your options, or if you have decided to partner with Shopify but are not sure where to begin, we can help.

At Webuters, we have a committed team of certified experts to help you ensure success for your business with the best possible solutions. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you grow your business.