Pros and Cons of Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms on the market. Shopify makes it relatively easy to set up an online store without any coding experience, using templates and drag-and-drop tools to simplify the process. There are numerous advantages to using Shopify for businesses of any size, including ease of use, an extensive app store of third-party features, and 24/7 customer support. Like any other product, though, Shopify has a few flaws worth considering before jumping into a subscription. This blog post covers the pros and cons of Shopify to help eCommerce businesses make the right decision.

Pros of Shopify

The advantages of using Shopify for your eCommerce store primarily relate to how easy it is to use, though there are other benefits as well.

1. User-Friendliness

Shopify is super easy to start using, even for those without any eCommerce or web development experience. Onboarding and setup take very little time if you’re just looking for basic functionality, with a wizard to walk you through the entire process. Shopify provides a wide variety of templates (called themes) that businesses can use to alter the look and feel of their stores, as well as simple drag-and-drop tools for additional customization. The user interface is also intuitive and easy to navigate.

2. Customer Support

For those who do need help using the platform, Shopify offers 24/7 customer support for even basic subscriptions. Customers can get assistance from a real human through a variety of channels, depending on their plan, including live chat, email, and phone. There’s also a thriving, helpful online community of fellow users who have experienced the same issues, as well as an FAQ for those who prefer to solve problems on their own. 

3. Apps and Integrations

Shopify has a robust store of over 8,000 third-party applications to extend the functionality of its eCommerce platform. While this list can feel overwhelming, Shopify narrows it down by automatically recommending apps that are popular with stores like yours. Some examples of the additional features available in the app store include email marketing, online chat, tax automation, cookie consent capture, and translation into other languages. Shopify also easily integrates with many third-party software providers and social media platforms, enabling a seamless connected experience.

4. Enhanced Payment Solutions

Shopify connects to a range of enhanced payment processing solutions to give eCommerce businesses greater flexibility. In addition to supporting credit card and PayPal payments, Shopify also allows buy-now-pay-later options like Afterpay and Affirm. Shopify even provides a free card reader for those needing to accept in-person payments. Plus, the Shopify app store includes additional functionality like the ability to accept international merchant payments. 

5. SEO and Marketing Support

The Shopify platform includes control over important search engine optimization (SEO) elements, such as meta descriptions, page titles, headings, and alt text. Those with some coding knowledge can also edit the store’s backend to set 301 redirects and select which URLs can be crawled by Google and other search engines. The app store also includes third-party tools such as Yoast SEO that offer even greater control, with an entire dashboard for monitoring SEO. Shopify’s marketing features, available both natively and in the app store, include the ability to track campaigns, view marketing analytics, create blogs and forms, and conduct email marketing campaigns. 

6. Security

Shopify’s hosting practices and industry-leading security protocols ensure the safety of all customer transactions. Shopify self-hosts all its own infrastructure, which means all data is kept in-house rather than being sent to a third party. Its secure backend protects payment processing according to regulatory compliance standards, and modern encryption protects data transfers to and from third-party apps. Shopify also deploys speedy updates to patch any security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

7. Suitable for Any Size Business

Shopify offers plans and features targeted to businesses of any size, from individual sellers to large enterprises. Even the Basic plan, which is designed for solo entrepreneurs, supports growth by allowing unlimited products, 10 inventory locations, and localized global selling in up to 3 markets. This scales all the way up to the Plus plan, which supports 200 inventory locations, localized global selling in up to 50 markets, and wholesale/B2B selling. These capabilities mean that businesses that invest in Shopify while they’re small can grow with their eCommerce solution rather than needing to replace it down the line.

Cons of Shopify

No software solution is without its downsides. As powerful and convenient as the Shopify platform is, there are a few disadvantages to consider before making a decision.

1. Price

Shopify can be a little expensive, especially for new businesses with small overhead budgets. The basic plan starts at $39 per month (or $29 per month if you pay for a year upfront), with many companies paying between $300 and $3,000 per month, which is a little more than comparable plans from some competing platforms. Additionally, most site themes and third-party apps are not free, with prices that can vary widely. Shopify also offers less favorable card rates to lower-tiered plans, which can cause the costs to add up quickly. Overall, it’s important to analyze these costs and determine which pricing plan offers the most value based on your business’s size and requirements.

2. Proprietary Coding Language

While it’s definitely possible to use Shopify effectively without ever touching the underlying code, thanks to the intuitive drag-and-drop setup, many businesses will want to customize their stores beyond what’s available through the frontend interface. Shopify provides access to the front end template code for additional customization, but that code is written in Liquid, a proprietary programming language used only by Shopify. That means even experienced developers will need to take the time to learn a new coding language before they can begin working on the backend. 

3. Difficulty Leaving

Shopify, like most other eCommerce platforms, uses something known as a “lock-in” feature that prevents its users from transferring their stores to another provider. Businesses can’t download design files, source code, and other critical data to another platform – they’re limited to a CSV file containing product details. That means, once you’ve committed to Shopify and created your store, you’ll have to completely start from scratch if you’re unhappy with the service and want to leave. 

When is Shopify the Right Choice?

Ultimately, whether or not Shopify is the best solution for you depends on the nature and requirements of your business. The strongest use case for Shopify is a straightforward eCommerce B2C store. Its ease of use and robust app store make it a great fit for this style of business. However, large B2B distributors, where, for example, customers may negotiate specific prices for each SKU or ship items to different addresses, may have a difficult time integrating the necessary functionality into Shopify. 

Discuss Pros and Cons of Shopify with an Expert

Choosing the right eCommerce platform can make or break your business, and vendor lock-in makes this an even higher-stakes decision. Before you pull the trigger, consult with the eCommerce experts at Atwix for help analyzing your requirements, deciding between vendors, and choosing a subscription plan. We can also help you through every stage of the development and integration process with the Liquid programming expertise needed to create a completely customized experience for your customers. 

Reach out for more Shopify assistance from Atwix.