Ecwid vs Shopify: Which Is Better to Start An Online Store?

technologhy
May 16, 2024
12M
Alice Pham

We are now living in the age of digital commerce, and online shopping platforms are one of the key factors for entreprenеurs around the world to do business. Along with the obvious things like the quality of the services and products offered, entrepreneurs now also have to worry about the right platforms for their businesses. With the spread of eCommerce and the rapid development of technology, it is extremely important to choose the right platform that will best meet the goals of a particular business and entreprеneur.  

One of the choices that entrepreneurs face is the choice between Ecwid and Shopify. Both platforms offer different solutions for creating and managing online stores, but they also have their differences, and each has its advantages. Therefore, you should not just navigate but also know the features of each of them to understand both the benefits and drawbacks in comparison of Ecwid vs Shopify, and then make the right choice for your business.

To understand what is the best choice for you as an entrepreneur, and whether the Ecwid is better than Shopify or not, you need to be well-vеrsed in the ins and outs of each platform. So, let's get started!

Ecwid: Overview and Features Review

Ecwid is an online storefront platform that is known for its extensive functionality and ease of use. It allows entrepreneurs to quickly launch and manage their online business without investing heavily in web development. 

  • Versatility and Possibility of integration

One of the main advantages of Ecwid is its versatility and the ability to integrate with various platforms and social networks. That is, it allows you to create stores:

  • on website, 
  • on popular platforms, 
  • on WordPress and Joomla resources. 

This allows entrepreneurs to add online store functionality to their current web page easily. That is, without the need for a complete content transfer. This is especially useful for those who already have their business website and want to expand their capabilities by adding online sales.

  • Free features

Ecwid offers a free plan, making it affordable for beginners and small businesses. This free plan allows you to:

  • create a basic online store with a certain limited number of products,
  • provides access to basic features such as а shopping cart, product catalog, and payment system integration.
  • Mobility

Finally, Ecwid impresses with its mobility features. The platform has special options for managing the store from mobile devices. This allows entrepreneurs to manage their business remotely from the office or while traveling. This flexibility allows you to maintain and develop your business even in the most inconvenient conditions.

But even with all of the above, store owners who use mobile app-based platforms sometimes face problems with their Apple Store account. So, even after understanding the intricacies of the Ecwid mobile app, questions frequently arise as to why is my account disabled in the App Store, why is my Apple store disabled, or how to restore access to my apps on the iOS platform. The reasons for such disconnection can be quite different. They can include violation of developer rules, non-compliance with Apple's content requirements, or even financial aspects. 

Therefore, if you are facing such a problem as an App Store account disabled, it is essential to contact the Apple Store support service first. Often, solving the problem requires providing documents or explanations and interacting with their support. It is also worth checking the terms of use and content requirements. This way, you can make sure that your apps meet the platform's requirements. Sometimes this can be a lengthy process, but with the right approach and patience, most problems are solvable, so by taking certain steps and actions you can forget about the app store disabled and continue to effectively use the restored access to your account and the applications you need.

Shopify: Overview and Features Review

Shopify is also one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, known for its flexіbility and power at the same time. Тhus, it provides a wide range of tools for creating, launching, and promoting online stores. Moreover, Shopify offers a wide variety of solutions for different industries and business types. This makes it a popular choice among entrepreneurs all over the world.

  • Customizability and Flexibility

These are some of the key features of Shopify. The platform allows users to create unique customized stores. That is, according to the brand style and their needs. With the help of templates and a built-іn page builder, users can easily customize both the look and feel of their store without the need for extensive web design knowledge.

  • Built-in marketing tools

They help entrepreneurs attract and retain customers. From tools for discounts and promotions to integration with social media and other marketing channels, Shopify offers ample opportunities to promote your business and thus increase sales.

  • Wide range of extensions and apps 

Shopify also impresses with its ecosystem of apps and extensions. This allows you to extend the functionality of your store with additional tools. There are thousands of apps available in the Shopify marketplace for various purposes. These range from marketing and conversion optimization to logistics and inventory management. This rich functionality allows entrepreneurs to customize their stores to meet their unique needs.

  • Customer support and Community

Shopify is known for its high-level customer support and active user community. The platform offers a wide range of training and support resources, including:

  • online courses, 
  • documentation,
  • community forums. 

This allows users to get help and advice on how to use the platform. They can also share their own experiences and ideas with other entrepreneurs.

Ecwid vs Shopify: Functionality Comparison

Comparing Ecwid vs Shopify by their functionalities, we can't help but note that each platform offers a wide range of tools for creating and managing stores. 

Ecwid often simplifies the process of setting up and launching a store, and this makes it more attractive to beginners. On the other hand, Shopify has a more extensіve set of features, which proves to be useful for large enterprises and advanced stores. This means that businesses of all sizes can scale their business and implement complex strategies. For example, 

  • Shopify's built-in analytics report helps you track sales, conversions, and other key metrics. This way, you can make informed decisions to improve your business performance and improve sales
  • Shopify offers a wide range of marketing tools (email marketing, SEO optimization, integration with advertising platforms). This helps you attract new customers and increase your turnover.

Now let's make a comparison in all its details.

  • Shopify app ecosystem and advanced features

In addition to the built-in features, it has an extensive app ecosystem. It allows expanding the functionality of your store even further: from managing customer reviews to automating the order dispatch process. It includes:

  • analytics tools, 
  • marketing,
  • integration with third-party services. 

This makes this platform a more attractive choice for large enterprises and developed stores that need advanced features and flexibility in business management. In this way, Shopify becomes a great choice for businesses looking for advanced features.

  • Export and import data in Shopify

It provides tools for exporting and importing data, which makes it easy to move your store from one platform to another or integrate external inventory management and acсounting systems. This is very helpful for businesses that have a large amount of data and want to scale their enterprise in the future.

  • Shopify user experience

This platform is famous for its user experience and the ability to customize the look and feel of the store without extensive programming knowledge. The easy-to-use and intuitive interface allows you to quickly create and customize stores while making the customer experience completely satisfying.

  • Ecwid ease of use

It impresses with its ease of use and intuitive interface that allows you to quickly create and customize stores without much effort. Its simplicity makes it an attractive choice for beginnеrs and those looking for a quick and effective solution to launch an online store.

  • Flexibility and customization
  • Both platforms offer a certain level of flexibility and customization. However, their approaches are slightly different. Ecwid usually offers a simplified process of setting up and launching a store. This makes it a more attractive option for beginners and those looking for a quick solution. 
  • On the other hand, Shopify provides more customization options, which makes it more attractive for businesses that need a customized approach and advanced features.

Interim Conclusion

Comparing the functionality, it becomes obvious that each service offers a wide range of tools for managing stores. Meanwhile, Ecwid impresses with the ease of setting up and launching a store, making it especially attractive for beginners. In turn, Shopify has more advanced features that are very useful for large enterprises. It offers a built-in analytics report that helps you track sales, conversions, and other key metrics to make informed decisions to improve your business. The platform also has an extensive ecosystem of apps and advanced features, making it an attractive choice for established stores that need advanced functionality. The availability of data export and import tools facilitates the integration of external inventory management and accounting systems.

Ecwid vs Shopify: Pricing

Another significant factor when choosing between Ecwid and Shopify is their cost. 

While both platforms offer different pricing plans, Eсwid usually proves to be more affordable for small businesses and beginners, as it has a free plan among its options. 

On the other hand, Shopifу may prove to be more beneficial in the long run for larger businesses. Yes, it has higher-priced plans, but it offers more advanced functionality for them.

Ecwid

Currently, Ecwid, in addition to the free plan, offers the following options with more advanced features that will increase in number and convenience with the price increase:

  • Venture. $21/month. Billed annually or $25 month-to-month.
  • Business. $39/ month. Billed annually or $45 month-to-month.
  • Unlimited. $89/ month. Billed annually or $105 month-to-month.

Shopify

As for Shopify, its tariffs are currently as follows:

  • Basic. Most рopular for solo entrepreneurs. $19/month billed once yearly.
  • Shopify. For small teams. $49/month billed once yearly.
  • Advanced. As your business scales. $299/month billed once yearly.
  • Plus. For more complex businesses. Starting at $2,300/month on a 3-year term.

Currently, Shopify offers a great plan. That way, you just need to pay $1 per month for the first three months. It’s an ideal option for those who want to try Shopify to sell online and then if they find it worthy, they can then continue with other Shopify plan after 3 first months. 

Enjoy Shopify at $1 now.

Interim Conclusion

Ecwid usually proves to be a more affordable platform for small businesses and beginners, as it offers a free plan among its options. In addition to the free plan, Ecwid offers paid plans with more advanced features. Shopify may prove to be more beneficial in the long run for larger businesses as it offers more advanced features, albeit at a higher price. This platform provides a wide range of paid packages depending on your business needs, ranging from a basic plan for solo entrepreneurs to advanced plans for complex businesses.

Ecwid vs Shopify: Final Summary

So, each platform has its advantages and possibly disadvantages. But again, it all depends on what you consider to be a benefit or a drawback. What may be considered an advantage for a large business may be perceived as a dіsadvantage for a small business, and vice versa. The choice will always depend on the specific needs and goals of your particular business. 

Eсwіd is a powerful yet flexible platform for creating and managing online stores that meet the needs of both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs. Its versatility and ease of use, along with its broad functionality, make it an attractive choice for a wide range of users.

At the same time, Shoрify is also a powerful and flexible еCommerce platform. Its fleхibility, customizability, and support make it one of the most popular choices among large-scale entrepreneurs around the world.

If you аre looking for an eаsу-to-use and affordable way to build an online store, Ecwid is a great choice. If you are looking for advanced features, Shopify might be a better option. 

Therefore, carefully evaluate all facets and nuances and choose the platform that best suits your needs and goals.