WordPress vs. Shopify: Which is best for online businesses? Plus an alternative

WordPress and Shopify are two popular platforms for building ecommerce websites, each offering distinct features suited to different business needs. Shopify is a fully hosted ecommerce platform with built-in tools for inventory tracking, payment processing, and store management, providing a turnkey solution for online businesses. In contrast, WordPress is an open-source content management system that requires plugins like WooCommerce for ecommerce functionality, offering greater customization and flexibility at the cost of a steeper learning curve and additional setup and maintenance. Both platforms support SEO and design customization but differ in their approach, with Shopify offering a more user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface and WordPress providing extensive control through themes and plugins. Security and pricing also vary, as Shopify offers integrated security and predictable subscription costs, while WordPress relies on external hosting and can incur additional costs due to its plugin-dependent structure. Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms depends on factors such as budget, design preferences, and the level of control desired over the customer experience.