Are you thinking of starting an ecommerce business? If so, you'll want to take a look at Shopify. It's one of the most popular ecommerce platforms and for good reason. But is it the right platform for you? Our latest article outlines Shopify’s pros and cons. Read on to find out.
Are you thinking of starting an online store? If so, you're probably considering Shopify as your ecommerce platform. Perhaps you already have a store on one of many other available platforms and are considering making the switch to Shopify. But is Shopify the right choice for you? Or are you better off sticking with your current ecommerce solution? In this article, we'll take a detailed look at Shopify and explore the Shopify pros and cons so you can decide for yourself if it's the right platform for your online store.
We at Fourmeta are Shopify experts. We have been working with Shopify for several years and have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs build successful online stores on Shopify. In our experience, we've found that Shopify is by far the best platform for most businesses. This is not to say that it is flawless. Just like all of us, Shopify does have things to improve, but overall, it is an excellent ecommerce platform. By the end of this article, you will see our reasoning and, hopefully, have a better understanding of whether or not Shopify is right for you.
First thing first, let's take a look at what Shopify is and does. Shopify is an ecommerce platform that enables businesses of all sizes to create an online store. It offers users a customizable platform, an easy-to-use checkout process, and a wide range of features. Overall, it is a very popular ecommerce solution with over two million active users. During the fiscal year 2022, Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) exceeded $197 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022. Since 2015, Shopify's total revenue has beenindicating strong growth.
Founded in 2006, Shopify is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. In addition to its flagship product - the Shopify ecommerce platform - it offers a number of other products and services, including Shopify POS (point-of-sale), Shopify Payments, and Shopify Shipping.
Shopify has been incredibly successful since its inception and continues to grow at a rapid pace. In the past few years, it has expanded its reach to more than 175 countries and has become the third biggest online retailer in the USA (Amazon and eBay are the top 2).
Now that we know a little more about Shopify, let's take a look at some of the Shopify advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with the positives.
1. Shopify is easy to use
If you're looking for an ecommerce platform that is easy to use, you'll want to consider Shopify. It has a very user-friendly interface that makes it easy to add products, set up shipping, and process payments. Even if you're not tech-savvy, you should be able to figure out how to use Shopify without any problems.
2. You can start selling quickly
Another advantage of Shopify is that it's very quick and easy to set up an online store. In fact, you can be up and running in just a few hours. All you need to do is sign up for an account, choose a theme (or have one customized for you), and add your products. Once you have everything set up, you can start selling right away.
3. Shopify is scalable
As your business grows, Shopify will grow with you. It is a very scalable platform that can accommodate businesses of all sizes. Whether you're just starting out or you're a large enterprise, Shopify has the features and flexibility to support your business.
4. Shopify offers a lot of features
Shopify comes with a wide range of features that will enable you to run your business effectively. For example, it includes an inventory management system, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, gift cards, and much more. Plus, there are many apps available that you can use to add even more functionality to your store.
5. Shopify is reliable
When it comes to ecommerce platforms, reliability is important. You need to know that your platform will stay up and running, even during peak times. With Shopify, you don't have to worry about that. It is a very reliable platform that can handle large amounts of traffic without any issues.
6. Shopify has an excellent customer support
If you ever run into any problems or have any questions, Shopify has a team of experts who are ready and willing to help. You can contact them via phone, email, or live chat, and they will usually get back to you within 24 hours.
7. Shopify is secure
Security is always a big concern for businesses, especially when it comes to ecommerce. With Shopify, you can rest assured that your store is safe and secure. It uses the latest security technologies to protect your data, and it is compliant with PCI DSS standards.
8. Shopify is affordable
Shopify is a very affordable platform, especially considering all of the features and benefits it offers. Plans start at just $29 per month, and there are no hidden fees or long-term contracts. Plus, if you sign up for an annual plan, you'll get two months free.
9. Shopify has a great community
Another thing we like about Shopify is its vibrant community. Many active users are always willing to help and support each other. Plus, the community is a great place to find resources and inspiration for your store.
10. Shopify is constantly improving
Shopify is always working to improve its platform and add new features. This means that you can expect your store to get better over time. Plus, since it's such a popular platform, there are always new apps and integrations being developed for it. A great example of this was the latest showcase called "Shopify Editions | Summer ‘22" where Shopify unveiled numerous amazing improvements. If you missed it, check out our Shopify Edition-Overview article.
As you can see, there are many things to love about Shopify, and we certainly do. However, we also want to be objective and discuss a few things that we don't like so much about Shopify.
Every platform has its flaws, and Shopify is no different. Here are a few Shopify disadvantages:
1. Themes can be expensive
If you want a really nice-looking store, be prepared to spend some money on a theme. While there are some free themes available, the good ones usually cost around $180. Plus, if you want a custom-designed theme, you'll have to pay even more.
2. Shopify requires a lot of maintenance
If you want your store to run smoothly, you'll need to do a lot of maintenance. This includes things like keeping your themes and apps up-to-date, as well as regularly backing up your data. If you're not comfortable with doing this yourself, you'll need to hire someone to do it for you. Luckily, there is Fourmeta UK. We will be happy to help out with all of your Shopify needs, so feel free to reach out for a free consultation to see how we can help your Shopify store reach new heights.
3. Shopify can be slow
If you have a lot of products and a lot of traffic, your store might start to run slowly. This can be frustrating for both you and your customers. Luckily, there are some things you can do to speed things up, but it is something to keep in mind.
4. Shopify is not always the cheapest option
While Shopify is generally an affordable platform, it might not be the cheapest option in some cases. For example, if you need a lot of customizations or want to use certain features, you might have to pay extra.
5. Limited control over your data
Since Shopify is a hosted platform, you don't have as much control over your data as you would if you were using a self-hosted platform like Magento. This means that if something happens to Shopify, you could lose all of your data. If for some reason you wish to leave Shopify, the process can be complicated and you might not be able to take all of your data with you.
These are just a few things that we don't like about Shopify. Overall, we think it's a great platform, but it's not perfect. As with anything, there are pros and cons of using Shopify.
If you're considering using Shopify for your ecommerce store, we recommend doing some research and trying it out for yourself or just hire a reliable Shopify Agency. It's the best way to see if it's the right fit for you and your business. And if you need any help along the way, feel free to contact us. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have! Also, make sure to subscribe to our blog for all things Shopify.
Related Articles
How to 5X Your eCommerce ROI in September
Optimising Shopify Store Speed - Your Guide To A Lightning-Fast Store
3D Configurator by Fourmeta - Next Big Thing on Shopify
