Shopify is unquestionably one of the biggest eCommerce platforms on the internet, but it has both benefits and drawbacks. It has a tonne of tools and features that make setting up and maintaining an online storefront simple.
Have questions like “Is Shopify the best?” or “What are the disadvantages of Shopify?”, we’ve got you covered. Read the following blog to have an insight into the pros and cons of Shopify in detail.
Pros of Shopify –
1) It’s Simple to Begin with and Easy to Use –
Shopify is the best online selling platform because it is simple to use. Select a template and begin adding your products. There is also no requirement for any coding or design experience. It’s best suited for those who want to start their business as soon as possible. You don’t need to go through a long process to create custom and roll out your business online with Shopify. This platform includes a drag-and-drop tool for customizing your store. Shopify is indeed an excellent platform for online product sales.
2) Availability of a Large Number of Themes –
If your business and products are compatible with themes, finding them shouldn’t be difficult. Your store’s appearance will play a crucial role in retaining your audience’s attention. Merchants and their customers experience online stores differently based on their themes. Products and niches are broken down into themes that can be downloaded free of charge or subscribed to. It goes without saying that themes are important, and Shopify has a plethora of them. There are a few that are tailored to each type of business. There’s something for everyone no matter what you sell, whether it’s beverages, fashion items, foods, digital items, footwear, furniture, or anything else.
3) 24×7 Customer Support –
Shopify has a support staff that is available around the clock to assist you. They offer a hotline, live chat, and email for your convenience. There are four hotlines, each of which is assigned to a different geographic area. Shopify’s USP is comprehensive, round-the-clock customer support. If you ever find yourself in a tight spot, the support staff is available around-the-clock to lend a helping hand and guide you out of trouble.
4) Multiple Payment Processor –
It is now easier than ever to receive payments on Shopify. There are now several payment options available through Shopify, including third-party platforms. Transactions can be processed quickly and easily from your store domain because of this feature. Over 100 payment options are available on Shopify, and the company provides its own payment gateway, Shopify Payments. As a result, you can sell to anyone worldwide and widen your target audience.
5) Access to a Variety of Features –
Using Shopify’s default features, you can easily add items, handle your stock, set up shipments, and create discount codes. When it comes to providing your store functionality, you can mostly exactly what you’re looking for. Shopify also provides more sophisticated options for those with more specialized requirements, such as wholesale or B2B integration.
Cons of Shopify –
1) Pricing & Processing Fees –
You might end up paying more than you expected for hosting your online store on Shopify. Three paid plans are available from Shopify for $29, $79, and $299 monthly. There is only a 14-day free trial period available on the platform. Any of the paid plans are available to you after the free trial period has ended. The basic plan has very few features that will bare minimum to satisfy your needs as a beginner. This indicates that to get the feature you require, you must upgrade to a higher plan. For a business that hasn’t yet turned a profit, this is a sizable sum of money. Even though Shopify’s point of sale (POS) framework aims to do away with third-party payment options, many countries do not support this choice.
As a result, each time you make a sale on Shopify, you must pay a service fee. In addition, some of the apps, plugins, themes, and templates cost money. You must pay this fee in order to use third-party payment gateways other than Shopify payments. The cost varies depending on the plan, but if you don’t know how much you’re paying for Shopify, you might be caught a little off guard.
2) Limited Customization –
Shopify, as previously stated, is highly customizable. Unfortunately, there are some limitations present in this feature. Shopify, unlike other platforms, uses its Liquid setup for the customization of themes
This software is still unfamiliar and unknown to many web designers. As a result, many users on Shopify may have difficulty customizing their themes.
3) Exit is Somewhat Difficult –
Shopify is not exactly accommodating when it comes to leaving its platform. The lock-in feature prevents and bars you from moving your store elsewhere. All in all, K
you should keep in mind that your CSV report is the only thing you can take with you if you decide to leave Shopify. As a result, before launching your online store on Shopify, carefully reconsider your platform.
4) Overly Reliant on Apps –
To really increase the features and functions of your store, you’ll need to use apps since Shopify development is overly-reliant on apps and has lesser built-in functionalities than other platforms.
5) No Email Hosting Access Available –
There is no email hosting included in Shopify’s plans. You will need to look in for another provider if you want to set up an email address for your store, since no email hosting access is available. Even if it’s a simple procedure, you must include this cost in your overall budget.
6) Migration challenges –
Shopify users frequently migrate to other platforms. It is believed by many users, however, that such a change would make migration more difficult. It is possible to lose some of your saved data when migrating from Shopify. CSV is the only way to export your website. There is still a problem with this issue in many eCommerce systems, including Shopify.
Conclusion –
With respect to all the pros and cons, it is no doubt that Shopify is indeed one of the best online business platforms for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s an excellent option for people who want to start selling online, and it holds a ton of potential as long as you’re using the services to meet your needs.
