Batman or Superman? Iron Man or Captain America? Blair or Serena? I bet you have some favs among these long-time competitors.
But what about Magento vs. WooCommerce? If you own an Ecommerce Business or are about to build it, you must have heard of them. Both ecommerce platforms are popular workable solutions, but how can one choose rightly between the two?
Here at Zfort, we have been working with both ecommerce technologies long enough and can help you out. If you are equipped with all the relevant, up-to-date info, you’ll know for sure which Ecommerce Solution is the one for your business. Now let’s dive in!
Ecommerce Platform Magento
Magento is the leading open-source Operating System for ecommerce websites. Magento is a flexible CMS that allows ecommerce business owners to manage their inventory and control stock, content, design, and functionality of their online stores.
Magento Pros:
- flexibility and scalability. If you are planning to grow, that’s an essential factor to consider;
- has an API for any third-party integrations;
- supports PayPal and Authorize.net out of the box;
- intuitive admin interface and product creation/management tools.
Magento Cons:
- you’ll need professional development services;
- you’ll need to take into account extra expenses for hosting.
Ecommerce Platform WooCommerce
WooCommerce is also an open-source platform with a huge army of fans. It’s claimed to be the most customizable solution for launching an ecommerce business, and it’s fairly considered to be more lightweight compared to Magento. In fact, Woocommerce is a free WordPress plug-in that can provide an ecommerce component to your existing WordPress website.
WooCommerce Pros:
- low costs compared to other ecommerce systems;
- supports all the major payment systems;
- has an extension for Google Analytics integration;
- it’s easy to use if you have previous experience with WordPress.
WooCommerce Cons:
- for any additional feature, you’ll need a theme or an extension.
- although it’s easier to get started with compared to Magento, you’ll still need professional services for any additional plug-ins installation or updates.
Magento vs. WooCommerce Comparison
Both Ecommerce Platforms work well for numerous domains. Here is a comparison of some basic aspects to bear in minds.
Themes
It’s impossible to have one platform to satisfy all companies’ needs. Each business is unique and strives to distinguish itself from other competitors. That’s why ecommerce platforms have third-party plug-ins and extensions to enhance the website’s looks and functionality.
Magento and WooCommerce offer free and paid themes for various purposes: customer support, accounting, site optimization, etc.
With WooCommerce, there is a chance you’ll be able to install the extension yourself. As to Magento, you’ll need Magento Development Services.
However, despite the extra time and money, Magento website additions are more cutting edge, so your ecommerce store will be more powerful. Here we definitely give credit to Magento.
Community and Support
In this match, Magento vs. WooCommerce, we’ll call it a draw. Being open-source, the platforms have huge active communities ready to look into any problem you may face.
Price
As the previous paragraph says, Magento’s and WooCommerce’s code is out there available to be adjusted according to your needs. WooCommerce is easier for beginners, but you may end up paying a fair amount for any extra feature you’d like.
Magento is more suited for ecommerce businesses, which means that its basic functionality can be sufficient for you. But there is a hosting plan you’ll have to purchase. Depending on your ecommerce website specifics, you’ll have a monthly hosting package to maintain.
Conclusion
Summing up the Magento vs. WooCommerce comparison, it’s safe to say that each has its strengths and weaknesses. WooCommerce is claimed to be more user-friendly and more comfortable to start with, while Magento is more powerful and well-known for its extensions.
As a software development company, we know that selecting the appropriate tech stack is crucial. But it’s not the thing we recommend as a starting point. First, you should elaborate on your business goals and requirements, realize your company needs and define your target audience.
The more specific you are, the better we’ll know which ecommerce solution will fit best. Don’t hesitate to contact us to consult you more on that!