So you’ve had your business brainwave…Thought about your product or service, claimed your social handles, maybe even started thinking about promotion. But then comes the big question, which platform should you use? When it comes to choosing between Shopify Vs WordPress for a small business, it can feel really overwhelming at first.
If you’re trying to choose between Shopify vs WordPress for small business, it can feel really daunting at first.
I know I felt that way setting up my first one.
There’s so much choice.
So much technical jargon.
SEO, HTML, JavaScript (still not entirely sure what that is).
And so many things to consider.
There’s also a lot of advice online.
But a lot of it comes from developers or people who are already quite tech-savvy. For most small business owners, that’s not always helpful. But there are two names you’ll see come up again and again: Shopify and WordPress. So here’s my take.
From someone who isn’t a “tech girlie”, but has used both while running a business and building my own website.
I first used Shopify when I was running my own online shop, selling both physical products and digital downloads.
The main selling point for me was how easy it was to set up. The fact that Dan (my other half) is a Shopify developer was also a factor. I figured I had a built-in safety net if anything went wrong. Turns out, I didn’t really need him (sorry Dan).
Everything is already set up for selling. All I had to do was pick a theme, upload my products, add my payment and shipping details, and I was good to go.
A lot of the technical side is handled for you. This makes it ideal if you just want to get up and running quickly.
Cost-wise, it felt straightforward too, a monthly subscription plus transaction fees. However costs can start to creep up, especially if you’re using additional payment providers like PayPal, or installing paid apps.
Speaking of apps, that’s where a lot of extra functionality comes from. There are plenty of free options, but the more you add, the more those little costs can build up.
One feature I really liked was the built-in email marketing. Customers can sign up to your mailing list, and you can send campaigns directly through Shopify without needing a separate platform.
Design-wise, I did sometimes feel a bit limited, especially with things like fonts in the email marketing. One way I worked around this was by creating designs in Canva and uploading them as images. This made things feel a bit more “me” (but still had a few limitations).
So if Shopify worked so well, why did I switch?
Simple, my business and needs changed. (and this is where the difference between Shopify vs WordPress for small business really starts to show.)
Shopify is very product-focused and structured, whereas WordPress felt much more suited to a creative, service-led website.
With WordPress, I started with just a domain name and a blank site. Everything has been built from the ground up. That flexibility is amazing, you can build almost anything. However it does mean there’s a lot more to figure out.
Even with some previous experience using WordPress at work, building a site from scratch was definitely a learning curve.
Using a builder plugin like Elementor made a huge difference for me. It made the process much more visual and manageable. I did choose to upgrade to the paid version was worth it for the extra features.
There are still things to think about that Shopify handles for you, like making sure your site looks good across desktop, tablet, and mobile. There’s also the legal side (especially here in the UK), like cookie policies and privacy compliance, which you need to set up yourself.
When it comes to things like email marketing, there are plugins available, but I chose to use an external platform as that’s what I’m most familiar with.
For building a brand-led, creative, or portfolio-style website, WordPress has been a much better fit for me.
Honestly?
Neither. It really depends on what you need.
Shopify might suit you if:
-You’re mainly selling products
-You want something simple and structured
-You don’t want to deal with technical setup
-You want to get up and running quickly
WordPress might be more your vibe if:
-You want full control over how your site looks and feels
-You’re building a brand, not just selling
-You want a portfolio or blog
-You’re happy to learn and figure things out as you go
My honest take: Shopify made it easy to run a shop and WordPress has helped me build something that actually feels like me.
If you’re trying to decide between the two, the best thing you can do is focus on what you actually need, not what looks the most impressive, or what everyone else is using.
When it comes to Shopify vs WordPress for your small business, the best choice really depends on what you need.
The “best” platform isn’t universal. It’s the one that works for you.
If you’re leaning towards Shopify but don’t fancy tackling the technical side I have just the person for you. My better half is a freelance Shopify developer and helps small businesses get set up properly.
No pressure at all but if it helps, you can find him here
(Unfortunately, you won’t be able to shout him from across the room like I did.)
And if you want to read a case study on how I developed Polka Dot Teapot Studio click here.