Shopify Pros and Cons to Consider for Your Online Store

Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world, powering over 4.3 million online stores. Shopify offers a range of features and benefits for online sellers, such as ease of use, security, scalability, and integrations. However, Shopify also has some drawbacks and limitations that you should be aware of before choosing it for your e-commerce business. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of using Shopify to help you make an informed decision.

Pros of Using Shopify

1. Easy to set up and use

One of the main advantages of Shopify is that it is very easy to set up and use, even for beginners. Shopify has a user-friendly interface that guides you through the process of creating and launching your online store. You don’t need any coding or design skills to customize your store’s appearance and functionality, as Shopify provides hundreds of themes and apps to choose from. You can also manage your store from anywhere using the Shopify mobile app.

2. Secure and reliable

Shopify is a hosted platform, which means that it takes care of the technical aspects of running an online store, such as hosting, security, backups, and updates. Shopify provides a secure and reliable service that ensures your store is always online and protected from hackers, malware, and other threats. Shopify also complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which means that it handles your customers’ credit card information safely and securely.

3. Scalable and flexible

Shopify is a scalable and flexible platform that can grow with your business. Shopify offers different plans to suit different needs and budgets, from the Starter plan for content creators to the Plus plan for enterprise-level businesses. You can also upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time, depending on your sales volume and features. Shopify also allows you to sell across multiple channels, such as social media, online marketplaces, and physical locations, using the same dashboard and inventory system.

4. Integrated payment processing

Shopify has its own payment gateway, called Shopify Payments, that lets you accept online payments from your customers without any hassle. Shopify Payments supports over 100 currencies and integrates with popular payment methods, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. Shopify Payments also offers competitive rates and no additional transaction fees, unlike other platforms that charge extra fees for using third-party payment processors. Check Shopify’s pricing for details.

5. Streamlined Shipping with Leading Carriers

Shopify seamlessly integrates with renowned shipping providers like USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx. This empowers you to compare rates and choose the most cost-effective option for your business. Additionally, some carriers may offer volume discounts based on your individual shipping volume and location. Shopify further simplifies the process by allowing you to conveniently print shipping labels, track shipments, and manage returns directly from your dashboard.

6. Detailed inventory and order management tools

Shopify has powerful inventory and order management tools that help you keep track of your products and orders. You can add, edit, and organize your products using categories, tags, variants, and collections. You can also set up inventory tracking, low stock alerts, and automatic fulfillment options. Shopify also lets you manage your orders from one place, where you can view, edit, cancel, refund, and fulfill them. You can also create custom order statuses, send email notifications, and generate invoices and packing slips.

7. Performance reports and analytics

Shopify provides you with valuable insights and data about your store’s performance and customer behavior. You can access various reports and analytics from your Shopify dashboard, such as sales, traffic, conversion, customer, product, and marketing reports. You can also use Shopify’s built-in tools, such as Shopify Email, Shopify Marketing, and Shopify SEO, to optimize your store’s visibility and reach. Additionally, you can integrate your store with Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and other third-party tools to get more advanced analytics.

8. Beautiful themes and easy design tools

Shopify has a large collection of beautiful and responsive themes that you can use to design your store’s look and feel. You can browse and preview themes by industry, style, and features, and choose the one that suits your brand and niche. You can also customize your theme using the theme editor, where you can change colors, fonts, layouts, and more. If you want more control over your store’s design, you can also edit the theme’s code using the code editor.

9. Shopify App Store

Shopify has a rich and diverse app store that offers thousands of apps and extensions that you can use to enhance your store’s functionality and features. You can find apps for various purposes, such as marketing, sales, customer service, inventory, shipping, accounting, and more. You can also read reviews and ratings from other users to help you choose the best apps for your store. Some of the most popular and useful apps for Shopify include Loox, Privy, Klaviyo, Limespot, and Judge.me.

10. Shopify Support

Shopify has a dedicated and professional support team that is available 24/7 to help you with any issues or questions you may have. You can contact Shopify support via phone, email, live chat, or social media. You can also access a wealth of resources and guides from the Shopify Help Center, Shopify Community, Shopify Academy, Shopify Blog, and Shopify Podcast. Shopify also has a network of experts and partners that can assist you with more complex tasks, such as design, development, marketing, and consulting.

Cons of Using Shopify

1. Monthly costs

Shopify offers a free trial, allowing you to explore its features before committing. However, it’s a paid platform with monthly plans ranging from $15 to $2,000, depending on the functionalities you need. Additional expenses like domain name, SSL certificate, themes, apps, and taxes can also factor into the overall cost. While Shopify provides a comprehensive suite of features, it’s essential to compare its pricing with competitors like WooCommerce, a free and open-source platform, to ensure it aligns with your budget and specific needs.

2. Limited control

While Shopify is easy to use, it can be limiting for businesses that require more control over their online store’s customization and design. Shopify is a closed platform, which means that you have to follow its rules and regulations, and you cannot modify its core functionality or access its source code. Shopify also uses a proprietary coding language, called Liquid, which can be difficult to learn and work with. If you want to make significant changes to your store’s design or functionality, you may need to hire a Shopify expert or developer, which can be costly and time-consuming.

3. Limited free themes and expensive paid themes

Shopify has a limited number of free themes, which can make your store look similar to others. Shopify’s free themes are also basic and generic, and may not suit your specific needs and preferences. Shopify’s paid themes, on the other hand, are more diverse and professional, but they can be quite expensive, ranging from $100 to $180 per theme. Shopify’s paid themes also have limited customization options, and you may need to pay extra for additional features or support.

4. Apps can get expensive

Shopify’s app store is a great source of features and functionality, but it can also be a source of expenses. Many of Shopify’s apps are not free, and they charge monthly or one-time fees, depending on the app. Some apps also have tiered pricing plans, which means that you have to pay more for more features or usage. Shopify’s apps can quickly increase your monthly costs, and you may end up paying for apps that you don’t really need or use.

5. It’s tough to migrate away from Shopify

Shopify is a great platform to start and grow your online store, but it can be hard to migrate away from it if you ever want to switch to another platform. Shopify does not make it easy to export your data, such as products, customers, orders, and content. You may need to use third-party tools or services to transfer your data, which can be complicated and risky. You may also lose some of your data or functionality in the process, and you may have to rebuild your store from scratch on the new platform.

Final Thoughts About the Shopify Pros and Cons

Shopify is a powerful and popular e-commerce platform that offers many benefits and features for online sellers. Shopify is easy to set up and use, secure and reliable, scalable and flexible, and integrated with various tools and services. Shopify also has some drawbacks and limitations that you should consider before choosing it for your e-commerce business. Shopify can be expensive, limiting, and difficult to migrate from. You should weigh the pros and cons of using Shopify and compare it with other platforms to find the best fit for your needs and goals.

For real-world inspiration, see our 20 Shopify Success Stories & learn from ecommerce leaders.