So, you’ve decided you want to start your own online shop but have no idea where to start. There is definitely no shortage of platforms to choose from. We've provided some information to help you pick which one will work best for you. In the following, we will be comparing Shopify and Drupal Commerce.

Updates:

Both Shopify and Drupal Commerce allow for the personal customization of your website so you can achieve the aesthetic you are looking for. Shopify easily allows users with limited web design experience to create the website of their dreams with just a few clicks and color changes. The Shopify drag and drop features allow users to add features and design options instantly.

Drupal, however is not as easy to use. When updating a Drupal Commerce site, you will have to have some prior coding experience to to apply the features and achieve the look you would like your site to have. There is no drag and drop feature on the design panel, so everything needs to be coded into the site. This will require much more effort.

Themes:

Shopify themes offer easy-to-use templates for the development of websites to get your site up and running in a very short amount of time. If you are not in such a rush you can also easily make changes to any existing template to make it work better for your business.

Drupal Commerce does not have the option to use pre-existing themes or templates and leading to a more rigorous development process. Using a Drupal Commerce site will require a graphic designer / web developer to build you a custom website in order to begin selling your product.

Fees:

Shopify offers a variety of different plan options depending on what features you need. All of the plans offered by Shopify include hosting which can get expensive if you plan to host on your own. Shopify offers a lite plan for $9 a month that will allow you to sell products on social media or any existing website. The entry level Shopify plan costs $29 per month. The middle of the road plan is $79 and offers an extended variety of additional features that your store will need as your business grows. The top of the line plan costs $279 per month and covers pretty much anything you would ever need for your online store. Learn more about the plans here: Shopify Plans

There are no monthly fees associated with having a Drupal Commerce site. However, there will be much higher up-front costs when building your custom website. You will have to pay a graphic designer, web developer, strategist, etc. to get your site from zero to ready-to-sell. You will also have to pay for your monthly sales platform, credit card processing, hosting, and whatever else might come up.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Shopify is a great tool to help bring your product to market in a very short amount of time. It is the ideal platform to start your eCommerce journey. It can be used by seasoned eCommerce veterans and beginners alike. Shopify offers tools for every business and has an easy to use interface that allows for many types of customizations. It is the quickest and most effective way to bring your store to life!