Setting Up Shop: A Look at Magento vs WooCommerce for Multi Vendor ECommerce
With more people shopping online than ever before, it’s important that your webshop shines.
In order to have an online store that stands above the rest, you need to start with a great eCommerce platform. It’s the backbone that holds everything together as you present your brand to the world.
Magento and WooCommerce are solid choices for any company to base their business webshop around. Not only are they some of the most popular, but they are each powerful in their own rights.
But which one should you choose? What makes one better than the other? Is there a clear winner?
If you’ve wondered who comes out on top in the battle of Magento vs WooCommerce, keep on reading.
Magento vs WooCommerce
These sales channels have been around for years now. Both built up their reputations until they became titans in the eCommerce world.
The reason these two particular channels are often compared to one another is their basic similarities.
To start, they both offer open source versions that are free to use. This makes them perfect choices for businesses starting out on their eCommerce journey. They make for a gateway into the eCommerce business that is easy to access and develop.
They both utilize the PHP language in their programming and they both require a host in order to install the storefront. The host supplies the packages that these sales channels use as a base for their own particular builds. WPEngine and Nexcess are two of the most popular hosting packages available at the moment.
But, while they do have some similarities, they still have their own unique stories to tell. There are features one has that the other doesn’t, as well as advantages and disadvantages that tip the balance between the two.
Overview of Magento
The elder of the two, Magento came into existence in 2008 by a company called Varian, Inc. This flexible webshop made big splashes when it came onto the market. These days it reaches thousands of different businesses across the world.
It boasts powerful features that help to boost any kind of business. It comes in two varieties, a free version they call their Community Edition. Their premium version is known as the Enterprise Edition, packed with even more powerful features like icing on a cake.
The Community version uses you to self-host but if you go for the Enterprise version, the platform is capable of hosting itself. The Enterprise Edition is not cheap, however, and isn’t in the range for most smaller businesses.
The best part is that the Community Edition is still full of many useful features that pack a punch in the eCommerce world.
This webshop has enough flexibility to allow different styles of shops. Anything from small personal shops to large expansive businesses flourish with this platform. Whether you offer your customers everyday items or special services, this channel helps out in any way you need.
Magento shines under the guidance of someone with at least a basic understanding of web development. While it is possible for a beginner to figure out the ins and outs, having some small knowledge helps to get the most out of this powerful platform.
Key Features
Add in an unlimited amount of products to your shop. This is something every webshop dreams about. You don’t want to have your sales hindered due to the fact that your sales platform doesn’t allow you to add any more items.
Over 800 themes to choose from. With so many choices, you’re bound to find something that suits the particular style and feel you wish to convey with your business.
Customization. Even within the theme that you choose, you’ll have more options at your grasp to fiddle and tweak until you’re happy with every small detail.
The multistore function allows you to manage many different stores at one time within Magento. Even ones that cross continents. This makes it a breeze for entrepreneurs who have their eyes set for the bigger picture.
Built-in management system to give you seamless control over every aspect of your store.
Pros
- Great potential for expansion
- Excellent order management for quick sales
- Manage multiple stores with one platform
- Easy-to-use design templates
- Security patches for all users
- Mobile device friendly
- Target marketing
- B2B capabilities
- Efficient APIs
- Built-in SEO features
Cons
- Pricing for Enterprise Edition
- Works best with web development knowledge
- Frequent software updates
- Takes time to learn
What Makes it Special?
The thing that makes Magento stand out above the rest is its sheer potential for expansion. It’s possible to start off small and local and then grow to a massive scale still using this same platform. It stays with you every step of the way.
Its power is undeniable. In the right hands, this platform does miraculous things and is the best friend to any budding business.
Overview of WooCommerce
Although it isn’t as old as Magento, coming to the market in 2011, WooCommerce is at the top of its game. Developed by Woothemes, it reaches thousands and thousands of different businesses every day. Chances are some of your favorite web shops are hosted by this giant.
No matter what you’re selling, WooCommerce promises to be the perfect aid for any enterprise. It often works best when used for more specialized products, such as books, artwork, and music. But anyone can start selling with this platform and find success.
It’s a great way to dip your hands into the eCommerce waters, as this platform uses WordPress as its host. Seeing as WordPress is a mainstay in many homes and is easy to use, many people already know how to get WooCommerce up and running in no time.
Even if you’ve never used WordPress before, it boasts the fact that it’s user-friendly. Complete beginners will have no troubles at all.
It doesn’t have as many features available to it in the base version. Even standard things seem to be missing from the base package.
In order to get the bells and whistles, you’ll want to install the various plugins Woothemes offers. Some are free, but most cost a fee in order to install.
This platform has even more themes available to it, coming in at over 1,100 themes to offer.
Key Features
Add in an unlimited amount of products. Same as its rival, this platform doesn’t hold your sales back in anyway. You’ll be able to add different products and organized categories to your heart’s content.
Strong SEO presence. Due to its integration with WordPress, WooCommerce excels in reaching your target audience. It also comes with the potential to add even more SEO specific plugins to boost your ranking to a higher level.
Expand with many different plugins. Although many of these plugins will cost you a little extra, most of them are worth it. They’re easy to install and set up. They give you the ultimate control over what your customers will see when they browse around.
WP Admin dashboard makes getting into the details of your webshop easy. Everything you need to interact with will be there waiting for you. It’s simple enough to navigate even for a beginner.
Marketing campaigns are a breeze to implement. This capability means you’ll please your customers with different discounts and even coupon codes.
A large community of users willing to help out. If you ever find yourself stuck with any aspect of running this sales channel, seek out the community. Chances are high that you’ll find someone with the answers to your questions.
Pros
- Easy to use
- No coding knowledge required
- Potential to be 100% free to use
- SSL support
- Great potential for customization
- Many themes to choose from
- Mobile device friendly
- Helpful community
Cons
- Lackluster order management
- Frequent plugin updates
- Many standard features require installation through non-free plugins
- No hosting capabilities
What Makes it Special?
It’s so easy to use that it’s the perfect companion for any business starting out. You don’t need to have extensive knowledge in order to get it running from day one.
Even if you’re a one-person business, WooCommerce makes selling your product possible without needing to spend a dime.
You might be giving up a lot of webshop standards that your customers are accustomed to. But your product and your sales, the main focus for any business, are there for your audience to purchase and admire.
So Which One is the Best?
At the end of all this, you might wonder which one is better than the other. In the battle of Magento vs WooCommerce, does one rise up as the victor?
The answer is a little more complicated than choosing a winner and a loser. They’re both great assets to any eCommerce business, each with their own personal flair and style.
When it comes down to it, the winner is whichever one suits your needs the best. What works for one company may not work for you.
Take some time to weigh up the pros and cons of each and pick the one that meshes with your business the most.
Need some help? Contact us with your questions and we’ll help get you on the right track.