17 years helping South African businesses
choose better software
Shopify
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is a commerce platform that allows anyone to easily sell online, at a retail location, and everywhere in between. Shopify offers a professional online storefront, a payment solution to accept credit cards, and the Shopify POS application to power retail sales.
Shopify currently powers over 160,000 retailers in 100 different countries, including: Tesla Motors, Gatorade, Forbes, Amnesty International, Encyclopedia Britannica, Maxim Magazine, CrossFit, Black Milk Clothing, Herschel Sup
Who Uses Shopify?
Small to mid-size on standard plans and Enterprise companies on Shopify Plus.
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Reviews of Shopify
Alternatives Considered:
Shopify is the best way to start ecommerce
Comments: I ought to say this is the stage that I might want to use for my online business clients. Presumably that they are working really hard structure. I trust Shopify start a respectable client assistance that we can call and allow us to pose inquiries as a paying client.
Pros:
So natural to simply import all my client's items and the day after that large number of items where on Google's most memorable page that astounded me. Extremely simple to arrangement and use. I use it for my client's internet based shop.
Cons:
Where do I started? - Only a couple of free site topic! truly?? indeed, even we're burning through $30/month we need to pay like $300 to get a respectable subject! - Although the vast majority (counting myself) thought there was such countless instructional exercises on web however there isn't sufficient. A large portion of them are being made by the more established rendition and doesn't match the new look. - Google's page speed test is continuously showing lower speed contrasting with different stages like Wordpress. - No client assistance which isn't adequate
My Checkout never lets me down unlike others.
Comments: Great my customers trust shopify and the peace of mind the checkout gives me is priceless.
Pros:
In my ecommerce ownership of 7 years I find shopify has the best customer service and secure checkout that I have used. I can maintain it myself build new themes try them out first and add and remove apps easily.
Cons:
The traffic to my site has been hard to build since I left woo commerce. Someof the themes to add are expensive
Shopify is Nice
Comments: Using Shopify has been a game-changer for me. Setting up my online store was straightforward, and their customer support is always there when I need help. Plus, the platform’s features have really boosted my sales. It’s been a fantastic experience overall
Pros:
It is easy to use and can be managed by beginners
Cons:
Shopify is a robust e-commerce platform, but it has some drawbacks. Users often mention the additional transaction fees if you don't use Shopify Payments, limited free themes, and customization constraints. Many advanced features require third-party apps, which can increase costs and complicate the setup. Additionally, while user-friendly, some find the initial learning curve steep. Have you used Shopify before, or are you considering it for your business?
Alternatives Considered:
Don't think, just DO. Be on Shopify.
Comments: I have implemented several sites onto Shopify with no issues. It's the best platform for businesses large and small.
Pros:
General userability is fantastic. ANYONE can be taught how to run a Shopify store! Drag and drop features are wonderful for homepage updates. Creating and editing products is wonderful.
Cons:
Out of the box subscription platform needs a lot of work.
Why use Shopify
Comments: We have been using Shopify for a number of years, the platform has been stable with no downtime that i can remember. There are lots of plugins which can be used to add extra features and tools.
Pros:
Its easy enough to use, had lots of features and functions that we want
Cons:
Pricing for seats is based on plan level and if you need more you have to move to the next plan which can be quite a jump in expense.
Alternatives Considered:
Get in the game
Pros:
Variety of templates and reduces the barrier of entry into the eCommerce space to pretty much nothing.
Cons:
Always looking for smoother, easier, more flexible integrations with our brick and mortar business - Shopify is pretty solid here, but some fields/options do not translate well.
Alternatives Considered:
Sales-ready website without developer
Comments: It’s been good for us overall! You can have a professional sell-ready website without needing a Webdeveloper.
Pros:
Ease to use, SEO friendly, great apps, good to increase sales.
Cons:
Fees can get pretty high as you scale up and sell more.
Alternatives Considered:
Easy to use
Comments: Like, would use again for e-commerce. Trusted website.
Pros:
Easy to set up web based shop, not a graphic designer and I could.
Cons:
Monthly fee was higher than I wanted it to be.
The Best E-Com Website Tool
Comments: very good and i using it from a 5 years. i am increasing revnue.
Pros:
easy to start with new website and easy payment method
Cons:
margin to deduct from payment method with you use web payment
Top Ecommerce Software
Comments: Shopify is my go-to ecommerce platform for helping small businesses.
Pros:
very easy platform to integrate and use to sell
Cons:
could be a bit tricky to navigate adding new products and selling on 3rd party platforms
Alternatives Considered:
I use Shopify for all my Ecommerce Businesses
Comments: I built both shopify stores from scratch without prior knowledge and it took me about a full week to get the hang of things. I would make adjustments as I could to help convert customers. I still feel like it's the best place to only sell products but still a bit costly to make a really nice design. I now hire virtual assistants to make all the changes on the site and manage it but that can cost too so it's great there are API's to help grow the business, which all cost more money though, some are free (Reddit, pinterest). Overall, I will still use the software.
Pros:
Sleek designs, easy to use, easy to keep track of products and sales, great third party API integrations and marketing software, and simple to run. Many Virtual Assistants already know how to use this software which makes life very easy for me. The simpler, the better. I have several shopify stores and I aim to make passive income in this realm.
Cons:
Templates are limited, a lot of the development is backend yet I'm a visual person so I like to see everything as I'm doing it, and it can get a little overwhelming with all the integrations needed to turn a Shopify store into a massive profitable business. I feel like the best templates cost too much money and the ones we are offered look basic and not easily customizable. It could use a better blog feature section and a bit more visual aspects such as videos to help pitch or promote the business. Maybe even used for online courses with private logins would be great.
Alternatives Considered:
User-friendly platform that covers (almost) all your e-commerce needs
Comments: Shopify is still my first pick after almost a decade working with E-commerce, but with a much lesser margin than before. Squarespace and Wix offer, in my opinion, good alternatives if you don't want to put up with constantly wondering "Why isn't this function in place? Oh, I have to install an app and pay X$ every month". I would recommend Shopify for those who don't require a lot beyond the standard E-commerce solution and/or won't mind paying a bit for some pro templates and apps.
Pros:
Shopify is extremely user-friendly and easy to set up. It's intuitive even if you've never used an e-commerce platform before, and you're able to get by with no coding skills. The basic templates are plain, but professional and modern. Basically it covers everything you need to get started with an online business, the pricing model is fair, and there's a wealth of 3rd party plugins and templates if you require something beyond the standard functionalities.
Cons:
Though I've put the 3rd party marketplace as a benefit, I'm also left with the feeling that it comes with a hidden downside. Basic functions such as bundling and customer messages on an order (which, to give an example, Etsy offers) requires a 3rd party plugin with Shopify. After so many years in the industry, I'm baffled as to why this hasn't been implemented by default. The only reason I can think of is, why would they? Customers are forced to buy an app, which makes more money for Shopify. Another pet peeve example: You cannot use more than 1 discount code unless you install an app. Which means, you can't put 10% off the entire site, and offer customers an additional discount with a code.
Alternatives Considered:
Shopify is Go To for Building Any eCommerce Physical Product Store
Comments: Shopify is amazing. Building an e-commerce website on your own or with a developer is ultimately complex. Shopify has made this a simple experience. Building your own eCommerce site typically would require you to pay for a lot of things in all different places such as hosting with GoDaddy and a URL and then you need to buy all this different plugins from different developers. It becomes a headache. Your site can also crash and get buggy as a result. Shopify is an all-in-one solution and will usually never crash unless all of Shopify is under maintenance. It's just a really great software and a must use if you're building an eCommerce website for the first time. You can start with Shopify and most likely find all the features you need to keep your site there for the long haul.
Pros:
Shopify allows even a beginner to build a really nice looking, responsive eCommerce site. You offer templates that you know help store owners be more successful. They are already designed really well and someone just needs to switch out elements to make the store their own. You made it easy to buy a domain, a template and hosting all in one place. You also have it easy to setup your sales tax which on platforms like Magento and Wordpress can requires additional plugins that can be a headache. You connect well with distribution channels such as Amazon and eBay and I can manage my inventory quantities all in one place.
Cons:
Cons is of course with any DIY software limitations within the software. You also to customize this need to work with developer who really knows Shopify and deep coding experience, versus building a website on Wordpress, millions of developers know wordpress, Shopify has less true experts to choose from.
Don't Shop Around, Shop-ify!
Comments: Overall, Shopify has been good to me. They made me a Partner because of the – you know I can't actually recall what the criteria was to become one – maybe you just apply to become one. But if you are a Partner, you can develop stores at no cost, and then get paid a referral fee and a residual for transferring it to a paying client. A very nice gesture towards us store-builders – I wish all creative software or SaaS platforms were as fiscally friendly. They also make it easy for devs looking to expand into Shopify App creation – so they can be on the receiving end of that sweet, month-to-month autocharged booty.
Pros:
Shopify is where it's at if you want to get involved in the whole Direct 2 Consumer craze! You could literally have a store, up and running and transactional in 10 minutes assuming you're computer / web literate, have a bank account, and a product to sell...For getting up and running with hundreds of attractive themes to choose from (not all on Shopify.com, there are online stores that sell themes...) you really can't beat the ease of Shopify – with just the right amount of freedom, and automation to make sure you can get your products and logo looking their best, and not accidentally break the whole thing. And if you know a little HTML/CSS, the sky is really the limit in terms of customizing the theme. Plus there's a Shopify "App Store" that offers every possible function you could imagine if you wanted something not natively offered such as pop-ups, rewards clubs, or wholesale pricing.
Cons:
In the beginning, I found it a bit cumbersome to deal with large catalogs with lots of variants (color / size) per sku. But Shopify and their lightning-fast chat support are nothing if not good listeners and they've made editing part of, or your whole catalog, much easier than ever before, with tons of filters for tailoring your product selection on the back end, to making almost any variable from Title, to Inventory, to Weight, easily bulk editable. So the thing I'll say that still stinks, is that all the apps charge subscription fees, which is super annoying, especially if you rely on a bunch of them. I would much rather pay a one and done license fee as opposed to $3 a month for my mailing list manager app, $16 a month for my Wholesale price tiering app, and $5 for my abandoned cart retrieval system. It adds up to a big, never-ending headache.
Alternatives Considered:
Best e-commerce Website Hosting Platform
Comments: Our clients are extremely happy with Shopify as a website hosting platform and have seen positive increases in their business from having a platform that works so well.
Pros:
Shopify is extremely user friendly and is designed to not break with updating like many of the other website hosting platforms. It is easy to update and page load speeds are quick. Their reporting is also user friendly.
Cons:
Cost is slightly higher that their competitors like Wordpress or similar. This cost is easily recouped in the website performance and lack of need to continually update things.
Alternatives Considered:
The Most Easy to Use CMS for Building a Virtual Store
Comments: As an owner of a digital marketing agency, I often need to build virtual stores for my clients. Normally most of the clients are the owners of small businesses and they can't afford to hire a professional developer for maintaining their e-commerce store. This is why I was looking for a platform that will help my clients maintain the site by themselves without going through a steep learning curve. Then I found Shopify and believe me, I think this is the ultimate destination. Day by day it's getting better and better. I know there are some other platforms with more flexibility but those are too complex to handle. Also, Shopify is completely managed on the serverside and you don't have to deal with CPanel stuff. And, who else will give you the software as well as hosting at this cheap rate? I am totally satisfied with Shopify and I am never going back to custom CMS of anything. Peace!
Pros:
The most interesting thing about Shopify is that it needs no technical knowledge to get started. But that doesn't mean you can't use advanced features on this CMS. Using plugins, themes, templates all are quite easy on this platform and you don't need a full-time maintainer to manage your small business store made by using Shopify. Another great feature of Shopify is the integration with various payment gateways. No matter whether you are from the US or any other country, you can configure the payment gateway for a smooth transaction. Overall, it increases the conversion rate and revenue. There are a lot of premium and free themes developed for this platform and you can always make your site unique, fancy, and lightweight. The price is quite affordable I must say. Even if you use some other free CMS you will need to pay fr the hosting and CDN which are not reliable. But with Shopify, these things are taken care of and no matter how much traffic do you get, you can stay worry-free.
Cons:
Honestly speaking I didn't find any major cons while using the software. I have some small stores as well as some big e-commerce shops running on Shopify and I didn't miss any features while building those. But I have a few suggestions about improving the product. For example, the mobile layout of the site should be more lightweight so that it loads faster on slow internet devices. Also, if you can introduce a free plan with limited features that will help most small businesses.
Alternatives Considered:
Shopify gets the job done!
Comments: I was unable to make the full switch to shopify BUT I was impressed by what I saw. The overall design of the backend was much cleaner than expected. Sadly, I could not justify the switch as features I wanted cost more when compared to competitors, and the cost difference could not be justified. Its not a complete online e-commerce solution.
Pros:
Nearly everything on their backend was well thought out and easy to use. I was able to have an online store configured in minutes from my already existing product catalog, and integration into my already existing product stack was easy to understand.
Cons:
The ONE feature I need to be able to switch to literally ANYONE else was NOT a standard feature and would cost me additional fees. Without the ability to distribute keys/codes leaving my current provider serves no purpose as it would just increase my monthly operating costs. The feature set for all of these online e-commerce solutions is almost cookie cutter otherwise.
Alternatives Considered:
Shopify Customer Review
Comments: Shopify enabled us to expand our eBay operation and become fully independent. We are able to display our products and retain our identity online.
Pros:
It is easy to use and learn. Errors can be rectified easily and cataloging is easy once you understand the basics of tagging. Themes offered are easy to use and modify. Customer service is available any time and phone reps are well spoken and fluent in english. Very good option is considering a move from eBay with their ever changing policies.
Cons:
The software does take time to learn and there are limitations as it is not a tailored custom solution. But there are work around and almost any functionality can be added or achieved on shopify.
Alternatives Considered:
Shopify Review
Comments: Shopify is a great E-commerce Website for any level or type of E-commerce business. It is very easy to integrate with any Website (not custom bases), like Woocommerce, Magento, or your Amazon or Flipkart seller accounts, it has a hassle-free onboarding process, pay the charges, and start using it right away, it is quite Scaleable product, as one doesn't have to worry about Traffic, Shopify servers handle everything just fine and also it Connects to a lot of third Party Logistics like Shiprocket, Shyplite and Pickrr so one doesn't have to worry about Logistics. Also for beginner D2C brands, it's a boom as one doesn't have to worry about building tech and hiring a team to maintain it or enhance it is also a fact that as your business grows using Shopify will become a pain because of the high charges of the platform which depends upon your Daily volume so it's great until your volume is low or medium.
Pros:
Pros:- >> Very easy to integrate with any Website (not custom bases), like Woocommerce, Magento, or your Amazon or Flipkart seller accounts. >> Hassle-free onboarding process, pay the charges, and start using it right away. >> Scaleable product, as one doesn't have to worry about Traffic, Shopify servers handle everything just fine. >> Custome integration is also possible via Shopify Developer's community. >> All features of an E-commerce platform are fulfilled through it, one doesn't have to move anywhere >> Connects to a lot of third Party Logistics like Shiprocket, Shyplite and Pickrr so one doesn't have to worry about Logistics.
Cons:
Cons:- >> Pricing is just too high for large scale D2C Brands >> Customization is not possible easily >> To get into touch with Shopify sales or tech team is a pain in itself.
Alternatives Considered:
Shopify is the Yahoo Stores for a New Generation
Comments: We are only now setting up the store and getting into using the software so my opinion may change over time (although I doubt it will be for the better). Like Yahoo Stores before them they felt the need to write their own program language for the store instead of using tried and true coding that everyone knows or understands at this point. Making it difficult to change or adjust your store template easily. Also like Yahoo they take a percentage of your sales on top of the monthly fees. If someone needs a site for a few items, can use one of the free templates, doesn't want to use too many other features, and doesn't have a dedicated ecommerce manager then this may be a good solution for you. If you need to set up additional metafields or have better control over you SEO, you may want to look somewhere else. Expect multiple monthly subscriptions and fees above the Shopify fees as you will need to use other apps in your store.
Pros:
Modern eCommerce selling features. Hopefully better shopping experience for our customers than our old solution.
Cons:
Monthly fees PLUS a per transaction fee. Uses a custom script/language instead of standard coding. (Liquid). Does not utilize WebDAV or FTP for file uploads. Does not allow import/export of anything other than basic product information without use of a third party app. Relies on 3rd party apps to offer features other carts offer out of the box. Cannot customize the checkout process, must do what they say is best. Poor SEO controls.
Alternatives Considered:
Small Business Owner's best friend
Pros:
Ease of use, robust security, feature rich, clean interface, the app ecosystem.Drag and drop feature. Easy set up of the store by a non technical person. No learning curve. Reliability. The support team is also very helpful.
Cons:
The additional transactional charges above the monthly subscription charge. When we use a bunch of apps, the subscription charges tend to pile up. Costlier as compared to Wordpress. But makes up for it in the ease of use and reliability.
Thought I was signing up for an Integrated POS System and Website
Comments: Feels like Shopify sucks you in and is not transparent. When you realize what the system doesn’t do...they apologize and are very kind but not very helpful. There are a bunch of awkward apps you can buy to fix the problems but they don’t work very well. Wish someone would just make an easy functioning system that met business that sell inventory on line and in person.
Pros:
It is easy to get a website up and running. Adding products is easy.
Cons:
WHERE DO I BEGIN: -inventory records only go back three months...I was horrified to find out I lost 4 months of inventory records. -to print a receipt...you need to buy and download an app...it is awkward to use and takes a couple minutes for the receipt to upload before you can print it. -to have employees log in you need to download and app and pay monthly -you can not do a credit on someone’s account if they return something...You need to either return their money or give them a gift card it is awkward and difficult to use. -if you mark an order pending payment you cannot take payment on the POS system. -you cannot add any vender information that is not visible to your customers. -the duplicate feature when adding products doesn’t work properly....to hard to explain what should be duplicated and what shouldn’t but trust me it wasn’t created by someone that understands business
Getting better Shopify
Comments:
Shopify, subsequently, is the ideal instrument for those looking for more noteworthy usefulness and better outcomes inside their web based business.
This stage is particularly suggested for the people who don't have an enormous group to deal with every one of the requests or even the time expected to deal with the different undertakings of an online store.
For the people who are searching for more prominent comfort, a novel plan, and simplicity of overseeing deals in their web based business, Shopify is an extraordinary arrangement.
Be that as it may, if your store is just a little piece of your business, this may not be the best answer for you, and it is prudent to search for a less expensive and easier instrument.
On the off chance that you've gotten this far, you get what Shopify is, the way and what the objective was the point at which it was established in 2006, how it works, the benefits and burdens, and for which second this arrangement is most suggested.
Presently, you simply need to investigate this data to know whether it accommodates your plan of action or not.
As we referenced in this article, one of the advantages of utilizing Shopify's foundation is definitively the ease of use and positioning of your site, two vital focuses for the accomplishment of your internet business.
Anyway, what about looking at our total substance on SEO for internet businesses to guarantee that the primary elements identified with your online store's presentation are observed?
Pros:
With guides focused on the individuals who are not exceptionally acquainted with instruments of this sort, one of the primary benefits of Shopify is its simple convenience. All things considered, with this internet business stage, you don't have to stress over the more specialized piece of the executives. One more ideal point for the individuals who utilize this instrument is the ease of use and responsive plan of the layouts accessible to clients. At the end of the day, you can have confidence about the nature of your site both on the work area adaptation and for cell phones and cell phones. For the individuals who don't have a lot of time to deal with every one of the undertakings of a business with the vital consideration, Shopify can work with even the administration of items and supply of your virtual store, for instance. Other than a remarkable and responsive plan, you can likewise deal with your web based business through the stage.
Cons:
Notwithstanding offering Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques, Shopify utilizes some sub-catalogs that can hurt the SEO execution of your page. The URL of normal pages, for example, "About Us", don't have the ideal design to streamline your page's query items. Area names are excluded from any of the accessible bundles. What's more, facilitating for your page should be bought. For facilitating an email with your own custom space, you need to search for an outside instrument, like G Suite, for instance. The believability of your image can be influenced with an email that isn't interesting, for instance. On the off chance that your crowd is additionally global, Shopify may not be the most ideal choice for your business. All things considered, the device doesn't offer the likelihood to set up a multilingual store, for instance. That is, as indicated by your arrangements, this point can be a detriment for you
Honest and open review of Shopify
Comments: My print-on-demand web store was powered by Shopify (which is not active anymore for commercial reasons, but I still keep my account there so I am still a paying customer). Technically, the system is simple to use, and the customer service is superb. Shopify provides you with a few design templates to begin with, which you may need some assistance customizing if you have a specific idea for the look of your future website. That was the most difficult element for me, as it always is when creating a good-looking website. If you opt with something easy, you'll be able to get your store up and operating in a matter of hours - no coding required. And that was i did mostly. I highly recommend Shopify if you are like me.
Pros:
I like Shopify's robust backend editor and inventory system, which have helped me manage – and scale – larger stores. I also like Shopify's ability to sell via many channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and eBay. Its unique design functionality and versatility, allow me to choose from a variety of free and paid themes, as well as its extensive library of apps and third-party extensions, all of which help with taking my business to the next level. I like that it accepts over 100 different payment methods and has its own payment gateway, Shopify Payments. Their round-the-clock customer service is also excellent.
Cons:
Its inventory has very modest functionality and limited sales channel compatibility, as well as US-only features like real-time delivery, which isn't available anywhere else in the world, to my knowledge. Its inability to support simultaneous discounts is also a flaw. Shopify is also overly reliant on third-party apps, which makes my job more difficult because I have to familiarize myself with all of these addons and the necessity of using other third-party apps to truly enhance the functioning of your store. Shopify also has high transaction fees, which is fine while using Shopify Payments, but it adds up and becomes a significant cost, especially when combined with other payment gateway rates. As a result, it is more costly than it appears.
Alternatives Considered:
The best for e-commerce
Comments: Impressive e-commerce facilities. The best choice to build an online store.
Pros:
Of the big 3 website builders (Shopify, Squarespace, Wix), Shopify is hands down the best for e-commerce. The other platforms simply don't have the same level of e-commerce support - from advanced shipping options to the wide range of discounts you can create for your online store. The extensive App Store also offers easy-to-install plugins to enhance your website's functionality. If you're serious about growing your online store, Shopify is the way to go.
Cons:
It has to be said that Shopify is not as pretty as Squarespace or Wix, both of which being more design-led platforms. Shopify 2.0 was a major upgrade, in that you can now add design blocks to every page. But unless you know how to do custom coding, the design features are still somewhat limited. The email campaign feature is buggy - Wix is much better for that, but then Wix isn't really suited to run an online store.