As an eCommerce business owner, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right platform for your online store. At Clickslice, we’ve helped countless clients navigate the often confusing world of eCommerce, and two names that consistently come up are Shopify and Shopify Plus. While both are excellent options, they cater to different types of businesses – so which one is the best fit for your business? Get comfy as we take a closer look at the key differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus, and go through the pros and cons of each.
Understanding Shopify
First, let’s talk about Shopify. It’s a user-friendly, all-in-one eCommerce solution that’s perfect for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to established brands. What makes Shopify so appealing is its ease of use – you don’t need to be a tech wizard to create a professional-looking online store. With a wide range of customizable themes, built-in payment processing, and tons of apps to extend functionality, Shopify has everything you need to launch and grow your online business.
The Power of Shopify Plus
Now, let’s move on to Shopify Plus. This is Shopify’s enterprise-level solution, designed for high-volume merchants and rapidly growing businesses. If you’re doing serious numbers online and need a platform that can keep up, Shopify Plus is worth considering. It offers advanced features like unlimited staff accounts, customisable checkouts, and dedicated support from a success manager. Essentially, it’s like having a superpowered version of Shopify that can handle even the most complex eCommerce needs.
Comparing the Features
So, what are the main differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus? Let’s break it down:
- Transaction fees: Shopify Plus offers lower transaction fees for high-volume sellers, which can add up to significant savings over time.
- API access: With Shopify Plus, you get more API calls and advanced API functionality, giving you greater control over your store’s backend.
- Customisation: Shopify Plus allows for much greater customisation, especially when it comes to the checkout process and backend functionality.
- Support: As a Shopify Plus merchant, you’ll have access to priority support and a dedicated account manager to help you succeed.
Scaling Your Business
One of the biggest advantages of Shopify Plus is its ability to handle high traffic and sales volumes. If you’re expecting your business to grow rapidly, Shopify Plus is built to scale with you. Its robust infrastructure can process thousands of orders per minute without breaking a sweat, ensuring that your customers always have a smooth shopping experience, even during peak periods like Black Friday.
Customisation and Flexibility
Another area where Shopify Plus shines is customisation; while both platforms offer the ability to customise your store’s look and feel, Shopify Plus takes it to the next level. You can fully customise your checkout process, create unique customer experiences, and integrate with third-party systems more easily. This level of flexibility allows you to truly make your store your own and stand out from the competition.
Keeping Your Store Secure
Security is a top concern for any online business, and both Shopify and Shopify Plus have you covered. They offer built-in security features like SSL certificates and PCI DSS compliance to keep your store and customer data safe. However, Shopify Plus goes a step further with additional security measures and the ability to customise your security settings to meet specific industry requirements. This can be especially important for businesses in regulated industries or those handling sensitive customer information.
Support When You Need It
No matter which platform you choose, having reliable support is key for any online business: Shopify offers 24/7 support via multiple channels, along with a vast library of resources to help you troubleshoot issues on your own. But with Shopify Plus, you get an extra level of support. You’ll have a dedicated success manager to guide you, priority support for faster issue resolution, and access to exclusive resources and events.
Making the Right Choice
At the end of the day, choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus comes down to understanding your business’s unique needs. Here are some key factors to consider:
- The size of your business and your growth plans
- Your sales volume and the complexity of your orders
- Your customization and integration requirements
- Your budget and available resources
For most businesses just starting out or those with simpler needs, we typically recommend Shopify. It’s affordable, easy to use, and has all the core features you need to run a successful online store. But for larger businesses or those with more complex requirements, Shopify Plus is often the way to go.
Let Us Help You Succeed
No matter which platform you choose, our team at Clickslice is here to help you make the most of it! We specialise in helping businesses evaluate eCommerce platforms for SEO and can provide expert guidance on optimising your Shopify or Shopify Plus store for search engines. Plus, you can check out our SEO for Shopify site services to learn more about how we can help you drive more organic traffic and sales.
Ultimately, choosing the right eCommerce platform is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Read through our article a few times, do some research, and make sure to manage your expectations – while Shopify Plus does come with advanced features, it might not be the best option if you’re a beginner. And remember, our team is always here to help if you need it.
