If you’re starting a new eCommerce business or scaling up your existing website, it’s important to consider your options. Wix, Shopify, and Squarespace are among the most well-known eCommerce website builders, but they’re not all made equally. Each of these website builders comes with its own features and drawbacks. And if you need high customisation and a powerful site, a custom website is usually your best bet.
Pros and cons of Wix
Wix is often thought of as the easiest platform among its competitors, and some people prefer it because there is no lock-in contract. It’s known for its drag-and-drop feature and for how quickly you can start selling your products. It’s not very customisable and Wix does struggle to provide users with good SEO options, so it might not be a great choice for advanced users.
Pros and cons of Shopify
Originally created for blogging, Shopify is now integrated with a payment processor. It lacks the ability to fully customise content, but there are around 70 easy-to-use templates you can use to start your site. The main reason people tend to avoid using Shopify is that there aren’t many options for customisation, but if you don’t need a highly customised site and you’re looking for something simple, it could be a good choice. Shopify allows for the most ways to pay, so it can be easier for your customers to checkout.
Pros and cons of Squarespace
In many ways, Squarespace is the most customisable option out of the three main eCommerce website building tools. However, depending on the plan you choose, it can end up being the most expensive of the three. That being said, if you have any issues with Squarespace, you might struggle to get the issues resolved because they have no phone support. Some users also find it difficult to add or edit content.
Pros and cons of custom eCommerce websites
The main reasons people might not consider custom eCommerce websites are because they want to have control over their website, be able to make changes easily, save on costs, and get started right away. But for many people, custom websites are the best option. They’re built to last, are incredibly powerful, and can incorporate custom software development as well. The main drawbacks include a slower process as the website is built custom for you and a higher cost because it's created to match your specifications.
Custom websites can be matched to requirements. This means your website can look exactly how you need it to look and have a CMS (content management system) that suits your needs so you can easily update your content and products. You can also integrate apps, which is hard or often impossible to do with eCommerce website tools. And if you find your eCommerce site is getting a lot of traffic and sales, it can be easily scaled up to meet your requirements and the demands of your customers.
Another added benefit of custom websites is the ability to easily get in touch with the people who made your website. Working with a smaller business means you’ll get targeted support rather than talking to a new customer service representative each time you have a question.
Digital Bridge offers custom eCommerce website development. If you want to get in touch about a project, you can reach us at hello@digitalbridge.com.au or give us a call at +613 8658 2434.