There are no exact reasons as to why one should favor Magento, Shopify or other open source systems. Today, we are sharing a detailed review of all available open source systems, their impressive features and major limitations.
As an ecommerce entrepreneur, it would be the most important decision for you to choose a platform, especially, if you are choosing between a hosted and open source solution. To simplify this task, we have taken up Shopify below, in comparison with free platforms like Magento, osCommrce and OpenCart.
Shopify is an ecommerce system that gives easy access to set up an online store. Concurrently, it has few limitations and knowing them is crucial before you select any online solution for ecommerce development.
Limitations of Shopify as an ecommerce source:
→ Crumbles your SEO:
Shopify has some SEO issues, which would not allow your images to appear in search results. This error is being faced by all the merchants and to fix it, the company has asked for Google’s help. Responding to the request, the Google search quality team has cleared that their cache busting feature is making the images seem different every time Google crawls their websites due to which they are not appearing in search results. Read here what Shopify’s VP, Craig Miller requested for and what further details were cited by Google in reply.
→ Additional Transaction fee:
This is the amount that you have to dedicate to Shopify as it charges 1-2% of each transaction (except in the “Unlimited” plan) and that is additional to what PayPal or any other payment gateway installed will charge. Thus the whole cost above the monthly hosting charges amounts to at least 3-4% and online retailing does not leave such big profit margins that can be exploited for paying extra charges. Thus, when an ecommerce platform like Shopify is compared to Magento Commerce, then you may see that your earning potential increases with latter as no such surplus is charged from you. You only pay for the 3rd party Payment gateway.
→ Quality is a matter of concern:
An open source software like Magento assures better quality and that can be ascertained with its extended list of users that include Samsung and Nespresso. Moreover, depending on software that is created and handled by thousands of experienced developers promises improved quality, security and innovation.
If one is told to choose Shopify vs open source systems, the most definitive and safe option would be an open source solution because it has so many developers working on it, that it has the potential to offer more enhancements and new features.
→ More easily customizable functional aspects:
For ecommerce owners, using Magento, OpenCart or osCommerce acts like a luxury to tailor them as per business needs. Every business has a different requirements and open source software offer numerous plug-ins that add A-grade functionality to a website. Instead of renting from Shopify, getting one developed from ecommerce professionals gives ease of using plug-ins and custom features without paying a recurring cost every month.
Hence, if you compare Shopify vs Magento or Shopify vs OpenCart, selecting the open source systems will make you more confident of security. Open source systems always leave more room for custom changes that are required to update and grow a website and hence help scale your business.
→ DIY solutions are not conversion optimized:
When skilled professionals design and develop your website from a scratch on open ecommerce source, they do it keeping the conversion standards in view. On the other hand, using DIY option leaves the job to a person who has no expertise in the field. There are various factors like consumer engagement, website appeal, conversion funnel optimization, etc. that define the success of a system. Hiring experts to develop a site on free software like Magento, OpenCart or osCommrce gives comfort of adding uniqueness to enhance the functions.
Also the troubles of web hosting and server hosting get better handling when taken care by experienced web design companies.
There are various other Shopify alternatives too which people look for developing an online store, but all of them have one or the other restraint. Identifying an appropriate solution according to your business needs is how you can get through it.
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