Are you wondering if WordPress is suitable for Ecommerce and what the benefits and drawbacks are?

WordPress is the most popular website-building platform and the most recommended one for starting an Ecommerce shop.

In this post, we’ll examine whether WordPress suits Ecommerce and its benefits and drawbacks.

Why Use WordPress for Ecommerce?

WordPress is the world’s most popular website builder, accounting for over 43.1% of all internet sites. A major portion of these websites are Ecommerce stores.

WordPress’ immense popularity makes it the most recommended Ecommerce platform for starting a business.

Here are some of the most compelling reasons to use WordPress for Ecommerce:

• Freedom – You own your Ecommerce store, and no third party can dictate how you manage it.

• Massive community – By using WordPress, you join a large online community of business owners who use WordPress to manage their enterprises.

• Greater Availability – WordPress supports more payment gateways than any other Ecommerce platform. It also allows multilingual Ecommerce stores in most currencies and regions.

• Growth Hacking – As the most popular option, it integrates with the majority of marketing and growth hacking technologies. This makes it simple for you to expand your Ecommerce business over time.

For more information, see our in-depth WordPress review, which covers both its merits and cons.

What are The Pros and Cons of Using WordPress for Ecommerce?

You should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using WordPress as your Ecommerce platform, just as you would with any other business decision.

Let’s have a look at some of the most important benefits and drawbacks of using the Best WordPress Themes for your Ecommerce business.

Advantages of Using WordPress for Ecommerce:

1. WordPress is Free.

WordPress software is accessible for free. You can download, personalize, and use it wherever you want.

You will still have to pay for Ecommerce hosting, domain names, and add-ons. For more information on this topic, please visit our explainer on why WordPress is free, what the costs are, and what the catch is.

2. Zero Transaction Fees

Unlike most other Ecommerce platforms, WordPress does not charge for transactions. You only pay transaction fees to your payment service provider (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) and your bank.

3. You Control the Costs.

WordPress allows you to regulate the charges. You can select your hosting plan, premium add-ons, and marketing tools.

With this independence, you save a significant amount of start-up money, which you can then invest in expanding your firm and increasing sales. For additional information, please visit our post on the cost of developing an Ecommerce website.

4. Thousands of Plugins.

WordPress offers approximately 59,000 free plugins. Think of plugins as programs for your Ecommerce website. You can install one when you require a certain function, such as adding a contact form or modifying the shopping cart experience, among others.

With so many options, you can add nearly any feature to your Ecommerce site with a few clicks. For additional inspiration, check out our professional pick of the top WordPress Ecommerce plugins.

5. Countless Payment Gateways.

WordPress supports all of the common payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net. It also supports lesser-known payment services and multiple regional payment service providers.

WordPress makes it easier to accept payments online than any other Ecommerce platform.

6. Thousands of Themes and Styles.

WordPress includes dozens of themes (design templates). You may easily alter the style of your Ecommerce website.

It also includes page builders such as SeedProd and Thrive Architect that allow you to drag & drop. With these tools, you can easily create product landing pages, shop pages, and more.

7. Unlimited Product and Sales

You can add as many things to your website as you wish and generate as many sales as possible. Unlike many other Ecommerce platforms, WordPress does not limit you to a certain quantity of products or transactions.

8. You Own and Control Your Website.

Many online Ecommerce platforms contain terms and conditions that empower them to terminate your Ecommerce website at any moment, with or without cause. They can keep your data and any unprocessed transactions.

WordPress allows you to own and control your website. Even if your hosting account is terminated in rare circumstances, you can quickly transfer your website to another hosting company using a backup. You own all of your data, transactions, and payments.

Cons of Using WordPress for Ecommerce

So far, we’ve discussed the many benefits of using WordPress.

However, some drawbacks to WordPress should be considered.

1. Has a Slight Learning Curve

WordPress has a slight learning curve. Like any new software you use for your business, you’ll need to become comfortable with WordPress and how it operates.

Fortunately, WPDruggy has you covered. We offer free step-by-step WordPress video tutorials created exclusively for WordPress novices. These courses will help you get up to speed much quicker.

With some hands-on experience, most novices who start a WordPress business rapidly progress to advanced users.

2. You Manage Software Updates and Backups.

WordPress, like any other software or application, distributes updates regularly. You, as the website owner, are responsible for applying these updates to maintain your website secure and up to date with the latest features.

Installing updates in WordPress is as simple as doing so on your phone or computer. You’ll receive a message about a new version, and then just click a button to install it.

Similarly, you are responsible for maintaining backups of your website. This allows you to simply relocate your website, secure your data, and restore it in the event of a hosting failure.

Fortunately, there are good backup plugins for WordPress, such as Duplicate Pro. Once properly configured, it will automatically perform frequent backups and store them in the cloud.

It will also allow you to recover your website with a few clicks or transfer it to a different hosting provider if necessary.

For additional information, see these Ecommerce website maintenance suggestions.

3. Scalability May Increase Costs

We recommend that all new businesses begin with a low-cost hosting package from providers such as Bluehost and Hostinger.

Unlike other Ecommerce platforms, this flexibility allows you to save a lot of money when launching a business.

However, when your business expands, your website will require more server resources. You’ll need to upgrade to a managed hosting service like SiteGround or WordPress Engine.

This will boost your costs. However, the benefit is that your company will now be able to afford these additional charges while remaining cheaper than other Ecommerce service providers.

4. You are Responsible for Security

You are responsible for keeping your website secure, just like with updates and backups.

This may sound complicated, but fortunately, many WordPress hosting companies take good precautions to secure sites housed on their servers from malware attacks.

You may also protect your website by using the free Cloudflare CDN or using a WordPress security plugin such as Sucuri.

Both Cloudflare and Sucuri offer a website firewall that stops harmful traffic before it reaches your website.

For more information on protecting your online store, see our guide on Ecommerce security advice.

What Kind of Ecommerce Solutions Are Available in WordPress?

When comparing Ecommerce systems, you’ll discover that some are better at selling certain sorts of products than others.

For example, Shopify is ideal for selling tangible things that require shipping, but not for selling online courses.

In comparison, WordPress is the only Ecommerce platform capable of selling a wide range of items and services thanks to its robust add-ons.

Here are some of the best Ecommerce options for WordPress, depending on your needs.

WooCommerce – WooCommerce, the world’s most popular Ecommerce platform, is available as a free WordPress plugin. It lets you construct any form of online store and sell both physical and digital things.

MemberPress is a sophisticated Ecommerce solution that allows you to sell subscription-based products such as online courses, premium content, pay-per-view websites, memberships for communities, and more.

Easy Digital Downloads is designed exclusively for selling digital products such as software, e-books, music, digital art, and more.

WP Simple Pay – Selling a few products or services? The WP Simple Pay allows you to take online payments without needing a shopping cart plugin on your website.

WP Forms Payments allows you to take online payments by designing your unique payment forms. Ideal for selling particular items, services, online reservations, and more.

How to Start an Ecommerce Business with WordPress?

To launch an Ecommerce business using WordPress, you’ll need to create a WordPress website.

There are two versions of WordPress available.

First, there’s WordPress.org, which is the WordPress software we discussed in this article and suggest. Then there’s WordPress.com, a hosted website platform similar to Wix or Squarespace. For more information, visit our article comparing WordPress.com with WordPress.org.

To get started with WordPress.org, you’ll need a hosting account and domain name.

Starter hosting plans typically start at $7.99 per month (paid annually), with domain names costing approximately $16.99 per year.

Fortunately, Bluehost has decided to provide WPBeginner users with a significant discount on hosting together with a free domain name

However, as previously stated, WordPress provides a wide range of options. You can also start with Hostinger or one of these excellent WordPress hosting providers.

If you sign up with Bluehost, WordPress will be installed immediately for you. All other hosting companies provide a one-click WordPress installer, which may be found in your hosting account.

Need more assistance? Follow our step-by-step tutorial for starting an online store.

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The Final Line

WordPress is a powerful Ecommerce platform that provides significant customization options, a diverse variety of plugins, and easy content administration. It’s a wonderful alternative for individuals who want to have full control over the appearance and functionality of their online business.

However, it may necessitate more hands-on management and technical expertise than other dedicated Ecommerce platforms. If you’re willing to invest in the necessary security and performance optimizations, WordPress can be a highly effective alternative for creating a solid Ecommerce website.