When it comes to choosing an e-commerce platform, Shopify and Volusion are two popular options that businesses often consider. Both platforms offer a range of features and tools to help businesses create and manage their online stores. In this article, we will compare Shopify and Volusion to help you determine which platform is the best fit for your business.
One of the key differences between Shopify and Volusion is their pricing structure. Shopify offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $29 per month for the Basic Shopify plan and going up to $299 per month for the Advanced Shopify plan. Volusion, on the other hand, offers four pricing plans, starting from $29 per month for the Personal plan and going up to $299 per month for the Premium plan. However, it is worth noting that Volusion charges transaction fees on top of its monthly subscription fees, whereas Shopify does not.
Another important factor to consider when choosing between Shopify and Volusion is their respective features and tools. Both platforms offer a range of features to help businesses create and manage their online stores, including website design templates, payment processing, inventory management, and marketing tools. However, there are some differences in the specific features offered by each platform, which we will explore in more detail in the following sections.
Shopify: Pros and Cons
When it comes to Shopify, there are several pros and cons to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the key factors to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use this platform for your online store.
Pros
- Ease of use: Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for even beginners to set up and manage an online store.
- Large app store: Shopify’s app store offers a wide range of add-ons and integrations to enhance your store’s functionality.
- Mobile responsiveness: Shopify’s templates are designed to be mobile-friendly, ensuring that your store looks great and functions well on smartphones and tablets.
- Scalability: Shopify can accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.
- 24/7 support: Shopify offers round-the-clock customer support via phone, email, and live chat.
Cons
- Transaction fees: Shopify charges transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways, which can add up over time.
- Limited customization: While Shopify’s templates are easy to use, they offer limited customization options compared to some other platforms.
- Cost: Shopify’s pricing plans can be expensive, especially for larger businesses or those with high sales volumes.
- Limited blogging features: Shopify’s blogging features are somewhat limited compared to other platforms, which may be a drawback for businesses that want to incorporate content marketing into their strategy.
Overall, Shopify is a solid choice for businesses looking to set up an online store quickly and easily. However, it may not be the best fit for those who require extensive customization or have high sales volumes that could result in significant transaction fees.
Volusion: Pros and Cons
When it comes to Volusion, there are both pros and cons to consider. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
Pros
- Built-in features: Volusion offers a range of built-in features that can be useful for eCommerce businesses, such as inventory management, shipping options, and more.
- Cheaper payment processing: Volusion’s in-house payment system, Volusion Payments, offers cheaper credit card processing fees for online transactions than Shopify’s payment system.
- Analytics and data tools: Volusion’s strengths lie in its analytics and data tools, which can be helpful for businesses looking to track their performance and make data-driven decisions.
Cons
- Limited design options: While Volusion offers a decent selection of themes, it falls short compared to Shopify’s extensive library of options. Additionally, customization options are limited, which can make it difficult to achieve a unique look for your store.
- Limited sales features: Volusion has caps on sales volume for each plan, which can be limiting for businesses that want to grow. Additionally, some sales features, such as abandoned cart recovery, are only available on higher-tier plans.
- Less user-friendly: Volusion can be more difficult to navigate and use than Shopify, particularly for beginners. The platform’s interface is less intuitive and can be overwhelming for those without prior eCommerce experience.
Overall, Volusion can be a good option for businesses that prioritize analytics and data tools, as well as those looking for cheaper payment processing. However, it may not be the best choice for businesses that value design options, sales features, and user-friendliness.
Shopify vs Volusion: Features Comparison
When it comes to choosing an e-commerce platform, it’s essential to compare the features of different options. Shopify and Volusion are two popular e-commerce platforms that offer a range of features to help you run your online business. In this section, we’ll compare the features of Shopify and Volusion in four key areas: Ecommerce, Point of Sale (PoS), Design Capabilities, and SEO.
Ecommerce
Both Shopify and Volusion offer a range of features for e-commerce operations, including product catalogs, payment solutions, store builders, order management, and client management. However, Shopify has a wider range of features, including abandoned cart recovery, gift cards, and multiple sales channels. Volusion, on the other hand, has excellent analytics tools, which can help you track your sales and customer behavior.
Point of Sale (PoS)
Shopify offers a comprehensive Point of Sale (PoS) system that allows you to sell in-person and online. With Shopify’s PoS system, you can manage your inventory, sales, and customer data from one dashboard. Volusion does not have a PoS system, so if you need to sell in-person, you will need to use a third-party system.
Design Capabilities
Both Shopify and Volusion offer a range of design templates to help you create a professional-looking online store. However, Shopify has more design options, including more than 70 free and paid themes. Shopify also has a drag-and-drop website builder, which makes it easy to customize your store’s design. Volusion’s design capabilities are more limited, with only 11 free and paid themes available.
SEO
Both Shopify and Volusion offer a range of SEO tools to help you optimize your online store for search engines. Shopify has a built-in blogging platform, which can help you create content that drives traffic to your store. Shopify also has a range of SEO apps available in its app store. Volusion has a range of built-in SEO tools, including page titles, meta descriptions, and URL customization.
In conclusion, Shopify and Volusion both offer a range of features to help you run your online business. However, Shopify has a wider range of features, including a comprehensive PoS system, more design options, and a wider range of SEO tools. Volusion, on the other hand, has excellent analytics tools, which can help you track your sales and customer behavior. Ultimately, the choice between Shopify and Volusion will depend on your specific needs and budget.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, both Shopify and Volusion are user-friendly platforms that allow users to create an online store with minimal technical knowledge. However, there are some differences between the two.
Shopify is known for its intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and set up their store. The platform offers a drag-and-drop website builder, which allows users to customize their store’s design without any coding skills. Additionally, Shopify offers a wide range of templates that are easy to customize, ensuring that users can create a unique store that reflects their brand.
On the other hand, Volusion has a steeper learning curve, and its interface can be overwhelming for new users. However, once users get the hang of it, they can take advantage of Volusion’s advanced features. Volusion also offers a drag-and-drop builder, but it’s not as user-friendly as Shopify’s.
Both platforms offer mobile apps that allow users to manage their store on the go. Shopify has a more user-friendly app, while Volusion’s app can be challenging to navigate.
In terms of customer support, Shopify offers 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat, while Volusion’s support is limited to business hours. Shopify also has a vast knowledge base and an active community forum where users can ask questions and get help from other users.
Overall, while both platforms are relatively easy to use, Shopify has the edge when it comes to user-friendliness and customer support.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to pricing, both Shopify and Volusion offer a range of plans to fit different business needs and budgets. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing plans for each platform:
Shopify Pricing
Shopify offers three main pricing plans: Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify. Here are the current prices and features for each plan:
- Basic Shopify: $29/month
- Online store with unlimited products
- 24/7 support
- Fraud analysis
- Manual order creation
- Discount codes
- Free SSL certificate
- Shopify: $79/month
- Everything in Basic Shopify, plus:
- Gift cards
- Professional reports
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Advanced report builder
- Advanced Shopify: $299/month
- Everything in Shopify, plus:
- Advanced report builder
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
- Advanced report builder
It’s worth noting that Shopify also charges transaction fees on each sale, which range from 2.4% to 2.9% depending on the plan you choose.
Volusion Pricing
Volusion also offers three main pricing plans: Personal, Professional, and Business. Here are the current prices and features for each plan:
- Personal: $29/month
- Online store with unlimited products
- 24/7 support
- No transaction fees
- Mobile-responsive themes
- Social media integrations
- Professional: $79/month
- Everything in Personal, plus:
- Abandoned cart reports
- Amazon and eBay integrations
- API access
- Phone orders
- Business: $299/month
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Dedicated account manager
- Priority support
- Custom reports
One advantage of Volusion is that they don’t charge transaction fees on each sale, which can save you money in the long run.
Overall, both Shopify and Volusion offer a range of pricing plans to fit different business needs and budgets. It’s important to consider not only the monthly cost, but also any transaction fees and additional features that may be important for your business.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, both Shopify and Volusion offer various options to help their users. However, there are some differences between the two platforms.
Shopify Customer Support
Shopify provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. The platform also has a help center that features a knowledge base, FAQs, and a community forum. Additionally, Shopify offers a range of support options for developers, including documentation and a developer community.
Volusion Customer Support
Volusion offers support via email, phone, and live chat. However, their phone support is only available on the “Plus” plan and above. The platform also has a knowledge base, FAQs, and a community forum. Volusion also provides a range of resources for developers, including documentation, a developer community, and a REST API.
In terms of customer support, Shopify seems to have a slight edge over Volusion, as they offer 24/7 support via all channels. However, Volusion’s developer resources, including their REST API, may be more attractive to users who require more advanced technical support.
Overall, both Shopify and Volusion offer sufficient customer support options to help their users, and users should choose the platform that best suits their needs.
Integration Capabilities
When it comes to integration capabilities, Shopify and Volusion both offer a wide range of options to choose from. However, there are some differences worth noting.
Shopify
Shopify is known for its robust integration capabilities. It offers over 3,200 apps in its app store, which can be used to extend the platform’s functionality. These apps cover a variety of areas, including marketing, sales, shipping, accounting, and more. Shopify also offers a RESTful API, which allows developers to build custom integrations with other software.
Some of the most popular integrations available on Shopify include:
- Mailchimp: Email marketing automation
- Oberlo: Dropshipping automation
- QuickBooks Online: Accounting software
- ShipStation: Shipping and fulfillment management
Volusion
Volusion also offers a variety of integration options, but its app store is not as extensive as Shopify’s. It currently has around 70 apps available, which cover areas such as marketing, sales, shipping, and more. Volusion also offers an API, which allows developers to build custom integrations with other software.
Some of the most popular integrations available on Volusion include:
- Mailchimp: Email marketing automation
- ShipStation: Shipping and fulfillment management
- QuickBooks Online: Accounting software
Overall, both Shopify and Volusion offer solid integration capabilities. However, if you need a wider range of integration options, Shopify may be the better choice due to its extensive app store.
User Reviews
We looked at user reviews for both Shopify and Volusion to get a sense of how users feel about each platform. Here are some key takeaways:
Shopify
- Shopify has a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 on Gartner Peer Insights based on 452 reviews.
- On G2, Shopify rates 4.4 out of 5 stars with 4,413 reviews.
- Users praise Shopify for its ease of use, flexibility, and wide range of features.
- Some users have reported issues with customer support and high transaction fees.
Volusion
- Volusion has a rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 on Gartner Peer Insights based on 3 reviews.
- On G2, Volusion rates 3.2 out of 5 stars with 63 reviews.
- Users appreciate Volusion’s affordable pricing and built-in payment processing system.
- Some users have reported issues with site speed and limited customization options.
Overall, both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between them will depend on your specific needs and priorities. It’s important to carefully consider user feedback and conduct your own research before making a decision.
Conclusion
In this comparison between Shopify and Volusion, we have analyzed the key features, pricing, design, and ease of use of both platforms.
While Volusion has a lower entry-level price and a more advanced built-in SEO tool, Shopify offers a wider range of payment gateways, better customer support, and a larger app store with more third-party integrations.
Shopify also provides a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for beginners to set up and manage their online store. Additionally, Shopify’s templates are more modern and customizable, allowing for a more unique and professional-looking storefront.
Overall, both Shopify and Volusion are solid e-commerce platforms, and the choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget. We recommend carefully considering the features and pricing of each platform before making a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between Shopify and Volusion?
Both Shopify and Volusion are popular e-commerce platforms, but they have some key differences. Shopify is known for its ease of use, robust app store, and excellent customer support. On the other hand, Volusion offers more built-in features and customization options, but it can be more difficult to use.
Which platform is more cost-effective, Shopify or Volusion?
Shopify and Volusion have different pricing structures, so it’s important to consider your specific needs. Shopify offers a range of plans, starting at $29 per month, while Volusion’s plans start at $35 per month. However, Volusion includes more built-in features, so you may not need to purchase as many third-party apps as you would with Shopify.
What are the advantages of using Volusion over Shopify?
Volusion offers more built-in features, including a CRM system, inventory management, and social media integrations. Additionally, Volusion has a more flexible design system, allowing for greater customization options.
What are the advantages of using Shopify over Volusion?
Shopify is known for its ease of use, robust app store, and excellent customer support. Shopify also offers more payment gateways than Volusion. Additionally, Shopify has a larger user base, making it easier to find resources and support.
What are the downsides of using Volusion?
Volusion can be more difficult to use than Shopify, especially for beginners. Additionally, Volusion’s pricing structure can be confusing, with additional fees for features like abandoned cart recovery and phone support.
What are the downsides of using Shopify?
While Shopify is known for its ease of use, it can be more limited in terms of built-in features compared to Volusion. Additionally, Shopify’s pricing can add up quickly if you need to purchase multiple third-party apps.
