Both WooCommerce and Magento are well-known e-commerce platforms that pack a punch in terms of features. These shopping cart software are reliable and helpful, and for this reasons, they drive an unending debate on which of the two is the winner.
In addition, WooCommerce backing by WordPress and Magento support by eBay has made thing pretty hard for newbies. Together, these solutions command more than 50% of the market share, with magneto enjoying a slightly bigger share than WooCommerce. With each platform forging a strong community of advocates it is easy to see how hard it can be to select one and not the other.
If you are at a crossroad, its time you quashed all the confusion. This article will help you to make a decision that you will live to treasure. We have spent a lot of resources, both time and money to compile this insightful comparison. Let’s get started.

SIMILARITIES

Both WooCommerce and Magento platforms feature some near identical functionalities and aspects. Some of their key similarities include;

Open source nature:

These e-commerce platforms are open source products. This means they provide access to the original code and accord the freedom to build your site on it or modify it to suit your preferences. They offer unprecedented ability to customize and flexibility to build a properly designed online store.

Powerful developer community:

The platforms avail a large community of developers which offers superb help to all users. You can get direct remedies from other users by asking questions on their respective forums. Woocommerce has a large group of WordPress users while Magento is backed by a dedicated group of developers.
If you want a functionality that is not provided as a default, you will most likely get an appropriate extension developed for the feature by the community. Both communities constantly check and develop codes that provide new solutions and improve the e-commerce software. In addition, they extend the existing provisions to create thriving opportunities within the framework.

Product management and communication:

Both WooCommerce and Magento have compelling similarities in their mode of communication and product management. The platforms allow you to have unlimited products in a centralized place, which is paramount when creating an online store. In addition, they feature an effective blogging functionality which allows you to run a blog. Operating your own blog adds a friendly voice to your store and bring a significant influence on the SERP visibility.

Freemium business model:

Both WooCommerce and Magento practice a freemium business model where they make money via extras bought by users over time. They drive revenue by selling extensions and plugins that users require as their business continues to expand. For instance, since these are open source platforms they give users the ability to customize their website branding. However, this ability can be unlocked via a proprietary plugin which you pay for to use.

Other similarities include;

Intuitive interface, responsive design, free download versions, and numerous extensions and plugins
Taking a closer look at the similarities cannot help you spot the strong and weak points for each platform. Let’s now dig deeper into the differences between these platforms to put in a position to make a concrete decision.

DIFFERENCES

Here are the key differences;

Ease of use:

When it comes to ease of use the crown belongs to WooCommerce, but we cannot hand over the prize without a proper explanation. As aforementioned, opening a business comes with plenty of hurdles, and things can get really complicated if the e-commerce platform is one of them.
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, and this is the reason it conquers. WordPress is an easy-to-use platform that is perfect for beginners. Customizing your website via WordPress is pretty easy thanks to the numerous plugin available. Being a plugin to this platform, WooCommerce follows the lead to provide a welcoming solution for all users. It also provides informative tutorial videos to help users to set up their stores.
On the other hand, Magento is a reliable CMS and is quite user-friendly. This platform comes with an installation wizard and provides tutorial documentation and videos. However, its complexity sets in when you begin adding extensions to your online store. The task is not friendly, and you will be forgiven to hire a specialist developer.
Wordpress aside, WooCommerce is a beginner friendly platform even for the nontech savvy. The plugin makes it easy to wade through the setup process with ease and is a safe bet if you hate complexity.

Features:

The features provided by an e-commerce platform means a lot. It’s obvious that both WooCommerce and Magento offer near identical, basic features. However, any ambitious entrepreneur should cast the eyes beyond these basic features. So which of the two give you the freedom to further customize your store and supply extra facilities to your customers?
Magento is the winner. This platform gives you the freedom to; compare products, add discount codes, cross- & up-sell products, and utilize an advanced filter for easier store navigation. In addition, Magneto allows you to customize complex store to suit all your needs and wants. Furthermore, the software makes it easier to manage multiple stores from a single account.
On the other hand, WooCommerce is simpler, which is a good thing for newbies. However, creating any extra functionality requires an add-on. It is a bare spine shopping cart software, and it’s up to the user to add the extra functionalities via plugins and extensions.
Generally, this platform is more effective as a WordPress plugin that brings e-commerce functionality. In Contrast, Magento is a fully fledged dedicated client management system for e-commerce stores. If you are not a WordPress user it’s advisable you base your store on the Magento platform.

Security

There is no denying hackers are getting smarter by day. According to one study (2015), approximately 30,000 websites are hacked in a day. For this reason, it’s becoming increasingly important to observe stringent security measures for your website. Optimum security is paramount irrespective of the nature of your website. Remember, your e-commerce store will host vital personal information and customer details, a lapse in security could cost you a fortune.
WooCommerce and Magento are superb in terms of their security measures. Although both implement advanced security techniques, one aspect sets them apart. Magento allows you to do everything from your end and at the same time addresses all the security concerns sufficiently.
Neither of the platforms can guarantee 100% secure operation, but Magento offers great comfort thanks to its frequent release of security patches. The patches help users to secure their online stores but can be a bit complex for newbies.

Performance and speed

The performance of the platform is a vital factor and one that influences the decision of many users. Let’s get it right here; if your online store performs poorly or takes ages for pages to load, customers will run away. This can be a detriment to your business, and the only way out is getting your facts right.
The speed and performance of your store are not solely hinged on that of the software. The way you optimize the store and the backend matters a lot. It also depends on the number of extensions and plugins used, other developments made, and the web host.
Taking a closer look at both WooCommerce and Magento, no one is a clear winner. If properly optimized these platforms are capable of delivering the desired results. In some cases, WooCommerce will leave Magento in the dust and vice-versa.

Cost

When starting an online store, it’s pretty great to accomplish your goal without spending a huge part of your investments. Both WooCommerce and Magento are free of charge which is a huge benefit to all users. You get the freedom to download them and set up your store straight away.

     Woocommerce

However, the crux of the matter is the nitty gritty features you add as your business grows. WooCommerce is limited on things like default payment options and in case you find a spectrum of payment options beyond the basic plans, you will have to purchase extensions and plugins to add them. In some cases, you will also find free extensions to WooCommerce, but you really need to look around! Areto Systems offer a free WooCommerce credit card payment gateway extension.

      Magento

On the other hand, the free version provided by Magento offers a host of basic features that can help you to grow your store without much struggle. However, adding extension is a necessity if you want to offer superior shopping experience. At this point, you will have to fork out money to purchase the plugins. Besides, you will have to consider the cost of hiring a Magento developer to install the extensions for you.
The hosting cost is another factor worth your consideration. WooCommerce runs perfectly on WordPress’ hosting which is a great thing in terms of cost and flexibility. On the other hand, Magento is a bit complicated and require dedicated servers for greater performance. Moreover, Magento offers an enterprise plan (at $1800 per month) which is very expensive hence not suitable for startups and medium business.
In conclusion, Magento has a slight edge over WooCommerce in term of the cost thanks to its greater flexibility and plenty of features.

CONCLUSION

The showdown between WooCommerce and Magento is a battle of the Titans. Both e-commerce platforms have unique bragging rights, and only a narrow gap separates them in terms of superiority. The option that works best for you depends hugely on your business needs and requirements.
However, sitting on the fence, it’s clear to see Magento is an excellent choice. This platform is more popular with businesses that idolize scalability and have ambitions to run a massive online store in future. In additions, the platform offers more basic functionality and brilliant extensions. If you have a plan to build an empire of online stores with tightened security. One that can challenge Amazon or eBay. Magento is the perfect partner.

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