Volusion and Shopify are two of the most successful shopping cart platforms available, and they both have a great deal to offer. If you sell products or services online, you need an eCommerce service that is user-friendly, secure, fully customizable, search engine optimized, and built to convert. As the founder and CEO of a highly successful Los Angeles design and development firm, I’ve worked with all of the major shopping carts, and I’ve had successes with most of them. When it comes to Volusion vs Shopify, either platform will provide you with a powerful array of tools and features, but each has its own pros and cons.
Let’s break it down.
The Cost
Shopify offers four separate plans, and Volusion offers five. Volusion plans start at $19 per month, while Shopify plans start at $29 per month. It’s worth, noting though, that Volusion charges no transaction fees, while Shopify charges transaction fees for all but their most expensive plan. Additionally, if you want the freedom of listing an unlimited number of products, it will cost you $179 with Shopify and only $149 with Volusion. The winner: Volusion.
Ease of Installation
Volusion and Shopify both make setup ridiculously easy. Simply sign up and follow the on-screen prompts to set up your domain and start building your store. While other platforms, like BigCommerce, tend to make the setup process needlessly convoluted, Volusion and Shopify make it easy for even a complete web novice to create an attractive, fully-functional store in minutes, complete with custom designs, product listings, promotions and more. This one is a tie.
Aesthetics
Shopify and Volusion both allow you to create the store of your dreams by selecting pre-designed templates, or by integrating your own custom designs. If you lack coding and design knowledge, and want to stick with the default layouts, you’ll definitely want to go with Shopify. The Volusion designs are less polished, less professional, and more reminiscent of WordPress themes, while some of the Shopify layouts are absolutely stunning. The winner: Shopify.
App Integration
Almost every shopping cart platform now has an app marketplace where you can download or purchase extensions and add-ons for your store. For instance, you might customize and personalize your site with everything from maps to 3D image generators. The Shopify App Store and the Volusion Exchange both offer an impressive array of add-ons, but the Shopify App Store currently has a greater selection of more useful offerings. The winner: Shopify.
SEO and Marketing
Both Volusion and Shopify are designed with SEO in mind. Featuring search-optimized navigation structures, auto-generated sitemaps, and the ability to quickly create title tags and meta descriptions, either of these platforms will serve you well in the SEO game. When it comes to marketing, though, Volusion has the upper hand. With a built-in newsletter system, direct social media integration, similar product recommendations and more, Volusion is easily one of the best platforms available for marketing. The winner: Volusion.
Support
When it comes to support, Volusion offers three options for customer service, 24 hours a day. Contact them by phone, chat or email, and even receive personal, live coaching from one of their representatives. Shopify has limited customer service hours, and don’t even try calling them on Sundays. The winner: Volusion.
Volusion vs Shopify – The Verdict
Ultimately, it boils down to your personal preferences. What exactly are you looking for in a shopping cart platform? Are you concerned with price? Customization freedom? Marketing? If you’re still weighing Volusion vs Shopify, check out the free trials and decide which platform works best for you. Shopify offers a 30-day free trial, and Volusion offers a 14-day free trial.
If you’re looking to take your online store to the next level, consider partnering with a firm that specializes in custom design, development and marketing services using Volusion and Shopify. At Coalition Technologies, our Los Angeles based designers, developers and SEO gurus have worked extensively with all of the major platforms, and we have led clients to new heights of online business success. Visit our website or give us a call at 888-800-9101 to receive a free quote.