There are many different e-commerce platforms out there today, which makes it difficult to find the one that meets your needs. Two particular players in the industry are Webflow and Shopify. Both offer an all-in-one solution for management, web design, and growth, so you can easily control your entire e-commerce website from a single dashboard.
<h2 id="webflow-vs-shopify" data-headline="Webflow vs. Shopify"><span class="first_id_number">1.</span> The best e-commerce solutions: Webflow and Shopify compared</h2>
Fundamental similarities
- Neither Webflow nor Shopify require any programming knowledge.
- Both platforms offer a selection of free and paid templates.
- Blogging tools are built in.
- Both providers offer a variety of training opportunities to improve your skills (blogs, tutorials, instructions, etc.).
- Various marketing features are available, such as the email funnel and coupon codes.
- The basic rates are priced on the same level.
- On both platforms, you can create custom rules for shipping rates, including free shipping.
Fundamental differences
- Webflow was initially intended for general website design, and e-commerce functionality was added later.
- Shopify, on the other hand, has always been an e-commerce platform.
- Shopify offers more advanced features and more third-party apps than Webflow.
- Shopify allows your customers to create an account, but Webflow doesn't.
- If desired, you can integrate your point of sale (POS) system with Shopify.
- Webflow provides you with a free plan to get to know all the core features. Only when you want to get your website up and running, do you have to book a paid package. With Shopify, you only get a 14-day trial period, which you then need to upgrade to continue using the system.
- Shopify gives you a wider range of payment options.
- Webflow gives web designers more creative freedom.
- Shopify offers a mobile app to manage the shop while on the go.
Both platforms provide you with a range of impressive features, both in the area of web design and e-commerce. However, the providers each focus on different focal points, which will be discussed in more detail below.
<h2 id="editoren" data-headline="Editoren und Anpassungsmöglichkeiten"><span class="first_id_number">2.</span> Editors and customization options</h2>
Webflow
Webflow provides an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that allows you to easily place HTML elements. More complex pre-built features such as tabs, sliders, and background videos are also available. Thanks to the numerous free templates, you don't have to create your web design from scratch. Because the templates can be customized as you like.
Webflow's visual editor takes care of the design and translates it into clean CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript, meaning you don't have to write any code yourself. You also have access to all content stored in the CMS, which makes it extremely easy to use text excerpts, images, blog posts and products.
Once the basic structure of the website has been configured, each web element can be individually designed. For example, vary the typography down to the last detail or create and edit global color fields. The latter allow you to update all color instances on the page and thus easily work with different color schemes.
The last step is to publish your website using Webflow's scalable hosting technology: ISO 27018 and SSL compliance, handling large amounts of data, consistent across all browsers. Once the site is live, you can easily create and manage more content without having to go to the backend. Read more about the benefits of Webflow here: https://www.02100.com/webflow-experte-deutschland.
Shopify
With Shopify, the main focus is on creating a respectable online shop. However, compared to Webflow, the tool offers less control and customization options when it comes to web design. You can either start over without a template or buy themes from the theme store, which in turn can be customized. Each theme comes with editable elements. Should the theme offer too few editing options, you can incorporate the desired changes directly into the HTML and CSS code.
When publishing your store, you can rely on Shopify's high security standards and SSL compliance. The provider also takes care of hosting. A detailed introduction to Shopify can be found here: https://www.02100.com/ratgeber/einfuhrung-in-shopify.
<h2 id="e-commerce" data-headline="E-Commerce-Features"><span class="first_id_number">3.</span> E-commerce features</h2>
E-commerce features are an important aspect, especially when it comes to setting up an online shop. In the following, the characteristics of both platforms are discussed in this regard.
Webflow
With Webflow, you sell both digital and physical goods, including services. You can easily add custom fields and product variants to any product page and customize the checkout process to suit product types. In addition, Webflow allows you to customize your delivery options (digital deliveries, physical goods right to the front door, takeaway delivery, etc.).
Webflow offers you a wide range of payment options. All major credit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal and Google Pay in over 200 countries are accepted. Refunds are also processed via the same interfaces.
With the Webflow dashboard, orders can be tracked, customer accounts created, and order history can be tracked. There are also basic inventory management functions to receive alerts for out-of-stock items or small quantities.
Shopify
With Shopify, you can sell a wide variety of digital and physical products, including services, gift cards, and downloads. In addition, the tool can be combined with numerous dropshipping applications such as Oberlo, so that dropshipping products also have space in their inventory.
Product categories and details are quickly created, added and provided with images and product variants. Once your product page is ready, you can publish it on various sales channels, such as Google, Facebook, or Instagram.
Shopify accepts more than 100 payment methods, including credit cards and PayPal. In addition, many different currencies are allowed and the purchase process can be translated into over 50 languages.
With regard to shop management, Shopify can create and track customer profiles to gain insights into shopping habits, contact information, and order history. It is possible for customers to create an account to make purchases more easily. A big advantage is the Shopify smartphone app, which allows you to manage the store even when you're on the go.
Lastly, inventory management is a piece of cake from the Shopify dashboard. Inventory can be tracked and adjusted, and out-of-stock products can be hidden. You will also receive alerts when quantities are falling, and your inventory can be exported or imported via CSV file. Shopify's inventory analysis divides your most popular products into categories, which is really helpful in setting priorities and aligning the business. Thanks to the POS system, Shopify can also be integrated into physical retail stores. Simply download the POS app and set it up with the associated hardware.
<h2 id="Marketing-Features" data-headline="Marketing-Features"><span class="first_id_number">4.</span> Marketing features</h2>
No matter how good the products may be and no matter how beautiful the shop may be, you can only achieve sales with the right marketing. Both Shopify and Webflow offer a number of useful features for this purpose.
Webflow
Webflow is an excellent way to manage your online shop. For example, create custom landing pages with the visual editor or create seasonal campaigns, product launches, and various bonus promotions.
However, Webflow's native email marketing is somewhat limited. To get advanced features for this, you must switch to providers such as Mailchimp. In return, your products can be seamlessly synchronized with your Instagram or Facebook account, which allows you to display your goods in dynamic ads and link to the website at the same time. With the help of custom settings and meta tags, you can finally make your Webflow shop SEO-friendly.
Shopify
All marketing functions that Webflow has are also represented in Shopify: creating landing pages, coupons and discounts, and integrating the products with social media. It is also possible to sell directly via Facebook.
On top of that, Shopify's email marketing features are more advanced. For example, you can track your campaigns and use a custom email domain to create consistent branding. Shopify also makes it easy to send emails about product recommendations and canceled orders. Up to 2500 emails per month are free. After that, you'll be charged $1 for every 1000 emails.
If you want to automate your marketing processes, there are a variety of appropriate plugins available. In addition, thanks to detailed marketing reports, you can track your performance across all channels and use the data to better identify which marketing campaigns are working and which aren't.
<h2 id="Preise" data-headline="Die Preisgestaltung"><span class="first_id_number">5.</span> Pricing</h2>
It is clear that an online shop or an e-commerce platform entails costs. Choosing the cheapest deal to save money isn't always the best decision. Above all, it should be about finding the right solution for your business needs. In this respect, it is important to consider what you need now and what you will need later, as soon as the customer base grows.
Webflow
Webflow's pricing plans seem complicated at first. They are divided into site plans and account plans, which means that you are billed either per website or per account. There is also a third module: View Dashboard. This gives you the opportunity to test Webflow for free and try out many functions. However, when it comes to implementing real projects, you will have to opt for one of the following site plan rates, for example:
- Basic
- CMS
- Business
- Enterprise
The basic plan is usually sufficient for non-dynamic pages. With the CMS tariff, you are on the safe side when new articles or other content are added dynamically on a regular basis. This includes, for example, the integration of a blog or FAQs on the website.
If, on the other hand, you are active as a designer to manage several projects via one account, the account plans are relevant. These are divided into:
- Starter
- Lite
- Pro
The starter plan is equivalent to the free Webflow version already mentioned above. It's enough to practice, but not for professional projects. With the Lite and Pro plans, the number of projects is higher to unlimited and there are even more features. For example, the option to export the code or additional security measures in the form of password protection.
Shopify
Potential users will initially receive a 14-day trial access with Shopify. After that, 4 tariffs are available to you:
- Shopify Lite
- Basic Shopify
- Shopify
- Advanced Shopify
With the Lite tariff, an existing website can be extended into an online shop by adding products. However, this is not yet a complete e-commerce store. What you get is just a buy button on the website, Facebook sales options, and payment options via credit card, iOS and Android devices.
The basic tariff is aimed at start-ups and offers significantly more extensive functions, including the creation of a full-fledged online shop, various sales options via social media, the listing of an unlimited number of products, an internal checkout system for customers and email marketing.
The Shopify plan is suitable for growing businesses and also includes the ability to register up to 5 user accounts, generate and sell customer gift cards, and lower transaction fees.
With Advanced Shopify, you finally register up to 15 employee accounts, get access to detailed marketing reports and benefit from a shipping discount and even lower transaction fees.
<h2 id="Support" data-headline="Der Kundensupport"><span class="first_id_number">6.</span> Customer support</h2>
Good customer service is essential, especially if you depend on your online shop and encounter technical problems.
Webflow
With Webflow, you first get to the general help page, where there are the following options:
- search the FAQs
- contact the support team via live chat
- Ask a question at Webflow University
- Search the numerous catalogs for a topic
- Take online courses if you want to improve in specific areas
You also have access to a community forum where you can exchange ideas with other users. Most recently, Webflow offers email support, which is available Monday to Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and answers within 48 hours at the latest.
Shopify
Customer support at Shopify is divided into 3 areas:
- Community forums where you can meet other users to share
- the help center with various self-help offers on various topics
- detailed documentation of all areas of Shopify development
You can also reach the support service 24/7 via phone, email and live chat.
<h2 id="Fazit" data-headline="Fazit"><span class="first_id_number">7.</span> Conclusion</h2>
Undoubtedly, Shopify is an impressive e-commerce platform. It is specifically aimed at the needs of online sellers and offers versatile functions. If you can't find the functionality you need, you can assume that there is a plugin that you can download from the Shopify app store. In addition, the platform is scalable and therefore a good companion even when your shop grows. However, if you want more control over a website's visual design, Webflow could be a better choice. The integrated visual editor is significantly more intuitive and advanced. However, Webflow is still at the beginning when it comes to e-commerce and therefore has less to offer. If selling online isn't your only focus, Webflow offers a range of impressive features for designing, launching, and managing your website.
