Article
icon
Read time : 8 min
icon
Published on 03-07-2024
icon
Article
icon
Read time : 8 min
icon
Published on 03-07-2024
icon

Volusion or Shopify: The Definitive Guide for Growing SMBs

Aakanksha Sharma
Aakanksha Sharma
Content Marketer
Volusion or Shopify: The Definitive Guide for Growing SMBs

Choosing the right e-commerce platform can feel like a maze, especially if you're a small or mid-sized business ready to take things up a notch. I've seen plenty of businesses in this spot, wrestling with a big decision: picking a platform that's not just about the bells and whistles, but one that really fits their unique business vibe. It's about finding a partner in growth, something that scales with you and gets your needs met.

In this head-to-head of Volusion and Shopify, I'm here to simplify things. No tech babble or salesy talk, just straight-up insights on what matters most – user-friendliness, growth potential, support, and creating a smooth shopping experience for your customers. I'll help you figure out which platform might be the right kickstarter for your eCommerce journey, whether you're just starting out or ready for an upgrade. Let's dive in!

What is Volusion?

Volusion is a hidden gem in e-commerce, especially for small to midsize businesses. It's like that reliable, no-nonsense friend who will always help you. With Volusion, you're not just opening an online store; you're setting up a space about your brand and products without getting tangled in tech complexities.

Volusion is a solid pick if you're a small business looking to make a big splash online. It's got the ease, the price point, and the features to get you off the ground and keep you soaring.

Key Features I Like from Volusion

  1. User-Friendly Design: Volusion stands out with its intuitive interface. It's a breeze for beginners, and even if you're not a tech whiz, you'll find yourself creating sleek store pages with its drag-and-drop features. It's all about making things look professional without needing a degree in coding.
  2. Budget-Friendly Plans: Their pricing is a big plus. Starting with a free Mini plan for newbies, it scales up to more feature-rich options like the Personal plan at $29/month for up to 100 products and the Business plan at $79/month for 500 products. For the big players, the Prime plan at $299/month supports 1,000+ products and throws in some premium perks.
  3. Loaded with Features: Volusion doesn't skimp on the essentials. You've got everything from unlimited bandwidth to customizable designs, not to mention the SEO tools and shipping integrations. It's like having a Swiss Army knife for your online store – everything you need in one place.
  4. Solid Support: Their customer support is something to talk about. It's award-winning for a reason. They're like your personal e-commerce coaches, ready to jump in whenever you hit a snag.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is like the bustling city center of the e-commerce world, where businesses of all sizes come to set up shop. It's a platform that's become synonymous with online retail, catering to everyone from small family-run stores to big-league players in the Fortune 500 league.

Key Features I Appreciate in Shopify

  1. Simplicity at Its Core: Shopify's user-friendly interface is a standout feature. It's designed for those who want to focus on selling, not figuring out complex software. Setting up a store is as straightforward as possible, with a clean, intuitive dashboard that guides you through each step.
  2. A Global Reach: Over 1 million businesses across 175 countries have chosen Shopify. This diversity speaks volumes about its adaptability and appeal across different markets and business sizes.
  3. Customizable Themes: With over 100 professional themes, Shopify lets you dress your store to impress. It's like having a personal stylist for your online presence, ensuring your store looks great and resonates with your brand.
  4. Expansive App Store: Shopify's app store is a treasure trove of over 2,500 apps. Whether you need a live chat, accounting, or shipping solutions, there's an app for almost everything. It's like adding superpowers to your store, each app bringing a new capability.
  5. Flexible Pricing Plans: Shopify's tiered pricing is a big draw. Starting at $29/month, it scales with your business, ensuring you only pay for what you need. And for the big players, Shopify Plus offers enterprise-level features starting at $2,000/month.
  6. Round-the-Clock Support: Their 24/7 customer support is like having a lifeline anytime you need it. Whether you're setting up or scaling up, they're there to assist.

Shopify is a powerhouse for small businesses aiming to carve out their niche online. It's about simplicity, scalability, and a vibrant ecosystem that supports your growth. The real question is, are you ready to join the Shopify family and start your eCommerce journey?

Volusion Pros & Cons

Reflecting on my journey with various e-commerce platforms, Volusion stands out as a unique choice, particularly for those at the beginning of their online retail adventure. It's not just a platform; it's a launchpad for small to mid-size businesses eager to carve out their digital space. Having explored a range of Volusion-powered websites, from boutique fashion stores to specialized tech shops, I've seen firsthand how this platform can turn small-scale dreams into tangible, thriving online businesses.

Pros of Volusion:

  • User-Friendly Interface: Volusion stands out for its intuitive design. It's particularly appealing for those new to e-commerce, offering a straightforward, no-frills approach to setting up an online store.
  • Affordable Pricing: With plans beginning at $29/month, Volusion presents a cost-effective solution for small businesses. This pricing structure makes it accessible for startups and entrepreneurs on a tight budget.
  • Marketing and SEO Tools: Volusion incorporates essential marketing tools, including SEO features, which are crucial for driving traffic and increasing sales. This integration is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to establish a solid online presence without extensive marketing budgets.
  • Solid Customer Support: Offering various support channels, including phone, email, and chat, Volusion ensures that help is readily available. This is a significant advantage for businesses that might not have extensive technical support in-house.

Cons of Volusion:

  • Limited Customization: While Volusion offers a range of templates, the customization options are somewhat restricted. This limitation can be a drawback for brands seeking a highly personalized online presence.
  • Additional Costs for Advanced Features: Accessing more advanced features can incur extra charges. This aspect might concern businesses planning to scale quickly or requiring more sophisticated e-commerce tools.
  • Fewer Third-Party Integrations: Compared to some of its competitors, Volusion offers fewer integrations with third-party apps. This limitation can impact the functionality and scalability of an online store.
  • Performance Issues with Larger Stores: As the size and complexity of the store grow, Volusion can sometimes struggle to maintain performance, which may necessitate a platform switch for rapidly expanding businesses.

Volusion is an excellent starting point for small businesses entering the online market. It's straightforward, budget-friendly, and equipped with essential marketing and customer engagement tools. However, as your business evolves, you might find yourself needing a platform that offers greater flexibility and scalability. It's about choosing a platform that meets your current needs and aligns with your future growth trajectory.

Shopify Pros & Cons

Reflecting on my experiences with Shopify and considering the needs of small to mid-size businesses, I've come to appreciate its strengths and recognize its limitations. Shopify, known for its user-friendliness and wide range of features, caters well to those starting in the e-commerce space. However, it's also important to be mindful of the potential challenges it presents, especially as your business grows.

Pros of Shopify:

  • Ease of Use: Shopify's platform is designed for simplicity. Its intuitive interface allows even those with no technical background to set up and manage an online store efficiently.
  • Extensive App and Theme Selection: With a vast array of both free and paid apps and themes, Shopify offers significant flexibility in customizing your store to fit your brand and functionality needs.
  • Affordable Starter Plans: Starting at $29/month, Shopify's pricing is competitive, especially considering that it includes hosting and there are no transaction fees on using its payment gateway.

Cons of Shopify:

  • Design Limitations: While Shopify offers a range of themes, there's a limit to how much you can customize these without incurring additional costs. For brands seeking a highly unique storefront, this can be a significant drawback.
  • Additional Fees: Although the base plans are affordable, additional costs for credit card processing, shipping, and POS equipment can accumulate, impacting your overall budget.
  • Scalability Concerns for Large Stores: For businesses anticipating rapid growth and high order volumes, Shopify might present scalability challenges. Performance issues can arise as the store grows, which could necessitate a platform switch or upgrade to Shopify Plus, which is significantly more expensive.

What To Look For In A Hosted Ecommerce Platform?

I've seen firsthand how the right choice can propel a business forward, while the wrong one can hinder growth.

When choosing a hosted eCommerce platform, it's about finding a balance between robust security, customizable features, and timely deployment. These factors are not just checkboxes; they're the pillars that will support and grow your online business.

Here are some key factors to look for -

1. Enhanced Security: Imagine you're running an online store that handles hundreds of transactions daily. One day, a security breach occurs, compromising customer data. This not only damages your reputation but also leads to significant financial losses. What to Look For: A platform that prioritizes security is essential. Both Shopify and Volusion offer SSL encryption, DDoS protection, and regular security audits, ensuring that your customer data and transactions are secure. This level of security is not just a feature; it's a necessity in today's digital landscape.

2. Customizable Features: You're launching a niche product line and need your store to reflect a unique brand identity. A cookie-cutter template won't cut it; you need a platform that allows for customization to make your brand stand out. What to Look For: Platforms like Shopify and Volusion offer extensive app stores for customization. Shopify, with its Liquid templating language and a vast selection of apps, provides an edge in customization. This flexibility lets you tailor your store to your brand, enhancing the customer experience and setting you apart from competitors.

3. Timely Deployment: You've got a seasonal product line ready to launch, and timing is critical. A delayed store launch could mean missing out on peak sales opportunities. What to Look For: A platform that promises quick deployment is vital. Shopify's 14-day trial and quick launch process are appealing, especially when time is of the essence. Volusion's promise of going live in under a month is also noteworthy. Features like free templates can expedite this process, ensuring you're market-ready in no time.

By carefully evaluating platforms based on these criteria, you can select a solution that not only meets your current needs but also scales with your business, ensuring long-term success in the competitive world of e-commerce.

Shopify Vs Volusion: Pricing & Value

Feature Plan Shopify Volusion
Basic/Personal Plan
Pricing $29/month $35/month
Max Products Unlimited 100
Staff Accounts 2 2
24/7 Support Yes Online only
Mid-tier Plan
Pricing $79/month $79/month
Max Products Unlimited 5,000
Staff Accounts 5 5
24/7 Support Yes Online, Phone
Advanced/Business Plan
Pricing $299/month $299/month
Max Products Unlimited Unlimited
Staff Accounts 15 15
24/7 Support Priority Priority
Enterprise/Prime Plan
Pricing $2,000+/month Custom
Max Products Unlimited Unlimited
Staff Accounts Unlimited Unlimited
24/7 Support Yes VIP

Volusion Vs Shopify: Transaction Fees

Shopify: Shopify does not charge transaction fees if you use Shopify Payments, their own payment processor. However, if you choose to use an external payment gateway, Shopify charges additional fees. These fees vary by plan: 2% for the Basic Shopify plan, 1% for the Shopify plan, and 0.5% for the Advanced Shopify plan. Volusion: Volusion does not charge any transaction fees on any of its plans. This means that regardless of the plan you choose, you won't pay extra fees based on the volume of your sales.

The key difference lies in the use of external payment gateways for Shopify, which can incur additional fees, whereas Volusion maintains a no transaction fee policy across all its plans.

Volusion Vs Shopify: Key Differences

In my years with eCommerce agencies, I've noticed a pattern. When discussing a new project, certain features always bubble to the top of our conversations. It's these features that often become the deciding factors in choosing the right platform. So, let me give you a quick overview -

Feature Shopify Volusion
Built-in Features Offers basic features with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Provides more built-in features like a blog, forums, and video content hosting.
App Store/Integrations Extensive range of integrations available in the Shopify app store. Limited range of integrations compared to Shopify.
Pricing for Startups Lower plans are more affordable for startups. Higher initial cost but can be more cost-effective long-term due to no transaction fees.
Transaction Fees No transaction fees if using Shopify Payments; fees apply for external payment gateways. No transaction fees on any plans.
SEO and Page Speed Slightly better in load times and mobile optimization. Competent SEO tools but slightly behind Shopify in load times.
Customization High level of customization available through themes and apps. Offers customization but with some limitations compared to Shopify.
Integrations Extensive app store with over 2,800 apps for various functionalities. Smaller app marketplace with around 180 apps, but includes some native features reducing the need for third-party apps.
Ease of Use Known for its user-friendly interface and ease of setup. User-friendly but might have a steeper learning curve than Shopify.
Support for Online Community Basic support for community features; relies more on third-party apps. Better built-in support for growing an online community.

Why Choose Volusion Over Shopify?

I recall collaborating with a small business focused on eco-friendly home products. In our initial consultation, we weighed the options between Shopify and Volusion for their online store. Initially, we were drawn to Shopify for its user-friendly interface and extensive app store. However, it became apparent that the additional costs for apps and credit card fees could significantly increase their expenses. This realization steered us towards Volusion, which is renowned for its no transaction fee policy and essential built-in features.

After conducting a detailed analysis, we projected their sales growth and expenses over the coming years. Our findings indicated that Volusion's transparent pricing and absence of transaction fees would result in substantial long-term savings. Despite some initial concerns about customization limitations with Volusion, we discovered that the platform's built-in tools were adequate for their current scale and operational needs.

Ultimately, opting for Volusion turned out to be a more cost-effective and scalable choice for their business model. This decision enabled them to reinvest the savings into marketing and product development, thereby catalyzing further growth.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Cost-Effectiveness: Significant long-term savings due to Volusion's no transaction fee policy.
  2. Scalability: Volusion's scalability effectively matched their business growth trajectory.
  3. Sufficient Features: The built-in features of Volusion reduced the necessity for additional apps.
  4. Strategic Decision: The choice of platform was aligned with their financial objectives and growth strategy, prioritizing cost-effectiveness over a plethora of features.

Why Choose Shopify Over Volusion?

For many similar small to medium-sized businesses, Shopify emerged as the more advantageous choice. It offers a blend of ease of use, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and robust support – essential elements for a business in its growth phase. While Volusion had its strengths, Shopify aligned more closely with the brand's immediate needs and future aspirations, proving to be a pivotal decision in their e-commerce success story.

Let’s delve deeper to identify why Shopify was the more fitting choice for their specific needs.

One of our clients, a budding artisanal skincare brand, was exploring their eCommerce platform options. They were initially drawn to Shopify for its promise of a comprehensive solution, covering everything from secure payment processing to efficient shipping logistics. This all-in-one approach was crucial for them, aiming to streamline operations and focus on product development.

Our team noted the brand's need for an easy-to-use platform, as they lacked extensive technical skills. Shopify's intuitive interface and simple setup process were perfect for them, unlike Volusion's which appeared less user-friendly. Budget was also a key factor; Shopify's basic plan at $29/month was more in line with their financial planning than Volusion's $35/month offering.

The vast selection of over 2,800 apps in Shopify's store was another win. It meant the brand could easily integrate tools for marketing and customer engagement, a stark contrast to Volusion's limited app marketplace. And lastly, Shopify's renowned 24/7 support system provided the brand with a much-needed safety net, especially valuable in their early eCommerce days.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Comprehensive Solution: Shopify's all-in-one nature streamlined the brand's operations.
  2. User-Friendly Interface: Essential for the team's quick adaptation and ongoing management.
  3. Cost-Effectiveness: Shopify's pricing was more aligned with the brand's budgetary constraints.
  4. App Store Flexibility: The vast range of apps provided the necessary tools for growth and customization.
  5. Reliable Support: Shopify's support system offered a safety net during the critical early stages.

FAQs

1. What is Volusion Builder?

Volusion Builder is a feature within the Volusion e-commerce platform that allows users to create and customize their online store. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to design their store without needing extensive coding knowledge. It's particularly user-friendly for small to mid-sized businesses.

2. What is Shopify?

Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that enables businesses of all sizes to set up an online store and sell their products. It's known for its ease of use, scalability, and a wide range of features including a vast app store, customizable themes, and robust support options.

3. Which builder is better for growth, Shopify or Volusion?

For growth, Shopify often comes out ahead due to its scalability, extensive app store, and strong support system. It's well-suited for businesses planning to expand rapidly. Volusion can be a good choice for steady growth, especially for businesses that prioritize built-in features over third-party apps.

4. Which builder is easier to use?

Shopify is generally considered easier to use, with its intuitive interface and straightforward setup process. It's designed for users who may not have technical expertise. Volusion, while also user-friendly, has a slightly steeper learning curve.

5. Is Shopify better than Volusion?

"Better" depends on your business needs. Shopify excels in user-friendliness, app integrations, and scalability, making it a great choice for rapidly growing businesses. Volusion, with its no transaction fee policy and built-in features, can be more cost-effective for small businesses with steady growth.

6. Does Volusion work with Shopify?

Volusion and Shopify are separate, competing eCommerce platforms. They don't work together directly. However, you can migrate your store from Volusion to Shopify or vice versa, but this involves transferring data between the two platforms.

7. How does Volusion help my business?

Volusion helps your business by providing a platform to create an online store with ease. It offers built-in marketing tools, SEO optimization, and a range of customizable templates. It's no transaction fee policy can also be financially beneficial for small to mid-sized businesses.

8. Why is Shopify better than other websites?

Shopify stands out due to its ease of use, scalability, and comprehensive features. It offers a vast app store, customizable themes, and robust customer support. Its ability to cater to businesses of all sizes and its continuous updates to stay ahead in e-commerce trends make it a popular choice.

9. Can you use Shopify without a website?

Yes, you can use Shopify without a traditional website. Shopify allows you to sell through various channels like social media, online marketplaces, and even in-person using Shopify POS. However, having a website can enhance your online presence and brand identity.

10. Is Shopify good for service?

Shopify is primarily designed for selling products, but it can also be adapted for service-based businesses. You can use Shopify to book services, sell digital services, or offer appointments. Its flexibility and range of apps make it a viable option for service-oriented businesses.