Custom-built website vs Shopify

sustainable website scroll down

TL;DR: Website vs Shopify You'll get more for your money with a website

E-commerce: Why a custom-built website is better than a Shopify site.

“Website vs Shopify ?” – It was a question posed recently in a social media group, and it got us thinking. So QED is here to explain it.

Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that allows users to create their own online stores. It is easy to use and has a variety of features that can be customised to suit the needs of each individual business. However, there are a number of reasons why one of our websites may be a better option for some businesses.

More control over design and functionality

One of the main advantages of having a QED website is that it gives you complete control over the design and functionality of your site. With Shopify, you are limited to the themes and extensions that are available on the platform. This can be fine for some businesses, but others may need more flexibility to create a unique and branded experience for their customers.

Better SEO performance than Shopify

Another advantage of having a custom-built website is that it can be optimised for better search engine performance (SEO). Shopify sites can also be optimised for SEO, but they are typically not as well-optimised as custom-built websites. This is because custom-built websites can be more tailored to the specific needs of your business, including your target keywords and phrases.

More scalability

If you plan on growing your business significantly in the future, then a custom-built website may be a better option for you than a Shopify site. Shopify sites can be scaled up to a certain point, but they may not be able to handle the demands of a large and rapidly growing business. Custom-built websites can be scaled up to meet any demand, so you can be confident that your website will be able to grow with your business.

Lower costs in the long run

While Shopify sites may be cheaper to set up than custom-built websites, they can be more expensive in the long run. Shopify charges a monthly subscription fee, plus transaction fees on all sales.

QED custom-built websites can either be a monthly subscription or a one/two payment transaction with 6months of support included as standard, and transaction fees can be negotiated with your payment processor.

 Shopify E-Commerce
website vs Shopify
QED E-Commerce site
website vs Shopify
Plan fees£25 per month
to £344 per month
Our plan starts at £125* per month
Transaction fees (per transaction)2% + 25pBetween 1.2% & 1.5% + 20p
(As an example with Stripe)
Number of Themes16331,000+ Themes in WordPress Repository
10,000+ Free themes compatible with E-commerce
Number of Accounts per site2 to 15As many as you need, tailored to your access requirements
ReportingBasic reporting on the Basic planExtensive reporting available as standard
Search Engine Opitimisation (SEO)Not included – Paid extraBasic SEO is included as standard
SecurityPCI compliantPCI compliant
CustomisationTailored.
Need a Shopify Expert to facilitate
Bespoke from step 1 of the design process
Learn more…

Conclusion: Custom Website vs Shopify

While Shopify is a good platform for many businesses, it is not the best option for all businesses. If you need more control over the design and functionality of your website, or if you plan on growing your business significantly in the future, then a custom-built website may be a better option for you.

Ultimately, the best way to decide whether a website vs Shopify site is right for you is to consider your specific needs and budget. If you need more control over the design and functionality of your website, or if you plan on growing your business significantly in the future, then a custom-built website may be a better option for you.

However, if you are looking for a quick and easy way to set up an online store, then Shopify may be a good choice for you.

*plus VAT at the current rate.

To see the effect of our
content creation,
See our case study
on The SV Group

We created content over a six month period targeting key areas where their business wanted to expand