You want to sell online; that much you’ve figured out. But which e-commerce platform will you choose? There are so many options, and that are all great at performing the task of making online transactions. We did a brief comparative analysis of two platforms that are pretty well known to help you out. Users will often align Gumroad with SquareSpace sites. Alternatively, WooCommerce is a preferred plugin on WordPress sites.
GUMROAD
Often pushed as a selling vessel for digital files such as music, e-books, and other creatives, Gumroad is the first of the e-commerce platforms we have done a review on. Here are some pros and cons we found:
PROS:
- Simple/ easy
- Good for selling digital files such as music, e-books, etc.
- Integrated analytics
CONS:
- Redirects to Gumroad site
- Hosts all items on their site
- Cannot sell things like workshops/ sessions
- Limited flexibility in design or functionality
- No invoicing system
- 5% + 25 cents/ transaction fee
- No way to return to your site using the back button after clicking to buy the product
- No product description in Gumroad
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a well-known e-commerce platform that is liked for its ease of integration. Here are some things we’ve noted when considering WooCommerce:
PROS:
- Free, integrated plug-in
- Flexibility in Styling and Functionality Customization
- Site integration
- Optimized User Experience
- Ease of use for client and manager
- All products are hosted on your server and not 3rd party e-commerce
- Invoicing Available
- Intuitive interface to manage products
CONS:
- Transaction fee depends on the provider
- Advanced customization requires developer assistance/setup
- Plugins may add to the cost depending on the custom functionality requested
If you want something that is plug-and-play, simple, and for digital files, GumRoad might be the better choice. With this platform, you will benefit from application-integrated analytics and an intuitive interface for non-tech users. However, if you want something that can be well integrated into your site, customizable, and does not disrupt the user experience, our recommendation would be WooCommerce. In addition to the customization options, their invoicing system and seamless workflow with other plugins make WooCommerce a preferred choice of our designers. I hope this helps take the guesswork out of your e-commerce platform decision!
